recipes for a clean kitchen

In this two part post we will cook up some healthy, non-toxic ways to keep your kitchen clean. This first post addresses how to keep your kitchen surfaces and appliances spotless. Our follow-up post will provide healthy, non-toxic recipes for handling food and cleaning pots and pans and cooking utensils.

BUTCHER BLOCK COUNTERS AND BOARDS
Distilled white vinegar or real lemon juice is a natural and effective way to clean, deodorize and disinfect your butcher block counters and wooden boards. Spray or wipe on, then wipe off with a clean, damp cloth.

COUNTER TOPS
Combine 4 oz. water and 4 oz. distilled white vinegar with 8-10 drops tea tree oil in a spray bottle, shake to combine. If you don't care for the scent, you can replace the tea tree oil with an essential citrus oil or lavender oil. Be sure to shake the bottle each time before use to recombine the ingredients.

DEODORIZING DRAINS
Pour one cup of vinegar down the drain and leave for 30 minutes, then flush with running water. A mixture of vinegar and baking soda is even more effective. Pour two tablespoons of baking soda down the sink hole followed by half a cup of vinegar, leave to bubble for 20 minutes, then flush through by running the cold faucet for a minute.

DISH TOWELS
Be sure to change dish cloths and dish towels every day. Keep them clean by boiling them regularly in a solution of water, distilled white vinegar and a teaspoon of baking soda. When handling meat, be sure to use a separate towel and launder before using again.

GARBAGE DISPOSALS
It's easy to clean your garbage disposal and freshen your kitchen at the same time - make ice cubes with one part distilled white vinegar and one part water. Put one or two ice cubes down the drain and switch on. Flush with cold water after.

GARBAGE CANS
Sprinkle baking soda into the bottom of the garbage can(s) to remove any unpleasant odors. After each emptying, add a little water to the bottom and swirl the watered down baking soda around the can. Pour out the water and leave to dry, then add more baking soda for the next time.

LIME DEPOSITS ON FAUCETS
Soak a terry-cloth rag in distilled white vinegar, then wrap it around the faucets and areas of build-up. Leave for 30 minutes, then rinse clean. A toothbrush used for this purpose allows you to get into the faucet crevices.

MICROWAVE OVENS
Fill a microwaveable bowl with distilled white vinegar and boil in the oven. This will loosen any dried on food which can then be easily wiped clean with a soft, damp cloth.

OVEN CLEANING
If you have a self-cleaning oven, then after cleaning, make a slight paste of baking soda and water. Brush the paste inside the oven. You'll find it will be much easier to clean the next time you go to clean your oven.

PESTS
If you're having troubles with insects (ants, etc.) wipe down kitchen surfaces with vinegar neat to deter any pesty visitors. This also disinfect surfaces.

REFRIGERATORS
Clean the inside of the refrigerator with a solution made from equal parts vinegar and water.

REFRIGERATOR ODORS
Place a saucer of baking soda in the refrigerator to absorb and remove food odors. Be sure to replace every three weeks. Tip - use the old baking soda to clean the drain by following the directions for deodorizing drains above.

STAINLESS STEEL CLEANER
I haven't found a great recipe for cleaning stainless steel, but I do use this vinegar and microfiber method recommended by Clean Mama.

STALE ODORS
Dip a slice of fresh bread in distilled white vinegar and leave in any container with stale odors overnight.

Be sure to check back for my next post which will cover clean and healthy ways to handle food and natural recipes designed to clean your pots and pans and special serving utensils.

Until next time,

la chasse au bonheur