Most people think that the bathroom is the dirtiest room in the house — it does have the toilet, after all. But for years now, experts have been telling us that our kitchens actually harbor more germs and bacteria than any other room in our homes, which actually makes a lot of sense. From food preparation to nasty spills, the kitchen is a high traffic area for germs — but don’t freak out and douse your whole kitchen in bleach. Common cleaning products, like chorine bleach, are full of harsh chemicals that can poison your indoor air and irritate skin and mucous membranes – not to mention seep into the ground and local water supply through improperly managed sewage systems. Plus, the toxins hang in the air and can permeate your food and stay on surfaces if you go overboard with harsh cleaning supplies. By practicing a few smart, eco-friendly cleaning habits, your kitchen can be toxin-free and sparkling like new in no time. Plus, to get you in a green cleaning mood, Method is offering a sweepstakes with the chance to win a home organizing consultation and a bucket of their awesome green cleansers.
Ditch the Disinfectant
Sure, disinfectant cleaners and antibacterial soaps are great at taking care of tough spills and caked on food, but do you actually know what’s actually in them? Herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides – not exactly something you want to be wiping all over your kitchen. The EPA classifies 275 of the antibacterial agents commonly used in cleaners as pesticides, some of which have been linked to serious health problems. Put it this way: if these chemicals are toxic enough to kill animals and microbes, do you really want to be spraying these concoctions inside your kitchen? A better choice is to opt for all-natural cleaners that are free of harmful chemicals and volatile organic compounds. Method takes pains to ensure that their cleansers and soaps are safe and sustainable. They do not use parabens, phosphates, ammonia, chlorine bleach, and a slew of other chemicals because of their known adverse side effects. You can also mix up your own line of eco-friendly cleaners with common items found in your kitchen, which brings us to our next tip.
Secret Weapon: The Kitchen Pantry
You can clean just about any surface in your house with a few everyday products: baking soda, white vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and water. Baking soda is a miracle worker: mixed with a little bit of water, it does wonders on counter top spills, stains in the refrigerator, and a dirty tile floor. Add a little lemon juice for a citrusy scent. If your sink is clogged, pour 1/4 cup baking soda down the drain, followed by 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Let it sit for 20 minutes, then flush it with hot water. If grease is the culprit, use 1/2 cup salt and 1/2 cup baking soda and rinse with hot water.
For tough spots, like burnt food in the oven, resist the urge to reach for the industrial strength aerosol cleaners. Don’t even think about buying oven cleaner — it’s jam packed with toxic chemicals like lye, ethylene glycol, and methylene chloride that can burn your eyes, skin, and even your organs if you breathe it in. Instead, sprinkle about 1/4 inch of baking soda over the bottom of your oven, making sure that any stains or spills are completely covered. Over the next few hours, spray it with water every so often to keep it moist, then let it sit overnight. In the morning, the grime will easily scrape off with the baking soda.
Vinegar also works great as an all-purpose cleaner. It is mildly acidic so it wipes away grease, mildew, and coffee or wine stains. To clean a food covered microwave, place 1/4 cup vinegar and 1 cup water in a glass dish and microwave the mixture for two to three minutes, then let it stand for about 10 more. The steam and acidity will loosen the food particles, allowing them to be easily wiped off. Lemon juice can be used for nearly all the same purposes as vinegar.
What a great post! My family made the switch to organic cleaning products two years ago. Couldn’t be happier. We use PURE AirMD.
This is such a great post. I spend at least an hour each day in the kitchen cooking, so all of the thorough advice is much appreciated.
great tips. My favorite cleaning supply is Simple Green. You can buy one bottle or gallon of the concentrate and dilute it into different bottles for light cleaning. It’s a great all around cleaner for counter tops, carpet spots, glass, even washing your car! It just makes cleaning that much easier when I can walk from room to room with one spray bottle to do everything.