10 eco-friendly ways to clean your kitchen
Being environmentally conscious is more important than ever these days, but many of us come unstuck when it comes to cleaning our home. Surely, part and parcel of a clean kitchen is the need for chemical-based products? Nope, we’re pleased to report that that’s most definitely not the case. Many chemical cleaning products are pricey, contain potential allergens and most importantly can have a detrimental effect on the environment. So, what’s the alternative? We’re glad you asked! Take a look at our ten eco-friendly ways to clean your kitchen.
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Clean your oven
Gah, the dreaded oven clean; it takes lots of time, lots of elbow grease and almost always involves lots of harsh cleaning products. Well, we’ve got a solution to that and it’s super simple. Mix baking soda with a few drops of water to form a thick paste and spread it on the bottom of the oven. Let it sit overnight and then in the morning wipe it off. Easy.
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Refresh your dishwasher
If your dishwasher needs a clean, then forget expensive chemicals and instead opt for this simple cleaning solution that allows you to go green instead. Simply fill a (dishwasher safe) bowl with two cups of white wine vinegar and set it on the top rack. Let it run for a cycle (without anything else in there, of course) and et voila – odours and bacteria are gone.
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Polish your tiles
We all know how quickly the grout between tiles can lose its freshness. All the moisture in the air means the grouting can grow mould which is both unsightly and unhealthy but, fear not, we have a solution for that and it won’t hit your wallet or the environment. Mix equal amounts of carbonated water with white wine vinegar and spray onto grouting to keep it mould free. Or, for heavier discolouration, add in enough baking soda to make a thick paste and leave on for 15 minutes before scrubbing off.
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Minimise odours
Maybe you’re about to cook up a garlic-heavy meal but know the in-laws are on their way over, or maybe you’re about to redecorate and the smell of paint is already in the air. There’s a super simple solution to this: simply simmer a pan with water and a few drops of vinegar in. It’s a natural way to neutralise odour and can even remove strong scents such as fish and onion.
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Gleam-y windows
If your kitchen windows could do with a spruce, then forget ammonia-based window cleaners and opt for something natural instead. Mix together 4 tablespoons of lemon juice with two litres of water and use a lint-free rag to wipe to clean. For added green points, use an old t-shirt that’s ready for the bin. Quick tip: the old wives’ tale that old newspaper will add extra sheen is a lot more hassle than it’s worth!
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Make your metals shine
Brass, copper, steel, we have mountains of the stuff in our kitchens but cleaning it without chemical-laden cleaning products isn’t always easy. Many metal polishes contain ammonia and acid, all in all, not what you want to spray liberally around the heart of your home. Thankfully, there are greener methods that can prevent the use of harsh cleaning products and the good news is, you almost certainly already have them in your cupboard.
Make a paste using equal parts salt, vinegar and flour. Rub the paste onto tarnished metal items and allow to dry (this will probably take about an hour) and then buff off with a clean, soft cloth.
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Spruce up your floor
Keeping our kitchen floors clean can feel like a thankless task, particularly when you consider that many of the products we use are not at all eco-friendly. Good news, then, as this solution isn’t just very quick and simple, but it also contains zero unnatural chemicals. Mix vinegar with warm water (about 1/10th vinegar to water) and mop it onto tiles, lino or vinyl. Don’t saturate the floor, use a limited amount of the mixture so you can leave to dry naturally afterwards. This will clean up spills and remove any greasy build-up.
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Microwave madness
Cleaning the microwave can be one of those jobs that gets overlooked until we see visible splatter (we’re looking at you tomato sauce) but microwaves can be a breeding ground for germs if not cleaned regularly.
As a general rule of thumb, lemons are our friends in the battle for an eco-friendly kitchen clean. They have powerful antiseptic and antibacterial properties and act as a natural deodoriser too. Simply squeeze the juice of one lemon into a microwaveable bowl and cook for three minutes. Leave to stand for a further five (with the door closed) and then wipe the roof, walls and floor with a clean cloth.
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Superstar glasses
Vinegar may make a great salad dressing and will elevate the humble chip to a food of the Gods, but that’s not all it’s good for – if you have glassware that’s looking a little cloudy, then fill your sink with a solution that’s one-part water to one-part vinegar. Leave your glassware to soak for five minutes, take a glass out and rinse. If it’s still a little cloudy then leave for a few minutes longer.
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Declutter your clutter
If you’re looking to cut down on the amount of harsh cleaning products you use, a declutter might be in order. The more knick-knacks you have, the more there is to dust and wash. By streamlining the number of items in your kitchen, you may just find that you can keep things clean a lot more easily.
So, there you have it, our top ten list of eco-friendly ways to keep your kitchen clean. We might not save the world overnight but a little goes a long way and by using the methods above where we can, we can feel confident that we’re playing our part.
At Breville, our range of kitchen appliances are cleverly designed to make them easier to clean, so you keep your kitchen feeling fresher for longer. For more information and to browse our complete kitchen range, visit the homepage.