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Have you been thinking about cleaning your kitchen appliances naturally? Now more than ever, people are becoming more and more conscious and concerned about the chemicals that we use in our homes.
Not only can these chemicals be very dangerous for us to be around, but they can also be very damaging to our planet. So, cleaning kitchen appliances (both large and small) naturally is a great alternative to better protect our health, our animals, our children, and our planet.
The kitchen is one of the grimiest and greasiest places in the whole household, and it is usually the room in all of our houses that gets the most use. With all of the different food coming in and out, the rubbish piling up, and grime on various surfaces, it can be an absolute chore to clean.
That is why having trusty, natural and efficient cleaning products at our side can be a huge game-changer.
In this article, we will walk you through some of our top natural cleaning tips for cleaning your kitchen appliances naturally and even give you a quick guide on the natural products that you will always want to have in your kitchen cupboard!
How to Start Cleaning Kitchen Appliances Naturally – One by One
Let’s take a look at how you can carefully, and naturally, (safely) clean your oven, your microwave and your fridge with natural resources – and without ever having to think about using nasty, abrasive cleaners and chemicals.
Cleaning the Oven
The oven tends to be the hardest appliance for all of us to clean! Not only does it regularly need a deep clean, but between all of the grime, grease, and burnt food, it can take a lot more than just a strong product to get it looking great.
So, how can you do it naturally? Well, you need to start by combining a few teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda with some water until it makes a paste. Once you have made the paste, use gloves to cover the inside of the oven cavity (do ensure that you remove the cooking trays and any cookware beforehand). However, do not put it over any of the oven’s heating elements!
Leave the paste to sit in the oven for at least twelve hours. For that, it is a good idea to put it on after dinner and let it sit while you sleep. Ensure that the oven is completely cool before applying the paste inside.
After the 12 hours have passed, take a damp cloth and wipe out the paste, using a kitchen utensil in the hard to reach places and to remove any stubborn debris. Then, use some white vinegar to remove any remaining bicarbonate of soda. White vinegar is also easy to spray, so fill up a used and washed-out spray bottle if you have one to hand.
The combination of the two should form a foam, which is completely normal. Using the same damp cloth (having rinsed it), wipe out any of the remaining paste or foam. This technique will leave your oven sparkling and will not leave any nasty odours lingering in your oven. To avoid having to clean your oven so intensely (and so frequently), it is also a good idea to wipe down your cavity after every use once it has cooled down.
If you have a self-cleaning oven, of course, turn on pyrolytic mode – and you’re free to just wipe down without any chemicals.
Cleaning the Microwave
The microwave is one of the most efficient and easy-to-use machines that most of us have to hand in our kitchens. Thankfully, they are also incredibly easy to clean naturally.
All you need to do is put one cup of water, a splash of white vinegar and two tablespoons of lemon juice in a microwaveable bowl.
Place the bowl in the microwave and turn it on for about four minutes. Once the microwave has finished heating it, remove the bowl using protective gloves (as it will be very hot).
Then, all you need to do is use a clean cloth to wipe the steam off of the inside of the microwave, leaving it spotless. If there is still any stubborn debris in there, then repeat the process until it is clean.
Lemon and vinegar are brilliant at getting muck out of a microwave thanks to their acidic makeup – and you won’t have to worry about chemicals lingering afterwards.
Cleaning the fridge
The fridge is possibly the appliance that can end up smelling the most if left to fester, and those bad odours can sometimes be signs of a lot of bacteria building up! That is why it is essential to ensure that you clean it thoroughly.
Start by removing all of the food from the refrigerator. Then, add two cups of hot water, one cup of vinegar and ten drops of lemon essential oil (or any other citrus essential oil) to a spray bottle.
Spray the concoction inside the fridge, covering all of the surfaces. Let it sit for about two to three minutes before then wiping out the fridge with a clean, damp cloth. You will find that your fridge is left spotless and smelling better than ever!
Cleaning Kitchen Appliances Naturally: Are Natural Cleaning Methods Efficient
Yes – surprisingly so, perhaps! However, when you first start out cleaning kitchen appliances naturally, be sure to prepare for at least a little bit of elbow grease.
One of the biggest concerns about using natural substances to clean one’s home is that they may not be as efficient as the harsh chemicals that we can buy. Thankfully, that simply isn’t the case.
Vinegar alone has proven to be efficient at killing e. coli, salmonella, and certain other nasty bacteria. Lemons and bicarbonate of soda are also great for deodorising and cleaning. Moreover, these natural products are also far better for our health and our environment.
Finally, by combining mixtures yourself using products that you most likely already have in the home, you could save yourself a lot of money on cleaning products. The important thing to remember is to clean frequently – find your rhythm, and try to embrace cleaning kitchen appliances naturally.
