Cleaning doesn't have to be a routine, and it certainly doesn't have to cost a fortune to get your house clean either. Whether you're trying to save money or to reduce the amount of chemicals you use in your home, the kitchen can be a good place to find top-quality cleaning supplies. So say goodbye to conventional cleaning products, and try using these natural remedies to clean the house instead: Onions: Give your hot, grease-encrusted grill a rubdown with a half-onion using a long grill fork to hold it steady. This will help to loosen and clean away all the grease and dirt from the grill plate. Lemons: Due to their mildly acidic properties, lemons can be used to cut through the grease and grime on your stove and appliances. They can easily remove the stains formed by tea, mustard, coffee and grass, and they can also shine up objects made of brass or that are brass-plated. Lemons have bleaching properties too, and they can be used to remove stains from clothing. Try full-strength lemon juice or juice diluted with water or mixed with salt to remove underarm stains from clothes, rust or mildew stains, or ink stains. You can even use lemon peel to make an effective cleanser. Coca-Cola: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl, let it sit for a while, then scrub and flush. The toilet will gleam. Green tea: To keep your refrigerator environment fresh and healthy, place some green tea leaves inside. They can help remove any pungent odours. Tea: Rub wooden furniture with a cloth dipped in cold tea to make it shine. Club soda: This has a magical cleaning power that can be seen on stainless steel ovens, countertops and sinks. Wipe them with a soft cloth drenched in club soda, rinse with warm water, and wipe dry. To clean porcelain fixtures, simply pour the club soda over them and wipe with a soft cloth. There's no need for soap or rinsing, and the soda will not mar the finish. Give the inside of your refrigerator a good cleaning with a weak solution of club soda and a little bit of salt as well. Banana peel: To keep your silverware shiny, use banana peel to make a paste and then use it for cleaning. Potato peel: To keep your house free from rust on metal items, try using potato peel with soap or baking soda to scrub the rusted areas. Keep on rubbing until the rust is cleaned away completely. Cucumbers: Try using slices of cucumber to polish stainless steel items for a flawless shine. Vinegar: Add some white vinegar to hot water in a spray bottle. Spray, then wipe with a clean rag, to get sparkling glass surfaces. You can also mix vinegar with a little lemon juice to clean and disinfect countertops and bathroom surfaces. Salt: In its solid form, salt is an abrasive you can use for scrubbing and cleaning pans in the kitchen. When mixed with water, it becomes a saline solution that can help in cleaning stains from clothes or carpets.
