9 Foods You Can Use to Keep Your Home Squeaky Clean

Although we assume household cleaners are safe, most all-purpose cleaning products are potentially toxic and can harm our health. Luckily, you can easily replace them with safer, eco-friendly options that really work.

We at Bright Side have done some research to find out what natural home cleaners you can borrow right from your pantry.

1. Bananas

You can use bananas to make a trap for fruit flies. Put an old banana and some dish soap inside of a jar. Then roll a sheet of paper into a funnel shape and tape it so that it maintains the structure and add it to the opening of the jar. The sweet smell of the banana will attract the flies and the funnel and soap will make it hard for them to get back out of the jar.

2. Soda water

This popular drink makes for a great natural cleaner. Splash it over your bathroom mirror and then wipe it off with a sponge. You can also use it to clean your jewelry, your countertop, or to remove stains from your clothes.

3. Rice

If you have irregularly-shaped bottles or vases that are hard to clean, rice can serve as a perfect scrubbing agent. Use raw, uncooked rice and a bit of soapy water to reach the areas that can be hard to clean. All you need to do is put this mixture into a vase and swirl it around.

4. Potato peels

The easiest way to clean your fireplace is to burn some potato peels in it. Let the peels dry for up to 48 hours because damp peels will not work for this cleaning method. Spread the potato peels on a baking sheet to keep them flat. As they burn, they’ll push burnt wood residue out of your chimney.

5. Lemons

A mixture of lemon juice, peels, and water can be used to clean the microwave. Place an uncovered bowl inside and set it on high for 3 minutes. Leave the door closed for some time so the steam from the water can’t escape. Lastly, wipe the microwave down with a clean towel.

6. Grapefruit

One large grapefruit and some rock salt serve as eco-friendly tools that can make your tub look like new. Cut grapefruit in half and sprinkle its top with salt. Wet your bathtub, sprinkle the remaining salt around the bottom, and scrub the grapefruit around the tub.

7. Ketchup

A tasty dip for fries can make your copper-bottomed pots shiny and new-looking. Slather some ketchup onto the pots, leave it on for some time, and then wipe and rinse. The same method can be used for cleaning stainless steel.

8. Onions

Using onions is an easy way to clean your grill without any chemicals. Place a halved onion on a grilling fork and rub it against the grate. This will easily remove grime and grit without much effort.

9. Tea

Black tea can be used to clean and add shine to hardwood floors. Pour some tea into your mop bucket and let it cool off. The tannic acid in the tea will help to clean hardwood floors, but you shouldn’t use it for mopping laminate floors.

Have you ever used any of these methods for cleaning? Do you know any other foods that can serve as cleaning agents?