When it comes to home cleaning, most of us reach for expensive, often harsh products. Did you know that there are things in your kitchen that can be a good cleaning solution?

Non-toxic homemade cleaning products aren’t just better for us; they can also help save us money and protect the environment.

You may have heard that you can replace many commercial cleaning products with inexpensive items you've already got in your kitchen pantry.

Onion

Give your grill a rubdown with an onion and you’ll watch the caked-on grease and grime vanish from your grill grates. Turn your grill’s heat up super high, and with a long grill fork, stab an onion, and with the flat side down, rub along the grill grates.

Tea

More than a favorite beverage, brewed tea can be used to clean windows, mirrors and countertops. Spray on your bathroom surfaces just as you would any typical window or surface cleaner. Then, keep your bags to hide in the back of the fridge. They will actually work to deodorize it. And if you need to remove the scent of onion, garlic or fish from your hands, cut a bag open, and wash your hands with the leaves to remove the odor

Lemons

You don’t need lemon-scented cleaners to clean your house — you just need lemons! With their mildly acidic properties, lemons can be used to cut through grease and grime on your stove and appliances. They can also shine up brass objects so long as they are made of actual brass and not just brass plated.

Citrus can zap grime from your microwave, remove stains from linens, and shine brass.

Rice

Swish a scoop of uncooked grains (with warm water and a little dish detergent) around the inside of a vase to scrub hard-to-reach spots.

Having a hard time fitting your hands while cleaning a narrow vase? Just pour two tablespoons of dry rice and half a cup of warm water inside the vase. Shake the vase vigorously while covering it with your hands. Drain the vase afterwards.

Ketchup

This french fry sidekick can shine copper and get your car gleaming again.

Table salt

The course texture of this cooking staple can erase stains from butcher block countertop, and helps release stuck-on food from your cast-iron skillet.

Remember that miracle lemon that cleaned the tub? If your dirt stains are particularly stubborn, add some salt to the lemon, and scrub the surface of your bathtub, sink or toilet. Once your salt solution has done the trick, just rinse off any pulp and leftover residue, leaving your bathroom perfectly clean with a lemon-fresh scent!

Walnuts

Got a scuff or a scratch on your wood furniture? Rub it with a walnut (shell removed) to mask the damage.

Powdered lemon or orange drink

The citric acid in your favorite drink powder can help banish rust and stains from your dishwasher.

Cream of tartar

This common baking ingredient can remove the grayish residue that shows up on aluminum utensils after you run them through the dishwasher.

Baking soda

This stuff deserves a star spot in your cleaning cabinet. Mixed with warm water, it's an effective all-purpose cleanser — it can even shine jewelry.

Vinegar

Like baking soda, white vinegar is a powerful cleaning tool. It can freshen laundry, lift stains from carpet, brighten windows, and so much more. Just don't use it in these spots — you might do more harm than good.

Vodka

Grab the bottle from leftover from your last big party to deodorize clothes and shine chrome and porcelain fixtures.

Cucumber

Use slices of cucumber to polish any stainless steel products for a flawless shine!

Mayo

If your coffee table has water ring damage, a spoonful of mayo will help take it away. Spoon a glob of it on the stain and let it set for a few minutes. Take a damp cloth and gently rub the mayo in. Allow it to sit, and then with a wet cloth wipe excess mayo away, followed up by a soft buffing cloth.

Ice Cubes

Every few weeks, toss in a handful of cubes in your sink. Add some orange, or lemon to ward off some stenchy odor.

Coffee Filters

Use Coffee Filters On Glass

Clean your mirrors and windows with coffee filters instead of rags or paper that wells for a streak and lint free shine.

Baby Oil

Baby oil helps the dirty water bead roll down the drain faster. Use this to clean your sink, toilet bowl, or tub.

Potatoes

Did you just went on a camping trip? To remove hardened mud on your clothes, especially comforter or blankets, slice a potato in half and gently rub the cut end on to it. Soak the fabric in cool water after before tossing them into the laundry.

Wax Paper

Wax Paper for Faucets

Wiping faucets with wax paper prevents water spots and finger prints.

White bread

Get rid of greasy fingerprints from walls with white bread

It sounds weird, but rubbing finger marks with a slice of white bread will give your walls a new lease of life! We're not sure how someone discovered this, but we're grateful they did...

Salt and foil

Clean your iron with salt and foil.

If you’ve got a dirty iron, remove built-up dirt from the bottom with salt and tin foil. Turn on the iron, and run it over a piece of aluminum foil sprinkled with salt.

Grapefruit

Get rid of water marks or stains in your bathtub by cutting a grapefruit in half, sprinkling on some rock salt and giving it a good scrub. Have the other half for a nutritious breakfast!

If you are a person that have a hectic schedule, You might prefer getting a cleaning service.Great thing there is Seattle Green Cleaning Fairy. They make your lives easier by doing the cleaning job for you.

Seattle Green Cleaning Fairy are also using Eco-friendly cleaning products, meaning our home is free from toxic cleaning supplies. Call them now and schedule an appointment!