6 Of The Best Kitchen Cleaners That Will Save You Money

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Aside from modern conveniences like a smartphone, iPad, TV or even Netflix, have you ever felt like going back to the early 1800s? You know; when life was simpler?

Just imagine how our great grandmothers used to clean and what products they felt were the best kitchen cleaners at the time.  Back then they couldn’t go to Dollar General to pick up a bottle of kitchen cleaner. They had to make their own. They had to make theirs with whatever they had on hand.

Nowadays we live in some crazy times.  You’re a busy mom trying to get as much as you can get done in a day. Between going to work, making breakfast for the kiddos,  rushing to get them to and from school, dance class, soccer, and all your other mom life duties.

When all that’s taken care of we have the “mommy” duties of going to the grocery store. Don’t you just feel like signing your paycheck over to them before you walk in the door? It’s insane really. You work your tail off for money and after spending less than 1/2 hour in the store you’re out over $150.

 Groceries seem to be rising in price daily, and unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do about it. But one of the best ways to save money is by making your own DIY kitchen cleaners. Not only is it more economical but just think what a great bonding session it would be if you invite the kiddos to help.

Not only are homemade cleaners better for your health, most of them clean better than the commercial cleaners. They also don’t smell like chemicals and personally, I enjoy making them. Let’s not forget, it also saves us truck-loads of money! (I think I may have mentioned that tasty little nugget before)!

Let me ask you this. How many times have you needed to clean something quickly only to find you have no cleaner left in the bottle? I agree it’s annoying.

Today, I’m going to share with you the 6 best kitchen cleaners you can make yourself, so you’ll always have plenty of cleaners on hand.

The top 3 ingredients you’ll always want on hand

When you’re out shopping, try to make a point to add white distilled vinegar, baking soda, and lemons to your shopping list.

The most ecnomial way to buy vinegar is to purchase the gallon size bottle. I don’t think I’ve ever paid more than $2.48.

Important facts about white distilled vinegar

White distilled vinegar can be used as a disinfectant due to its main property is acetic acid. Vinegar can destroy some “gram-negative” bacteria, such as but not limited to Salmonella & E.Coli. It can also kill some viruses. Vinegar does not kill Influenza or COVID-19.

Regardless of what you hear, never, ever mix these:

• Never mix ammonia and bleach – This is a toxic mixture, that can cause chloramine vapors. Chlorine gas is an irritant and has the potential for tissue damage.  Don’t do it!!!
• Never mix hydrogen peroxide & vinegar – This can cause severe respiratory irritation. Believe me, you don’ t want!
• Never mix vinegar with castile soap – It’s not dangerous, but you’re not doing yourself any favors.  Adding vinegar to castile soap will bring the oils of the soap into play causing a clumpy mess in your spray bottle that may resemble curdled milk.

The 6 best kitchen cleaners you can make today!

Orange Peppermint Scented All-Purpose Kitchen Cleaner

This all-purpose kitchen cleaner is by far my favorite (even though I’m obsessed with lemons). The great thing about making your own kitchen cleaners is, you can add whatever fragrance you want. I’ve also made this using lime, and it sort of smelled like one of those Mojito drinks.

Ingredients:

• Orange peels
• Peppermint essential Oil
• White distilled vinegar
• Vegetable peeler or cheese grater
• Any jar with a tight-fitting lid
• Fine mesh colander
• Large bowl
• Funnel
• Empty spray bottle

Instructions:

1. Place the orange peels – grated, chopped or sliced, into your empty clean jar.
2. Place 3 drops of peppermint essential oil into the jar.
3. Pour as much white distilled vinegar you need to cover all of the orange peels.
4. Place the lid on the jar and place it in a cool dark place for a week.
5. Set a reminder to check back in a week, either in your planner, Google calendar, Evernote, etc..
6. After the week is up, you’ll want to pour the contents in your colander over a large bowl to catch the liquid. If you’re using large pieces of lemon peels, you can just scoop them out of the bowl and not use a colander. (This will infuse the scents together)
7. Using a funnel, pour your brand new amazing household cleaner into a spray bottle.

Lemon Scented All-Purpose Kitchen Cleaner

What I truly love about this particular scent is the mixture of rosemary and lemon. I can’t quite describe it, but it smells as if I’m in the middle of a lemon field, dancing among the lemons while my bare feet are against the coolness of the green grass.

Ingredients & Equipment Needed:

• Lemon peels
• Rosemary sprigs (optional)
• White distilled vinegar
• Vegetable peeler or cheese grater
• Any jar with a tight-fitting lid
• Fine mesh colander
• Large bowl
• Funnel
• Empty spray bottle

Instructions:

1. Place lemon peels – grated, chopped or sliced, into your empty clean jar.
2. Pour as much white distilled vinegar you need to cover all of the lemon peels.
3. Place the lid on the jar and place it in a cool dark place for a week.
4. Set a reminder to check back in 2 weeks, either in your planner, Google calendar, Evernote, etc..
5. After the week is up, you’ll want to pour the contents in your colander over a large bowl to catch the liquid. If you’re using large pieces of lemon peels, you can just scoop them out of the bowl and not use a colander. (This will infuse the scents together)
6. Using a funnel, pour your brand new amazing household cleaner into a spray bottle.

Garbage Disposal Cleaner & Deodorizer

Have you ever walked into your kitchen only to get smacked in the face with some horrible scent and don’t have a clue where it came from? If so, odds are that stench is coming from your garbage disposal. If you don’t have a garbage disposal, you may have another issue.

My kitchen is my sanctuary. I go to my kitchen to escape the reality of the clutter that surrounds the living area. That’s mainly why I’m a tad obsessed with how my kitchen looks and smells.

It’s a good idea to schedule your monthly garbage disposal cleaning. I usually put my reminder in my planner. I would recommend you do the same. This is really important to do especially if your kiddos love peanut butter. For some strange reason, peanut butter likes to stick to the inside of the disposal instead of making its way into the sewer system. Weird.

Ingredients & Equipment Needed:

• Garbage Disposal
• Baking Soda (1lb. box)
• White Distilled Vinegar

Instructions:

1. Pour contents of a small box of baking soda into your garbage disposal.
2. Pour 2 cups of white distilled vinegar in the garbage disposal
3. Once the bubbles and fizzing has stopped, run the hot water, then turn on the garbage disposal
4. Let the garbage disposal run for 1 minute.

Stainless Steel Cleaner

Stainless steel appliances are so beautiful, but man are they a pain in the butt to keep clean. I’ve tried several different store brand cleaners and all they did was take my money and didn’t do a thing.

It’s truly amazing how wonderful and powerful baking soda is. It does everything from allowing my lemon curd muffins to rise to clean my stainless steel fridge. (If you want my recipe for the muffins, just ask and I may just share it with you)!

Ingredients & Equipment Needed:

• 4 tablespoons Baking Soda
• 32 oz Warm Water
• Cloth or Paper Towel

Instructions:

1. Mix the warm water and baking soda.
2. Stir until forming a paste.
3. Apply the damp cloth to the mixture and rub in the direction of the grain of the metal.
4. Rinse using a lightly moistened clean cloth or paper towel.
5. Wipe dry.

Glass cleaner

Glass cleaners are one of the most versatile cleaning agents out on the market today. I remember a time where I cleaned everything with my glass cleaner. Yep, even the toilet rim. The one thing that makes glass cleaner kick some butt is all the stinky ammonia it has.

Due to the corrosive nature and the toxicity level of ammonia, it’s preferable to use your own homemade glass cleaner. After making and using this particular glass cleaner I’m mentioning below, you’ll wonder why you didn’t make it sooner.

This cleans so much better than the store-bought stuff, and best of all, it’s not toxic.

Ingredients & Equipment Needed:

• 2 cups warm water
• ½ cup of apple cider vinegar (if you don’t have that, regular white distilled vinegar will do just fine)
• 4 drops essential oil (any scent you’d like). If you’re using a strong scent, cut back on the number of drops used.
• Spray bottle
• Cloth, paper towel, or newspaper

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients.
2. Clean as usual.

The Best Microwave Cleaner

Trying to clean splattered tomato sauce from the inside of the microwave can take forever, but this simple easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy recipe will change your life for the better.

The key to making clean up such a snap is to get that water really hot. The more steam in the microwave, the easier all the gunk and dried on mess will just slide right off.

Ingredients & Equipment Needed:

• 1 cup Water
• ½ cup white distilled vinegar
• ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Cloth or paper towel

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl or glass
2. Turn the microwave on high for 5 minutes.
3. Once the bowl has cooled, remove it.
4. Dip a clean cloth or paper towel into the mixture and wipe down the inside of the microwave.
5. Using a clean cloth or paper towel, dry the inside of the microwave.

When you’re done cleaning the interior of the microwave, use the remaining solution on the glass tray.

Your turn

What’s the best kitchen cleaner you ever made? Share in a comment.

Until we meet again,

Stacey