Kitchen grease stains and spots are among the most annoying problems in the household, some of them being so stubborn that they cannot be removed easily.We often end up spending hours removing this kitchen dirt, rubbing and scrubbing the surfaces and using all sorts of chemicals, sprays, and cleaning agents.But what if you don’t need a cabinet full of expensive spray bottles to keep your home clean?Some of the best cleaning hacks are sitting quietly in your kitchen right now, and one of the simplest is a two-ingredient combo: baking soda and fresh orange juice.It might sound bizarre to work, but putting them together can get you a low-cost, low-toxicity cleaner that tackles daily kitchen and bathroom dirt while leaving behind a fresh citrus smell instead of a harsh chemical one.Here is how to make one for your house
How to make the DIY baking soda and orange juice cleaner
Making this cleaner takes seconds and needs nothing you don’t already have. Begin by combining about two teaspoons of baking soda with fresh orange juice, adding the juice gradually until you get a thick, spreadable paste. For easier stains and cleaning, like wiping down counters, thin the paste out with a little water so it’s easier to spread and rinse off. Make it fresh each time, since it’s a natural mixture without preservatives and won’t store well for long.
How can it be used in the house?
This paste is genuinely multi-purpose and can be used for several cleaning purposes, like scrubbing sinks and basins back to a shine, flushing down drains to remove lingering odours, and cleaning countertops to remove and reduce the sticky residue left behind. It also works well to deodorise plastic food containers and utensils that have picked up smells over time, and it can also help to cut out light-to-moderate grease buildup on stovetops and backsplashes without needing a harsh degreaser.
Safety precautions to keep in mind while using this cleaner
Even natural ingredients deserve a bit of caution. Citric acid, present in the oranges, can irritate skin with repeated exposure, so wear gloves while scrubbing and keep the mixture away from your eyes and face.Avoid using it on porous or unsealed natural stone, like marble or granite, since the acid can dull or damage the surface over time. And most importantly, never combine this mixture with bleach, ammonia, or other commercial cleaning chemicals, as mixing acids with certain chemical cleaners can produce harmful fumes; this one is best used as an all-natural solution.
