Natural Cleaners & Stain Removers You Already Own

Nothing makes your home sparkle like a good cleaning. Whether you’re in the mood to give your rooms a thorough scrubbing or simply need to tackle a single stain, you want a cleaning solution that’s up to the job.

If you’re hoping to avoid harsh and chemical-laden products that often leave you coughing as you’re cleaning, you’re in luck. There are plenty of natural, DIY cleaners just waiting for you in your pantry, and possibly even your fridge. If you have kids, pets, or are prone to asthma, using natural solutions offers you peace of mind while you’re disinfecting your spaces.

Ready to make your surfaces shine? Check out the following ingredients that you probably already own.

Lemons

If you’ve got a cutting board you’d like to clean without contaminating it with chemicals, grab a lemon and some coarse salt and you’re good to go. Simply sprinkle your board with coarse salt, then scrub it with half a lemon, cut side down, allowing the juices to release as you work. Then, let it sit for five minutes before scraping and rinsing it.

Lemons can also help you clean your microwave without requiring too much elbow grease. Simply cut up a lemon and place the slices in a bowl of water at the center of your microwave and cook it on high for five minutes. Once that timer beeps, allow it to rest for another two minutes before removing it (while wearing oven mitts, of course). Then, watch as those food particles encrusted to the walls wipe away effortlessly.

Salt

We know that pairing salt with lemon works in the kitchen, but it’s also a dynamo in the laundry room, where it’s strong enough to battle notoriously tough stains like blood and red wine. When it comes to a fresh blood stain, cover it with salt and then blot it with cold water. Continue until your stain disappears.

Similarly, when you’re faced with removing red wine, use enough salt to cover the area and allow it to soak up the spilled liquid. Then, launder the item as you normally would.