Natural Cleaning Tips for Your Handmade Kitchen
Fewer of us are enamoured by all the chemical-laden cleaners we find on supermarket shelves these days. And that’s not a bad thing. Not only can chemical cleaners harm our skin but their effects on the environment are well-known. As such, more and more people are turning towards natural cleaning remedies for their handmade kitchen.
That means they are reaching out for items they already have in their bespoke kitchen pantry or fridge. Distilled vinegar, bicarbonate of soda, lemons, limes and even herbs (for a little scent). And one of the best bits? None of these items re expensive to buy and, with the exception of the citrus fruit, you don’t need to use much of them either. Anyway, here are some of our favourite natural handmade kitchen cleaning tips at Classic Kitchens Direct:
Bin cleaner
One of the ‘smellier’ elements of a bespoke kitchen, our bins often need regular wiping – and this is a great natural way to do it. Mix a little white distilled vinegar with the equivalent of water, the rind of one lemon and some rosemary sprigs. Give it all a good shake and pour into a spray bottle. Allow to infuse for a week before grabbing and spraying the inside of the bin and other dirty marks, such as handprints on the wall.
Glass cleaner
Pour into a large jug two cups of water, ½ cup of white or cider vinegar, ¼ cup of surgical spirit and two drops of orange essential oil (or whichever citrus scent you prefer). Once you’ve give them a stir to combine pour into the spray bottle and use to clean mirrors (after spraying on to a paper towel) and windows (though not on a sunny day as this will result in streaks).
Worktop cleaner
Grab a bunch of lavender and thyme together with the peel from a grapefruit. Add to two cups of white vinegar in a covered jar, shake, and leave for 24 hours to infuse. Put greaseproof paper as a lining on a metal lid to ensure it doesn’t rust. Add water to the vinegar the following day then strain the mixture twice (the second time using a coffee filter to catch all the herbs). Finally pour into a spray bottle and get cleaning that handmade kitchen worktop.
Oven cleaner
Mix together a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water then spread over the inside of your oven (missing out the heating elements). Eat out that night – or have salad because you want that paste to sit there for 24 hours in order to absorb. Afterwards wipe off using a damp cloth. There may still be some bits of stubborn soda clinging to the sides but just spray with distilled white vinegar and scrub if that’s the case, you will soon be able to wipe it off.
Dish cleaner
Yes, it is perfectly possible to make your own washing up liquid too; in fact, it’s easy (and phosphate-free). Simply mix together ½ cup of liquid castile soap with ½ cup of water and ¼ cup of white vinegar. Blend together then add in the juice of a lemon and a few drops of tea tree oil. Mix again and then hey presto! Use around two tablespoons per basin-full of crockery, or dish-washer load in that new handmade kitchen of yours.
Clothes soap powder
It costs so much to buy commercially that you will no doubt be surprised at just how little money you will have to fork out to make your own laundry powder. It’s also far gentler for your skin. To make, just stir together shavings from a bar of castile soap and ½ cup of soda crystals then decant into a jar and store. Each load should be around one tablespoon’s worth.
Another natural detergent for washing clothes are soap nuts. These shells can simply be put into a cloth bag and placed in the washing machine along with the clothes.
Get in touch for a bespoke kitchen today
Certainly, with a beautiful handmade kitchen the last thing you will want is to use harsh and abrasive chemicals on all that beautiful carpentry and wood. As such, we hope you found the above useful if that is indeed what you are contemplating – investing in a bespoke kitchen to fit in with not just the physical space allotted to you in your kitchen, but also your family’s lifestyle.
Get in touch with the team here at Classic Kitchens Direct for a chat on 01202 481177 or email at office@classic-kitchens-direct.com. You can also take a look at some of our existing work on our website gallery.
