The kitchen is sometimes referred to as the “heart of the home.” It’s where families come together to make and cook dinner, and where guests tend to gravitate during gatherings. Because of this, I try to keep my kitchen as clean as possible. If my kitchen is clean, my entire home feels much tidier. =)
Below are several recipes to keep your kitchen looking and smelling clean, including a garbage disposal freshener, a multipurpose cleaning spray and a soothing simmering potpourri. Many of the ingredients in these recipes come from natural sources, and are a great way to cut out harsh chemicals from store bought cleaning products. In addition, you can download and print these free Natural Cleaning Labels to give your products a professional look.
Natural Garbage Disposal Refresher
What You’ll Need:
Petite Bendy Stars Soap Mold (or ice cube tray)
About 2.5 oz. White Vinegar
1 Heaping Tbs. Epsom Salt
7 mL Lemon Essential Oil
Optional: Small slices of fresh lemon
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For this recipe, vinegar is mixed with Epsom salt and lemon essential oil and placed in the freezer. Once the mixture is frozen solid, turn on the garbage disposal and throw in several ice cubes (depending how big your cubes are). For extra deodorizing properties, pour boiling water down the drain after using. The exact amount of vinegar, Epsom salt and essential oil you need will depend on how large your ice cube cavities are. If you’d like extra deodorizing properties, you can place small pieces of fresh lemon into each cavity to freeze the lemon in the vinegar.
ONE: Mix together the white vinegar and epsom salt in a small container. Whisk in the lemon essential oil, and pour into the mold cavities. Place in the freezer and allow to fully freeze.
TWO: Once the mixture is fully frozen, place 3-4Â cubes into the disposal and turn on. Allow the disposal to grind the cubes to release the lemon smell. Follow with boiling water for extra freshening. Use as often as needed.
Multipurpose Cleaning Spray
What You’ll Need:
Four 4 oz. Brushed Aluminum Bottles
2 cups Distilled Water
1 Tbs. Borax
2 Tbs. White Vinegar
2 Tbs. 99% Isopropyl Alcohol
4 mL Lemon Essential Oil
3 mL White Thyme Essential Oil
4 mL Optiphen NDÂ
Natural Cleaning Labels Templates
Click here to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart!
This multi purpose spray is easy to make, and is great for wiping down countertops and other non-porous surfaces. White thyme essential oil is known for its antibacterial properties, and smells fresh and clean when mixed with lemon essential oil. Because this recipe does not use a emulsifier, it does need to be shaken before each use to disperse the essential oils throughout the mixture. Borax, also known as sodium borate, should be handled with caution; I recommend wearing gloves and goggles when working with borax, similar to handling lye.
ONE: Heat the distilled water in a small heat safe container until warm (about 110-120 degrees). Add the borax powder and stir until it has fully dissolved.
TWO: Add the vinegar and alcohol and stir in. Add the Optiphen ND. Add the essential oils and use a whisk to help the oils mix in to the water. Quickly pour the mixture into the spray bottles. Cap, and use! If you’d like, download and print these free labels to give your spray a professional look.
NOTE: Because this recipe does not contain an emulsifier, you will need to shake the mixture before each use to mix in the essential oils evenly.
Orange & Lavender Simmering Potpourri
What You’ll Need:
4 cups Water
1 Whole Orange, cut into slices
5-6 Tbs. Lavender Buds
7-8 mL Lavender 40/42
If your kitchen and surrounding area needs some freshening, this Orange and Lavender Simmering Potpourri will fill the air with a crisp and relaxing scent. Simply add the ingredients into a small saucepan with water, and bring the pot to a boil. Then reduce the heat and allow the mixture to slowly simmer for hours. Do not leave the pot unattended, and do not allow the water to fully evaporate. Once the water is almost gone, refill the pot with more water. Feel free to adjust the amounts of lavender buds, orange slices and essential oil to your preference. I found this amount to be a great balance of citrus and relaxing lavender.
ONE: Add the water to a small saucepan. Cut the orange, and add the slices to the water.
TWO: Add the lavender buds and lavender essential oil. Stir to mix in. Turn on the stove to high and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to a steady simmer, and allow the scents to fill your room.
NOTE: Do no leave the simmer pot unattended. Do not allow all the water to evaporate, or the ingredients may begin to burn. Once the water diminishes, add more.
Is there a cleaning recipe that you love to use in the kitchen? I would love to hear about it! Don’t forget to check out all the natural cleaning sale items here. =)
Natural Kitchen Cleaning Recipes
Ingredients
- Petite Bendy Stars Soap Mold or ice cube tray
- About 2.5 oz. White Vinegar
- 1 Heaping Tbs. Epsom Salt
- 7 mL Lemon Essential Oil
- Optional: Small slices of fresh lemon
Instructions
- Mix together the white vinegar and epsom salt in a small container. Whisk in the lemon essential oil, and pour into the mold cavities. Place in the freezer and allow to fully freeze.
- Once the mixture is fully frozen, place 3-4 cubes into the disposal and turn on. Allow the disposal to grind the cubes to release the lemon smell. Follow with boiling water for extra freshening. Use as often as needed.
Natural Kitchen Cleaning Recipes
Ingredients
- 4 cups Water
- 1 Whole Orange cut into slices
- 5-6 Tbs. Lavender Buds
- 7-8 mL Lavender 40/42
Instructions
- Add the water to a small saucepan. Cut the orange, and add the slices to the water.
- Add the lavender buds and lavender essential oil. Stir to mix in. Turn on the stove to high and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to a steady simmer, and allow the scents to fill your room.
NOTE: Do no leave the simmer pot unattended. Do not allow all the water to evaporate, or the ingredients may begin to burn. Once the water diminishes, replenish
Natural Kitchen Cleaning Recipes
Ingredients
- Four 4 oz. Brushed Aluminum Bottles
- 2 cups Distilled Water
- 1 Tbs. Borax
- 2 Tbs. White Vinegar
- 2 Tbs. 99% Isopropyl Alcohol
- 4 mL Lemon Essential Oil
- 4 mL Optiphen ND
- 3 mL White Thyme Essential Oil
Instructions
- Heat the distilled water in a small heat safe container until warm (about 110-120 degrees). Add the borax powder and stir until it has fully dissolved.
- Add the vinegar and alcohol and stir in. Add the Optiphen ND. Add the essential oils and use a whisk to help the oils mix in to the water. Quickly pour the mixture into the spray bottles. Cap, and use!
NOTE: Because this recipe does not contain an emulsifier, you will need to shake the mixture before each use to mix in the essential oils evenly.
