5 Foods That Double as Nontoxic Cleaning Products

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Woman holding walnuts
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Countless homeowners have made the shift from harsh, chemical-based household cleaning products to mild, all-natural alternatives.

Folks are slowly starting to realize that spotless floors and sparkling surfaces don’t outweigh the health risks associated with repeated exposure to the dangerous and potentially toxic ingredients in many popular household cleaners.

If you want to make the switch to organic cleaning products, look no further than your pantry or fridge! Many of the foods you’ll find there can be used as cleaners that are as safe and effective as the pricey, all-natural cleaners you see online and in the grocery store.

Following are several foods that moonlight as household cleaners.

Vinegar

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It’s not just for salad dressing, according to Organic Authority:

“Numerous studies have shown that a straight 5 percent solution of vinegar can kill 99 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of mold and 80 percent of germs (viruses).”

Use the all-purpose surface cleaner to disinfect countertops, clean tile floors, freshen laundry, wash windows and remove watermarks from glass.

Want more ideas? Check out “22 Money-Saving Ways to Use Vinegar in Every Room of Your Home.”

Lemons

Woman with lemon
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Forget about those chemical cleaners disguised to smell like lemons. Instead, use the real thing.

Lemons have mildly acidic properties that can help rid your stove and appliances of grease and grime. They can also be used to clean wood cutting boards and to shine copper.

You can even toss half a lemon down your garbage disposal to help deodorize the internal workings.

Club soda

Hand opening a soda can.
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This bubbly beverage works wonders on stained fabric and carpeting, according to Reader’s Digest:

“Pour club soda on the stain and scrub gently. Scrub more vigorously to remove stains on carpets or less delicate articles of clothing.”

Club soda can also be used to remove rust and clean porcelain fixtures as well as stainless steel appliances and sinks, Reader’s Digest says. Keep a spray bottle of club soda in your vehicle to rid your windshield of grease and bird droppings.

Onions

Onions
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This aromatic veggie is another great addition to your arsenal of natural cleaning products. Use it to rid your grill of baked-on, caked-on residue. How does it work? NaturalNews.com explains:

“Heat up the grill and then cut an onion in half and stab one half of the onion with a fork, flat part facing down. This small trick will work to remove all the grease and leftover grit on the grill.”

You’ll wonder why you ever resorted to harsh chemical cleaners and scouring pads.

Walnuts

Walnuts
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Once you remove walnuts from their shells, they become an effective tool for removing scuffs and scratches from wooden cabinets and furniture.

According to Organic Authority:

“Simply rub the meat of a walnut onto your scratches and watch them disappear. First, use circular motions, then back and forth along the whole of the scratch. After several minutes of sitting, the oils in the walnut will have seeped into the scratch and worked its magic.”

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