My Simple, Effective Cleaning Tips

by Texas Homesteader ~ 

Why complicate cleaning? My homemade kitchen cleaners cost very little with ingredients are much softer on the environment than chemical cleaners. Even my containers are repurposed! 

My kitchen cleaner costs very little and my ingredients are so much softer on the environment - even the containers are repurposed! #TexasHomesteader

Cleaning A Kitchen Mess

I was recently gifted a hefty supply of pears from the trees of two different friends. How wonderful! 

Wanting to keep them from going to waste I set to preserving them right away. I peeled, cored, chopped, cooked and canned several pounds of pears over the course of several days. It was a Crazy-Canning Lady’s Marathon!

So much home canning at one time - the crazy canning lady's canning marathon! #TexasHomesteader

When the cooking marathon was done I was left with a kitchen in dire need of a good thorough scrubbing. There was sticky pear juice everywhere!

So I washed all the dishes and put away all the stock pots, canning supplies, jars and such.

Then I was left with wiping down the counters, cabinets, sink and any appliances I touched while I was working.

OK let’s be honest, I needed to wipe down EVERYTHING!

Inexpensive, Effective, Grease-Cutting Cleaner

I always strive to clean in the gentlest manner possible. Plus I hate expensive toxic chemicals to be brought in our home. I’ve included a list of my most used cleaning methods at the end of this post. I encourage you to check them out.

But as I pulled my spray bottle of kitchen cleaner from under the sink I smiled knowing that my cleaner was effective, gentle and SO cheap inexpensive.

I haven’t complicated cleaning, nor have I spent money on harsh cleaning chemicals. What do I use?

Just like your mama always told ya – soap & water!

Homemade Kitchen Cleaner

I had a family member save the empty spray bottle for me from a commercially-produced cleaner. Then I rinsed it out & filled it with water and added a hearty squirt of grease-cutting dish soap.

A gentle swirl and an identifying label & I was ready to go.  (please ALWAYS remember to label your cleaners!)

My kitchen cleaner costs very little and my ingredients are so much softer on the environment - even the containers are repurposed! #TexasHomesteader

My homemade kitchen cleaner works so well for pennies. Plus I enjoy the mild scent that takes the place of the strong, chemically smell of the commercial stuff.

Plus since it’s just dishwashing liquid and water, I can use it when I’m washing a single dish too. Don’t you hate to try to wash a single dish. Even though you try to put a tiny squirt of dishwashing soap on the dish, it’s too much. Then you have to rinse & rinse just to get all the soap off.

But I use this spray bottle of dish soap to simplify those small dishwashing chores. I wet the plate, spray with my soap/water spray and scrub clean. A quick rinse and I’m done.

The biggest plus? I know my homemade kitchen cleaning solution is both gentle and effective.

Baking Soda Offers Extra Scrubbing Power

The other natural cleaner in my kitchen-cleaning arsonal is baking soda. It makes a huge difference when a little more scrubbing power is needed.

Whether scrubbing baked-on food or sticky kitchen floors, my baking soda scrubbing solution is safe for eating surfaces (unlike most commercial scrubbing products.) Plus it costs pennies. I feel good about all of that.

Baking soda does double duty as a cheap, effective scrub cleaner. #TexasHomesteader

So between my spray bottle of soapy water & my little shaker jar of baking soda (for when a little extra scrubbing was needed like my poor sinks) along with a trusty cleaning rag – I got busy wiping down everything in that kitchen.

I love that it costs so very little and that my ingredients are much gentler on the environment. Heck, even the containers are repurposed!

Give it a try – you have nothing to lose except sticky counter tops. Now if you’ll excuse me, it’s time for me to get back to work cleaning!

~TxH~

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8 thoughts on “My Simple, Effective Cleaning Tips

    1. Texas Homesteader Post author

      I love my spray bottle of dish soap. It keeps me from having to rinse & rinse to get off all the soap from even a tiny little squirt when I’m hand-washing a single dish.

      Reply
  1. Amanda @ The Kolb Corner

    I love using an all natural cleaner. So much better for you than the commercial chemicals. Thank you for sharing at Merry Monday!

    Reply
  2. Linda

    I am a messy cook. After a day in the kitchen I need at least an hour to clean every surface. I like the baking soda in the little shaker idea. Thanks for sharing at What’d You Do This Weekend.

    Happy New Year!
    Linda

    Reply
  3. JES

    I’m with you. Haven’t bought a store cleaner in years… Just vinegar, water, baking soda and a splash of (essential oil if feeling decadent) or cleaning herbs like lavender and lemon 🙂

    Thank you for sharing all your resourceful and helpful posts on the Art of Home-Making Mondays.

    Have a happy, healthy and blessed new year!

    Reply
  4. Jen

    I have the same bottle of soapy water to do my cleaning, too. I also use ammonia and water to clean my windows. I like to use vinegar on the kitchen sink. Our water has a high mineral content and it really helps with hard water deposits. We don’t have granite countertops to worry about, though.

    Reply
  5. Alli

    I add a little vinegar to my soapy water to make a super high powered cleaner. Just keep it away from granite counter tops!

    Reply
  6. Marla

    Liked you post and what I use to clean is just baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, lemons, a few essential at times. Visiting from Tuesday With a Twist Blog Hop!

    Reply

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