Natural Cleaning Remedies For Your Kitchen Appliances

Spring is in the air! It's time to put your gloves on and apply a little elbow grease to, er, get rid of that oven grease. Here are some great, natural methods to get your kitchen appliances sparkly clean. 

Oven Cleaner

Mix 1/2 Cup of Baking Soda with a few tablespoons of water until you create a spreadable paste. You can adjust your ratio back and

forth until you reach the right consistency.

Next, wearing rubber gloves if you prefer, remove your baking racks and coat the inside of your oven (careful not to get any on your heating elements) and let it sit overnight.

Now, simply wipe it off with a damp cloth. You may need to scrape a 

little in places (using a soft spatula). After you have wiped it all out, there may be some residue left. Put vinegar in a spray bottle and spray the inside of your oven. The vinegar will react with the baking soda creating foam. Wipe the form out with a clean damp cloth. Repeat this step until there is no more visible residue. source

Microwave

There are a few methods out there, but this is my favorite. Depending on how long it's been between cleanings, you may need to repeat this process a few times.

In a microwave safe bowl, mix 4 to 5 tablespoons of baking soda to 1 quart of warm water. Microwave the solution on high until it has

boiled for a minute or two. Being careful not to burn yourself, immediately wipe out your microwave with a damp cloth. The steam from boiling the solution helps to loosen stuck on food, while the baking soda helps deodorize!

Dishwasher

After placing a cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher safe bowl on the upper rack, run the dishwasher through a hot water cycle. Next, sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of the dishwasher and run it through another quick hot water cycle. source

Refrigerator

After removing contents and discarding any expired items, spray the inside of your refrigerator with a solution of white vinegar and water (I make a ratio of 1:1, equal parts vinegar and water). Really soak any stuck-on food. Let it soak until stuck-on food particles soften, then wipe down with a clean, damp rag. I normally remove the shelves and wash them in the sink with dish soap and water. Dry everything with a clean, dry cloth and put it all back!