Cuisine to Clean

Finding ways to salvage food is easy when there are leftovers, but when it’s expired,

what do you do? Surprisingly, there are many food items out there that serve a purpose than just eating. During the infamous spring cleaning season, you probably are spending money on toxic cleaning supplies such as antibacterial soap, oven cleaners, and furniture polishers. This spring cleaning session, try a more sustainable and cost-effective approach to your cleaning by using these food items!

LEMONS

If you are cleaning out your fridge and find an old, moldy, forgotten lemon, don’t throw it away! Lemons’ acidic properties can be used to remove grease from your stove and kitchen appliances. Squeeze the lemon juice into a bowl, soak your sponge in the juice and then scrub away until you remove the unwanted stain. With any lemon juice left over, you can soak plastic food containers to remove odor and stains.

BANANAS

Just like lemons, bananas get black and moldy overtime. Many can’t imagine eating a banana when it’s overly ripe and completely brown. Fortunately, bananas are great at removing stains! Use a banana peel to shine the leather on your shoes, bags, couches and jackets. Along with shining shoes, banana peels can also polish silver. This natural food item is an amazing alternative to toxic polishers on the market.

MAYONNAISE

This condiment has a tendency to get lost in the back of your fridge; instead of wasting away what’s leftover in the tub, use it next time to remove water stains from your wood tables. Scoop a couple spoonful’s of mayo onto a towel and lay it on top of the stain. Keep the towel placed on the stain for about an hour and then remove. Next, take a clean cloth and move it in circular motions over the stain. Just like that, the mayo has created a fresh new look to your wood!

WALNUTS

Another product that can make wood look fresh and new are walnuts. Wood furniture is very susceptible to scratches and scuffs. Thankfully, the natural oil in walnuts and their shells are perfect for removing the marks in wood. All you have to do is press and rub the walnut onto the wood marks, and you’re done!

BY KIKI ADAMS

ILLUSTRATIONS BY AMY LEWIS