Save money on cleaning products with these 5 kitchen staples

A whopping 34% increase in the price of cleaning products over the past three years has resulted in UK households shelling out more than £160 annually on these items.

As costs continue to skyrocket, many are seeking budget-friendly alternatives for home cleaning.

Could the solution to your money-saving woes be lurking in your kitchen cupboard?

Experts at London’s rubbish removal company Clear it Waste have put together a list of natural ingredients that can double as home cleaners. 

Vinegar, which is one of the best all-purpose cleaners and is likely already in your cupboard, has antimicrobial properties which have the ability to dissolve mineral deposits, grease, and grime due to its high acidity.

A spray bottle filled with equal parts vinegar and water can replace traditional multipurpose sprays for cleaning windows, doors, countertops, cupboards, and more.

Undiluted vinegar is also great for breaking down build-up in showers, baths, and toilets: simply spray the vinegar, let it sit for several minutes, then rinse away. The best type of vinegar to use is white distilled, as it doesn’t contain any colours that could potentially stain surfaces.

Lemon is another option. Another common kitchen ingredient that serves as an excellent cleaner due to its acidity is lemon, particularly effective in stain removal.

Rubbing the cut side of half a lemon or some pre-squeezed lemon juice over chopping boards and butcher’s blocks can eliminate tough food stains and odours, with salt sprinkled over any especially stubborn stains for added scrubbing power.

This combination of lemon juice and salt can also be used to remove stains from fabrics, such as clothes or bed sheets: allow the mixture to sit on the stains for roughly half an hour before thoroughly rinsing. It’s not just the juice from lemons that can freshen up your home: fresh lemon peels can be placed in the fridge or at the bottom of bins to naturally neutralise smells.

Bicarbonate of soda is a traditional favourite when it comes to natural cleaners due to its mild abrasive properties. When mixed with water to create a thick paste, bicarbonate of soda is ideal for scrubbing tricky stains.

It can be used not only on dishes and pans, but also for larger tasks like cleaning the oven door or scrubbing a barbecue grill. Although olive oil isn’t a suitable substitute for classic cleaning sprays and pastes, it is a perfect natural solution for jobs requiring conditioning and polishing.

Olive oil, commonly found in most homes, can be a great tool for sprucing up stainless steel surfaces and appliances. A small amount of olive oil buffed into the steel with a microfibre cloth can eliminate fingerprints, enhance shine, and diminish the visibility of scratches.

Other household items that could benefit from a touch of olive oil include worn leather furniture and dried out wooden kitchen utensils like chopping boards and spoons.

Cornstarch, another pantry staple, is also a fantastic cleaning agent. Its mildly abrasive nature and absorbent properties make it ideal for lifting stains and soaking up moisture. For grease stains on clothes or other fabrics, simply apply a scoop of cornstarch to the stain and leave it for around 12 hours before washing.

It can also tackle stains and odours in carpets and rugs – just sprinkle some on the affected area, let it sit for 20-30 minutes, and then vacuum it up.