10 Foods that Are Surprisingly Good Cleaners
Your go-to cleaners might come in a bottle, but when tackling a tricky stain, it's worth cleaning outside the box. Try these fridge and pantry finds to freshen and brighten nearly every area of your home.
1. Lemons
Citrus can zap grime from your microwave, remove stains from linens, and shine brass.
2. Rice
Swish a scoop of uncooked grains (with warm water and a little dish detergent) around the inside of a vase to scrub hard-to-reach spots.
3. Ketchup
This french fry sidekick can shine copper and get your car gleaming again.
Related: 7 Uses for Ketchup That Will Surprise You
4. Table salt
The course texture of this cooking staple can erase stains from butcherblock countertop, and helps release stuck-on food from your cast-iron skillet.
5. Walnuts
Got a scuff or a scratch on your wood furniture? Rub it with a walnut (shell removed) to mask the damage.
6. Powdered lemon or orange drink
The citric acid in your favorite drink powder can help banish rust and stains from your dishwasher.
Related: 11 Ingenious Uses for Eggshells
7. Cream of tartar
This common baking ingredient can remove the grayish residue that shows up on aluminum utensils after you run them through the dishwasher.
8. Baking soda
This stuff deserves a star spot in your cleaning cabinet. Mixed with warm water, it's an effective all-purpose cleanser -- it can even shine jewelry.
9. Vinegar
Like baking soda, white vinegar is a powerful cleaning tool. It can freshen laundry, lift stains from carpet, brighten windows, and so much more. Just don't use it in these spots:
Related: 6 Things You Should Never Clean With Vinegar
10. Vodka
Grab the bottle from leftover from your last big party to deordorize clothes and shine chrome and porcelain fixtures.
-Lauren Piro
More from Good Housekeeping:
