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    6 Easy, Eco Kitchen Cleaning Tips

    By | Work + Money – Wed, Apr 6, 2011 9:33 PM EDT

    It turns out that there are some surprising ingredients already in your kitchen (like egg shells and ketchup!) that work wonders when it comes to cleaning. Try these ideas for easy, eco cleaning.

    1. Try Ketchup to Remove Tarnish
    It's not just for French fries. To remove tarnish from silverware, ketchup can work wonders. Dab some onto a soft cloth and gently rub for a minute or two. Finish by rinsing with warm water.     (Just use caution if you have an items that's valuable or antique. You might be better off taking it to the pros.)

    Related: Beautiful Designer Bedrooms

    2. Shine Floors with White Vinegar
    For wood floors, contractor Stephen Fanuka suggests vinegar. "Get yourself a bucket and mix nine parts warm water to one part white vinegar. This is a cheap trick I learned from an 80-year-old cleaning lady who used to make my wood floors look dazzling."

    Related: Designer Living Rooms

    3. Use Baking Soda to Tidy Up Tile
    To clean tile floors or backsplash, Marty Hoffman of Hoffman Brothers Floors suggests mixing baking soda and water together as a homemade cleaner. Pour half a cup of baking soda into two gallons of water. Then scrub with a string mop or sponge.

    Related: Beautiful Designer Bathrooms

    4. Consider Salt For Cast Iron
    Mix water and salt together to form a paste, then use it to scrub a cast iron pot or pan. Next, rub olive oil on the pan, then heat it for half an hour to cure it.

    Related: Colorful Kitchens

    5. Use Steel Wool to Fade Stainless-Steel Scratches
    For everyday cleaning, a stainless steel polisher is best. But to minimize a large scratch, Adam Kamens of Amuneal Manufacturing Corp. says to try steel wool. Rub it gently in line with the grain until marks disappear. Recycle the steel wool when it's worn out.

    Related: 20 Decorating Secrets

    6. Clean a Vase with Egg Shells
    Ever try cleaning a vase where a bottle brush just can't reach? To scour those hard-to-reach crevices, try dropping tiny pieces of a clean, dried eggshell into the vase. Add a little bit of warm water, then cover and shake. The eggshells help to scour stains that you can't get reach.

    Related: 101 Vases

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    photo: Russell Sadur/Getty Images