Family Health
NON-TOXIC WAYS TO CLEAN Admit it. No one likes cleaning the oven... or the bin … or the fridge. You know that washing machine filter? It’s gently calling your name. Whatever you do, don’t despair! We’ll show you some simple and effective ways to tackle these gross tasks, and we do it in a not so gross (or toxic!) way.
MAKING YOUR OVEN CLEAN AND SPARKLY It’s got cheese stuck all over it, baked on black stuff, and the seals are not looking too happy. Before you go to town with “odourless oven spray” that magically wipes off - and leaves the most horrid residue imaginable - grab yourself a whole lot of bicarb and vinegar. I promise you; it works a treat. Remove the oven racks and set aside. I n a small bowl, mix a 1/2 cup of bicarb with a few tablespoons of vinegar. Adjust the ratio of both until you have a spreadable paste. It’s fizzy, but that’s a good thing! pread the paste all over the inside of S your oven, keeping clear of the heating elements. The baking soda will turn a brownish colour as you rub it in; that is fine. Coat the whole oven to the best of your abilities, paying attention to any particularly greasy areas.
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CLEANING YOUR KITCHEN BIN Do the same to your oven racks on the sink or in the backyard. You can easily hose these off later. eave the paste in the oven overnight, L or for at least 12 hours. After 12 hours or overnight, take a damp cloth and wipe out as much of paste as you can. Use a plastic or silicone spatula to help scrape off the paste, and use a toothbrush to get into hard-to-reach spots. Spray a little water to get the last bits off and wipe down. Repeat until all the baking soda residue is gone. Add more water or vinegar to your cloth as needed to really get the oven clean and shiny. Replace the oven racks and you’re done!
Your Local Families Magazine April / May 2022 www.familiesmagazine.com.au
Even if you have fragrant garbage bags, take out the rubbish on time, and wipe the top every week, bins just get bad. The plastic holds smells and bacteria so every now and again they demand a good go-over for the sake of your kitchen and the health of your family. Cleaning the kitchen bin can be done just like the fridge vegetable bins – outside. Take your bin outside (with the rubbish removed!) and give it a rinse down with the hose to remove any stuck-on food. Give it a liberal spray of vinegar and eucalyptus oil mix – this will kill lots of bacteria – and let it sit for 10 min. Give it all a good scrub with a dishwashing brush and rinse it all off. Make sure the bin is thoroughly dry before taking it back inside, otherwise mould can begin to grow. Once it’s dry, line with a garbage bag and she’s ready to rock!