Cleaning the oven an the cook top or range are the toughest cleaning jobs in the house. Baked on, burnt on food and grease are hard to remove. Many people use harsh chemical cleaners containning lye for these jobs. Lye can burn your hands, and if the product you're using is an aerosol, you can breathe in harmful fumes. Instead of using harsh chemicals, try some eco friendly home cleaning products. They'll get the job done safely and effectively.
Ceramic cook tops are easier to clean the gas or electric cook tops. You can make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it to the spill. If the spill is heavy, place a damp cloth over the paste and wait about 15 minutes. Then use a special no scratch scraper or scrubbing pad to remove the mess. Finish off by polishing the cook top. You may also use Bon Ami. It's a biodegradable, non scratch cleanser that has been around since your grandma's youth. Tough cleaning jobs in your eco friendly home can be done with environmentally safe products.
To clean and standard electric cook top, start by removing the burners (heating coils) and drip pans. You can make a solution of baking soda and vinegar in hot water. Most people use equal amounts of vinegar and baking soda, about 4 tablespoons per quart of water. If necessary, the drip pans can be soaked in hot soapy water. While the pieces are removed, clean inside the cook top or range removing grease and spilled food.
Many ovens today are self cleaning. The self cleaning cycle can reach temperatures of 900 degrees Fahrenheit. This uses a lot of energy. To cut down on the number of times you need to run the cleaning cycle, try to always wipe up spills as they happen. Turn on the cleaning cycle at off peak hours for energy use and following the manufacturers directions. You will need to wipe the ash out of the oven at the end of the cleaning cycle. Remember, responsible energy use is an important part of your eco friendly home.
If you don't have a self cleaning oven, try a strong natural cleaner with a citrus oil base. These organic products are effective in cutting grease, and don't require that the oven be turned on. Apply the cleaner and allow it to sit for 15 to 20 minutes. You may be surprised at the way these safe natural products cut through grease. You and your family won't have to deal the the fumes of standard oven cleaners which are so difficult to rinse away completely. The next time you turn on your oven, you won't smell residual oven cleaner.
Don't use products that come as wipes. These go into landfills with other non recyclable trash. Try to avoid using paper towels when possible. Cotton cloths are inexpensive and more environmentally friendly than cellulose sponges. Natural sponges are living creatures that were once brought to the brink of extinction by our demand for them. Use renewable products in your eco friendly home.
There are many new environmentally safe products on the market. Don't be fooled by all natural advertisements. Arsenic is all natural, so is mercury. Be aware of what is in the products you buy, and use products that are safe for your family and the rest of the world. It takes planning to keep your home eco friendly.