Eco-friendly kitchen hacks: Reduce waste, use natural cleaning solutions, ditch plastic

Try to use reusable and washable kitchen towels as much as possible. (Image: Canva)

Harsh cleaning products are not only harmful to our health in the long run, but they also end up in our oceans, making them polluted and endangering our sea animals. If you want to be mindful about using natural ingredients for cleaning your home, we have you covered. Here’s how you can make big and small changes that will impact our environment positively

In this technologically driven world, we must ensure that we are more careful towards the environment. You can ensure this by using certain kitchen appliances that do not require a lot of electricity. These include energy-efficient refrigerators, induction cooktops, slow cookers, dishwashers with eco mode, and low-flow faucets. Switching to appliances that use less energy will not only help save water and electricity, it will also reduce your electricity bill over time.

Even small inventions can have a big impact. We have become too quick to use disposable cleaning materials for the sake of our convenience, without a thought that most of it is non-biodegradable and end up in our landfills. Try to use reusable and washable kitchen towels as much as possible, as our moms used to. Get yourself some bamboo scrubs and biodegradable sponges too.

Plastic is one of the most cancerous elements in nature, as it isn't made up of natural elements and hence is non-biodegradable. One of the best ways to save the environment is to discard plastic tools used for cleaning and replace them with wood. Furthermore, you can also change your utensils, containers, bottles, etc., and replace them with steel, glass, and silicon.

A lot of water is wasted from the RO water purifier and during the washing of fruits and vegetables. It can be collected and utilised for cleaning purposes. You can scrub the slabs and the floors of your kitchen with this water.

There's nothing that some vinegar and baking soda can't do. Mixing equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle makes the most effective all-purpose cleaner. A paste made by mixing two parts baking soda and one part water will give you the best natural stain remover. Apply this paste to stained fabrics and scrub gently using a sponge or cloth. Rinse thoroughly with water. Olive oil and lemon juice make a great homemade wood polish that also nourishes and restores the natural shine of your wooden surfaces.