The Kitchen Cleaning Product It's Time To Ditch

As our knowledge of kitchen cleaning methods evolves, we continue to learn about products and approaches that get a deeper clean, really eliminate bacteria and therefore health risks, and won't damage our homes' surfaces, be toxic to our family members or pets, or be harmful to the environment. Often, the best answer lies in natural products and making your own kitchen cleaner with household staples, therefore skipping the chemicals. Now, we've got another reason to ditch commercial solutions, especially an entire category of them: strongly scented cleaning products do more harm than good.

We know, those lemon or pine sprays smell good, which many of us have long equated with "clean." Alas, an albeit lovely faux aroma is not the same thing as clean, which is why using scented products is a kitchen cleaning mistake that can have real consequences. This is because those scents aren't actually contributing to the cleaning function of a solution; in fact, they're like a mask. You just smell that lavender, which can cover real problem areas in your kitchen that need attention. Odor is one of the most trustworthy of telltale signs of bacterial contamination or food spoilage. You want to be able to sense issues and take care of them. Plus, scented cleaners leave residue where you use them. This actually attracts dust — that's right, a cleaning solution that ultimately un-cleans — and makes your surfaces look dull.

If you're covering your kitchen up with fake scents, you might forget to clean thoroughly more frequently. It might seem unpleasant, but less-than-appealing smells are actually helpful reminders of what needs care when. Plus, people in your home can be sensitive to those strong fragrances. These solutions can even trigger individuals' allergies or asthma, becoming downright dangerous. If these cleaning products just mask real problems, attract dust, and can be potential health risks, they're not worthwhile.

Instead, use unscented, natural, or homemade products. These will make your kitchen smell clean because it is truly clean. There are all kinds of genius ways to use baking soda to clean your kitchen, and vinegar is a kitchen-cleaning staple, too. Using these pantry staples isn't just free and easy. It's a surefire way to attack bacteria, lift grime, and maintain a safe, spotless kitchen. A sprinkle of baking soda and a spray of vinegar, or an application of a baking soda-and-vinegar paste, works a charm just about everywhere. 

If you like a certain scent for your kitchen, go natural — this will smell better, anyway. Citrus peels actually help clean your kitchen floor and smell beautiful. You can infuse your DIY vinegar cleaner with herbs like lavender, rosemary, basil, or mint, or keep herbs and flowers in the room for lovely, organic fragrances.