Four ways you can use your kitchen waste to help you clean

You’ll easily find them in any home, especially after cooking or after meals. They are more likely to end up in your dustbin rather than your cleaning kit.

But rather than spend money on expensive cleaning tools and solutions that might contain harmful ingredients, why not put your trash to use?

1. Sabuga

It’s known as “sabuga” in some market areas and it’s a magic ingredient to any cleaning recipe. It is the red mesh sack that onions and other vegetables are sold in. Instead of spending money on commercial scouring pads and scrubbers, you can give this a try and see if you like it.

How to use it: Fold it up into several layers or scrunch it up to make a nice pad that covers the tips of your fingers adequately. It’s best used with soapy water or scouring powder.

2. Egg shells

If you like to get your tiles and sinks shining, you need a good abrasive cleaner. But the trouble with abrasive cleaners is that they might be loaded with chemicals that will leave your hands dry and leave you wondering how many toxins have seeped into your body. But thank God for this natural abrasive cleaning ingredient – egg shells.

.

Keep Reading

• Ways you can keep your house warm during this cold season
• How you can make your home cosier
• Why you need to invest in a kitchen garden
• Things you need to buy before getting a pet

How to use it: Collect egg shells, dry them in the sun or oven, and use a mortar and pestle (like the one you use to grind pilau spice) to grind them up into small bits and form a course powder (about the size of large grains of salt).

Mix it with bicarbonate of soda (baking soda), store it in a jar and make holes in the top. An old scouring powder container is perfect. When using the mixture, you can sprinkle some on your scouring pad and splash a little vinegar on it to give it more power.

3. Orange peels

Yes, vinegar has 1001 uses in the cleaning department but it’s just one of the magic ingredients in many cleaning recipes. Try this one. Collect orange peels and put them in a jar, pour in vinegar and let the peels soak in the jar for a week.

How to use it: Pour the orange-scented vinegar into a spray bottle to use as a cleaner. Try using it to wipe your toilet seat or counters for a nice, clean scent.

4. Banana peels

Banana peels are associated with messes. Children are always taught not to leave banana peels lying around as they can cause people to slip on them and fall. Well, here’s a way to make them useful. Use them to clean your shoes, leather items and house plants.

How to use it: Remove the strings from the peel and rub the inside of the peel against the surface you want to polish. Buff the surface with a dry soft cloth and there you are...