Every time I go to clean the range hood, I see the sticky oil droplets falling down, the eschar on the stove can't be removed no matter how hard I try, and the yellow stain on the corner of the sink makes my wrist sore after wiping it. Do you feel like your head is swollen twice? Go to the supermarket to buy those professional cleaners. A bottle costs dozens of yuan, and the smell is very pungent, making people cough constantly. Rub it hard with a steel wool ball. The surface of the stainless steel is covered with scratches, and I feel so distressed. In fact, many aunts who are engaged in professional cleaning work do not use high-tech products when providing door-to-door services. They hold a universal cleaning paste that they have prepared themselves. Calculating the cost, the value is less than one yuan, and the materials that make up the cleaning paste are all items that have been commonly used in home kitchens for a long time. Today, I want to share this recipe completely without omission. It can be put into use after a few minutes of stirring operation. It is particularly powerful in fighting against extremely stubborn oil stains.
Three common materials cost less than one yuan
The core of this recipe is baking soda, white vinegar and dish soap, which is found in almost every household. Prepare a clean small bowl, and first scoop 10 grams of baking soda into it, which is roughly the size of a flat spoon for soup at home. Then take out the white vinegar and slowly pour it on the baking soda. Remember to use a small amount and several times. When you pour it in, a lot of foam will escape. This is a normal acid-base reaction. Stir slowly to dissipate the foam. When the foam is less obvious, continue to add white vinegar until a total of about 50 ml has been added. At this time, the bowl should be in the form of a relatively thin paste. Then squeeze in 20 ml of dishwashing liquid, which is enough to squeeze it in two to three times, and stir again to make it even. The final state is like thick yogurt. Use a spatula to put it into a sealed jar and store it in the refrigerator. Just scoop out a spoonful when using it. Calculate the cost: 10 grams of baking soda is about 0.1 yuan, 50 ml of white vinegar is about 0.3 yuan, and 20 ml of dish soap is about 0.32 yuan, totaling 0.72 yuan, which is cheaper than a bottle of mineral water.
Actual measurement results, automatic stripping of oil stains
One of the great things about the cleaning paste I’m going to talk about below is that it doesn’t require you to use a lot of force to rub it. Just like what we are talking about, take the range hood filter. After you remove it, apply a thick layer of the paste and let it sit for up to 15 minutes. When this time is up, just wipe it gently with a wet rag, and you will find that the oil stains that have accumulated for a long time will fall off in pieces, just like when you peel off the mask. It is even easier to deal with stove eschar. You only need to apply the paste on the black dirt, and then cover it with a layer of plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out too quickly. After an hour comes back, take an old toothbrush and gently brush it a few times. You will be surprised to see that the burnt black lumps have dissolved into a paste-like state. Finally, rinse it with water and it will become clean. For those yellowing water stains and slight rust spots on the edge of the stainless steel sink, use a scouring pad directly, dip it in the paste, and wipe it in a circular motion. It will return to a mirror-like luster in just a few minutes. Some users have specially made a comparison. For the same area of oil stains, using homemade cleaning paste can complete the cleaning in 5 minutes, with a stain removal rate of 98%, while a certain brand of heavy oil stains takes 8 minutes, and its smell is particularly pungent. It costs 300 yuan to ask a cleaning company to come to your home for treatment. Although the decontamination rate is 99%, the price difference is more than 400 times.
Upgrade recipes for different scenarios
If the scale in your home is quite serious, like the hard white stains on the faucet; or if black mold grows in the gaps between the tiles, you can add a spoonful of citric acid to the basic formula. Citric acid is specifically targeted at alkaline scale and mildew. It works in conjunction with baking soda and white vinegar to double the effect in removing rust and mildew. If you are relatively concerned about the smell, drop 5 drops of tea tree essential oil into it. It not only has an antibacterial effect, but also leaves a light fragrance after cleaning the entire kitchen. It is not the smell of chemical fragrance like supermarket products. For the particularly hard and troublesome black carbon layer on the bottom of the pot after it is burned, the grinding power of baking soda may not be enough. Mix a small handful of salt into it. The hardness of the salt particles is higher, and the friction can grind away the coke bit by bit. However, it is much gentler than steel wire balls and will not cause damage to the surface of the pot. These improved methods are exactly the same as the basic version. You just need to add more corresponding materials when mixing.
Several places that require special attention
Even though this cleaning balm is very effective, it is not suitable for use in all places. If you have marble countertops or natural stone at home, you must not apply this paste. Baking soda has alkaline properties and will react with the calcium carbonate on the surface of the marble. Over time, the surface of the stone will become rough and white, and then lose its luster. Coated pots also need to be avoided, such as non-stick pots and medical stone pots. The abrasive particles in them will scratch the coating, causing them to stick to the pot and even release harmful substances. Aluminum products must also never be used. The acidity of white vinegar will chemically react with the aluminum, causing its surface to oxidize and turn black, and this change is irreversible. If you cannot determine the material before use, it is best to try a small piece in an inconspicuous corner and wait for a few minutes to see if there is any adverse reaction. In addition, for people with sensitive skin, it is recommended to wear rubber gloves when operating. Although baking soda and dish soap are relatively mild, long-term contact with the skin will still be slightly dry.
The cleaning lady’s secret tips
To make the cleaning effect more significant, there is a little trick. Before applying the paste, turn your hair dryer to the hottest setting and blow it toward the oil stain for a minute or two. High temperature can soften solidified grease, allow the paste to penetrate deeper, and make stubborn grease fall off twice as fast. Do not use a metal shovel when scraping the paste. Find an expired hard membership card or an unused bank card. The edge is slightly hard and will not scratch the surface. Push it in one direction and the paste will fall off together with the oil. There is a way to prevent dirt after cleaning. Dip a kitchen towel in a small amount of olive oil or cooking oil and gently rub a layer on the surface of the stainless steel. The oil will fill up the tiny pits and form an oleophobic layer. The next time oil splashes on it, it will not stick to it, making it easier to wipe. This method is especially effective on the wall behind the stove, and it can be wiped once every half a month.
First of all, a summary. The core ingredients of this homemade cleaning paste, which costs less than one yuan, are baking soda, white vinegar and dish soap. Stir these and you can use it in a few minutes. For the most difficult areas in the kitchen such as range hood filters, stove eschar, and stainless steel sinks, apply a thick coat and let it sit for a while before wiping, and the grease will fall off on its own. However, marble countertops, coated pots and aluminum products need to be avoided and spot tested before use. If combined with hot compresses using a hair dryer and scraping off old cards, the effect will be even better. The money saved is enough to buy a lot of vegetables. The key is that there will be no pungent smell in the home and it is reassuring to use. Give this recipe a try next time you’re spring cleaning, you’ll be back to thank me.
