Keeping the kitchen clean is a never-ending job, but I’m not about to fill my house with harsh chemical smells just to get it done. Over the years, I’ve found that some of the best cleaning tricks aren’t in a fancy bottle—they’re already in my pantry. A little vinegar, some baking soda, or even just a lemon can handle grease, grime, and odors without all the extra junk.
I’ve tried just about everything to keep my kitchen from looking (and smelling) like a disaster zone, and these are the tricks that actually work. They’re easy, they’re cheap, and best of all, they don’t leave behind that strong chemical smell that lingers for hours.
Steam Clean Your Microwave the Easy Way
Microwaves collect splatters like nobody’s business, and nobody wants to spend time scrubbing dried-on food. Instead, grab a microwave-safe bowl, fill it with water, and squeeze in half a lemon. Toss the lemon in too, then microwave it for about five minutes. The steam loosens all that stuck-on gunk, so you can just wipe it away with a cloth. No elbow grease, no harsh cleaners—just a fresh, clean microwave in minutes. Plus, it leaves your kitchen smelling nice instead of like burnt leftovers.
Keep Your Fridge Smelling Fresh with Baking Soda
Between leftovers, produce, and who-knows-what shoved in the back, fridges can start smelling pretty bad. A simple fix? Stick an open box of baking soda on a shelf to absorb odors. Swap it out every couple of months, and it’ll keep your fridge from getting that weird, stale smell. If things are extra grimy, mix baking soda with a little water and use it to scrub shelves and drawers. It cuts through messes without leaving behind any strong chemical smells—just clean and fresh.
Clean Stovetop Burners Without Scrubbing
Gas burners get coated in grease, and scrubbing them down is a total pain. Instead of scrubbing for an hour, toss the grates in a big zip-top bag with a few tablespoons of ammonia, seal it up, and let them sit overnight. By morning, the grime will wipe right off. No scraping, no soaking, just clean burners with barely any effort. Just make sure to do this outside or in a well-ventilated space since ammonia is strong stuff.
Clean Cast Iron with Just Salt
Soap and water can ruin a good cast iron skillet, but salt does the job without stripping the seasoning. After cooking, while the pan is still warm, sprinkle in some coarse salt and use a paper towel or a scrub brush to work it around. The salt lifts stuck-on food without damaging the surface. Once it looks clean, wipe it out, give it a quick rinse, and dry it completely. A little oil rubbed in after keeps it seasoned and ready to go for next time.
Shine Stainless Steel with Lemon
Stainless steel appliances love to collect fingerprints, smudges, and streaks, and wiping them down with just water never seems to work. A fresh lemon, though? That does the trick. Cut one in half and rub it directly over the surface, letting the juice break down grease and grime. Wipe it clean with a soft cloth, then buff it dry for a streak-free shine. Bonus: It smells way better than chemical cleaners and doesn’t leave behind that weird, greasy film.
Vinegar for Streak-Free Counters
Most countertop cleaners are either full of chemicals or leave streaks behind, but plain white vinegar keeps things clean and simple. Fill a spray bottle with equal parts vinegar and water, then spritz it over your counters. Wipe everything down with a dry cloth, and you’re good to go. It cuts through grease, disinfects, and doesn’t leave any sticky residue. Just skip this one on natural stone like granite or marble—vinegar is too acidic and can damage the surface.
Polish Woodwork the Natural Way
If your cabinets, pantry doors, or baseboards are looking dull, this homemade wood polish will bring them back to life. Mix equal parts lemon oil and white vinegar in a spray bottle, shake it up, and spritz onto a dry microfiber cloth. Wipe down your woodwork, letting the oil soak in and restore moisture while the vinegar breaks down dirt. It cleans, polishes, and leaves everything smelling fresh—without the strong, artificial scents of store-bought wood cleaners.
Clean Your Oven While You Sleep
That auto-clean setting is a disaster waiting to happen—smoke alarms, a hot kitchen, and a lingering burnt smell that won’t quit. Instead, mix 1/3 cup water, 1/3 cup white vinegar, and 1/2 cup baking soda in a spray bottle. Once your oven is cool, take out the grates and spray everything down (just skip the heating elements). Shut the door and head to bed. By morning, all that grime will wipe right off with some soapy water. No scrubbing, no stink, no drama.
Keep Your Garbage Disposal Smelling Fresh
A stinky sink can ruin the whole kitchen, and garbage disposals love to trap nasty smells. One of the easiest fixes? Lemon ice cubes. Just toss some lemon wedges into an ice cube tray, add a little rock salt, fill with water, and freeze. Whenever your sink starts smelling funky, drop a couple down the disposal and run it. The ice knocks off gunk, the salt scrubs the blades, and the lemon keeps everything smelling fresh. It takes about two minutes to make and works way better than dumping in more soap.
Wash Your Oven Racks Without Scrubbing
Oven racks get nasty fast, and scrubbing them by hand is the worst. Instead, fill your bathtub with warm water and stir in some powdered laundry detergent. Toss in the racks and let them soak for a few hours while you do something more fun. By the time you pull them out, all that baked-on grease and grime will rinse right off. No steel wool, no elbow grease, just clean racks with barely any effort.
Make Old Baking Sheets Look New Again
Baking sheets go from shiny to scary in no time, but you don’t have to toss them. Just sprinkle on some baking soda, spray a little hydrogen peroxide, then add another layer of baking soda. Walk away and let it do its thing for a few hours. When you come back, all that built-up gunk will wipe right off. No heavy scrubbing, no weird chemical smells—just clean, usable pans again.
*This article was created with the help of AI.