11 Ways to Green Your Kitchen

Go green at home with these easy steps

Kitchens can be a wonderful source of joy and relaxation, as cooks prepare meals for themselves, friends, and family. But in reality, they are often overcrowded, disorganized, and much smaller than we’d all like. So instead of keeping your kitchen in its current state, try to give it a makeover — in the green sense of the word.

Spring cleaning is in full force (or is on the to-do list, at least), and making simple swap outs or changes in the kitchen can not only help decrease the amount of items in your cabinets, but also lessen the impact you’re making on the Earth.

From purchasing eco-friendly cookware to avoiding paper towels and taking advantage of common kitchen staples for industrial cleaners, there’s a lot that can easily be done to "green" the kitchen. Though they may not seem significant at the time, little steps and changes can make a big difference over time, especially as more and more people begin to adopt green practices.

Vinegar

Moppins recommends using food-grade vinegar as a disinfectant in the kitchen. Simply create a half-half solution with water and use on the affected area. Moppins says that vinegar kills more germs than bleach, plus it doesn't contain pesticides. For linoleum, laminated flooring, and most hardwood floors, she recommends mixing one part vinegar to 10 parts water,  but says to avoid using vinegar on a stone surface because the acid will break down the stone.
Grow Your Own Herbs

Whether you put them on the windowsill or on a ledge, growing your own herbs will literally "green" your kitchen. But in the eco-friendly sense, having fresh herbs means that there is a constant and very local source of easy-to-grow ingredients like basil, cilantro, thyme, or rosemary for quick access whenever you need them. Toss herbs in spring and summer salads, flavor sauces, and use them to add a brightness to sandwiches or cocktails. 
Easy Air Freshener

To freshen the air in a natural way, Moppins says to fill a spritz bottle nearly full of water and add a tablespoon of vinegar and a drop of your favorite essential oil.

Coffee Grounds — But Not for Drinking

Instead of using baking soda to absorb unwanted refrigerator odors, Moppins says to use coffee grounds, which are more effective.

Remove Rust with Lemon

What to do with difficult stains or rust? Moppins suggests pouring fresh-squeezed lemon juice on them with a little salt; it also works on delicate linens.

Refresh Drains with Your Own Home-Grown Herbs

If you've taken tip number one and started growing your own herbs, then this will be a no-brainer for you. For unwanted smells, Moppins says to "freshen up a disposal drain by grinding up an oregano leaf."

The Usefulness of Baking Soda

Leftover baking soda? Moppins suggests using it for scrubbing sinks or mixing it with vinegar, water, and a little organic liquid dish soap to remove food stuck on the bottom of pans mix the vinegar and water together and heat them, then pour into the pan and add a little dish soap and baking soda to really get tough-to-remove foods off.
Cleaning Copper

Instead of purchasing chemical-filled copper cleaners online, take Moppins advice to clean both brass and copper: sprinkle a cut lemon with salt. Rubbing the outside of the copper with the lemon will help return its shine, while the salt adds some abrasive elbow grease.