There’s no time better than the spring to start anew and refresh your home appliances with a good, all-natural cleanse. 

And it turns out, some of the items in your pantry (like baking soda and lemons) work as effective, homemade, all-purpose cleaners and, even better, they’re completely free of harsh chemicals. Skip the cleaning aisle at the market and refresh your appliances by mixing up one of these DIY recipes packed with natural ingredients that will kick grime to the curb. 

Straight from MaryRuth’s kitchen to yours, here are three completely safe, natural, and effective methods to get the spring cleaning job done. All of these methods can be used as often as once a month to make sure these larger appliances stay clean and fresh — you can even time block certain days on the calendar to make sure each is done on a regular basis!

1. Oven Cleaning: Have you ever tried your oven’s self-cleaning function and noticed it has a very strong smell? If you want to try something without harsh chemicals, high-heat, and auto-cleaning functions, we’ve got just the method! It takes a little time and some elbow grease, but the payoff is well worth it. Plus, you most likely have everything you need to take on this project already in your kitchen!

Get the full details and recipe here.

2. Dishwasher Cleaning: We know that it can seem silly to clean something that was made for just that…cleaning. But if you’re someone who relies on running their dishwasher quite often, oftentimes excess food can cause a buildup that can keep dishes from sparkling. So, cleaning it is key! Here’s how:

3. Washing Machine Cleaning: If you think about it, just like the dishwasher, giving the washing machine a quick clean makes perfect sense. The machine washes off the dirt on your clothing, and that dirt obviously needs to go somewhere, right? Get rid of old buildup, dirt and bacteria by running your washing machine with clean, non-toxic detergent inside, nothing else. 

Now that your kitchen is clean, get cooking! Try out one of MaryRuth’s delicious vegan recipes by clicking here.