Kichen Counters - Cleaning and Disinfecting

• super simple sink cleaner
  1 tablespoon (14g) baking soda
  1 teaspoon (5ml) lemon juice
  2 tablespoons (30ml) vinegar (optional)
  
  It's easy to keep porcelain sinks sparkling clean with this all-natural, germ-fighting combination: To begin, place the baking soda in a small pile in the sink. Pour the lemon juice on top and watch it start to bubble. Stir with your finger to form a paste, then lightly rub the paste over the entire sink with a damp sponge. Rinse thoroughly with fresh water. For an extra sanitizing measure, pour the vinegar on the sponge and use it to give everything one last wipe down. (the vinegar scent will fade as it dries).   

• stainless steel appliance cleaner
  1 small spoonful baking soda
  
  Stainless steel appliances are popular in part because they tolerate heat well, resist germs, and look great, but they do require careful cleaning. For most messes, baking soda is the perfect cleaner for the job because it won't scratch the metal. To use, put a small spoonful on a damp sponge and squeeze the sponge a few times to form a thick paste. Rub lightly on stainless steel in the direction of the grain. Make sure to rinse thoroughly and buff with a dry papr towel to remove water spots. 

• all-purpose lemon cleaner
  2 to 3 cups (200 to 300g) leftover lemon peel
  2 cups (500ml) vinegar
  What do you get when you combine the grease-fighting power of vinegar with the fresh scent of lemons? A prefect solution for all sorts of cleaning challenges! To make a batch, start by filling a large wide-mouth jar with leftover lemon peels (other citrus fruits, such as oranges, limes, and grapefruits, work well, too). Cover the peels with the vinegar, place the lid back on the jar, and let sit in a dark, cool place for about 4 weeks (give the jar a good shake every week or so). Strain the mixture through a cheesecloth and discard the lemon peels. Use in place of regular vinegar for any of the cleaning formulas in this book. 

• sink and countertop disinfectant
  1/4 cup (60ml) vinegar
  
  Bacteria are everywhere, but you can minimize the presence of the harmful varieties on sinks and counter-tops with a good dose of vinegar-its acidity not only kills most bacteria but can also inhibit future growth. Use a clean cloth to apply 1/4 cup (60ml) vinegar to countertops and sinks. Do not rinse with water, but, instead, allow to air-dry (the sour scent will fade ad it dries). 

• all-purpose baking soda cleaner
  1 cup (250ml) warm water
  1/4 cup (60ml) dishwashing liquid
  1 16-ounce box (454g) baking soda
  
  A simple squirt of this all-purpose cleansing scrub and a damp sponge are all you need to clean most non-porous surfaces around the house, like counter tops, sinks, tubs, and toilets. Start by putting the warm water in a large mixing bowl and stirring in the dishwashing liquid (stir slowly to avoid creating a lot of bubbles). Next, add the box of baking soda and stir until the mixture forms a smooth, uniform consistency. Transfer the mixture to a jar and use as needed around the house (wait 30 minutes before putting a lid on the fresh batch to let the carbon dioxide bubbles escape). Tip: Be forewarned that the solution will separate between uses, but if you set the jar upside down for a few minutes, the layers will loosen; you can then follow up by giving the contents a gentle stir.

• cleaning work surfaces
  Wipe all kitchen work surfaces down with full-strength white vinegar to clean them and reduce bacteria.