Kitchens generate a lot of messes, and nothing is more annoying than dealing with grease. It sticks to cleaning rags, but it’s not fragile enough to wipe away with a paper towel. It clings to the bottom of your oven, stovetop, microwave filter, and all your pots and pans. Grease has oily properties that resist water molecules, so just rinsing any of these kitchen items off is a major no-go. Before you break out any harsh chemical cleaners to get the job done, there’s an inexpensive, all-natural cleaning solution that will leave your kitchen smelling like a tropical paradise.
Grapefruit is full of punchy citrus flavor that’s perfect for mixing watermelon paloma cocktails or baking into dessert bars, but its uses extend from the plate to the cookware. It’s an underrated all-purpose cleaner that fights stuck-on grease and stains, and you can apply this fruit’s properties to several types of surfaces. Grapefruit’s cleaning power comes from citric acid and d-limonene, a citrus peel compound with degreasing and minor antibacterial properties.
The benefit of using an organic cleaner like grapefruit for grease is that it’s effective without some of the harsh chemicals in other cleaning agents. Some commercial products contain ingredients such as formaldehyde, ammonia, and sodium hypochlorite, which can irritate our bodies and the environment. While grapefruit is less effective as a disinfectant, it is an eco-friendly and biodegradable degreasing tool.
The versatility of grapefruit as a degreasing agent
You can get a lot of uses from a single grapefruit, and you’ll want to use it differently depending on which surface it’s meeting. To make a basic, all-purpose cleaner, infuse the peels with distilled white vinegar for a couple of weeks and then transfer the mix to a spray bottle with water. Use this spray with a reusable rag or paper towels to wipe down the microwave, stovetop, and refrigerator. Add a natural oil or steep your grapefruit in black tea, and you can use this mixture to clean messes on hardwood floors or cabinets without stripping the finish (always do a small test first to be sure).
Sprinkle salt and a squeeze of grapefruit juice on top of oven grates, sinks, and pans for heavy-duty degreasing action. The fruit’s acidity will loosen the grime, and the salt’s coarseness will help with the scrubbing. It should come right off with the help of a Scrub Daddy or thick-bristle brush. Use the grapefruit peel to scrub and wipe down narrow, hard-to-reach areas. Avoid applying this abrasive technique to non-stick skillets, cast iron, or other utensils that have protective coatings that can be scratched. When you’re done, just toss the leftover grapefruit down the garbage disposal to have a kitchen that smells as good as it looks.
