{"id":7078,"date":"2017-03-20T06:00:06","date_gmt":"2017-03-20T10:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.elfster.com\/?p=7078"},"modified":"2023-05-09T10:38:31","modified_gmt":"2023-05-09T14:38:31","slug":"eco-friendly-diy-earth-day-gifts-clean-green-kitchen-spring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/2017\/03\/20\/eco-friendly-diy-earth-day-gifts-clean-green-kitchen-spring\/","title":{"rendered":"Eco-Friendly DIY Earth Day Gifts for a Clean and Green Kitchen This Spring"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Jute makes for eco-friendly kitchen accessories | Image courtesy Etsy seller Yanetinne<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For the last few years, my fianc\u00e9 Nick and I have taken a creative approach to celebrating Earth Day. One year, while living in San Francisco, we crafted a kitchen composter out of a coffee canister. The next year we were hunkered down in Orange County so took a trip to Roger\u2019s Gardens, followed by an afternoon spent planting sunflower seeds in our front yard. Then came our spring in Portland, and a rainy day walk through Forest Park. We even brought that woodsy vibe home with us by crafting <\/span>rustic reclaimed wood tea holders<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Showing our support for the environment on April 22nd is important to us, but it\u2019s also a way of living we like to carry with us every day of the year. We spend more time in our kitchen than in any other part of our home and, as a result, we end up cleaning it a lot! So, we like to make sure that when we put on our Motown records and get to cleaning, we\u2019re doing so in an eco-friendly way. Not only are we protecting the environment, but we love knowing that we could eat straight off our countertops\u2014not that we ever have. <\/span><\/p>\n

We always share our bounty of DIY cleaners with friends and family as Earth Day gifts. Here are the three undeniable favorites: dishwasher tabs, \u201cun\u201dpaper towels, and a simple citrus vinegar cleaner. They smell good and feel good, so when you make them for others, make sure to stock up your own cupboards as well. Here\u2019s to your pristine (and newly green) kitchen!<\/span><\/p>\n

Get a Sparkly Green Clean with DIY Dishwasher Tabs<\/h4>\n

The absolute cleanest kitchen I\u2019ve ever seen was in Austin, Texas at a bed and breakfast; the innkeeper swore by baking soda and vinegar. Since then, those two items have become my wondrous miracle workers in the realm of cleaning. When you want it bright and sparkly, they do the job best.<\/span><\/p>\n

I love the simplicity of throwing a tab into the dishwasher when it\u2019s ready to run, and the gratification of pulling out those sparkling, clean dishes (a trait I seemed to have inherited from my queen-of-the-clean mother). So when I started experimenting with my own dishwasher tabs, I went straight to my go-to clean everything basics: baking soda and vinegar. <\/span><\/p>\n

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You won\u2019t have to get out of cleaning with these green products | Image courtesy Etsy seller MadebymamaUS<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For dish tabs, I like to combine them with Epsom salt (to reduce the effects of hard water), and the natural cleaner <\/span>Borax<\/span><\/a>. If you\u2019d like, you can also add 10-15 drops of an essential oil, like lemon or grapefruit, to make your dishes smell beautiful too.<\/span><\/p>\n

What You\u2019ll Need:<\/b><\/p>\n