by   SheSpeaksTeam   

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Mar 16, 2016

770

Spring time is fast approaching, which means it's time for a spring clean! But before you go spending a fortune on cleaners for your home, consider something a little different.

Read on for details and a chance to win a $100 American Express gift card to stock your fridge with cleaning supplies!

You’d be surprised to hear that a lot of the foods you have lying around the house can actually double as effective and natural cleaning agents.

Got lemons? Make lemon cleanser!

The DIY Network shows us lots of ways to clean with these sour little fruits. If you have some tough countertop stains or simply want to clean off your cutting board, you can squeeze the lemon juice over the stains. Instead of reaching for your sponge you can use the lemon itself to work over the stains. The citric acid is strong enough to work out even the toughest stains. You can rinse the counter with water after stains disappear.

Lemons also work to bleach your cotton or polyester whites.You can leave your clothes in a lemon juice soak over night using half a cup of lemon juice and one gallon of hot water (the hotter the better). In the morning, simply pour the clothes and mixture into the washing machine and wash as usual.

Potatoes Will Solve Your Rust Problem

Got a few potatoes to spare? Daily Mail explains how this root vegetable (along with other household foods) is more than just sustenance. To remove a stubborn rust stain, simply cut a potato in half and dip the side without peel into baking soda. Scrub the rust stain until it’s shiny again.

Cola Does The Dirty Work For You

Hate cleaning your toilet? Sit back and let a soft drink do the work for you. Pour an entire can of coke down the toilet, let it sit for about an hour while the acids from the soda work on your porcelain bowl. After the hour is up, just scrub with a toilet brush and you’re done. This trick also works with vinegar.

Salt Scrubs Away Stains In No Time

Both salt and baking soda work well as abrasive cleaning agents for areas as tough as your bathroom floor and as delicate as your favorite pan. If you rub in some kosher salt with a damp sponge, it is sure to work fast at getting out even the toughest stains on places like the inside of your oven, bathroom floors, tiles and cast iron pans. Mixing salt with warm water will also create a saline solution for a quick cleanser on the go. If you mix baking soda with a little warm water you can make a paste that is great for cleaning sinks and countertops.

Ready to clean your house with these creative culinary strategies? Tell us your best cleaning tip in the comments below and you will be entered to win a $100 American Express gift card.

There are two ways to enter:

Simply comment below to tell us your favorite house cleaning trick (using food or not!).

AND/OR

Tweet about the giveaway!

Click here to Tweet: "I entered the @SheSpeaksUp #SpringCleaning giveaway to win an Amex gift card! bit.ly/1U0QuuP"

*One lucky commenter or Tweeter will be chosen at random to receive a $100 American Express gift card. Giveaway is open through April 3rd, 2016 to U.S. residents at least 18 years of age. Entrants must be a member of SheSpeaks. If you are not a member, click here to join. Winner will be notified by email.

Update: The winner is SheSpeaks member TrippinwithTara! Thanks to all for entering and congrats to her!