Advocates of a "little and often" approach to cleaning with gentle, natural ingredients, Purdy and Charlotte share their top tips and tricks for a fresh, sparkling kitchen, using only natural ingredients you can find in your pantry.

If you don't feel like making your own natural cleaning products, Counter Clean was developed to tackle all your household cleaning tasks in one refillable bottle. Find out more.

Sink

To clean stainless steel or ceramic sinks, take half a lemon and sprinkle it with baking soda. Rub it all around the sink, squeezing the lemon as you go. Depending on how dirty it is, you may want to let it sit for a bit so the fruit acid can break down the grime before rinsing with warm water.

For blocked, smelly drains, use 1 cup vinegar, 1 cup baking soda, and 1 cup coarse salt. Pour each one down the drain and let it sit for an hour before rinsing with boiling water.

Oven

Sprinkle baking soda liberally all over your oven, then scrub the walls thoroughly using a little water. Let the baking soda break down grease, grime, and dirt for at least 10 minutes (or overnight for stubborn buildup). Then rinse away the baking soda using fresh lemon juice or a diluted citric acid solution. You can follow the same process for the oven racks, or just let them soak in hot, soapy water.

To clean the glass oven door, start by scraping off any food residue. Remove the remaining grease with hot water and dish soap or Counter Clean, then wipe the glass dry with a dry microfiber cloth to remove any leftover residue.

Fridge

Make a baking soda paste or solution with a small amount of water, then wipe down the fridge interior with a damp cloth. This same mixture works great as a natural deodorizer and degreaser for sinks and trash cans, too.

To keep the fridge smelling fresh, place a small bowl of baking soda with a few drops of lemon essential oil at the back (swap it out roughly every month, as Purdy explains below).

Countertops & Cabinet Doors

Aside from reaching for Counter Clean, you can make your own surface cleaner with one part white vinegar to two parts water, plus a few drops of your favorite essential oil for a lovely scent.

Pots & Pans

Give your pots and pans an occasional deep clean, since oil and food residue build up over time without you noticing. For a really encrusted pan, sprinkle on some coarse salt, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and gently scrub in circular motions with half a lemon until it comes clean.

Dishwasher

For a deep clean, remove the filter and wash it in hot, soapy water. Then fill two small bowls (about 1 cup each) with vinegar, placing one on the bottom rack and one on the top, and run the dishwasher on its longest, hottest cycle.

For a quick regular refresher, toss a used lemon half into the cutlery basket. It'll leave a fresh citrus scent and help your silverware and glassware come out sparkling.

Microwave

Microwaves can become a breeding ground for lingering smells and burnt-on food. Add about 1¼ cups of hot water to a microwave-safe bowl along with the juice of one lemon and its peels. Microwave on full power for 3 to 4 minutes, then leave the door closed for 30 minutes to let it steam clean. Remove the bowl and wipe down the interior with a clean cloth.

Purdy & Charlotte's Top Natural Cleaning Recipe

To make a great-smelling, totally safe scouring powder, dry citrus peels (we like lemon) at a very low oven temperature (140°F), then blend them in a food processor with coarse salt and 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Store in a lidded jar.

We'd love to hear how these natural cleaning tips work for you. Feel free to share and tag us on Instagram @purdyandfigg.