7 Tips on How to Design an Eco-Friendly Kitchen

As the world is evolving with its latest inventions, the use of appliances and substances harmful to the Earth is also increasing. People should be advised to use eco-friendly items to reduce the Earth’s resources exploitation as much as possible. To save our planet, we can start by taking small steps and using recyclable and eco-friendly materials. When designing your kitchen, you can make environmentally thoughtful choices.

Create a Sustainable Design:

You can style your kitchen that does not require the usage of so many resources, and on top of that, sealing it with paint can produce toxins in the environment. Design a kitchen that does not need many replacements, as it will help reduce the usage of natural resources. 

Having a functional, beautiful, easy to use kitchen space for everyone that can last many years is an essential factor in designing an eco-friendly kitchen.

Cabinets:

Instead of getting newly designed cabinets, you can reface them as it uses less wood. Usage of a lot of wood can reduce our forest count and affect the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere. When you reface your cabinets, it makes them durable and stronger than before. It will cost you less as compared to when you replace your cabinets.

Counter-Tops:

People mostly like to choose granite material as their countertops. But granite is not a renewable resource, thus leading to increased waste on Earth, and it requires more mining than other materials. You can choose quartz and Corian as your countertops as they do not need toxic sealants and tend to last longer without cracking.

Increase Your Use Of Recycled Materials:

Increase your use of recycled material in the kitchen to reduce waste and improve the environment. 

• The stainless steel used in making sinks is often made using recycled material.
• For flooring and cabinetry, look for wood made with a non-chemical adhesive.
• Bamboo is a great eco-friendly product as it grows at a faster rate.
• The cement used for building a kitchen uses chemicals and huge quantities of water. You can replace cement with resin.

Choice of Appliances:

When designing your kitchen, buy kitchen appliances that will save you energy and keep you away from harmful pollutants.

• Replace your kettles for boiling water that costs a lot of electricity with a boiling water tap. 
• When using a coffee maker, use a reusable filter. Using disposable paper filters end up in the landfill and pollute the environment as they contain trace amounts of dioxin pollutants.
• Use a toaster with two slots for bread as it requires less energy compared to a four slotted toaster.
• Before you purchase a waffle maker, make sure that it is Teflon-free as it leaches out chemicals when heated at high temperatures. It can be harmful to the environment.

How to Choose Your Cookware:

Stay Away from Teflon Coated Products:

In Teflon, PFOA is a carcinogen and hormone disruptor that harms the body by staying in the environment. Perfluorinated chemicals found in Teflon coating can leach toxic substances into your food. They are found in saucepans, muffin tins, and baking sheets.

Alternatives to Teflon:

Stainless Steel:

Pans made out of stainless steel are a great option for eco-friendly cookware. These pans are coated with aluminum and copper, which conducts heat well. It can cook acidic foods.

Non-Stick Cookware:

Non-stick pans are good for your health as they use a ceramic coating. It is free of toxic chemicals and is considered safe under high temperatures. In the manufacturing of these pans, no heavy metals are used, and its exterior is made of durable heavy-gauge die-cast aluminum.

Use of Green Products:

Eco-friendly products use less energy and water than the standard ones, and they help reduce energy costs. The pandemic that we are facing these days is known as Coronavirus, and because of it, we are confined to our houses, which makes us more exposed to the air pollution created by the kitchen. Air pollution is produced because of cooking fumes and the gases produced from paints, flooring, renovating cabinets, and countertops. 

Try to increase the usage of green products to reduce air pollution. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are harmful for our eyes, nose, and throat and can cause cancer and are produced by paints, wood, preservations, and other materials. Use eco-friendly paint that does not contain VOCs.

Author Bio: 

Amy Rehan is a guest post manager at Globex Outreach. Her job is to ensure all guest post projects are completed on time and according to client’s requirements.

How To Remove Bad Smells In The Kitchen

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Gone are the days when the kitchen is merely utilized as an area to prepare and cook meals. Today, kitchens are becoming more diverse as they’re now used by homeowners to entertain guests and share conversations with the family. Most homeowners will also invest in the newest kitchen appliances and furnishings as they treat this particular area as an extension of their living room. 

The kitchen is very functional, but it’ll be very challenging for you to enjoy the space if it smells bad. How do you think you can have fun in your kitchen if the area stinks?  Do you think you’ll have the confidence to invite your friends over at your kitchen if everything in it smells bad?  It’s common for the kitchen to have all sorts of smells, but this doesn’t mean that you should let the odor linger. 

Here’s how you can remove bad smells in the kitchen:

1. Check Your Air Filter
   
   There are many reasons why your kitchen often smells bad. Aside from the odor coming from raw ingredients and wastes, your kitchen can also smell bad if your air filters are damaged. Dirt and dust can easily accumulate when you have a damaged air filter, as well as cause bad odors in your kitchen.
   
   If you often notice that your kitchen smells bad even before you start cooking, spend some time to check your air filter and replace it with a quality air filter when necessary. Aside from keeping your kitchen smelling good, replacing your air filters regularly can also improve the air quality in your kitchen. Doing so will lessen your family’s susceptibility to allergies.
   
   
2. Put Lemons In Your Garbage Bins
   
   Your kitchen will always have wastes. This is where you’ll prepare meals for friends and family, which is why your kitchen trash bins will be often full.
   
   For your garbage containers to, still, smell fresh, feed them some lemons. Simply slice several pieces of lemon and place them inside your trash bins. Lemons contain citric acid that can effectively break down the grease and gunk that cause bad odor in your kitchen.  Lemons will also leave a light and lemony scent in your kitchen, which can improve the overall ambiance of the space.
   
   
3. Spritz Some Homemade Air Freshener
   
   Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to spend a lot of money just to keep your kitchen smelling good. There are actually many ways you can easily get rid of bad smells in the kitchen, and making your own air freshener is a great example.
   
   You can make your own air freshener simply by mixing two tablespoons of water, three quarters cup of rubbing alcohol, and about 20 drops of your favorite essential oils. Some of the best oils you can use for your kitchen are orange, lavender, and peppermint.
   
   After mixing the liquids together, put everything in a spray bottle and spritz it on areas that are prone to bad odors. Using homemade air fresheners is one of the easiest ways to make your kitchen smell good, which is perfect when you’re expecting guests after using the kitchen for hours!
   
   
4. Keep Your Sponges Dry
   
   No kitchen would be complete without sponges. This is an essential tool that helps clean your silverware and different surfaces in your kitchen. A sponge is very useful, but can also cause bad odors in the kitchen when not cleaned properly.
   
   Another hack that you can try to remove bad smells from your kitchen is to always keep your sponges dry. A wet sponge can cause strong odors, especially when your kitchen is enclosed. A wet sponge can also attract germs and bacteria, and can become the reason why your entire household will become sick.
   
   Make sure that none of these happen by placing your sponge in an area with good airflow. Don’t forget to put your sponges in the dishwasher at least once a week to get rid of any stink.
   
   
5. Cancel Out Cooking Smells
   
   Certain dishes leave bad odors in your kitchen. Spaghetti marinara, for example, will usually leave a stink in your kitchen for hours. The same is true for fried fish and recipes that require different types of cheeses.
   
   You can easily cancel out cooking smells in your kitchen by filling a saucepan with about a cup of water and three tablespoons of vinegar, and letting it boil for a few minutes. The steam from the mixture will neutralize any nasty smells from your kitchen and make the area feel cleaner. 

Use Simple Strategies

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There are many ways you can remove bad smells in your kitchen. You just have to find and use a strategy that’s easy to implement and suits your lifestyle. You’ll be encouraged to make your kitchen smell good if you know strategies that are to do and effective!