Cleaning will definitely never make my list of favorite pastimes. But to me the worst part about cleaning is the cleaning product companies that constantly bombard us with ads of the latest chemical filled products. The worst are the ones that try to sugar coat the chemicals by adding one natural ingredient or pine smell. Their packages may be eye catchingly bright, but underneath the usually long list of chemicals and additives are the not so eye catching warnings. The plain truth is commercial cleaning products are packed with chemicals that are bad for our bodies and horrible for the oceans. Using only lemon, baking soda and vinegar, you can clean almost anything in your home while saving money, your health, and the environment!

USES FOR LEMON

Lemons are acidic, using lemons adds antibacterial and antiseptic properties and is also a natural bleaching agent, use it for:
-dissolving soap scum and hard water deposits
-clean & shine brass and copper with lemon juice. A lemon cut in half and dipped in salt is good for cleaning spots off copper fixtures
-put a whole lemon peel through the garbage disposal to freshen the drain and kitchen
-pour lemon juice on white linens & clothes and allow them to dry in the sun to bleach away stains

USES FOR VINEGAR

Vinegar is a natural disinfectant and deodorizer and is a great all purpose cleaner, on anything but marble. The strong smell will disappear when it dries. Use it by:
-mix 1 part water to 1 part vinegar for an all purpose cleaner that you can use on the stove, appliances, & counter tops, stone and brick surfaces
-add ½ cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle instead of fabric softener
-pour vinegar around the inside rim of the toilet bowl and scrub to get rid of rings
-mop the flour in the bathroom with a vinegar diluted with water
-add a couple teaspoons to a spray bottle filled with water for window cleaner

BAKING SODA

Baking soda is abrasive cleanser that is excellent at dissolving dirt, mildew, grease, and even wax. It also acts as a natural deodorizer, use it for:
- paste, baking soda is great for removing dirt and grime
-4 tablespoons baking mixed with 1 quart warm water and shaken makes a great all purpose spray you can use on anything from the bathtub to the fridge
-add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the rinse cycle instead of fabric softeners as well as help remove odors from clothes.
-wet stains on the oven and then shake baking soda over them, scrub with steel wool and watch even old rust stains disappear
-place a box in the refrigerator and freezer to absorb odor
-sprinkle it your carpet before vacuuming to eliminate food and pet odors.
-neutralize food and cat litter odors by sprinkling it at the bottom of the garbage and litter box
-use it to clean and polish metals and plastics

COMBINATION POWER
-Lemon juice mixed with vinegar and or baking soda make great cleaning pastes. A lemon cut in half and sprinkled with baking soda makes a great abrasive cleaner you can use to scrub stubborn dishes, surfaces, and stains
-Pour ½ cup baking soda down drain, add ½ cup white vinegar, and cover the drain. Wait 15 minutes and then pour 1 gallon of hot water down the drain to get rid of build up.
-make a super toilet cleaner with ¼ cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar, pour it into toilet and let sit for 5 min. before scrubbing with a brush
-1 1/2 Tablespoons of Baking Soda with 2 Tablespoons of Borax mixed together can replace automatic dishwasher detergent.
-1 cup olive oil blended with ½ cup lemon juice makes a furniture polish for your hardwood furniture.