Cleaning cheaper

Lemons
1. Sanitize wood chopping boards with use lemon juice. The citric acid in the juice is a powerful antibacterial that can kill even e. Coli on contact!
2. Run a solution of one part water to one part lemon juice through your coffee machine to remove hard water and mineral deposits that can clog it up. Then repeat using just water.
3. Put half a lemon or a few drops of lemon juice in a bowl of water and cook on high in your microwave for 3 minutes. It will rid your microwave of odors and the steam will loosen any food particles that are stuck inside so you can easily wipe it clean.

White Vinegar
1. In your shower, use a sponge or in a spray bottle. The Acetic acid that gives vinegar its sour taste and pungent odor also dissolves mineral deposits, hard water stains, and soap scum. It also kills 99% of surface bacteria and 82% of mold.
2. If Fido has an "accident" on the carpet, mix up one part vinegar and two parts cold water into a spray bottle. Shake well and spray the stain until it's saturated. Let soak for a minute or two then blot up with a rag.
3. A couple times a year, pour a few cups of white vinegar into your washing machine and turn it on to cycle, as if you were washing clothes. The vinegar will break down soap residue, deposits, and mildew leaving your machine with a longer life span and more cleaning power.

Baking Soda
1. Sprinkle burned on foods with baking soda and add enough water to moisten and let sit for several hours. Then you can wipe it clean without any elbow grease.
2. Mix up a paste of baking soda and a dab of dishwashing liquid to use in removing bathtub rings. It will keep the porcelain sparkling without causing any damage.
3. Place generous amounts of baking soda on the bottom of your oven and spray it with some water. Let it sit overnight and wipe it clean in the morning with no effort.

Club Soda
1. Pour club soda on clothes, carpets or couches to remove stubborn stains, including red wine, grease and chocolate. Let it set in for 15 - 30 minutes, then blot the stain with a clean cloth or sponge.
2. Jewelry looking dull? Place your precious gem jewelry in a glass of club soda and let it sit overnight. The soda will remove debris, loosen the oils, and won't damge the gems. Rinse well before using.
3. Use it to remove rust and rust stains. Just pour the club soda on the spot and let sit 15 minutes, wipe away with a cloth. You can also spritz it on rusty nuts and bolts to get them moving again or soak rusty tools in a bowl of club soda overnight. (NOTE: It doesn't say this, but, the last time I used a home remedy to remove rust from tools, it did work, but it was necessary to immediately give the tools a rub down in oil or the rust came back as soon as it dried. I would guess the same would hold true for this remedy).
4. Soak your stainless steel utensils in club soda and rub away any streaks with a cloth, then rinse with clean water to restore the shine.

Fabric Softener Sheet
1. To keep faux flowers looking fresh, wipe the petals and eaves with a clean, used fabric softener sheet. The antistatic qualities of the sheet will keep the flowers from attracting dust as quickly.
2. Wipe down dusty TV screens with a used sheet to remove the dust and keep it from attracting more dust as quickly.

Household Cleaning and Cleaners

Baking Soda is an inexpensive gentle abrasive for scouring kitchen counters, sinks, bathtubs, etc. The alkaline action quickly neutralizes the acidity of odor-causing molecules to eliminate sour smells also. Sprinkle the Baking Soda directly on what you are cleaning and rub with a damp sponge.

White Vinegar and water is the best glass cleaner and far less expensive to use. Mix 1 cup of white vinegar and 2 cups of water in a spray bottle and get to cleaning your windows. The vinegar evaporates quickly and leaves no visible residue on your glass. I also use old newspaper to wipe off the vinegar/water, it seems to help clean better but I have no idea why.

For wood furniture, mix 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice and 2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil to use for your polish. The citric acid cuts through buildup and helps the oil penetrate the wood, bringing out its natural glow.

For degreasing kitchen cabinets, add 1/4 cup of lemon juice to 1 quart of hot water then wash the surface.

To kill cutting board germs, run a slice of lemon over the board's surface to disinfect it, then wash as normal. Bacteria will be broken down in a flash by the citric acid in the lemon.

To help lift set-in stains in clothing, mix 3 Tablespoons of vinegar, 2 Tablespoons of liquid detergent, and 1 quart of warm water. Spritz onto the stain and let sit for 5 minutes, then launder. Warm water softens the fibers as the vinegar breaks down the stain particles. The loosened particles will bond to the soap molecules and rinse off in the washer.

Erase crayon marks from a wall using a dab of toothpaste and a damp cloth.

Keep your chrome fixtures shiny using a dab of toothpaste and a soft cloth. Water spots will disappear and the chrome will be polished.

To remove water marks from wood, massage 1 teaspoon of petroleum jelly into each stain using your fingers. Leave overnight and buff with a dry cloth.

To shine your silver, place tarnished utensils in a sink lined with foil (shiny side up). Fill with hot water, 1/4 cup of salt, and 1/4 cup of baking soda. Soak for 3 minutes. Dry with a soft cloth.

To remove pet stains from the carpet, mix one 16 oz bottle of hydrogen peroxide, 2 Tablespoons of baking soda, and 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap in a mixing bowl. Saturate the spot with the solution and rub with a sponge. The oxidizing mix breaks up the uric acid crystals and neutralizes the smell.

To clear a clogged drain, drop 3 denture-cleaning tablets into the sink drain followed by 1 cup of white vinegar. The drain should clear in a bout 10 minutes.

Cleaning the toilet bowl. Pour 1 1-liter bottle of coke into the bowl and close the lid. An hour later, flush the toilet and your stains should have disappeared.

To clean your coffee maker, put 1 denture cleaning tablet in the coffee filter holder, fill with water like making a pot of coffee, turn the coffee maker on and let it cycle. I ran another potful of water through the coffee maker to make sure it was clean coming out.

If you want to de-germ your home, check out the eco-friendly tips at Health.com

Happy cleaning!!