Frugal
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As a matter of fact, they're so safe and fun to use that the kids can help you clean. Some of this stuff smells good and is actually fun to mix.
Vinegar (white distilled)
Distilled white vinegar is a great cleanser for both your kitchen, the bath and even glass. In a clean spray bottle mix 2 parts vinegar to 1 part water. Some people mix half and half but I like it really strong to cut through the crud quickly. Add a tablespoon of lemon juice to pump up the power and to give a lemony scent. (Don't worry, the "Italian sub" smell will dissipate quickly if you don't use lemon.)
- Use this simple cleaner anywhere you need to shine and disinfect. Vinegar is a natural disinfectant. For tough sticky messes just spray and let sit for a minute or two, the same as with any store bought cleanser.
- Spray full strength to clean and disinfect your bathroom. It gets rid of soap scum, lime and hard water stains. Wipe down with full strength white vinegar then scour with baking soda.
- Pour 2 cups full strength vinegar into your toilet before bed and let it sit overnight. Scrub in the morning to make the bowl sparkle.
- If you have an occasional bed wetter use a strong solution of white vinegar and water to clean the area then shake baking soda over the spot. Vacuum or brush it off after it dries completely. -This homemade cleaning product can help save a mattress but I would strongly suggest a plastic mattress cover as well. :)
- Clean hard water deposits from your coffeemaker by pouring 2 cups undiluted white vinegar in and letting it run a cycle. Run two full pots plain water to rinse.
- Use the vinegar and water solution to clean your windows. Just spray and wipe with old newspapers.The newspaper won't leave lint or streaks, and does a good job wiping out smudges. - My kids like doing this one.
Baking Soda
A naturally occurring mineral, bicarbonate of soda, is used in cooking, cleaning and even in medicines. (Plop, plop, fizz, fizz). Baking soda works great by itself or mix it with vinegar for a safe but effective homemade cleaning product.
- Keep a small, open box of baking soda in your fridge and one in your freezer to keep the smelling fresh and keep strong odors from transferring to other foods.
- Keep a box handy in the kitchen. It puts out grease fires.
- To clean food burned on the bottom of pots or pans sprinkle baking soda over the entire area and pour in just enough water to coat the bottom of the pan. Swish it around then let sit overnight. In the morning it should rinse right out.
- To freshen pet fur quickly sprinkle with baking soda then brush out.
- Add a cup of baking soda to each load of laundry to boost the cleaning power and keep clothes fresh.
- Clean your oven by spraying your white vinegar and water solution over burned on food then sprinkle with baking soda and let sit over night and rinse with warm water.
- Clean kids toys with a solution of baking soda and warm water.
- Baking soda can be used to soak up grease spills in the garage or the kitchen.
- Make a baking soda paste, 3 parts baking soda - 1 part water, and use like Soft Scrub in the bathroom.
- Mix a few tablespoons of baking soda with water in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave until it comes to a rolling boil. Let sit for a few minutes to loosen dirt, then very carefully remove the bowl and wipe down the sides of the microwave. This loosens burned on food and gets rid of the odors.
- Sock sachets - Put some baking soda in the toes of a pair of old clean socks then tie off. Keep these sachets in your shoes when you aren't wearing them to absorb odors.
- To clear a slow drain pour a couple tablespoons of baking soda down the drain and slowly pour just enough vinegar behind it to get it down the drain. Wait a few minutes, this homemade cleaning product is going to have a foaming action, then flush with hot water.
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-- I love the stuff that sits overnight. The next day it's a snap to clean!
Lemons
Lemons are acidic and a natural bleach. They smell wonderful, have a great color and can be a very powerful cleanser that won't do any harm to your family.
- Use a paste of lemon juice and baking soda to scrub stains from your kitchen counter tops. You can let this sit but not for too long. Lemon is a very strong bleach.
- Take stains out of linens by rubbing the spots with lemon them letting dry in the sun.
- I use a lot of garlic and onion when I cook. Those odors, and flavors, can linger on a wooden cutting board. Scrubbing with half
- The same half lemon dipped in salt technique will clean your copper pots and pans. - If using the half a lemon to scrub with is awkward just make a paste from lemon juice and salt and use a sponge. Don't use this on granite or stone. It will scratch.
- To freshen your dishwasher run it empty with a 1/2 cup of lemon juice in the soap cup. This will disinfect and remove odors.
- Once you're done scrubbing with your lemon run it through the garbage disposal to freshen it, and the kitchen.
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a lemon dipped in salt is the best way I know to deodorize and clean my cutting board. Scrub then rinse with cool water.
Use these fun to make, easy to use, non-toxic homemade cleaning products to get your kids to help you out with the chores.
Want to save even more $$$ ?
Click here to see how easy it is to make your own homemade laundry soap.
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