Over the years I have purchased and used many household cleaners. Some I like very much, some not so much. The things I look for in a good cleaner are pretty simple. It must do the job well, without much difficulty, it must smell good, and it can’t be expensive.   As I said, there have been many throughout the years.

I finally realized that even though these products did a fine job, smelled good, and they didn’t break the bank,  they also were chemicals that can be very harsh to our skin, the air we breathe, our food if it were to get contaminated, and so on. Bottom line is, they are harmful and not something I want in my house and around my kids.

My aunt told me many years ago that she only uses vinegar and water to mop her floors. I started doing that and I was surprised that my floors were so clean.  If there’s an area that needs to be scrubbed, I add a little baking soda and use a scrubbing pad. Then I finish with the vinegar and water mopping. I found out very quickly that I can clean most anything in my house with these two products. Vinegar and baking soda. Not only are the results squeaky clean, but it also saves lots of money. Another great product to use is Dawn dish soap. It smells really good and is a good degreaser.

Here are some other ways to use vinegar and/or baking soda and Dawn dish soap to clean your house.

• Using vinegar in the rinse cycle of your laundry leaves clothes soft and fluffy, just like fabric softener. It also removes static from them.
• Use 1/2 cup of baking added to your whites to help keep them white. You can also make a paste with baking soda and water to pretreat stains on whites.
• Dawn detergent is also a great way to pretreat stains. I use this on my colored clothes. It’s great for grease spots especially. Just dab the stained area and let sit for 15 minutes before adding to the wash. If the stain is really bad, you may have to do this twice.
• Use baking soda and vinegar to clean your bathtub and shower. Sprinkle with baking soda, then use a sponge dampened with vinegar to scrub away the dirt. Rinse clean.
• Baking soda and vinegar can also be used to clean in the kitchen. Sprinkle countertops with baking soda and then use a sponge dampened with vinegar to scrub.
• This can be done on all appliances as well. I was shocked at how well my stovetop came out. Even stainless steel sinks come out sparkling clean. Plus, the baking soda serves as a deodorant for the sink drain!

These are just some of the many ways these products can be used. Feel free to send me your suggestions. I love learning new ways to clean using natural products.

Happy cleaning! Be blessed!