All Purpose No Chemicals Homemade Cleaner

For those of us who are so concerned of having too many chemicals around the house, why not try baking soda. I know vinegar and lemon are a good candidate, too yet mixing the three together with the right quantity will create a perfect cleaner. Another benefit of this soda for the budget conscious is it’s economical to use, and will remove any unpleasant odors.

Cleanliness and orderly on all corners of the place I serve has been part of my routine. Sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, you name it, etc. from carpet to ceiling, from seeing thru the tiny drainage to climbing up the roof gutter. Nothing is clean until all areas are thoroughly swept and dust free. I know there are hundreds more of uses that are known around (even my relative use it as a teeth whitening) I will just mention the ones that I have applied in my real day-to-day encounter. Here is how to prepare it:

Deodorizer-
Placing a box in the refrigerator or freezer will absorb that unwanted odor.
Put in your smelly garbage cans.
For carpet deodorizer, mix 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup of cornstarch, and 1/4 of tbsp of essential oil fragrance for scent. Sprinkle on the rugs before bedtime and let it sit overnight. Vacuum the ff morning.
Sprinkle some on the mattress before making the bed, removes all odors

Air freshener
Mix equal parts of baking soda with your favorite perfumed bath salts. Put it in a soap dish or in small sachet bags wherever you would like to freshen the air.

Scouring Powder-
Scrub those surfaces like any other commercial abrasive cleansers
Use it like it is
Or to be more liquid, add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to 1 quart of warm water.

Wash dishes making plates shine-
Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to 1 quart of water to the dishwasher

Clean the Toilet the easy way-
Sprinkle 1/2 box of baking soda into the toilet tank once a month.
Let it stay overnight before flushing. Both tank and the bowl will be clean and refresh.

Grout
Put baking soda directly on the grout, do a small area at a time. Then add vinegar on top of the baking soda. Let it bubble, and then proceed to clean with an old toothbrush. Depending on how extent the grout’s stain is, you may have to do it twice.

Clogged or slow Drainage-
Mix one cup of baking soda to one cup of hot vinegar, wait for a few minutes then, flush the drain with one gallon of hot water. It is more eco friendly than Drano and the like. Please be careful in handling hot water, and wear gloves

Shine that porcelain Sink-
Sprinkle baking soda all over the sink, squirt some bleach on top of the baking soda, let sit and then wipe clean. The baking soda soaks up the bleach, keeping it from dripping away

Enhance your Laundry
Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the washing machine along with your usual amount of liquid laundry soap. It will make whites whiter and colors brighter. Please note that it won’t work with powdered detergents

Coffee cleaner –
Drip it to your coffee pot. Mix 1/4 cup of baking soda and one cup of warm water. Let it drip through the coffee maker. Make more runs with fresh water to rinse. It will keep your coffee maker clean and fresh.

Teapot cleaner –
To remove rust stains and mineral deposits, fill the teapot with water, 2 tbsp of baking soda and the juice of half a lemon. Boil gently for 15 minutes. Rinse and repeat if needed.

Shine that Silver-
In a heat resistant glass bowl, put that tarnished sterling. Add 1/2 cup of baking soda and some aluminum foil into the bowl. Then, pour some hot water to it. It will bubble, and in a few minutes the aluminum foil will turn darker and the silver will turn shiny. Rinsed the piece, buffed it dry and never spent a penny on silver cleaner again

Pesticide nontoxic-
Sprinkle some baking soda along their trails, under sinks near pipe openings and along basement windows to repel ants, silver fish and roaches. Roaches will dehydrate and die after eating baking soda.

Remove crayon marks from walls by scrubbing gently with an old toothbrush and a paste of baking soda and water.