Green Cleaning Tips

Bicarbonate of Soda, aka Baking soda is superb as a natural cleaner.

Here are my top 10 baking soda uses for natural cleaning;

1. To clean surfaces, such as countertops, sprinkle baking soda on a damp cloth, scrub away, and then rinse with clean, cold water.

2. Sprinkle in the bottom of garbage cans and diaper pails to deodorize. Also works well at the bottom of kitty litter box.

3. To clean silver, make a paste of baking soda and water 3 to 1 parts. Scrub, rinse & polish with a soft cloth.

4. To avoid clogged drains, pour 1/4 cup baking soda down weekly. Rinse with hot water. Also works great for maintenance in garbage disposal.

5. Shake and let sit in toilet bowls and then scrub away stains easily with toilet brush.

6. Sprinkle in stinky sneakers to neutralize nasty odors, or make a simple sachet filled with the baking soda and put it in hockey bags. (You can buy sachets at the dollar store or make your own with an old sock).

7. This one is really cool! For those that don't have self-cleaning ovens, sprinkle baking soda on the bottom (hopefully I don't have to tell you when it's cooled) and keep spritzing with water every few hours to keep it damp (not soaked). Eventually, the grime will turn to particles that can easily be wiped or vacuumed away.

8. Baking soda as a dishwasher detergent actually works! Mix with a little Borax and you not only get sparkly clean dishes but a sanitized dishwasher as well!

9. Perfect as a pot scrubber, sprinkle and rub away.

10. Add a little baking soda to the wash load and it will help to brighten clothes, act as a fabric softner and sanitize the washing machine.">

There is no other scent that says clean better than the fresh scent of lemons!
Did you know lemons are acidic, and can provide some antibacterial, and antiseptic properties for cleaning?

It has to be my all time favorite scent, actually, anything citrus is my favorite, but for cleaning lemons are my pick!

Here are some fresh ideas to use lemons for cleaning;

1. Throw a few pieces in the garbage disposal to keep it fresh smelling, it can get a little stinky in there!

2. Cut half a lemon in to small pieces, and place in a bowl of cold water. Cook on high in the microwave for three minutes. The fresh citrus smell gets rid of cooking odors, and the condensation from the steam loosens dirt, and makes cleaning your microwave so much easier. Simply wipe it with a damp cloth afterward.

3. Put equal amounts of lemon juice and water, and add to a spray bottle. This makes for an effective kitchen and bathroom cleaner.
I always leave a bottle handy for counter cleanups, plus it leaves that nice fresh scent.

4. Rub lemon juice onto your wooden chopping board (love wooden chopping boards, for their already antibacterial properties), leave overnight and then rinse in the morning. Easy cleaning and peace of mind that all those nasties are truly gone!">