This week is going to be a perfect time for fall cleaning. It's going to be raining until next week and I just flew back from Florida and the forecast isn't any different
there. It's just dreary everywhere. I hope the weathermen are wrong on this...but until the sun peaks its head again I thought this would be a perfect time to share some natural remedies for your home.

You know I like simple. For this...all you need is lemon juice, baking soda, white vinegar, and a spray bottle. Not only great for the environment, but great for the budget.

Disinfecting the Bathroom and Kitchen

A great natural all purpose cleaner is vinegar. Get a spray bottle at a discount drug store and fill it halfway with water and half with vinegar.

It works as a disinfectant and deodorizer. Don't worry! The smell of the vinegar will go away when it dries.

You can use it in the bathtub, toilet (pure vinegar will eliminate rings from the toilet bowl), sinks, and countertops. Spray full strength on mildew (not on tile grout though) and don't rinse.

You can also use it to clean the stovetop, mop the floor, and on appliances.

DO NOT use vinegar on marble surfaces and always make sure your solution is appropriately diluted when cleaning other surfaces.

Dishes, Stains, Soap Scum, and Polishing

Who doesn't love the smell of a lemony fresh cleaned surface? :-)

Lemon juice is great for dissolving soap scum and hard water deposits.

It's also good for shining brass and copper.

Mix lemon juice with baking soda to create a paste. Use the paste to scrub dishes, surfaces, or stains.

You can also cut an lemon in half, dip it in baking soda and make a perfect scrubber.

Baking soda is an excellent alternative to commercial abrasive cleansers.

1 cup of olive oil with a 1/2 cup of lemon juice will polish your hardwood furniture.

Deodorizing and Freshening Up The Air

Baking soda is an effective deodorizer... that's why mom always had an open box in the refrigerator.

That same deodorizer works terrific sprinkled on carpet as well.

You can set small dishes with baking soda or vinegar with lemon juice around your home to absorb odors. This is great if you are sensitive to commercial air fresheners.

Laundry

Vinegar also works as a fabric softener. Add a 1/2 cup to your rinse cycle in place of store bought fabric softener.

Dried lemon peels deter moths...and smell much better than moth balls.

Want to read about more natural "remedies" for your fall cleaning? http://eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm

melissa@myheartdances.com