Things You'll Need:
- Baking soda
- Plain white vinegar
- Water
- Sponges
- Spray bottles
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Step 1
To clean non-wood surfaces and tiles, mix 1 cup plain white vinegar with 1 cup water in a spray bottle, and spray the solution onto the surface you want to clean. This mix works as an all-purpose cleaner. Wipe with a moist sponge.
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Step 2
Use plain, undiluted white vinegar to clean toilets.
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Step 3
When washing towels, add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle instead of fabric softener. Fabric softener can make towels less absorbent, but vinegar deodorizes and softens the towels without compromising their absorbency.
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Step 4
Use baking soda as a scouring powder to clean bathroom sinks, tubs and showers. For tough stains, form a paste with baking soda and a little bit of water. Smear the paste onto the stain and let it sit for about a half hour, then sponge off.
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Step 5
Scrub stainless-steel pots and pans with baking soda instead of using scouring pads. Baking soda is non-abrasive, so it doesn't scratch the pans and it gives them a nice shine. Baking soda can also be used to clean stainless sinks, and it makes the drain smell better, too! If anything is stuck to the pans or the sink, make the paste of baking soda and water again and allow it to sit for 30 minutes before wiping it down with a sponge.
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Step 6
Use baking soda instead of a commercial oven cleaner to clean your oven. When your oven is dirty, apply baking soda and wet it down by using water in a spray bottle. Leave it there for 24 hours, occasionally adding more water. Wipe it out with a damp sponge the next day and use a clean, wet cloth to wipe out any remaining residue.
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Step 7
Use a combination of baking soda and vinegar to loosen up slow drains. Pour 1/2 cup baking soda into the drain, and then slowly and carefully add 1/2 cup vinegar. Let it sit in the drain for 30 minutes, then flush with hot water.
