Easy All-purpose Cleaners

Vinegar

Vinegar mixed with water is an inexpensive cleaning solution that will clean most household surfaces, from kitchen appliances to tile and toilets. A few drops of an essential oil — lemon, tea tree, and lavender — adds a fresh scent!

Lemon juice

Lemon juice is as versatile for cleaning as it is for cooking! Mix it with vinegar or baking soda (or both) to make an all-purpose cleaning paste that cuts through grease, dissolves soap scum, and even shines silver. Try cutting a lemon in half and sprinkle baking soda on the cut section, then use it to scrub dishes, surfaces, and stains. You also can mix it with olive oil to polish your hardwood furniture.

Baking soda

Baking soda can be used to scrub surfaces in the same way as commercial abrasive cleansers and is a natural deodorizer. Just keep an open box in the refrigerator and sprinkle some on the top layer of your garbage to keep your kitchen smelling fresh.