Just pour some baking soda in a bucket of warm water. Wipe your refrigerator inside and outside with a cloth and baking soda water solution, rinsing well with a washcloth and water. For sticky stains pour the baking soda directly on the area and scrub with a wet rag. Baking soda is a very mild abrasive so it won’t scratch. It works great to clean and deodorize.

Cut one or two lemons and squeeze the juice into a small pail of water.  Throw the remains of the cut lemon slices into the water and give it good stir. Use the lemon water to give another wipe on the inside of my refrigerator. It works great, leaves a clean fresh lemon scent and you don’t have to worry about using it around food stuffs.

Keep your refrigerator organized, with meats and cheese and butter in one shelve box, and vegetables in the crisper.

Place a open box of baking soda in the fridge to adsorb exess moisture and smell. Alternatively, you can also place used coffee grounds in the fridge and/or the freezer to remove odors. You need to change the grounds once a month. It worked for the fish odor that had been my problem.

• In case of small fires, such as electrical or grease fires. Just toss a handful into the flames to put them out.

• Plastic cutting boards tend to retain the smells of foods that were cut on them like garlic and onions. To remove these smells, use a paste of baking soda and lemon, and scrub the board. Let it stay for about 30 minutes, and rinse the paste with vinegar, followed by a thorough rinsing with water.

• Get rid of the awful smell emanating from your garbage can by sprinkling in some baking soda at the bottom of the pail, and also in the garbage bag.

• Keep kitchen surfaces such as counter tops and tiles clean, by cleaning with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, sprinkled on a fresh cloth. Follow by wiping with a damp cloth. This will also clear grease marks and oil spills.

• If you have marble or granite counter tops, use a paste of baking soda with hydrogen peroxide and water for stain removal. Apply the paste and cover it with a damp paper towel. Let it rest overnight and wipe it clean in the morning.

• If food dries out in a pan, or gets burnt, it can be removed by sprinkling baking soda at the base and soaking it overnight in hot water.

• Food containers also tend to develop stale smells. To remove these, soak the containers in a solution of baking soda in hot water, overnight.

• All the silverware in the kitchen can be cleaned by using a solution of 3 parts baking soda to one part water. Put the paste on the items and rinse with warm water. This solution can also be used to keep stainless steel appliances sparkling. Just wipe them with a damp cloth after applying the paste, in the direction of the grains.

• Even stains on china can be removed by scrubbing and cleaning with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.

• Heat a baking soda solution in a glass bowl for 3 minutes in the microwave, to loosen the oil collection in the microwave. Wipe it clean. Do not heat for long as this may cause an eruption inside the microwave.

• Cleaning with baking soda and vinegar is an effective solution to remove mineral deposits around faucets and wash basins. Combining two tablespoons of vinegar with two tablespoons of baking soda, will give you a good scouring powder.

• Use a mixture of baking soda with vinegar to clear the build up of soap and grease in the bath tub.

• Soak your shower curtains in a solution of baking soda and vinegar, and use a scrub brush to clear all the grime collection and the growth of mold. It will also get rid of the odors that collect on shower curtains.

• The toilet seat can be cleaned by using baking soda sprinkled on a soft cloth. Follow this by wiping it clean with a damp cloth. The inside of the toilet can be made spotless by cleaning with baking soda and white vinegar. Make a thick paste with the two and scrub it clean.

• Leave a cup of baking soda in the toilet to fight all the odors that emanate there. It also prevents the collection of moisture, and loosens the build up of dirt.

If you prefer not to have any vinegar smell in your bathroom, another alternative is to use the plain old lemon juice. Just cut a lemon half and scrub the door with the lemon. Rinse with water and dry it with a microfiber cloth.

The key to keeping your glass shower doors clean and shining is to maintain it regularly. Don’t allow the mineral deposits in the water to build up on the glass surfaces. To prevent this, keep the surfaces dry after you shower. Keep a rubber squeegee in the bathroom and use it to quickly remove the majority of the water residue. This will keep the watermarks down to a bare minimum.

Thank goodness! There’s an easier, greener, safer alternative to restoring the fluffiness and absorbency for your towels.

Wash your new towels in hot water, and then add a cup of white vinegar to the rinse. I can’t tell you what a difference that makes!! It’s fabulous. This works to a lesser degree on older towels as well. It doesn’t get any simplier than that!

• Baking Soda – cleans, deodorizes, softens water, scours.
• Soap – unscented soap in liquid form, flakes, powders or bars is biodegradable and will clean just about anything. Avoid using soaps which contain petroleum distillates.
• Lemon – one of the strongest food-acids, effective against most household bacteria.
• Borax – (sodium borate) cleans, deodorizes, disinfects, softens water, cleans wallpaper, painted walls and floors.
• White Vinegar – cuts grease, removes mildew, odors, some stains and wax build-up.
• Washing Soda – or SAL Soda is sodium carbonate decahydrate, a mineral. Washing soda cuts grease, removes stains, softens water, cleans wall, tiles, sinks and tubs. Use care, as washing soda can irritate mucous membranes. Do not use on aluminum.
• Cornstarch- can be used to clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets and rugs.
• Citrus Solvent – cleans paint brushes, oil and grease, some stains. (Citrus solvent may cause skin, lung or eye irritations for people with multiple chemical sensitivities.)

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, the air inside a typical home is, on average, 2 to 5 times more polluted than the air just outside – and in extreme cases 100 times more contaminated – largely because of household cleaners and pesticides.

The only healthy way to clean your home is with green cleaning. Green cleaning is more than just using “green” products. To be effective, a green cleaning program is dependent on a comprehensive approach, including chemicals, tools and equipment, procedures, paper products, trash liners, soaps and detergents. Green cleaning removes the maximum amount of indoor air pollution, germs and dirt AND leaves nothing behind in terms of harmful chemical residues.

If you want your home to be clean, get it truly clean with green cleaning.