As mothers, we wish we could master the art of housecleaning. But as the everyday demands at work, and especially, at home consume most of our time, having a clean and organized house is just a figment of our imagination. We wish we could always resort to the most advanced cleaning tools and products, but if we don’t want to go through the hassles of cleaning itself and we get a lot of moolah anyway, then we can always get the very reliable housecleaning services. Say what?!? Again, this may be far from reality for some if not for most of us. The truth is, we either find an excuse like putting the blame on our kids for having a messy house, or, we can always say we save our money for a much better use. Worse, we even sometimes say that cleaning can wait. But let’s say, we have one whole day dedicated for cleaning our home, and at the same time, we are tasked to save ourselves from the trip to the store and not spending money on commercial household cleaning products, how do we go about it? When that day happens, (hope it will. SOON) we have here some household cleaners already found in the comfort of our very home:

In the kitchen

• Tackle the job of kitchen maintenance by creating a solution of equal parts vinegar and water plus a few splashes of lemon juice in a spray bottle to sanitize kitchen counters and appliances.
• If you’re out of liquid dish soap and leaving the house to grab more is out of the question, cut a lemon in half and sprinkle it with baking soda, then scrub away at those dirty plates.
• Got grease? Squirt a dollop of liquid dish soap on a sponge and sprinkle on a little baking soda to take it down. (Lemon juice is also effective.)
• When the baby food explodes in the microwave (and has dried up nicely by the time you get around to dealing with it), create a paste of 3 to 4 tablespoons baking soda mixed with water, then scrub on with a sponge and rinse. This also works well for stubborn stains on countertops.

• Use your morning pick-me-up to eliminate odors in the fridge. Simply place coffee grounds, new or used, in a bowl on a shelf. Replace them every two months for a fresh, slightly caffeinated smell.

In the bathroom

• Squirt some white vinegar in the toilet, then scrub it clean. Powdered drinks with citric acid (like Tang) dissolve rust stains.
• Grab your toothpaste and use it to scour chrome faucets and enamel sinks, leaving them shiny and clean.
• Attack porcelain sinks, tubs and toilets by dusting them with baking soda then scrubbing with a damp sponge or cloth. (Once baby starts taking tub baths, it’s especially important to scrub with safe-for-baby cleansers.)
• Lime scale, hard water stains and soap residue clean up nicely with a little lemon action.

In the living areas

• Grimy baby fingers mean dirty windows. Two cups hot water, 1/4 cup vinegar and a tablespoon of cornstarch should fix the damage. (Add a drop of blue food coloring if you want that Windex look.)
• Create your own furniture polish by mixing one part olive oil and one part vinegar; apply and polish with a soft cloth.
• Hardwood floors can be shined up with the following mixture: 1/4 cup white vinegar and 30 ounces warm water. Dampen a towel or cotton cloth and get to moppin’.
• Counter carpet stains by liberally pouring on club soda then blotting vigorously with a towel.

In the laundry

• Treat spit-up- and breast milk-stained clothing by scrubbing in a paste made of baking soda and lemon juice (simply sprinkle on the soda, then add lemon juice as needed to achieve your desired consistency) with an old toothbrush.
• Another option: Apply a drop of liquid dish soap to the stain, then use a toothbrush to scrub in a bit of baking soda.
• Add a splash of lemon juice to your laundry’s wash cycle to brighten up your clothes (and provide a naturally fresh scent).
• Embrace the olden days! Your clothes will smell and feel great after drying in the great outdoors.

• It won’t be a pretty sound, tossing ice cubes into the garbage disposal break sup grease and keeps it clean. Every few weeks, toss in a handful of cubes, turn on the disposal and run cold water. Add some orange, lemon or lime peels to ward off odors.

What other home remedies do you use to clean your house, Mums? Why don’t you SHARE it with us? Have you tried any of the above?

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