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Nowadays the buzz is all about being "green." More and more people are becoming aware of their part in saving the environment. Well-known manufacturers are making more eco-friendly cleaning products. While these products are a good thing, they are not always the most economical for those living on a tight budget. So how can you be more "green", stay within your budget, and still get that clean house that you want? You can start by cleaning your house with homemade cleaners that you make with natural ingredients. These natural ingredients are readily available and are usually inexpensive. With just a couple of basic ingredients that most of us all ready have in our homes, you have all you need to make a number of different cleaning products.

White vinegar is a great ingredient that can be used in a number of ways. You can buy it by the gallon and it is cheap. Vinegar cuts grease, removes mildew, removes odors, and can be used on most surfaces. If you're concerned that your house will smell like vinegar, don't be. The smell disappears when it dries. Vinegar can also be used as a natural fabric softener. Simply add a half cup to the rinse cycle instead of regular fabric softener. Vinegar is very effective in breaking down detergent residue which is beneficial if you or someone you love has skin allergies and need to be careful with detergents.

Lemon juice is another great natural home cleanser. It is very effective against most household bacteria. It dissolves soap scum and hard water deposits and can be used to clean and shine brass and copper. It can be mixed with baking soda to make a cleaning paste for scrubbing tough spots. A half a lemon with salt sprinkled on it makes a great pot scrubber. Lemon juice can also be mixed with olive oil and used as a furniture polish.

Baking soda has many household uses besides being a baking ingredient. It can be used in place of harsh abrasive cleaners. Baking soda is a great deodorizer. Many people put boxes of baking soda in their refrigerators and freezers to absorb odors. It works the same way on carpets. Simply sprinkle baking soda on your carpet, let sit for a few minutes, then vacuum. Baking soda and vinegar together work great in cleaning slow moving drains. Pour baking soda into the drain, add vinegar, let sit to allow the foaming to do its work, and then rinse with hot water.

An easy all purpose cleaner is made by mixing one half cup vinegar, one quarter cup baking soda, and one half gallon of water. Use this cleaner to clean your bathroom, kitchen, windows, etc.

There are many websites that have homemade cleaner recipes and ideas on replacing harsh chemical products in your home with more natural and economical alternatives. One site I found very helpful and informative is www.eartheasy.com/live_nontoxi c_solutions.htm.

Learn more about this author, Robbin Holden.
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