A number of common household products—including vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and olive oil—that are found in your kitchen can be used to clean your home naturally without toxic chemicals or releasing harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air.

• Sanitizer: White vinegar can be used to kill most germs, bacteria, and mold. Good for cleaning kitchen countertops and cutting boards. Wipe surfaces down with undiluted vinegar and allow it to remain until dry.
• Window Cleaner: A 50/50 mix of vinegar in a spray bottle works great for cleaning windows.
• Cleanser: Sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge to make a mildly abrasive paste for removing dirt and grime. For more stubborn stains, use baking soda with lemon juice, rather than water.
• Furniture Polish: A mixture of two parts olive oil to one part lemon juice makes an effective furniture polish.
• Carpet Cleaner: Sprinkle corn meal on your carpet and vacuum it up for a natural carpet cleaner.

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Okay, I’ve got some baking soda, vinegar, lemons, corn meal and olive oil. Doesn’t sound very appetizing, does it? Well, don’t worry. The only recipe I’m working on is one to get rid of dirt and stains. You’ve got some very natural cleaners right in your own kitchen cupboard. White vinegar kills most mold, germs and bacteria because of its acidic nature. Make a paste from water and baking soda for a mild scouring abrasive. You can also scrub away dirt and stains with a combination of lemon juice and baking soda. Mix 1 cup of olive oil with a half cup lemon juice and you have a great furniture polish. And, corn meal can be used as a dry carpet cleaner. It’s really amazing what you’ll find these natural ingredients can do besides help make a meal. One other benefit you’ll find is that when compared with the cost of chemical cleaners, most of the time you’ll save money by cleaning the natural way.