Being a foster parent I try to find products that are safe and inexpensive for us to use and enviromentally friendly while cleaning:

Using vinegar, lemons and baking soda as natural cleaning products in your home

I tried to find safe and easy ways to clean that wouldn't harm my family or the environment.  I did a lot of research and discovered that pouring baking soda, lemon, and vinegar combinations on the surfaces of my home. Naturally these cleaning products kept my home clean and smelling fresh, without stretching an already thin household budget. Here are a few basic household ingredients and items you can use to clean your home.

Try these three ingredients as natural cleaning products in your home  I've found they really work for me.  You may already be aware of their uses but I have provided you with mixing requirements. 

Vinegar

Vinegar naturally cleans like an all-purpose cleaner. Mix a solution of 1 part water to 1 part vinegar in a new store bought spray bottle and you have a solution that will clean most areas of your home. Vinegar is a great natural cleaning product as well as a disinfectant and deodorizer. Always test on an inconspicuous area. It is safe to use on most surfaces and has the added bonus of being incredibly cheap. Improperly diluted vinegar is acidic and can eat away at tile grout. . Don't worry about your home smelling like vinegar. The smell disappears when it dries. Here are some uses for vinegar in the rooms of your house:

Never use vinegar on marble surfaces

Kitchen- Clean the stovetop, appliances, countertops, and floor.

Clean the bathtub, toilet, sink, and countertops. Use pure vinegar in the toilet bowl to get rid of rings. Flush the toilet to allow the water level to go down. Pour the undiluted vinegar around the inside of the rim. Scrub down the bowl.

Mop the floor in the bathroom with a vinegar/water solution. The substance will also eat away the soap scum and hard water stains on your fixtures and tile. Make sure it is safe to use with your tile.

 Use vinegar as a natural fabric softener. This can be especially helpful for families who have sensitive skin. Add ½ cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle in place of store bought fabric softener. Vinegar has the added benefit of breaking down laundry detergent more effectively. (A plus when you have a family member whose skin detects every trace of detergent.)

Lemon Juice

 Lemon is a great substance to clean and shine brass and copper.

Lemon juice can be mixed with vinegar and or baking soda to make cleaning paste. Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle baking soda on the cut section. Use the lemon to scrub dishes, surfaces, and stains.

Mix 1 cup olive oil with ½ cup lemon juice and you have a furniture polish for your hardwood furniture.

Lemon juice can be used to dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits.

Put a whole lemon peel through the garbage disposal. It freshens the drain and the kitchen. Orange peels can be used with the same results.

Baking Soda

Baking soda can be used to scrub surfaces in much the same way as  abrasive cleansers.

Baking soda is great as a deodorizer. Place a box in the refrigerator and freezer to absorb odors. Put it anywhere you need deodorizing action.