Everyone is trying new ways to clean in a green manner, and 2 of the best, and least expensive, products to try are baking soda and vinegar. They are also very effective for many uses.
1 - Oven Cleaner
To remove greasy buildup in your oven, mix a cup of vinegar with enough baking soda to make a paste. Heat your oven on a low setting, then turn it off. Once the over has cooled enough to where it is just warm, and not hot, spread the paste in the oven. Allow it to sit for at least an hour. Scrape the paste off with a plastic utensil, such as a spatula. The greasy debris will come up with the paste. Wipe with a damp cloth to remove any excess left behind.
2 - Cleaning Drains
To clean your drains and keep them smelling fresh, pour a 1/4 cup of baking soda down the drain. Follow with a 1/4 cup of vinegar. You will hear a bubbling sound, which is the reaction of the two. It is dissolving the muck in the drain. Allow it to sit for 20 to 30 minutes to finish the job. Follow with a good rinse, allowing the water from the spigot to run hot water for a few minutes.
3 - Pet Messes
If your pet uses your carpet as a bathroom, blot the spot with paper towels. Follow with white vinegar on a soft cloth to alleviate odors, and remove the stain. Allow it to dry completely, then sprinkle baking soda on the spot. Allow it to sit overnight, and vacuum in the morning. The vinegar will take away the smell which will keep your pet from using that spot again, and the baking soda will trap any odors left over after cleaning with vinegar.
4 - Remove Stickers
To remove a decal or sticker from a new appliance, first, apply a paper towel soaked in vinegar over the sticker for several minutes. The vinegar will break down the glue for easier removal. After peeling off the sticker, use baking soda to gently remove left behind debris. Baking soda is a gentle abrasive, but do rub gently, especially on plastic. Finish by rinsing.
5 - All Purpose Cleaning Solution
In a spray bottle, mix 1 quart of water, 1/8 cup of white vinegar, and a tablespoon of baking soda. Use this on kitchen counter tops and appliances and in bathrooms to clean and deodorize. Vinegar has antibacterial properties as well as keep down mold. You can also use it on outdoor furniture and car tires.
6 - Copper Pans
Copper pans are beautiful, but can become dull with use. To keep them sparkling, clean with baking soda and warm water on a cloth. This will remove any food that is stuck on, without scratching, as well as scrub away any tarnish. After rinsing, follow with rubbing vinegar on the copper. It will make the copper shine like new again.
7 - Freshen Washing Machine
To get rid of washing machine odors, run a cycle of warm water and add a cup of baking soda to the wash cycle. Add a cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle. The odors will be gone.
Source: www.DoItYourself.com
