Supplies Used in Housekeeping

White Distilled Vinegar

Vinegar is by far the most versatile household cleaning supply. Vinegar can be used as a fabric softener in the wash or to strip odors from clothes. You can safely mop linoleum and wood floors with vinegar, although it should never be used on marble or tile because it will wear down the stone. Vinegar is also a natural disinfectant and can be used to clean countertops and toilets. Finally, it strips oil and grease, so a cup placed in the dishwasher will get your dishes extra-clean and shiny.

Baking soda is the perfect companion cleaning agent to vinegar. Baking soda is a natural odor absorber that can be placed in ash trays or bowls around the room to remove odors from the air. Its slightly abrasive texture is excellent for scrubbing floors, pots and pans and even the bathtub. Placing a fresh box in the refrigerator will keep it smelling clean and fresh. After the month is up, take the box out of the refrigerator and pour the baking soda down your kitchen drain and add some vinegar, and you've just cleared out your kitchen pipes.

Available in the pharmacy section of your grocery store, rubbing alcohol is the best for cleaning windows and mirrors. Pour some into a spray bottle and spray it directly on glass or on a rag for mirrors. You'll be amazed at how much dirt comes off the glass. Rubbing alcohol is also useful for cleaning whiteboards and removing ink stains from carpets and fabric.

Much more gentle and all natural, lemon juice is nature's bleach and super cleaner. Remove spots from laminate countertops by pouring straight lemon juice on the spot and letting it sit for 30 minutes. Bleach your plastic lunch containers by spraying them with lemon juice and leaving them out in the sun. Clean off brass and copper with a combination of half lemon juice and half salt. Bleach your whites with a mixture of 1/4 cup of lemon juice, 1/4 cup of white vinegar and 1 gallon of warm water. Soak the clothes for 30 minutes and wash as usual. Lemon juice also removes rust and fruit stains from clothes. Finally, sanitize your cutting board by spraying it with lemon juice and letting it sit overnight to kill all the bacteria. Rinse and wash it in the morning as usual.

Club soda effectively removes stains from any fabric, including clothing, furniture and carpet. It has been proven to even remove red wine, coffee, tea, soda, and red fruit punch. Simply remove all solids from the carpet and soak the affected area with club soda. Dab and soak until the entire spot is removed.