• Use homemade organic cleaning products to reduce chemicals in your home.floor cleaning #5 image by stassad from Fotolia.com
  
  Organic, green cleaning products are a safe and environmentally friendly alternative to cleaning products filled with harsh chemicals and abrasives. Use household products to create your own cleaning solutions that disinfect and freshen, while still being safe for your whole family.
  
  

Salt

• If you need a green cleaner that will also act as a scouring agent, use salt. Salt is abrasive enough to scrape away dirt and grease on pots and pans or to work its way into stubborn carpet or laundry stains. Simply sprinkle a little salt over the area you are trying to clean and begin scrubbing. Don't use salt on fragile surfaces, because it will leave scratches.
  
  

Vinegar

• Vinegar is extremely acidic, which means that it will kill germs and cut grease. Mix equal parts water and white vinegar to create an all-pupose cleaner that can be used to clean and sanitize countertops, stovetops, cupboards, tables, and even toilets and showers. Unfortunately, vinegar does have a very distinct smell, but adding a few drops of essential oil to the mixture can conquer that problem. Add your favorite scent and allow the mixture to sit for a few days. Then, store it in a spray bottle for spray cleaner, or use a bottle with a replaceable cap for bigger cleaning jobs.
  
  

Lemon Juice

• Lemon juice works similarly to vinegar because it is acidic, and it also gives the room you are cleaning a nice, fresh citrus scent. Squeeze lemon juice on laundry stains and place the garment in the sunlight to lighten the spot. Slice a lemon in half and sprinkle it with salt, then use it to scrub a dirty pan. Roughly chop a lemon rind and drop it down the garbage disposal to deodorize and disinfect the disposal and drain.
  
  

Baking Soda

• Baking soda has many uses for green cleaning. One of the best uses for baking soda is as a deodorizer. Place an open box of baking soda in the refrigerator or freezer to absorb odors. Mix one to two drops of essential oil with 1 cup of baking soda, then sprinkle the mixture on the carpets. Allow it to sit for about an hour, then vacuum up the powder to refresh your carpets. For a foaming cleanser, sprinkle baking soda on the surface you want to clean, then spray it with the all-purpose vinegar cleanser. The vinegar and baking soda will react to create a high-powered cleaning foam.
  
  

Peroxide

• Peroxide is a natural bleaching agent and disinfectant. Mix equal parts of peroxide and water for a mild cleaning agent that is safe to use in the kitchen on surfaces where you prepare food. Use it as a floor cleaner by adding 1 to 2 cups to your mop bucket. Use it as a shower and tub cleaner to kill mildew.