There are some excellent green cleaning products on the market now that use all natural ingredients and have great effects.  My favourite name brands are Seventh Generation, Nature’s Clean and Ecover. There are a couple of companies that are notorious for using chemicals in most of their products lines but have jumped on this green bandwagon. Like any purchase be careful of the brands you buy and what they stand for.

Another option is to opt for the everyday inexpensive cleaning ingredients that our great grandparents knew and loved: baking soda, vinegar, salt, lemon juice, vegetable oil, soap, borax, hydrogen peroxide and washing soda can do the job easily and cheaply. To get you started here are some excellent and easy home cleaning remedies.

General All Purpose Cleaner: Dissolve 4 tablespoons baking soda in 1 qt warm water.

No Streak Glass Cleaner: Add ¼ cup white vinegar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 1 quart warm water, mix together.

Deodorize: To get rid of odours, place a small bowl of vinegar any where in the house that needs refreshing. The vinegar absorbs the odors and will leave the space smelling fresh.

Greasy Floor Cleaner: Add together 1 cup vinegar, ¼ cup soda, 1 tablespoon vegetable oil based soap (Murphy’s Oil, castile), and 2gallons hot water. Make sure you stir to dissolve the soda.

Oven Cleaner: Sprinkle 1 cup water on oven bottom and add 1 ½ cups baking soda. Let sit over night. Wipe off and apply 1 cup liquid vegetable soap (Murphy’s) and scrub and rinse.

Refrigerator: Dissolve 2 tablespoons baking soda in 3 cups warm water and wipe all exterior and interior surfaces.

Microwave  Cleaning: In microwave place a bowl of water and cook on high for 5 minutes. The steam caused will allow the baked on food to be loosened and you will be able to wipe it clean.

Pots & Pans: Add baking soda to water during the soaking time. If really bad burns on food add a cup of vinegar with a cup of water and boil on high. The burnt food will peel away

Copper Pots: Rub coarse salt into any stains with the cut half of a fresh lemon.

Spot free dishwater rinse: Add 1 cup vinegar to dishwasher before turning it on (in the rinse compartment) for spotless dishes and glasses.