\nBaking soda\u00a0is a natural adsorbent, which means it has the ability to absorb odors when used correctly. If you have fabric-covered furniture, then put some baking soda in a salt shaker or similar dispenser and sprinkle it liberally on the furniture you want to freshen up.\n
Baking soda doesn\u2019t do its work all at once, so give it time to neutralize as many odor-causing particles as possible. An hour or so is ideal, and for bad situations, you may just want to leave the baking soda on overnight (as long as it won\u2019t get tracked everywhere by pets). When the time has elapsed, get out the vacuum cleaner and thoroughly vacuum up all the baking soda. This should freshen up most fabrics.\n
Note: Baking soda may have varying effects based on what is causing the odor or general \u201cstaleness\u201d of your furniture. It neutralizes acidic compounds very easily, but may not be effective for all problems.\n
Try using a homemade all-purpose cleaner on counter tops and surfaces to disinfect and freshen your home. This recipe includes\u00a0vinegar, which removes stains and odors and\u00a0anti-microbial essential oils\u00a0to keep your home germ free.\n
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Industrial soft scrub cleaners can contain strong chemical ingredients, but you can get your tub and shower just as clean with a homemade cleaner. This simple soft scrub recipe will\u00a0clean a bathroom faster and better, and uses a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, which will dissolve hard mineral deposits and easily cut through soap scum.\n
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Many commercial toilet bowl cleaners use chlorine bleach, but not this natural toilet bowl cleaner. Instead,\u00a0castile soap\u00a0and baking soda get the job done. Plus, you won\u2019t have to worry about accidentally exposing your pets or children to toxic toilet water.\n
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Forget using chemical cleaners to\u00a0wash windows. They\u2019ll look clean as a whistle with this all-natural homemade window cleaner, which uses vinegar and\u00a0cornstarch\u00a0to buff those fingerprints away.\n
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Activated charcoal is an even better adsorbent and odor-killer than baking soda, and can deal with a wider variety of particles. However, this highly purified charcoal dust isn\u2019t the best thing to put on your furniture, where it can stain. Instead, consider getting\u00a0freshener bags of activated charcoal\u00a0and hiding them in the corners of your furniture to help reduce odors.\n
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If you own\u00a0stainless steel kitchen appliances, you may want to consider using car wax to clean them rather than a surface cleaner.\u00a0Simply apply a light coat of\u00a0car wax\u00a0to the\u00a0appliance, allow time to dry and buff\u00a0clean\u00a0to resist fingerprints and smudges.\u00a0No more kiddy fingerprints on the fridge!\n
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Did you know that you can clean and protect your manual can opener with simple\u00a0wax paper? It\u2019s that easy! Here\u2019s how to do it:\u00a0Fold a sheet of wax paper a few times; then clamp the can opener onto an edge of the wax paper and turn the handle several times\u2014the same action you would use to open a can. The stiff sheet will break off bits of food and grime from the wheels of the can opener, and the wax residue will lightly lubricate the parts at the same time for smoother operation.\n
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Because\u00a0dryer sheets\u00a0are all about eliminating static cling, used ones work very well as dust cloths, especially on electronics and mini blinds.\n
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It seems unusual that a dark cola could remove a milk stain, but the claim exists. After letting the milk stain soak in\u00a0Coca-Cola\u00a0for around five minutes, just throw it in the wash.\n
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Your guests should\u2019ve used a coaster but now you have a coffee stain on your table. A little dab of\u00a0toothpaste\u00a0can get that stain out, just like coffee stains on your teeth.\n
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Remove hard-water buildup on your faucet with this simple, natural solution:\u00a0Place half of a fresh lemon on the end of the faucet, wrap a small plastic bag around the lemon and secure it to the faucet with a rubber band. After a few hours, remove the lemon and wipe the faucet clean.\n
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A garden sprayer can be a mini power washer for cleaning windowsills and other hard-to-reach spots. Before you fill the tank with water, be sure to rinse it repeatedly to flush out any chemical residue.\n
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