Thrifty Thursday: House Cleaning

House cleaning is a never ending task. As much as we all want it, they still have not designed the self cleaning house. This is a huge expense for a big family, and it is an easy way to save some money by using products you already have sitting in your pantry.

Vinegar
This is my all purpose cleaner. It works amazing, and is really an option to clean any thing.

• Mix with water and use to clean windows, counter tops, any where you use an all purpose cleaner
• Add 1/4 cup to hot water to mop your floors. If desired add essential oils to scent the water
• Leave a bowl on the counter to absorb cooking odours
• Strip residue from your dishwasher, coffee pot and washing machine to leave them working like new

Don't worry about the vinegar smell. The smell disappears as it evaporates. 

Baking Soda
Replace any abrasive cleaner with plain old baking soda mixed into a paste with water. Shine your sinks, scrub your bathtub, and pots and pans. Works just as good as any abrasive cleaner you can buy, but with no harmful chemicals

Lemon Juice

• Lemon juice is great for cutting grease on surfaces. Mix with water and clean away
• Clean your microwave by microwaving water and lemon juice for 3 minutes. Let sit for 2 more minutes, and even the worst stuck on food washes clean! Repeat if necessary

Tooth Paste

Toothpaste is great at removing crayon marks
Hint: Don't use on wallpaper!

Salt

• Use salt to clean cast iron pans. Just sprinkle salt around and wipe clean. If your pan is not burnt you can do this instead of washing it in water. It will help protect the surface and it will make it more like a non-stick pan!
• For burnt pans add 3-4 tablespoons as soon as the damage occurs  Leave the pan to soak with hot water, then scour the pan. 
• Use lemon juice or lime juice and salt to clean metals such as brass and pewter. Just sprinkle salt into the empty squeezed-out lemon half and use it to rub down the metal. Rinse and buff to a shine with a soft cloth.
• Cover any spills in your oven with salt. Salt absorbs any liquid spills. If needed, add water. Let sit and wipe clean. Hint: If you have a gas cooker be careful to remove all the salt when you wipe up the spill. Salt residues may cause your gas burners to flare up with a yellowish flame when you next light the gas.

These are some of my favourites, but there are always more! What are your go to home made cleaning tricks?