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Essential oils -

Some essential oils are extremely powerful and can kill bacteria and mold. As they're very strong, be careful not to go overboard. For context, one drop of peppermint oil is as potent as 30 cups of peppermint tea.

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Combs and brushes -

To clean your combs and brushes, fill a container with 1½ cups of water, ½ cup of distilled white vinegar, and 20 drops of tea tree, lavender, or eucalyptus oil. Soak the items for 20 minutes, then rinse and air-dry.

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Toilets -

To leave your toilet extra fresh, add two teaspoons of tea tree oil and two cups of water to a spray bottle. Shake, then spritz along the toilet. Let sit for 30 minutes, then scrub and wipe.

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Scuffed floors -

For those scuffed floors, apply two to four drops of tea tree oil to the spots. Wipe excess oil with a cloth, and rub in distilled white vinegar.

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Shower doors -

Shower glass doors can be a pain to clean, especially if you don't do it frequently. Wipe with a few drops of lemon oil twice a month. It will protect the glass from grime buildup.

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White vinegar -

White vinegar works like magic and can wipe out tarnish, soap scum, and mineral deposits. It's by far one of the best natural cleaners, as it creates an environment that inhibits the growth of mold, mildew, and some bacteria.

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Shower heads -

To combat mineral deposits, pour vinegar into a plastic grocery bag and knot the handles over the neck of the shower head, securing with rubber bands. Let it soak overnight, and rinse it with water in the morning. It'll look like new!

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Moldy walls -

Moldy walls are probably the worst nightmare for many, but don't worry: white vinegar can help with that, too. Spray vinegar on the affected areas. After about 15 minutes, rinse and let dry thoroughly.

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Drains -

Avoid clogged drains by cleaning them frequently. A great way to clean them and their pipes is by pouring vinegar down them. Then, after 30 minutes, flush with cold water.

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Coffeemaker -

Pour equal parts vinegar and water into the machine’s water chamber, then switch it on. Halfway through, turn it off and let the solution sit for about an hour. Turn it on again to complete the cycle, then run several cycles with clean water.

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Lemons -

The acid in lemon juice is excellent for removing dirt and rust stains. Combining lemon with salt also  creates an effective brightening paste.

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Faucets -

Combat annoying lime scale by rubbing lemon juice onto the taps and letting it sit overnight. In the morning, just wipe with a damp cloth, and you will have a sparkling faucet again!

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Plastic food storage containers -

There's nothing more annoying than stains from tomato soup and other acidic foods on dishwasher-safe items. To bleach the stains, rub lemon juice on the spots, and let dry in a sunny place. Then wash as usual.

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Countertops -

Dip the cut side of a lemon half in baking soda to tackle countertops. Then wipe with a wet sponge and dry. Don't use this trick on delicate stone, like marble, or stainless steel, as it may discolor.

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Cutting boards -

To remove tough food stains from light wood and plastic cutting boards, slice a lemon in half and squeeze onto the surface. Rub and let it sit for 20 minutes before rinsing.

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Baking and washing soda -

Baking soda and its close cousin, washing soda, both absorb odors. But be aware that washing soda can’t be ingested, so wear rubber gloves when handling it.

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Scuffed walls -

Erase crayon marks from white walls by applying a baking-soda paste, made of equal parts baking soda and water. Let dry before brushing it off with a clean cloth. Do note that baking soda may dull colored walls.

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Stained teacups and coffee mugs -

Baking soda is a great solution for those stained teacups and coffee mugs. Fill with one part baking soda and two parts water, and soak overnight. The next day, rub with a sponge and rinse.

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Grills and barbecue utensils -

For those tough grease stains that seem like they'll never go away, dip a moist, stiff-bristled brush in washing soda and scrub away. It'll work like magic.

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Table salt -

The granular texture of salt makes it suited for scouring. Table salt is the cheapest choice, but sea salt and kosher salt can all be used perfectly.

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Oven spills -

If you get any spills when taking out food from the over, pour salt on the spill to soak it up. When the oven is cool, easily wipe with a damp sponge.

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Glassware -

Compared to a scouring pad, salt won’t scratch glassware. To get out stubborn stains, add some salt when doing the dishes for extra abrasion, and then scrub.

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Vegetable- and plant-based oils -

Vegetable- and plant-based oils, such as olive and sunflower oil, dislodge dirt and diminish scratches and imperfections. They are also great to use on wood that has aged or dried out from exposure to the sun.

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Leather shoes -

To shine your leather shoes, wipe away dirt with a damp sponge, then apply a drop of vegetable oil to a soft cloth and rub the surface to remove marks.

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Cast-iron pans -

To combat cooked-on debris, make a scrubbing paste with vegetable oil and a teaspoon of coarse salt. Then rinse with hot water, and your pans will look like new.

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Wooden furniture -

Make your own polish by mixing two cups of olive or vegetable oil with the juice of one lemon. To smooth out scratches in light-colored wood, rub them with a solution of equal parts olive or vegetable oil and lemon juice. Work it in with a soft cloth.

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Castile soap -

This plant-based soap efficiently loosens grime and dirt from surfaces. But compared to many other similar soaps, it’s gentler and won't dull surfaces.

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Floors -

You can mop almost any type of floor with a solution of ¼ cup of liquid Castile soap and two gallons of warm water. If the floors are greasy, add ¼ cup of distilled white vinegar to the bucket. 

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Stove top and vent hood -

To combat accumulated grease, add a few squirts of liquid Castile soap to two cups of hot water. Apply to the stove top, the burners, and the vent hood.

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Car -

If you need to wash your car, mix ¼ cup of liquid Castile soap with hot water and rub a generous amount of the solution on your car’s exterior. Then thoroughly hose it off.

Sources: (Real Simple) (Oprah Daily)

See also: Useless household items that you probably have

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