Have you ever struggled with a persistent stain on your carpet or your kitchen countertop that refuses to go away? When that happens, we usually resort to strong chemical cleaners that break the stain down at a molecular level. These cleaners, while effective, can also be extremely dangerous due to their chemical components that make it so effective.

Fortunately, there’s an equally effective and significantly cheaper and safer solution. A lot of household items you most likely have in your home are equally potent cleaners if you know how and when to use them.

Bear in mind, while these items can help you get rid of some stains, they do not by any means replace deep house cleaning services like Castle Keepers Atlanta provides. Professional cleaning companies use eco-friendly and powerful deep cleaning products necessary for killing the bacteria in your home.

That said, here are some of the most potent household items you can use to clean your home.

White Vinegar

White vinegar is a powerful cleaner you can use by mixing equal parts vinegar and water, ideally distilled. You can use the solution in a spray bottle and spray it whenever there’s a persistent stain. If the stain proves more resilient, you can add more vinegar to the mix.

You can also use vinegar to deodorize your dishwasher by adding a cup of vinegar in a rinse cycle. The vinegar will dissipate the appliance.

White vinegar can be used as a garbage disposal cleaner as well. Freeze the vinegar in an ice cube tray, then use the cubes to clean the drains in the garbage disposal.

Finally, white vinegar is one of the best solutions to remove the hard water buildup from your showerheads. Simply put the showerhead in a plastic bag and fill it with a cup of warmed white vinegar.

Lemon

Lemons are perfect when you need to remove soap scum or rust from your bathroom. Rub the surfaces affected by soap scum with a lemon sliced in half and let it sit for a minute, then clean with water.

It can also be used as a fabric whitener by adding a cup of undiluted juice to your laundry.

Finally, it can also help clean your microwave. Add a few tablespoons of juice to a cup of water in a bowl that can safely be microwaved. Heat the solution to the boiling point. The steam from the solution will help dissolve the persistent grime. Leave it for ten minutes, then clean the interior of the microwave.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is your best friend when it comes to clearing clogged drains in your kitchen or bathroom. Pour some baking soda in the clogged drain and wash it away with white vinegar. Leave it for a couple of minutes, then wash away with hot water.

It can also be used to clean the oven by coating the surface of the oven with baking soda and water. Avoid the heaters, as they can get damaged. Let the solution sit overnight and use a wet cloth to remove the baking soda paste. Spray the oven with vinegar and give it one more wipe.