For cleaning cookware:

Use coarse salt for scrubbing copper pans and ceramic dishes.

Floor scrubbing:

For tough stains, use washing soda. For light stains, dilute the washing soda (1 cup washing soda to 1 gallon warm or hot water). You can add vinegar or lemon juice for an extra shine.

All-purpose cleaner:

Mix equal parts of white vinegar and salt.

Disinfectant:

1/2 cup borax with 1 gallon of hot water. You can add an essential oil to add fragrance. Store the mixture in a spray bottle.

Glass cleaner:

Combine 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, and 1 quart warm water. Plain vinegar will also work. To produce a streak-free shine, use old newspaper to wipe the windows down.

Furniture polish:

Mix 1 cup lemon juice with 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon water, apply the mixture to furniture with a soft cloth. Let sit, then buff.

Tile paste:

1 cup water and 3 cups baking soda will whiten your tile. Use a toothbrush to scrub.

Wood buffing:

Hide scratches in wood by rubbing them with the meat of a walnut.

Oven Cleaning:

Use one of the following recipes to create a homemade cleaner to remove baked on stains:

• 2 tablespoons dish liquid, 2 teaspoons borax, and 1 quart warm water. Sponge the mixture on the inside of the oven and let sit for 20 minutes. Then scrub with Bon Ami cleanser and a plastic scrubbing pad. You can use a plastic net orange or onion sack as a plastic scrubbing pad.
• Pour 2 tablespoons liquid castile soap or Murphy's Oil Soap and 2 tablespoons borax into a pint spray bottle. Fill the bottle with hot water and shake well. Then spray the mixture on the over surfaces and let sit for 20 minutes before scrubbing with a plastic scrubbing pad.