Natural cleaners are less expensive and much safer to use, especially with children in the house.

Use flour to clean stainless steel
Flour is wonderful to buff and polish a stainless steel sinks. Sprinkle a little bit into a dry, clean sink. Buff well with a soft cloth or paper towel. Then, just push the flour down the drain. Then put a little cooking oil on a towel and rub the sink with the oil.

Dry mustard removes odors
Plastic food containers often retain food odor. To nix the odor, fill the container with warm water and add a few shakes of powdered dry mustard. Soak overnight and rinse. Dry mustard is also good for removing the odor from a cutting board. Wet the cutting board, rub dry mustard on it and let it sit for a couple of hours.

Pre-treat with potatoes
Spuds are great for removing mud. Rub a cut potato over the stain prior to laundering. The starch will help break down the dirt.

Clean aluminum with apple peels
The acid in the apple peels will remove stains and discoloration from aluminum cookware. Fill the pan with water and apple peels, bring to a boil then simmer for about 30 minutes.  Another solution is to add a tablespoon of cream of tartar to the water, it will also bleach the stain out of the aluminum.

Vinegar removes hard-water deposits
Mildly acidic white vinegar dissolves dirt, soap scum and hard-water deposits from smooth surfaces like shower doors.  It is also great for cleaning stainless-steel appliances, tile backsplashes and most types of countertops.

Cornstarch absorbs and shines
To clean windows and mirrors, mix 2 quarts of warm water with 1/2 cup of cornstarch. Apply with a sponge and buff dry for a sparkling shine.

Baking soda cuts grease
Baking soda's mild abrasive action makes it a great stovetop and oven cleaner.  Mix with a little vinegar and scrub.

Lemons make copper and brass sparkle
Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle it with salt (any kind -- even sea salt) and rub surface until it is clean. Rinse well with water. Do not use lemons on brass-plated items.