Baking soda is a great household cleaner. Here are ten ways to clean your home with baking soda:

1) Make a paste of baking soda and water and rub on insect bites to relieve itching.

2) Remove coffee and tea stains by scrubbing pots or cups with baking soda and a plastic scouring pad.

3) Add 1/3 cup baking soda to a wash cycle as a bleach booster or to the rinse cycle for cleaner smelling laundry.

4) To remove black scuff marks from floor, rub them with a paste of baking soda and water.

5) Clean fiberglass showers and tubs with baking soda sprinkled on a sponge. Sponge clean and wipe dry.

6) Soak sour smelling dishcloths and sponges in water and baking soda solution.

7) Use a solution of water and baking soda to clean and deodorize the inside of your microwave.

8) Put a few spoonfuls in a cup of water in the microwave, boil for two minutes, then wipe down the inside with a sponge.

9) Sprinkle a little baking soda into the laundry hamper to minimize odors.

10) Remove crayon marks from walls by scrubbing gently with an old toothbrush and a paste of baking soda and water.

Originally published at Suite 101. Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of What's for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For recipes, tips to organize your home, home decorating, crafts, holiday hints And more.

Your home is your castle. You decide, possibly together with family members, what to make of it. Outside our home we have limited opportunities to improve the environment, but in our home we can do a lot.

At home we want to feel free, relax and do things that we like. We want to eat, sleep, exercise, maybe work, and socialize with friends and family. We spend many hours at home. Naturally, we want our home to be as comfortable and healthy as possible.

What surroundings make you happy? What things do you like to have around you? Feeling good at home is a matter of physical as well as mental and social well-being. Look around you and think about what changes can be made in your home environment. Start with something small, one step at a time. Make a small change every day, and after a week the difference will be considerable.

Your home - a place for personal growth and well-being

Your home should be a refuge where you can hide from the rest of the world and find strength to go on with life. Why not follow these ten steps:

1. Put away things that you don't need. Too many things disturb the eye and make it hard to relax. Only surround yourself with things that you need or things that will enrich your life.
2. Stick to a few colours ? two or three ? for each room, instead of mixing many different colours. This will help you create a calm and balanced atmosphere.
3. Make sure you have good ventilation. Leave doors between rooms open for better air circulation, and open windows when possible.
4. Don't smoke in your home. Ask your visitors to smoke outside.
5. Choose area rugs instead of carpets when possible.
6. Use cleaning products with low-toxic content.
7. Choose furniture and fittings made of non-toxic materials.
8. Make sure your sleeping place is comfortable and healthy. The pillow is important. Do you often wake up with a headache? You might need a new pillow.
9. Make your kitchen table as pleasant and welcoming as possible. When you sit down to eat you must be able to relax and enjoy your meal. Are there papers or magazines on the table? Too many different colours? Keep it simple and clean.
10. Buy some new flowers for your home. Decorate your home with candle lights. Small simple things like these will influence your well-being.

Ingela Berger started her own Internet business Lifestyle Plans in 2003 out of a desire to inspire and encourage others to make reality of their dreams of a personal, healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. Ingela has studied theatre directing, history of art, and leadership psychology. After some years working with art exhibitions and the theatre she is now back at school to become a health and lifestyle consultant.