As a fairly stringent eco freak, I rarely use strong chemicals around the house. Spring and fall cleaning is another story, though, and my Germanic exactness compels me to scrub the place down just to make sure I've covered my bases. With 3 children tracking in dirt and the neighborhood's infectious diseases, I really have no choice.

Following such a cleaning purge, my rooms, though satisfyingly sparkly and sanitized, have that vaguely repulsive combo scent of Hint 'O Pine, Fresh Rain, and Flowers Of The Forest. It's not even so much the added perfumes that have me airing the place for hours afterward, but the knowledge of what gaseous chemicals those perfumes are masking. The marketing geniuses haven't yet managed to convince me that if it smells like nature and has a green label, surely there can be no wrong in it.

So while my cleaning cupboard hosts mid-sized bottles of PineSol and Lime-Away, they are dwarfed by a 1-gallon jug of vinegar and 12-pound bag of baking soda. You'd be surprised at how well that works (and how much money you could save!).

Bathroom & Kitchen

*Sprinkle a teaspoon or so of baking soda on the counter and sink, and scour lightly with a wet cloth. The soda gently bleaches your porcelain while the grit removes stains and residue. Wipe-rinse thoroughly to remove the soda so it won't leave a powdery trail. You can also use soda in the toilet bowl, or try leaving 2 cups of vinegar in the bowl overnight once a week.

*Freshen drains with a 1/4 cup of soda, followed by a 1/2 cup of vinegar. It will foam up for a few seconds, freeing sluggish drains as it flushes down. For bad clogs, pour some boiling water straight down the pipe before and after, and use 1/2 cup of soda with 1 cup of vinegar. Wait 5 minutes, then flush with cold water.

*Fill an empty Windex bottle with equal parts vinegar and water. Use it with a microfiber cloth to clean all your shiny surfaces around the house. It also works reasonably well on floor and wall marks and scuffs (try vinegar only on tough messes).

*Disinfect garbage pails and spiff up appliances by wiping them down inside and out with full-strength vinegar. Leave a cup of baking soda in the fridge to absorb food odors, replacing the soda every two months.

*Wash lightly soiled floors with hot water, vinegar, and a drop or two of dish detergent.

Around the house

*Invest in some quality microfiber cloths. You can find a different cloth for every job, but I'm satisfied with one each for dusting, glass, and all-purpose . Norwex is the best but most grocery stores carry acceptable knockoffs: I like the Vileda brand. In many cases, you don't even need a cleaner - just fresh water.

*For a wonderful, light scent with all the same cleaning power using eco-friendly formulations, try the products from Method. My favorite is the All-Purpose Surface Cleaner in Lavender.
Laundry

*Boost the performance of your liquid laundry detergent by adding a few tablespoons of baking soda. You can even skimp on the soap and save some money. The soda will also help brighten your whites more gently than bleach.

*Freshen 'dry clean only' clothes with an unscented dryer sheet in a dryer set on "Air Fluff". Wipe off minor soils with filtered or distilled water (well water or chlorinated city water may leave some residue) and a clean, soft cloth. Water is the best solvent and can clean alone better than you might think, from small carpet stains to your favorite suit jacket. Dancing the night away at your cousin's bachelorette party, on the other hand, may require a trip to the dry cleaner's.

You can find many other great resources for cleaning with baking soda and vinegar, including this little booklet I impulse-bought at the grocery store ($1.99). Be very careful mixing soda or vinegar with your regular cleaners, especially anything containing bleach. Off-gassing of acidic vapors are not only smelly but also a health hazard.

For more eco-friendly/natural cleaning and health tips, check out the Health section on our site forum!

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