These days there are many commercial toxic-free products with which to clean. While they may be perfectly eco-friendly, they can also be more expensive than common household items. Here are some ways to clean your house naturally and economically, using products you probably already have on hand.

Baking soda

Baking Soda (a.k.a. bicarbonate soda) has many practical cleaning uses. It absorbs smells and is an ideal earth-friendly gentle cleanser.

Cleanser: Use baking soda as you would any non-abrasive cleanser. Create your own shaker container to make it more convenient (e.g. reuse a small jar and poke holes in the lid). You can sprinkle baking soda directly onto surfaces, such as sinks, bath tubs, tiles and microwaves. Rub it in with a damp sponge. Rinse well. Add a couple of tablespoons to your dishwater to help cut through the grease on dishes, pots and pans. Remove scuffs from walls with baking soda on a damp sponge, buff gently, then rinse off residue.

Deodorizer: Sprinkle some in the garbage disposal, at the bottom of your garbage can and recycling containers. Place an open box of baking soda in your microwave to help absorb lingering smells. Be sure to remove it, however, before microwaving food. To reduce odors in your laundry, add a cup to the rinse cycle. Sprinkle baking soda into cat liter boxes, gym bags and gym shoes to reduce odors there too. You can even give your dog a “dry bath” by massaging a little baking soda into its fur and brushing out thoroughly. Fido will smell fresher and cleaner – chemically-free!

Distilled White Vinegar

Before commercial products made their way into our lives, vinegar was a common household cleaning item. The acidity in vinegar helps kill mold, bacteria and germs. It also cuts through grime and mineral deposits.

Clean and Shine: For a sparkling toilet bowl sans harsh chemicals, pour a cup of distilled white vinegar into the toilet bowl. Let it sit overnight. Scrub well with a toilet brush and flush. To clean windows and mirrors, mix one part vinegar to one part warm water into a sprayer bottle or bucket. Apply to surface and bring to a streak-free shine by wiping it off with a newspaper. The distinctive odor fades as the liquid dries. You can also use a vinegar solution to clean floors but NEVER use it on marble.

Removing Build-up: Vinegar helps dissolve soap scum, stains and mineral deposits. For the dishwasher, pour a cup inside the empty machine and run a normal cycle. To remove mineral deposits from a coffeemaker, fill the reservoir with vinegar and turn it on. Follow with several cycles of water to remove the vinegar smell. Calcium and lime deposits on faucets can be dissolved naturally as well. Wrap a vinegar-soaked towel around the area and let it sit for several hours. Rinse and wipe to a shine.

Lemons

Like vinegar, lemon juice helps dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits. Pour it onto surfaces and let it soak. To clean your drains, grind up a peel in your garbage disposal. After you’ve squeezed the juice out of a lemon, add baking soda to half a lemon and use it to scrub out your sink and tub.

Powdered Oxygen Bleach

This eco-friendly form of bleach releases oxygen into clean clothes. Made by treating natural soda ash or natural borax with hydrogen peroxide, oxygen bleach gets rid of dirt in a non-toxic way. It brightens fabrics and disinfects, too.

Essential Oils

Made from the essences of plants, flowers and fruits, essential oils have natural anti-fungal and antiseptic properties. Tea tree, lemon and eucalyptus oils work particularly well for cleaning. Blend 10-20 drops of any of these oils with water in a sprayer bottle. Shake well before use to distribute the oil. Use it as an air freshener or to wipe down counters. Keep essential oil bottles tightly capped. Citrus essential oils can go rancid and have a shelf life of about one year after opening.

Organic Plain Yogurt and Cucumber

After all that cleaning, you deserve a break! Give yourself a refreshing facial by smoothing on some plain yogurt and placing a couple of cucumber slices on your eyes. Kick your feet up and relax for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off the yogurt with plenty of cool water, no need to wash with soap. Your skin will be so soft and smooth that you may not even need a moisturizer.