With the warmer weather hopefully here to stay, I’m itching to just open up all the windows in the house and let the fresh air in. Spring around my house goes hand in hand with cleaning, almost like a purge of all traces of winter.

I used to blindly go about my cleaning using mainstream products like Lysol and Mr. Clean. I was horrified to find out that I was actually leaving chemical residue allover the surfaces I thought I was cleaning. After much research and talking with my Grandmother, I came up with a whole arsenal of homemade cleaning products. Now I save money and preserve our health and environment.

Here are my favorites:

All-purpose cleaner: I use baking soda to clean everything. I sprinkle it on a damp cloth and wipe down sinks and surfaces. It can also be dissolved in water and used as needed.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner: (This works beautifully!) Simply sprinkle baking soda in the toilet bowl and use toilet brush. The baking soda acts as a mild abrasive.

Window and glass cleaner: I keep a spray bottle on hand filled with equal parts white vinegar and water. Very effective!

Drain cleaners: (I find I have to do this monthly just to keep things flowing.) Pour baking soda down the drain. then add white vinegar. Let set for a few minutes, then flush with warm water.

Finally to kill germs, especially on counter tops, I have a bottle of Isopropyl alcohol and water on hand ready to spray down light switches and other surfaces. It’s a less toxic alternative to “disinfecting” sprays.

For more homemade cleaners like carpet cleaners and furniture polish check out the Environmental Defence site.