If you want to keep your home clean but don’t want to use commercial products filled with mysterious and possibly toxic chemicals, there are plenty of natural alternatives from which to choose. The following do-it-yourself cleaners all make use of environmentally friendly, natural ingredients – such as vinegar and baking soda – and are far less expensive than most commercial cleaners. Whether you’re just trying to keep your home as natural as possible or have run out of your favorite cleaning product, you can try one of these green alternatives instead.

Natural Glass Cleaner

This cleaner is perfect for mirrors, windows, glass tables, and other glass surfaces. Make a large batch and store it for later use.

Required Ingredients
• 4 cups of water
• 1 cup white vinegar
• ½ cup rubbing alcohol at 70% concentration
• 2-4 drops of orange scented essential oil (entirely optional)

Combine the ingredients above in a spray bottle for easier use. Before spraying directly onto the glass, spray a bit onto a soft, clean cloth or paper towel first. Avoid cleaning your windows with this product during the hottest part of the day, since the solution will tend to quickly dry out and leave streaks on the glass.

Scrubbing Stain Remover

This cleaning method is excellent if you have rust stains in enamel or porcelain tubs or sinks. You might want to wear gloves to protect your hand from the abrasive.

Required Ingredients
• 1 lemon
• 1 cup of borax (borax is a natural product frequently used as a laundry booster)

Pour 1 cup of borax into a bowl. Slice the lemon in half and dip it into the borax. With your glove on, rub the rust stains with the lemon. Then rinse the surface with clear water. Keep in mind that this technique is not safe to use on granite or marble.

Grease Remover

If you have any grease on outdoor grills or your oven hood, this natural cleaner can help you remove these quickly and easily.

Required Ingredients
• 1 cup of ammonia
• 1 tablespoon non-bleach detergent

Mix your non-bleach detergent with 1 cup of ammonia. Dip a mop or sponge into your solution and then use this to wipe down the surface to remove the grease and grime. Rinse with clean water.

All-Purpose the Deodorizer/Cleaner

Perfect for appliances, countertops, and inside your refrigerator.

Required Ingredients
• 8 tablespoons of baking soda
• 2 quarts of warm water in a bucket

Combine the baking soda with the warm water and use on a sponge to wipe away dirt and grime on surfaces.

Maximum Power Stain Remover for Clothing

If you have very badly stained clothing that is unaffected by bleach (i.e. it will not run), this is the cleaner you’re looking for.

Required Ingredients
• 1 bucket of hot water
• 1 cup of liquid chlorine bleach (not concentrate or ultra)
• 1 ½ cup dishwasher detergent (powdered)

Combine the ingredients and pour them into a plastic, stainless steel, or enamel bowl. Do not use aluminum. Place the stained garment in the solution and allow it to soak for 20 minutes. If the stain is still visible, allow it to soak for a little longer. Then remove the garment from the solution and wash it as usual in your washing machine.

White Ring Remover

If family members or friends have left white rings on your wood surfaces, this natural solution can help you remove them. Keep in mind it should not be used on antiques, lacquered surfaces, or unfinished wood.

Required Ingredients
• 1 tablespoon of baking soda
• 1 tablespoon non-gel abrasive toothpaste

Combine the ingredients in a bowl. Use a damp cloth to rub some of the mixture over the white ring. Make sure that you buff in the direction of the grain. Use a dry cloth to wipe off the mixture. Use another cloth to shine the surface and apply a polish.

Stain Remover for Dishwashers

You know how annoying rust stains can be inside your dishwasher. Instead of using a nasty commercial product, try this natural remedy instead.

Required Ingredients
• 1 packet of powdered orange or lemon drink

Open the powdered drink packet and pour it into the dishwasher’s detergent cup. Close the door and run the dishwasher on regular cycle. The citric acid and crystals in the packet will work to remove the rust stains on the inside walls. If necessary, repeat this process with another packet.

Brass Cleaner

This works well for brass bathroom fixtures, cabinet pulls, handles, and much more. Do not use on lacquered surfaces.

Required Ingredients
• Lemon juice or white vinegar
• Table salt

Do not mix the above ingredients. Instead, moisten a sponge with the lemon juice or vinegar. Sprinkle a little salt on the surface of the sponge and rub the sponge over the brass to clean it. Do this lightly so as to not leave scratches. Thoroughly rinse the surface with water and then dry it with a soft, clean cloth.

Natural Stone Cleaner

This cleaner is ideal for cleaning natural stone countertops surfaces like marble. Just be sure that the surface you’re cleaning is natural and not a synthetic.

Required Ingredients
• Two drops of unscented, mild dishwashing liquid
• 2 cups of warm water

Stir the dishwashing liquid into the warm water. Dip a sponge in this mixture and use it to clean your stone surface. Then rinse off the surface with clean water to remove any residue. You should not allow the stone surface to air dry. Instead, buff it dry with a soft cloth. Avoid using lemon juice, vinegar or any other acidic liquid or cleaner on stone surfaces, since it can cause pitting.

WARNING! When cleaning, never combine bleach or bleach products with ammonia or cleaners containing ammonia. Doing so will generate fumes that are extremely toxic.