You may have cleaning help among kitchen staples

Many conventional cleaning products don't just remove dirt. They also leave behind chemicals that can be dangerous to breathe or touch and that can contaminate soil and water once washed down the drain.

For a less-toxic alternative, take an old-fashioned approach to cleaning: Use gentle soaps and basic kitchen staples, such as baking soda and white vinegar. You'll have a fresh, clean house — and save money while you're at it.

DIY cleaners

Consider your idea of what "clean" means. Many of us associate fragrance or bleach with sanitation because we're used to the odor of the chemicals in commercial cleaning agents. Yet a truly clean house smells air-fresh, not odor-laden.

Anyone who has taken high school biology knows that microorganisms, including beneficial ones that live inside us, are omnipresent. Yes, we want to eliminate E. coli from countertops and bathroom fixtures and minimize the spread of viruses. But studies have shown that, in some cases, all you need is soap, warm water and a good scrub to protect your family from germs.

The next time you need cleaning power, look around the kitchen. Baking soda and salt are mild abrasives. Distilled white vinegar and lemon juice are acidic and are effective at removing substances such as soap scum; they are also gentle bleaches. Add a few basic ingredients, such as liquid soap and borax (a naturally occurring mineral) to your cleaning cupboard, and you can tackle every room in the house. Here are some of our favorite recipes for homemade cleansers.

All-purpose cleaners

Try a solution of 2 tablespoons mild dishwashing liquid and 2 cups hot water. Sanitize countertops with white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide; spray the surface with one and then the other, and wipe (always keep them in separate, well-marked bottles; never mix them in the same bottle, and do not dilute). For a gentle scrub to use on countertops, sinks and faucets, make a paste with warm water and baking soda or boost cleaning power by using dishwashing liquid instead of the water.

Dishwashing liquid

For greasy pots and pans (except those with nonstick surfaces): Try scouring with salt. For burned saucepans: Fill the pan half-full with water, spoon in baking soda, let it soak overnight, and bring to a boil. For baked-on grease: Scour with a little less-toxic dishwasher powder.

Drain cleaners