Budget-friendly green cleaning

Budget-friendly green cleaning

How window cleaners compare, in price per ounce:

Vinegar, undiluted: 1 to 4 cents

Safeway: 9 cents

Windex: 13 cents

Method: 14 cents

Seventh Generation: 15 cents

Although prices vary according to package size and retailer, prices quoted here are the lowest found.

Source: USA TODAY research

Tips to keep clean

Reduce your need for harsh cleaners by preventing messes and keeping dirt, germs and toxins out of your home.

At the front door:

As you enter the house, wash your hands and remove your shoes, which keeps you from tracking in dirt and pesticide residues.

If your children have been around other germy kids, change their clothes. Kids can wear the new outfit the next day.

Take your dry cleaning out of its plastic bags to air out any fumes from chemical cleaning solutions.

In the bathroom:

Run a fan during your shower and for 10 minutes after to fight mildew.

Shut the toilet lid before flushing and between uses.

Keep your drains running clear — avoid the need for poisonous drain cleaners — by periodically cleaning them with baking soda and vinegar.

Sources: Harvey Karp of University of California-Los Angeles; Elizabeth Goldsmith's "Green Cleaning for Dummies"