Natural Cleaning Tips and Recipes for The Home

No doubt you already know to open the windows and turn on a fan when using solvents, harsh cleansers, and other noxious chemicals. But it's even better idea to replace these products with homemade alternatives.

• All purpose cleanser: Dissolve 4 tablespoons soda in 1 quart warm water. 
• Drain Cleaner: Pour a half-cup baking soda down the drain. Add a half-cup white vinegar. Close the drain and wait five minutes, then flush with a kettleful of boiling water. 
• Toilet bowl cleaner: Make a paste with lemon juice and borax (available at hardware stores). Apply the paste, let set for two hours, then scrub and rinse. 
• Oven cleaner: Sprinkle water on spills while the oven is still warm, then add salt. When the oven cools, scrape the spill away.