--if you don't have some of these items, just skip to the jobs for which you have materials, and give those a try. White vinegar and baking soda have multiple applications.

a couple of pairs of plastic or rubber gloves

a couple of nylon scouring pads

a supply of cleaning rags (old T-shirts and underwear work great)

an old toothbrush (save these! they're great for all sorts of cleaning jobs)

a few empty spray bottles (reuse old cleaning solution bottles, or buy new ones if you haven't any)

a plunger (a.k.a., a plumber's friend)

a large bottle of distilled white vinegar--try to find a gallon (3 liter) bottle

a large box of baking soda--a least 2 pounds (about 1 kg)

a bottle of lemon juice (or you can squeeze your own)

a measuring cup and teaspoon

Optional:

commercial products of low toxicity (See Step 10)

borax--see Keywords

2 1000mg tabs of Vitamin C

2torial #0858: Learn2 Cut Down on Toxic Household Cleaners Take the bite out of grime!   It's time to clean up the cleaners! Any cleaning substance you use ends up in the air, the water or the soil and, ultimately, inside your body--so you may want to minimize your use of toxic products in your home. Need more convincing? Read on. Some companies have formulated a different cleaner for every room of the house. To hear them talk, you'd think there are a thousand variations of dirt in your home. But you can forget the jingles and the cute little scrub-scrub-scrubbing bubbles that giggle and talk as they clean up your sinks. What's the bottom line? If you want to save a ton of cash, return to simpler times when dirt was dirt, and cleaners cleaned it up. For most of your cleaning jobs, the homemade cleaners suggested in this 2torial will serve your needs--you'll have a safer home, a cleaner environment, and save money to boot!   The main strategy with home-brewed cleaners is to use them a bit more often; don't leave a cleaning job until the dirt and grime builds up in months-old layers. A gentler and more frequent approach will do the trick. Here's a sample cleaning schedule, which you can adjust for your own situation: On a daily basis: wipe down the kitchen sink, counters, stove tops, and in the bathroom, wipe down the shower. Once a week: sweep and wash floors (sweep kitchen floor two or three times a week if you do a lot of cooking). In the bathroom, clean the sink, shower, and toilet. Once a month: wash windows and give the floors a good scrubbing. In the kitchen, clean the refrigerator, the cabinets, and the oven.   Step 1