Surface Cleaning

• Vinegar is one alternative to household cleaning that can clean surfaces and windows. Vinegar is ideal when cleaning out coffeemakers. Running the coffeemaker using vinegar instead of water and letting the vinegar sit in the the coffeemaker for 15 minutes will remove many of the coffee stains in the coffeepot. Combining 2 tbsp. of vinegar, 1 tbsp. of borax and 1 tsp. of vegetable oil can create an effective surface cleaner.
  
  

Mildew

• Instead of using fungicide to get rid of mildew, combine borax with warm water, and scrub the mildew with this. When mold gets in the bathroom, put the borax and water on the wall and leave the compound on the wall for several days. Use a vacuum to suck off the residue. You can clean the shower curtains using vinegar or 1/2 cup of borax and a gallon of water.
  
  

Dishwashing

• Wash dishes using dish detergent that is based on a vegetable oil. Hand washing dishes helps reduce toxicity since the automatic dishwashing detergents contain phosphates.
  
  

Drain Cleaning

• Boiling water serves as an effective drain cleaner, removing grease that clogs the drain. However, serious drains might require baking soda and vinegar to clear out the pipes. After waiting for 15 minutes, pour boiling water down the drain. Use a plunger to dislodge whatever is still clogging the drain.
  
  

Glass Cleaning

• The healthiest way to clean glass is to clean using a solution with 1 qt. of water and 1/4 cup of white vinegar. Adding dish detergent and cleaning with a squeegee will ensure that the glass does not have any streaks.
  
  

Toilet Cleaning

• Borax is the best toilet bowl cleaner. You can either sprinkle borax in the toilet bowl and let it sit overnight, or you can wash the toilet bowl with 1/2 cup of borax and a gallon of water.
  
  

Oven Cleaning

• You can keep your oven clean by regularly cleaning the oven using baking soda and water. If the oven gets very dirty, you can combine 2 tbsp. of dish detergent, 2 tsp. of borax and 2 cups of warm water into a solution. Apply the solution on the oven walls, and let the solution sit for 20 minutes. Scrub the solution and grease off of the oven with an abrasive scrub pad.