A greener shade of clean

Dump strong-smelling cleaners for low-cost, environmentally solutions our thrifty ancestors used. Simple, inexpensive white vinegar, for example, can be substituted for many brand-name cleaning supplies. Windows clean up beautifully when you use white vinegar and water instead of common blue window solution. For an even more eco-friendly clean, use crumpled newsprint instead of paper towels to do the scrubbing. Vinegar can also be used as a fabric softener, pet-urine neutralizer and even as an herbicide for broad leaf weeds. It's also recommended as a room freshener (mixed with water in a spray bottle) and to polish chrome or stainless steel.