There's nothing like a good spring cleaning to refresh your home after a long winter and many months of your house being devoid of fresh air. But before heading out to buy supplies, check your cupboards for some of these everyday items that are mostly safe, natural, effective and, best of all, cheap.
 
Baking soda: Chances are you keep baking soda around the house. It's great for all-purpose cleaning because it disinfects, deodorizes and removes stains.
 
Distilled white vinegar: Vinegar is a grease-cutter, a stain remover, a natural disinfectant and works to soften water, too.
 
Lemon juice: Try juicing a lemon to remove grease, disinfect, remove stains and to replace bleach.
 
Salt: Salt can replace cleanser because it works as an abrasive. Try it on stubborn sink stains.
 
Borax: Found in the laundry detergent aisle, this mineral is a bleach alternative. It strengthens the effectiveness of soap, deodorizes, disinfects, and kills mold and bacteria. Note that although Borax is natural, it is still toxic to pets and children, and it is rough on skin. Wear gloves when handling the substance.
 
Essential oils: Lavender, lemon, rosemary and tea tree oils, available in Mount Horeb at Trillium Natural Foods or at Isaac's Soaps, are great for adding a bit of fragrance to your homemade cleaning solutions. They also have disinfectant properties.
 
Hydrogen peroxide: It's not just for scrapes and cuts. Use it to disinfect countertops or to clean bathrooms. You can add an equal part of water and a few drops of your favorite essential oil for a pleasing scent. Keep this one out of children's reach.
 
Here are a few recipes for cleaning solutions.
 
All-purpose cleaner #1: Mix 1 part vinegar and 4 parts water to fill a spray bottle. Add a few drops of essential oil, or a tablespoon of lemon juice. Use to clean countertops, bathrooms and sealed floors or other sealed surfaces.
 
All-purpose cleaner #2: Mix 1/8 cup of baking soda in a quart of warm water. Add a few drops of lemon or lavender oil if desired.
 
Glass cleaner: Vinegar -- either straight or mixed with an equal amount of water -- is a good substitute for standard glass cleaner. Rubbing alcohol works, too.
 
Wood cleaner: A teaspoon of lemon juice, a tablespoon of olive oil and about a cup of warm water will work well here.
 
Abrasive cleanser: Use a couple tablespoons of baking soda topped with an equal amount of dish soap. This mixture works well on the inside of an oven. Wipe clean with a wet rag dipped in some vinegar to prevent streaks on metal or stainless steel. Salt with a few drops of water also will treat stubborn oven stains.
 
To get rid of odors, try putting unscented kitty litter or charcoal in a bowl to absorb the odors, or simply light a match and blow it out.
 
In the laundry room, baking soda is a great boost to detergent because it deep-cleans clothes and removes stains. Cornstarch absorbs oil and grease, so it's a good thing to try before resorting to harsh stain removers. Borax will improve detergent's cleaning power and can be used in place of bleach.