Cleaning the house is not exactly my idea of a "good time", but it’s something we all have to do.  :)  I started realizing how many cleaning products there were out there, and how many of them I had in my house.  Some I’d bought, some had been donated to me by friends who moved, etc.  As it turned out, we had a pile of stuff that wasn’t needed.  I did some research, and found that I really only need a few basic cleaners that I can make myself!  Here is what I use:

Multi-purpose Cleaner: Mix 1 cup of white vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda (or 2 teaspoons borax) into 1/2 gallon (2 liters) water. Store and keep. Use for general cleaning in your kitchen or bathroom.  Make sure to shake it up though before you use it each time! 

Window Cleaner: Take a bucket of warm water and drop of dish soap.  Mix, and wash your mirrors or windows!

Toilet: I still have toilet bowl cleaner left to use, but I also like to use regular white vinegar to clean out the water rings in the toilet.  

Also, instead of using paper towel to clean everything, we have old rags (facecloths that no longer look nice!!) that we use to clean.  I keep them in our bathroom cupboard, and a couple in the kitchen in a drawer, and when we need them, we pull them out!  This definitely saves creating extra garbage.  I also have a bin under my kitchen counter where I just pop soiled ones until I have the chance to take them to our laundry room to wash.  This keeps them out of sight!  :)

We have started a new dishwasher detergent solution as well, but I’ll save that recipe for another day!!

What about you?  How do you clean your house?  Any tips?