Clean green this spring

ATLANTA — Fluttering butterflies and flowers in bloom. Light jackets and short-sleeved shirts.

Spring has officially sprung, and in households across the country the annual rite of spring cleaning is about to begin.

But if the idea of environmentally harmful cleaners and toxic fumes doesn't quite inspire a Mr. Clean attitude, perhaps green cleaning alternatives will.

Multi-purpose kitchen cleaners

Everyday home items such as baking soda, lemon juice, borax, vinegar and salt are non-toxic, yet powerful substitutes for many store-bought household cleaners. Salt, for example, when mixed with vinegar and water, will easily clean kitchen counters and other surfaces without harming the environment. Salt grains act as an abrasive, much the same way Comet Disinfectant Powder removes dirt and bacteria from hard surfaces. Using salt in conjunction with vinegar and baking soda will scrub away grime, while deodorizing and disinfecting. Borax is another multi-use non-toxic compound. Used in the home since the 1950s to soften water during laundry cycles, borax can also be used as an all-purpose cleanser and disinfectant. It serves as a cockroach and ant repellant as well. Ecocycle.com recommends mixing 1/4 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup borax and 1/2 cup vinegar in 1 gallon of water for an eco-friendly household cleaner. Scrub the mixture on kitchen counters, stovetops, microwaves and linoleum floors for a deep down, green clean.

Toilets, tubs and tile

Bathrooms are challenging to keep sparkling clean and bacteria-free. But harmful bleaches and chemicals are entirely unnecessary when baking soda and vinegar can be used to scrub grime away and disinfect just as well. Baking soda has long been used for deodorizing and cleaning surfaces throughout the home and can even be used in laundry cycles to freshen and disinfect clothes. To effectively clean and deodorize bathroom tubs and tile, Eartheasy.com recommends pouring vinegar over bathroom surfaces, then sprinkling baking soda on top. Gently scour with a sponge until clean. For a fresh-smelling toilet, pour 1 cup of vinegar and 1/4 cup of baking soda into the basin and let stand for a few minutes before scrubbing with a brush.

Window pain

Dust and dirt accumulated on windows all winter. As the weather warms, blinds are going up and drapes are being swooshed to the side to allow sunlight to stream through. Pushing the drapes to the side in a grand gesture to welcome spring, however, likely will uncover months of dust bunnies. Once again, vinegar and water will do the trick. Greenerchoices.org recommends mixing 3 tablespoons of vinegar with 1 quart of water in a spray bottle to successfully clean and disinfect windows. For extra-soiled windows, 1/2 teaspoon of all-natural liquid soap can be added to the mixture. The Web site also recommends using newspapers to dry windows for a streak-free appearance.

Jennifer Preyss writes for Cox News Service.