Spring is here. What better way to greet the season than by freshening your home with a little spring-cleaning! Or would that do more harm than good?

Though commercial cleansers are effective at cleaning dirt and stains, many are downright dangerous. You know this already if you've ever read the labels:

Warnings like these are so ubiquitous, you may not take them seriously. But you should. The threat is real -- both to your health and to the environment -- when the cleansers are produced, used, flushed down the drain, and disposed of.

The interesting thing is how unnecessary they seem to be. It is remarkably easy to do light cleaning jobs with old-fashioned, natural cleansers -- and awfully hard to do tough cleaning jobs with even the strongest commercial brands.

If you recognize the truth of this from personal experience, and are sick (perhaps literally) of the fumes, it may be time to explore the alternatives. Following are some homemade mixes, based mostly on baking soda and white distilled vinegar. Don't be afraid to play with the proportions.

ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER - All you need for most cleaning jobs is a few tablespoons of baking soda in a quart of warm water. Or mix some vinegar and salt with warm water.

SCOURING CLEANER - Many brands are made with chlorine bleach, which release hazardous gases when mixed with ammonia (found in glass cleaners). Try plain salt or baking soda instead. For a disinfectant version, mix equal amounts of baking soda and borax with a little hot water. You can also try a non-chlorine scourer such as Bon Ami.

DRAIN CLEANER - Instead of chemical drain cleaners, which can damage your skin and eyes, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by 1/2 cup of vinegar. Wait 15-20 minutes. Then, pour in 1/2 gallon of boiling water. For clogged drains, use a plunger or snake.

TOILET BOWL CLEANER - Like drain cleaners, these can burn your skin and eyes. As an alternative, pour 1/2 cup vinegar and baking soda in the toilet bowl and scrub with a brush. Or scrub with 2/3 cup borax and 1/3 cup lemon juice.

GLASS CLEANER - While commercial glass cleaners are less toxic than many other cleansers, they can still irritate eyes and lungs and cause headaches. You'll find that club soda works just as well, or warm water with a little vinegar.

FURNITURE POLISH - Most commercial brands are made with petroleum distillates, which are flammable. Try olive oil mixed with a little lemon juice. (Experiment on a hidden section of the furniture first.)

FLOOR CLEANER - A mix of equal parts vinegar and warm water is enough for light jobs. Try a vegetable-based liquid soap, like Murphy's Oil Soap, for tougher jobs.

AIR FRESHENER - Get rid of cooking odors by putting out bowls with a little vinegar in them. Scent the air by boiling cinnamon and cloves. Open your windows.

For related information, see these pages:

SAFER ALTERNATIVES TO HAZARDOUS HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS
http://es.epa.gov/new/contacts/newsltrs/shopping.html

HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS AND POLISHES
http://www.metrokc.gov/hazwaste/house/cleaners.html

HAZARDOUS HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS: REDUCING THE RISKS
http://www.urbanoptions.org/nontoxic/Nontoxic.htm