Spring is officially here. I love opening my windows, letting the fresh air in, and beginning my spring-cleaning ritual. It gives me such satisfaction to give my house a deep down, green clean. Now, there's no need to spend a ton of money on potentially toxic chemical cleaners. Instead, I use a few ingredients to whip up some healthier homemade cleaners that will work wonders on every inch of my home. Do Your Part and whip up a few to add to your spring routine.

DIY Disinfectants:

50/50 solution of vinegar and water or

Hydrogen peroxide at full strength or diluted

White vinegar is a natural disinfectant that kills all viruses and is safe to use most anywhere - except on marble or other porous surfaces. Hydrogen peroxide is another natural and non-toxic option to quickly kill bacteria, mold, and mildew. Use it full strength on things like cutting boards or dilute it with water for finished surfaces. Mix only what you need as water and exposure to light reduces hydrogen peroxide's cleaning properties.

Make Your Own Mold Killer:

1-cup borax with 1-gallon water

Borax is an effective mold killer and works well on hard water deposits. Use a paste to scrub the sides of the tub to a sparkling white, or mix a solution of one cup of borax with one gallon of hot water to eat away at mold in tile grout. A cup of borax left in the toilet bowl overnight leaves it fresh and clean.

Glass Cleaner For Less:

50/50 solution of vinegar and water

There is no need to spend big bucks on brand name glass cleaners when you can make big batches of your own for pennies. A 128-ounce jug of vinegar costs around $3.50. That's the same price of the leading glass cleaner that is only 26 ounces. So, if you create your own glass cleaner using one part vinegar to one part water, that jug of vinegar will last nearly ten times longer than the store bought version - and for the same price!

Stainless Steel Cleaner for a Steal:

Straight Olive Oil

Straight olive oil can get the shine you want on your stainless steel pieces without polluting the air inside your home. Use a rag to polish the appliances all over with olive oil and then wipe away any extra with a soft dry rag. Your stainless steel will look just as shiny as if you had used a commercial cleaner.

No Fuss Furniture Polish:

2 parts olive oil to 1 part vinegar or substitute lemon juice for vinegar

Mix only what you need in a small bowl and use a soft rag to get wood pieces glowing again. You can also substitute lemon juice in place of vinegar to shine your wood pieces while leaving a pleasant scent behind.

And, be sure to check out DoYourPart.com/Columns for more green cleaning recipes.

(Terri Bennett is a veteran TV meteorologist, eco-expert and author of "Do Your Part: A Practical Guide for Everyday Green Living" available at DoYourPart.com. Send questions to terri@doyourpart.com)

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