Were you inspired by Earth Day to clean up your act? Fact is, your house isn't going to clean itself and the environment needs a break, too. So spring into green clean and get your house fresh and beautiful in the most eco-friendly way.

Armed with these three Earth-friendly cleaning formulas and some old rags, preferably worn t-shirts, socks and other recycled cloth goods, you will be set for the easiest spring cleaning ever.

What you'll need:
*vinegar
*Lavender essential oil
*corn starch
*baking soda
*dish soap

All Purpose Cleanser - mix two cups hot water with four caps full of vinegar, a small squirt of dish soap, a teaspoon of corn starch, a teaspoon of baking soda and 15 drops Lavender essential oil. Mix and add to spray bottle.

Glass Cleanser - mix one quart hot water with a fourth cup of vinegar, a tablespoon corn starch and 10 drops lavender essential oil. Pour into spray bottle.

Upholstery Cleanser - Mix 3 parts baking soda to one part corn starch in a large Ziploc bag. Add about ten drops of 20 drops of Lavender essential oil, close the bag and shake it up.

Green Clean Paste - mix one cup baking soda with a tablespoon dish soap and a tablespoon of vinegar.

Where to use it:

The Kitchen

*Try the green clean paste on the inside surface of the oven plus a little elbow grease. Allow the formula to sit on heavily soiled areas to breakdown baked on bits. Rinse away with a moistened rag.

*Banish film and burnt-on stains in pots and pans with the green clean paste

*Deep clean your refrigerator with the all-purpose cleaner and a rag.

High Traffic Areas

*Use a rag and the all-purpose cleaner on walls, baseboards, cabinets, windowsills, knobs, light switches, and ceiling fans. It freshens the room and reduces mites, molds, and mildew allergens.

*Sprinkle the upholstery powder over carpets, furniture and rugs; let sit for a half hour and vacuum up. The lavender oil will refresh fabrics and has antibacterial, anti fungal and anti microbial properties.

The Bathroom

*sparkle up faucets and shower heads with the green clean paste.

*For tougher jobs, fill a large Ziploc bag with vinegar and cover the shower head or faucet until completely immersed in vinegar. Rubber band the bag in place and leave for at least an hour.

The Bedroom

*Since getting a good night's sleep is crucial to our health, the room must be a safe haven for relaxation and down time. Clutter removal is key to cleanliness. Use the spring cleaning excuse to go through your clothes, jewelry cases and junk drawers and clear out anything that's no longer a favorite.

*Spritz mattresses with the all purpose spray to disinfect before quarterly mattress flipping. Sprinkle the freshly turned mattress with upholstery cleanser and allow to sit before vacuuming.

Outdoors

*Hose down the house using a pressure washer if you can, attending to all the nooks and crannies where dirt, spiderwebs and dust like to hide. Clean out eaves troughs and gutters, and inspect the house for large openings that could provide entryway for rodents or pests.

*For tough grime, check your local hardware store for eco-friendly exterior washes to use in a pressure washer.

You'll quickly find that using eco friendly products work as well as their chemically-laden counterparts but at a fraction of the cost to the Earth and your wallet. Do you have an eco cleaning tip to share?

by Vivian Nelson-Melle