Natural Cleaning Tools

You don't need the latest electromagnetic dustmop or centrifugal vacuum to clean your house. You only need a handful of time-tested tools that are inexpensive, readily available and useful for multiple projects. Natural cleaning focuses on using safe, simple, nontoxic ingredients like baking soda and vinegar to clean your home. The tools you use should be just as cheap, environmentally friendly and safe for your family.

Spray bottles

These items are handy for holding your homemade cleaning solutions; you can even reuse empty spray bottles from purchased cleaners to save money. Use one bottle for a basic, all-purpose solution of 50 percent vinegar and 50 percent water for everyday cleaning, and another bottle for a extra-strength solution of vinegar, water and a tablespoon of Castile soap for heavy-duty jobs.

Sponges

Natural sea sponges or standard cellulose sponges are essential for scrubbing and wiping kitchens, bathrooms, floors, windowsills, tiles and any other hard surface. Use a damp, not wet, sponge to gently clean hardwood floors and furniture. However, sponges tend to harbor bacteria, so use cotton rags or dish towels and wash them regularly if disinfecting is paramount in your cleaning routine.

Newspaper

Clean windows with balls of crumpled newspaper; it won't leave streaks or lint like paper towels. Simply spritz the vinegar-water solution on a window, then wipe and polish with newspaper. Newspaper works on mirrors too.

Broom and dustpan

Save energy by using a broom and dustpan, rather than a vacuum cleaner, to sweep up dust bunnies, breadcrumbs and tracked-in dirt. Choose a long-handled broom for sweeping whole rooms or a short hand-held broom for small jobs. A metal dustpan with a rubber "lip" allows you to pick up the dust and minute particles better than a plastic model.

Bucket

For cleaning floors, cars or big windows, a bucket is an essential tool. Dunk your sponge or rag into a bucket full of hot, soapy water to scrub tile or linoleum floors, or use the bucket to splash clean water on to your car's exterior and tires. A large bucket is also useful for hand-washing delicate clothes or linens.