Have you ever gotten a little carried away in the cleaning aisle? There's a spray for the counters, another for the furniture, something floral for the bathroom, and an air freshener promising to make the living room smell like a meadow. But, maybe a clean house doesn't need quite so many bottles.

Heavily fragranced products can mask odors instead of dealing with their source, leave residue behind and linger in the air. So, what do you say we simplify the cleaning cabinet?

We don't have to toss everything in the garbage. But, when a heavily scented spray runs out, we can decide if we really need another one. For plenty of everyday cleaning jobs, a few familiar ingredients and some sturdy cloths may be enough.

Make a Simple Everyday Cleaner

Let's start with something we can use for ordinary dirt and grime on washable surfaces.

Ingredients

• 24 ounces of water

• 7 drops of dish soap

Instructions

• Pour the water into a clean spray bottle.

• Add the dish soap.

• Gently mix the solution.

• Spray onto a washable surface or a cloth.

• Wipe clean with a microfiber cloth.

• Label the bottle if you're keeping it for later.

This is considerably less exciting than the wall of colorful bottles at the store, but the fingerprints won't know the difference.

Mix Up a Glass Cleaner

Mirrors and windows will also do fine with a simple treatment.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons white vinegar

• 1 quart water

Instructions

• Combine the vinegar and water.

• Transfer some to a clean spray bottle.

• Lightly apply it to the glass.

• Wipe with a clean, lint-free cloth.

Vinegar isn't appropriate for every surface, so save this one for the glass, rather than roaming around the house, looking for other jobs.

Make a Baking Soda Scrub

For grime that needs a little persuasion, you can bring out the baking soda.

Ingredients

• Baking soda

• Water

Instructions

• Spoon a small amount of baking soda into a bowl.

• Add just enough water to create a paste.

• Apply it gently to a sturdy surface.

• Scrub with a soft cloth or sponge.

• Rinse the surface thoroughly.

Test it somewhere inconspicuous first, especially if you're not sure how a surface will react to an abrasive cleaner.

Steam-Clean the Microwave

This may be the easiest "recipe" for the house.

Ingredients

• Water

Instructions

• Pour water into a microwave-safe bowl.

• Microwave it until plenty of steam develops.

• Leave the door closed briefly to give that steam time to soften stuck-on food.

• Carefully remove the hot bowl.

• Wipe down the inside of the microwave.

Sometimes, hot water is all that’s needed.

Let Baking Soda Tackle Odors

Before you reach for another air freshener, figure out where the smell is coming from. The trash may need to go out. Something could be lurking in the refrigerator. The sink might need to be cleaned.

Once you’ve dealt with the culprit, baking soda can help with lingering odors.

Ingredients

• Baking soda

• A small open container

Instructions

• Pour baking soda into the container.

• Place it where you want to absorb odors, such as the refrigerator.

• Keep it somewhere children and pets can't get into it.

• Replace it periodically.

A clean house doesn't have to smell like lavender, lemon, or an alpine forest. It's allowed to smell like nothing at all.

Know When to Bring Out the Real Disinfectant

Homemade cleaners aren't substitutes for every product in the cabinet. Cleaning everyday dirt is different from disinfecting a surface. 

When you genuinely need to disinfect, use an appropriate registered product and follow its label instructions. In other words, dish soap can handle Tuesday's toast crumbs, and a baking soda scrub may not be enough for the bathtub. 

Don't Mix and Match Cleaning Products

Here's the part where we put down the cute spray bottles and get serious. Never start combining household cleaning products to see what happens. In particular:

• Never mix bleach with ammonia.

• Never mix bleach with vinegar or other cleaners.

• Follow the directions on product labels.

• Clearly label homemade cleaners.

• Keep cleaning products away from children and pets.

Some combinations can release dangerous gases, and no countertop is dirty enough to warrant an accidental chemistry experiment.

We Don't Need Another Bottle

We don't have to spend Sunday afternoon manufacturing cleaning products. But, we can simplify. Keep the specialized products that serve a real purpose. Use an actual disinfectant when the job calls for one. 

And, for some of the ordinary fingerprints, smudges, crumbs, and mysterious sticky spots that come with daily life, try something simpler. Then, when a heavily fragranced spray finally sputters its last spritz, maybe we don't need to replace it. Maybe we can experiment with something a little greener. 

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