Water and white vinegar do a good job on floors; ditto vinegar and newspaper for cleaning windows; baking soda, vinegar, salt, and boiling water do a volcanic job on drains. Bon Ami brand cleaning powder is a relatively nontoxic commercial mix that works well for scouring, too.

Ecolabels are a good tool to help purchasers quickly and easily identify products that are "greener". However, it is important for consumers to be careful in interpreting vague or generic claims on products such as "environmentally friendly," "eco safe," or "green" (also known as "greenwashing").