Our abuelitas are nothing if not resourceful. These are women who can whip up a feast out of leftovers and a few odds and ends, and clean the entire house from top to bottom using everyday household items.  So why not take a leaf out of their book and have the stuff you already have in your home serve double duty? You’ll save yourself some money and do the environment a favor by reducing your carbon footprint.

• Instead of turning to the toxic fumes of Drano to unclog a drain, use some baking soda and vinegar. For a backed-up toilet, pour in some boiling water and a cup of liquid dishwashing detergent and let sit for about an hour before attempting to flush.
• You already learned the hard way that Windex is not appropriate for an LCD screen. So, what can you clean it with? A lightly dampened cloth will do the trick. A coffee filter works great, too, if dust is the only problem. If it’s scratched, try a pencil eraser.
• Applying direct heat from a hair dryer will help you remove stubborn stickers and their messy residue.
• Aromatize the entire house naturally by placing two capfuls of vanilla extract in an oven-safe container and stick in the oven at 300 degrees for one hour. Within twenty minutes the whole house will smell heavenly.
• Polish brass with a mixture of salt, white vinegar and flour, and stainless steel with a paste made from baking soda and water followed by a scrubbing with flour.