Just like income taxes, spring cleaning is (or should be) a necessary component of your annual schedule. After months of keeping the windows closed, it’s possible that toxic fumes from household cleaners and manmade fibers and materials have quietly invaded your living space, screaming for attention and cleansing.

Origins of “spring cleaning” are many. Tracing back to the Persian New Year (Nouroz) celebration, which occurs at the start of spring, Persian women cleaned their dwellings from top to bottom before the big date. Eastern Orthodox churches spruced up by cleaning for a full week in preparation for Lent, while Jewish people cleaned and prepared for Passover.

Historically, spring was just the best time to air out, clean out and sweep out the dust and debris accumulated during harsh winter months. It’s just common sense to not only open those windows in spring, but to wash them as well.

Spring is the perfect time to purge your junk and deep clean areas that were neglected. Cobwebs come down, window sills get scrubbed, carpets shampooed, curtains and walls get washed, or perhaps it’s time for a fresh paint application. Family members can be recruited to truly “divide and conquer” the task at hand, and it’s a win-win situation for everyone. The family abode gets cleaned, and you’re ready to enjoy summer without the nagging “to do” interior list — it’s finished.

Given all the chemicals in our foods today, I always say that if you can’t pronounce the ingredient, don’t eat it. The same could be said for household cleaners. No, you don’t eat them, but why buy chemical-laden products when it’s always been an option to “clean green?” White, distilled vinegar and baking soda are two nontoxic, relatively inexpensive and non-irritating products that will make your home sparkle and shine.

According to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, the average American uses 25 gallons of hazardous chemicals each year in the house. Savvy consumers are choosing natural cleaners, which finally are starting to outsell the chemical-based ones. The shift might reflect a better understanding that the body’s largest organ, the skin, absorbs everything, so it’s prudent to protect our families and ourselves.

Stubborn mineral deposits can be kept at bay using a vinegar-and-water mix. Simply fill a spray bottle (only $1 at dollar stores) with one part vinegar to three parts water. Besides being perfect for kitchen and bathroom fixtures, the mixture cleans sinks, mirrors, windows and more. The vinegar-and-water mixture will clean ceramic tiles, linoleum and some wood floors too. Regarding wood floors, always check with the manufacturer to determine the best method. I have red oak wood floors and use the mixture with great results.

A half-cup of baking soda with a cup of vinegar clears drains and freshens garbage disposals when used regularly. Using this maintenance combo once a week really helps, but if you already have a clogged drain, it might not be the solution you need. Stainless steel sinks will shine with a quick scrub of these products finished with a dry-cloth wipe. Soap residue getting those clothes dingy? Add a half cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle in your wash load. Tough odors on clothes? Add a quarter cup of baking soda to your wash after the soap.

Clean your microwave oven by filling a microwave-safe glass or plastic bowl with a half cup of vinegar, a quarter cup of baking soda and two cups of water.  Run the microwave until the mixture comes to a boil. Carefully remove the contents, and then wipe down the interior with a clean cloth or sponge. Any dried-on food or spills should be loosened and will wipe clean. Plus, it’s a natural deodorizer. Carefully pour the mixture down the drain or disposal. You also can scrub off stubborn coffee and tea stains from cups with baking soda and vinegar.

Baking soda is a great nonabrasive, nontoxic cleanser, like vinegar. Use it to clean toilets, tubs, sinks, trash cans and to freshen areas all over your house. Sprinkle on carpeting and upholstery and then vacuum to remove odors. Sprinkle it on Fido’s bed and remove with a stiff brush, or if it’s a removable cover, throw it in the wash with the baking soda to rid the doggy odors. It will not harm your beloved pet.

Sprinkle some baking soda in kitty’s litter box too; this amazing, inexpensive material does work. Of course, the litter box should be cleaned daily or at least every other day. You can’t sprinkle to mask odors on a full litter box. This is maintenance, not a masking device.

Be careful with vinegar on any marble surfaces, because the acidic nature of vinegar can harm the finish. Otherwise, the baking soda-and-vinegar combo can safely be used to clean and freshen refrigerators, shower heads, glass coffee pots and other items.

Most Americans have at least 40 chemicals in their bodies leeched from household cleaners, materials in the house, pesticides tracked in (take those shoes off before entering the home), plastics and other sources, so why not try to at least avoid those chemical household products when cleaning? Start a new safe habit, save money and save room in the kitchen and bathroom cabinets.

Start spring cleaning and look from top to bottom, wiping away cobwebs, dusting off the tops of picture frames, window frames, floors and basements. Be healthy and be kind to the environment and make it a habit to clean green. On top of being cheaper and easier, creating less chemical intervention for all is a good thing. Step into spring cleaning soon so you’ll be able to enjoy the outdoor pursuits that come with summer fun. On the Web, search general sites such as “natural cleaning,” “green spring cleaning,” “vinegar uses” or “baking soda uses” for a wealth of information on environmentally safe cleaning methods.