Starting to worry? Check out the possible health effects of over 6,000 consumer cleaning products in the National Library of Medicine Household Products Database.

Or just go natural. Start with three basic ingredients you probably already have at home. Vinegar, mixed with water, makes a great natural cleaner that’s safe on most surfaces. Use a paste made of water and baking soda to scrub surfaces and remove stains. Lemon juice can clean and polish brass and copper, and you can use the half-lemon—sprinkled with baking soda—to scrub dishes and rub out stains. Try these home recipes for natural cleaners:

All-purpose cleaner. Mix ¼ cup baking soda and ½ cup vinegar with ½ gallon of water. It’s good for bathrooms, kitchens, windows, and mirrors.

Furniture polish. Mix ½ cup of lemon juice with one cup of olive oil. Apply with soft cotton cloth.

Computer cleaner. Mix ½ cup of rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol and a tablespoon of baking soda in ½ cup of water. Spray on monitor; apply with cotton swabs to keyboard.

If you’d rather buy off the shelf, several well-known companies now offer green products, such as chlorine-free Bon Ami Polishing Cleanser, Arm & Hammer Essentials laundry detergent, and Clorox’s line of Green Works natural cleaners. All-green manufacturers include Bio Pac, Shaklee, and Seventh Generation.