These common household items can do the work of several cleaning products

These days, there seems to be a specific cleaner for every job in the house, leaving us with a cabinet full of cleaning products. But you don't need to waste money on countless pricey chemical cleaners that can irritate your skin, eyes, throat, and lungs when common household items can do many of those jobs just as well.

White vinegar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide are versatile products that can tackle various cleaning tasks. Baking soda works as a gentle abrasive, vinegar can cut grease and neutralize odors, and peroxide can disinfect surfaces and remove stains from clothes.

Here are three examples of cleaning hacks that don't require toxic chemicals:

• Burnt-on food: Baking soda and boiling water can break up food baked onto your favorite pan, with minimal scrubbing required.

• Toilet disinfectant: Hydrogen peroxide kills bacteria and neutralizes odors. Pour it into the bowl and let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes — it will leave your toilet sparkly clean.

• Glass cleaner: A mixture of white vinegar, alcohol, and warm distilled water can clean glass as well as any store-bought cleaner at a fraction of the price.

Using baking soda and then vinegar creates a bubbling effect that can lift grime. However, despite many online claims, combining them before cleaning diminishes their effectiveness. Once the fizzing ends, the acid in the vinegar has broken down, and you're basically left with salt water.

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