Of course we want our homes to be pleasant, tidy, and nice-smelling. (Most of us anyway.) Another concern many of us have is our ecological footprint and how to reduce it. These small steps can help turn your dwelling in to a more inviting and eco-friendly place to be!

The sun provides us with free, natural light and heat every day. Take advantage of this gift by keeping your windows clean, and the shades open whenever possible. Today, architects are designing buildings and homes to maximize the benefits of allowing the sun inside. This is because sunlight not only freshens, warms, and energizes a space; it has also been attributed to improved mental health. Studies have shown drastic improvements when SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) patients as well as those suffering from depression are given daily doses of solar rays.

Oh, the powers of citrus! The juice from citrus fruits works as a powerful disinfectant and deodorizer for your home. The best part is that it's cheap, natural, and totally safe for your kids, pets, and the earth as well. Use lemon juice to cut grease on pots, pans, appliances, and countertops. Grind a slice or two of any citrus fruit in your garbage disposal to infuse your entire kitchen with a fresh aroma.

(Don't use on wood or fabric - only use on relatively non-porous surfaces. This is to avoid possible staining).

Reusing things helps lessen your environmental impact and reduces the massive amounts of junk streaming into already strained landfills.

If you still use plastic or paper grocery bags, save them to use for trash liners or to carry things. These can also come in handy to protect surfaces when engaging in messy projects with kids, like painting or pumpkin-carving.

To clean all of your glass around the house, use a spritz of window cleaner and an old newspaper. The newsprint & the window cleaner react with the properties of the glass to provide a perfect, streak-free finish. You'll be making use of used up papers, and also giving your place a little extra polish.

Use clothing that is too worn to be donated as cleaning rags. Why waste paper towels or purchase new rags when pieces of an old shirt will do just as well?

Vinegar is must-have for your green-cleaning arsenal. It can be used as a great multi-purpose cleaner. Just mix one quarter white vinegar with three quarters water in a spray bottle and, voila. You now have a great surface cleaner that removes stains & buildup as well. It's especially good at removing those pesky hard-water stains in the bathroom.

Shower head all white and funky with mineral deposits and other grimy buildup? Soak it overnight in a bowl of vinegar, then scrub and rinse in the morning. You'll be amazed at how effective the vinegar is. You'll also wonder why you ever bothered with the smelly, expensive, and toxic cleaners.

Vinegar can also be used in carpet cleaning machines in addition to or even in place of rug shampoo. The result will be surprisingly spic & span rugs that smell fresh and clean. Seriously. If you aren't convinced, hand wash a section of your carpet using white vinegar mixed into some water and you'll see what I mean.

Crusty coffeemaker? Run a pot with equal parts water & vinegar through the machine to de-gunk all the inner workings. Be sure to run an additional pot with water only before making coffee again so as to remove any vinegar taste. This is the only way to purify your coffemaker without introducing odd cleaners & chemicals into your sacred brewing mechanisms.

Why not invite some houseguests who will really earn their keep? Houseplants are more than worth the trouble taken to care for them. Plants beautify our surroundings, providing an immediate mood-boost to everyone around them. They also really serve to keep a home fresh and healthy for its occupants.

Plants make many sacrifices for our well-being, one of which is that they take in and process much of the nasty air pollution that invades our homes on a daily basis. Plants not only give off oxygen, they also gobble up the CO2 we exhale - working as a natural air purification system in a given space.

Homes with lots of foliage in them are far less likely to see occupants suffer from Sick Building Syndrome than those without.

Baking soda can scour like cleanser, brighten your teeth, and remove odors easily.

Add baking soda to your laundry for extra cleaning power and phenomenally fresh clothes.

Strategically place small dishes of baking soda throughout the house to absorb smoke or other unpleasant smells.

Place used plastic food containers in a sink full of warm water and baking soda overnight to remove any trace of color or odor left behind by items stored in them.

Sprinkle a bit of baking soda on your carpet several minutes before vaccuming to rejuvenate your rugs.

Happy Housekeeping!