Sometimes something comes across your desk that is so obvious, so common-sense worthy, that it is almost too much.  

That happened this morning when an email from The Well Daily hit my inbox, offering up a safe and hugely affordable way to keep your house clean.  

Now, that's not to say that I like cleaning. I don't.  

But the message was full of information that any of our grandmothers could share, and I couldn't help but think our grandmothers might also shake their heads and ask us "Why on earth we were spending so much money on products that are so full of things that could do such harm?"  Great question, especially in light of a recent report in the New York Times which reveals that with over 80,000 chemicals in our every day products, the societal costs attributable to this toxic exposure is $76.6 billion for a single year!  

There's certainly a smarter way to spend our money. And while none of us can do everything, all of us can do something.  So maybe a money-saving tip like the one below can serve as an entry point:

Toxic cleaners: aside from the fact that they're terrible for us, our kids, our pets and the planet, they're also expensive and wasteful. We're on a mission to get back to the basics with natural cleaning products straight from the kitchen pantry. We already let you in on our love of lemon. Next up on our list of powerful old school cleaners: vinegar.

White vinegar is the superhero of natural cleaning products. Not only can it replace the majority of the products under the kitchen sink, it’s safe, completely natural and dirt cheap. And if you’re worried about the smell, don’t be—it disappears when it dries and even acts as a mild deodorizer.

Here's how to put vinegar to work in every room of the house:

• Fill a spray bottle with 1 part white vinegar and 1 part water for an all-purpose kitchen cleaner great for counters and floors.
• Prevent oven buildup and shower mildew by wiping down surfaces with a cloth and vinegar.
• Add 1/2 cup to the rinse cycle of your wash for a natural fabric softener.
• Use pure vinegar to get rid of rings in your toilet bowl.
• Mix 1 part vinegar with 4 parts water in a spray bottle for the perfect window cleaner.
• Use vinegar with a higher concentration of acetic acid for apesticide-free weed killer. (Most household vinegar is 5% acetic acid, so look for 10% or higher at the hardware store.)