Dear Heloise: Here are my favorite hints to reduce use of household chemicals:

Kill weeds by spraying vinegar instead of pesticides. (I learned this from your column.)

Clean windows, bathroom fixtures and furniture using reusable microfiber cleaning cloths, which need little or no cleaners.

To clean fruit and vegetables before eating, spray with a mixture of water and vinegar (3-to-1 ratio of water to vinegar).

Use squeegees and a tiny amount of window-cleaning concentrate to get windows sparkling and amazingly streak-free.—Patrice, Manitou Sprin...

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