Spring has sprung and for many this means it is time for a little cleaning.

For Spring cleaning is as integral a part of Spring as Easter, rain, and budding flowers.

While everyone loves the finished product of Spring cleaning, no one relishes getting down on their hands and knees and scouring away.

If the thought of the harsh smell of bleach and disinfectants turns your stomach, there are a few environmentally friendly cleaners that can be made right in your home.

Any `old timer' will tell you that there are numerous local cleaning secrets, passed down from generation to generation, which work magic.

In fact, the one product that most people already have in the home, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), packs as good a cleaning punch as any commercial product, but it does not contain any chemicals or harsh abrasives.

Four tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in one quart of warm water makes a good general cleaner that deodorises surfaces -- however it will not disinfect those surfaces.

And the experts at Do It Yourself, a web site that informs and advises on how to handle a variety of household dilemmas, urge the public to keep in mind that many homemade cleaners may require a little more elbow grease than some commercial cleaners.

No matter how much we hate it, every home needs an occasional good old once-over, so The Royal Gazette sought to uncover some `homemade' secrets to make this annual chore as pleasant and quick as possible.

*** Wood Furniture There are a vast assortment of furniture polishes on the market which will replenish lost oil into wood furniture.

But to rid your wood furniture of unsightly white marks, caused by hot dishes or water, you may want to try a local remedy.

Bermuda's Best Recipe say a combination of equal parts of olive oil, vinegar and methylated spirits will do the trick.

Mix the concoction well and then rub some of it hard upon the mark with a bit of flannel. When the mark is removed, polish as normal with furniture polish.

And to remove stains from mahogany furniture, the book suggested rubbing the furniture with a little olive oil and then applying a few drops of spirits of wine and rub with a dry cloth.

*** Cleaning Glass Newspapers aren't just for reading -- in fact they make great glass/mirror cleaning tools.

Just spray the glass/mirror with your regular glass clean and wipe with newspaper instead of paper towels.

If you are industrious, Do It Yourself has a recipe for homemade anti fogging glass cleaner.

Mix one ounce of sudsy ammonia with four ounces of rubbing alcohol, 1 teaspoon of dish washing detergent and one quart of water or combine two ounces of white vinegar to one quart tap water.

*** Carpets If you do not relish the idea of shampooing your carpet, perhaps a little carpet pre-treatment will do the trick, saving you from a cleaning ordeal.

Sweep the carpet before you vacuum, experts say that this will make the nap stand up and loosen embedded dirt.

To neutralise carpet odours, Do It Yourself recommends mixing one cup of Borax with two cup of cornmeal and then sprinkling the carpet with the mixture. The blend should be left for an hour before you vacuum.

And if your room needs a little freshening, mix up a batch of homemade carpet freshener before you vacuum.

In a bowl combine 3 cups of baking soda, 1 cup of perfumed talcum powder and two tablespoons of corn starch. Sprinkle on the carpet, let it stand for five to 15 minutes and then vacuum.

*** Refrigerators To get rid of stubborn odours, remove all items from the refrigerator and wash the removable bins with mild detergent in warm water.

Mix one or two tablespoons of baking soda with one quart of warm water and wash the interior walls and door liner with the solution.

If the odour still remains, the experts at Do It Yourself recommend spreading baking soda in shallow pans, placing them on the shelves and leaving the refrigerator open and unplugged.

They also suggested spreading cat litter in a shallow pan in one of the bins and running the refrigerator empty for a few days.

Several ounces of imitation vanilla (not pure extract) can also rid a refrigerator of odour. Pour a few ounces in a shallow saucer, place on a shelve and let the empty refrigerator run for a few days.

*** General Cleaning Tips If your Spring cleaning includes a fresh coat of paint for your interior, be sure to pick up some aluminium foil before you get started.

According to the Family Handyman Helpful Hints, wrapping aluminium foil around objects like door knobs and electrical switches will keep them protected, regardless of their shape.

The Family Handyman also recommends putting a few tablespoons of baking soda into the sink drain every two weeks will keep it fresh as well as grease and clog free.

To remove cobwebs from those hard to reach spot, like under a refrigerator, Do It Yourself suggests putting an old sock over the end of a stick, securing it with a rubber band and then sweeping the area.

And to clean ceramic tiles, simply mop with a mixture of water and some vinegar.

Elbow grease: It's time for a little Spring cleaning and any `old timer' will tell you that nothing cleans better than the old homemade concoctions.