DIY
For greasy pots and pans: Try scouring with salt. For burned saucepans: Fill the pan half full with water, spoon in baking soda, let it soak overnight, and bring to a boil. For baked-on grease: Scour with a little less-toxic dishwasher powder or an enzymatic oxygen scrub.

Tips
Fill the sink or dishpan with water and a little soap; soak the dishes; scrub and rinse them. Over time, you can save gallons of soap. When using the dishwasher, look for a less-toxic detergent; run only full loads to minimize energy waste. To save on water, prerinse dishes only if you're not running the dishwasher right away. (Dishwashing liquid is the most frequent cause of childhood poisonings, so keep even a less-toxic product where kids cannot get to it.)