 |
|
Many commercial cleaners contain toxic substances
that are dangerous to our health and the environment. Nontoxic alternatives
are not only as effective and easy to use as their commercial counterparts,
but are also safer. Best of all, the nontoxic alternatives are less
expensive. Try out these alternative recipes!
Some ingredients you might try instead:
| Baking Soda | Vegetable-based Liquid Soaps | White Vinegar |
| Borax | Cornmeal | Citrus-based Cleaners |
| Lemons | Toothpaste | Salt |
| Hydrogen Peroxide |
Click on the recipes below or make up your own!
All-Purpose Cleaner
1 quart warm water
1 teaspoon liquid soap
1 teaspoon borax
1/4 cup undiluted white vinegar
Mix ingredients and store in a spray bottle. Use for cleaning countertops,
floors, walls, carpets and upholstery.
Scouring Cleansers
Sprinkle baking soda, or mix baking soda with water, and scrub with
a wet sponge. If the baking soda leaves a residue, rinse with cold water
and vinegar. Dry with a cloth. Also, nonchlorinated scouring powders
are safe to use, ex; Bon Ami.
Glass Cleaner
1 quart warm water
1/4 cup white vinegar or 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Mix ingredients and store in a spray bottle.
Disinfectant
• Use 1/2 cup of borax in one gallon of hot water.
• Hydrogen Peroxide (3% solution) is also an effective disinfectant.
Mildew Removers
• Scrub mildew spots with borax/water solution (1/2 C. borax to
1 gallon water) using a nylon scouring pad. To prevent mold or mildew
from forming, don’t rinse of the borax.
• Scrub with a vinegar and salt paste.
• If you have major problems, the best solution is heat. Applying
heat to an area will kill mold and mildew.
Degreaser
• Use vinegar, lemon or a citrus-based cleaner.
• Also: Mix 1/2 teaspoon washing soda (sodium carbonate, soda ash
or sal soda), 2 tablespoons white vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon liquid soap
and 2 cups hot water.
Bathroom
Clean sink, shower, tub, tile with diluted liquid soap and scrub with
a nylon scrubbing pad. Use a stiff toothbrush or scrub brush for tiles.
Toilet Bowls
• Put 1/4 cup borax in toilet bowl and let sit for a few hours
or overnight. Next day, scrub – or scrub with a solution of 1/2
cup borax to 1 gallon of water. A few drops of pine oil can be added
for increased disinfecting. (Note: some people are allergic to pine
oil.)
• Scrub with baking soda and/or liquid soap. To remove stains,
pour 1/4 cup borax and let sit for at least 30 minutes, scrub and flush.
Tub and Tiles
• Scrub surfaces with baking soda slightly moistened with water.
• To remove mineral deposits around faucets, cover deposits with
strips of paper towels, soaked in vinegar. Let sit for 1 hour and clean.
Fabric Stain Remover
• Mix:
1 part glycerin
1 part liquid dish washing detergent
8 parts water
Apply to stain as soon as possible and blot with cloth. Store in a squeeze
bottle.
• Alternately, soak
fabric in 1/4 cup borax and 2 cups cold water.
Upholstery Cleaner
• Mix 1/4 cup liquid soap with 3 tablespoons water. Rub foam into
upholstery with a cotton cloth, then rinse with a clean sponge.
Spot Removers
• Fruit and Wine: Immediately blot stain
with a towel and add cold water, continuing to blot.
• Grease: Pour boiling water on stains
and follow with dry baking soda.
• Blood: Soak in cold water or remove with
hydrogen peroxide. For more stubborn stains, apply a paste of cornstarch,
corn meal or talcum powder. Allow to dry, brush away.
• Rust: Saturate with lemon juice and rub
with salt. Place in direct sunlight until dry, then wash.
• Mildew: Pour soap and salt on spots
and place in sunlight. Keep moist and repeat as often as necessary.
• Perspiration odor: Add one cup
vinegar or baking soda per wash load.
Oven Cleaner
• Mix:
1 quart warm water
2 teaspoons borax
2 tablespoons liquid soap
Spray on solution, wait 20 minutes, then clean.
• Alternately: make a thick paste with water and baking soda and
scrub with a nylon scrubbing pad. If greasy, add a small amount of liquid
soap. To remove spots, use very fine steel wool. A wet cleaning pumice
bar can be used to remove the toughest spots.
Drains
• Pour 1/4 cup baking soda down the drain, followed by 2 ounces
of vinegar. Cover the drain and let sit for 15 minutes. Rinse with 2
quarts of boiling water. Use this treatment regularly to prevent clogged
drains. Also, pour boiling water down drains on a weekly basis to prevent
grime buildup.
• For clogged drains, use a plunger or snake. Before using a plunger,
be sure there is water standing over the drain. Push and pull vigorously.
• Prevention: put a strainer or filter in all drains, never pour
any type of grease down your drains, use an enzyme based "buildup
remover" to break down grease and prevent clogs, plant away from
sewer lines.
Silver Polish
•Rub object gently with toothpaste (or a baking soda/water paste)
on a soft cloth to avoid scratching. Rinse well with water.
•Boil silver 3 minutes in a quart of water containing 1 teaspoon
baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt and a piece of aluminum foil.
Copper Polish
Pour vinegar or lemon juice and salt over copper and rub. Rinse thoroughly
and dry.
Brass Polish
Polish with Worcestershire sauce; or pour on ketchup, let sit, then
wipe dry.
Chrome Polish
Shine wet chrome fixtures by rubbing with newspaper; or rub with baby
oil and a soft cloth.
Stainless Steel
Polish
Clean and polish with a baking soda/water paste.
Furniture Polish
• Unvarnished wood: use almond, walnut or olive oil.
• Varnished wood: use a mild vegetable oil soap.
• To remove watermarks from wood furniture: rub toothpaste on spot
and polish with a soft cloth.
Crayon Marks
Rub mark with toothpaste and a damp cloth. Do not use on non-vinyl wallpaper.
Vinyl Floors
Mix 1 gallon water with 1/2 cup white vinegar or 1/4 cup borax. Remove
scuff marks with toothpaste.
Unvarnished Wood Floors
Damp mop with mild vegetable oil soap.
Carpet Odors
Sprinkle entire carpet with baking soda. Let sit 15 minutes, or overnight
for serious odors, then vacuum.
Air Fresheners
• Pour vanilla extract on a cotton ball in a saucer.
• Set out a dish of vinegar, or boil 1 tablespoon white vinegar
in 1 cup of water to eliminate cooking odors.
• Wrap cloves and cinnamon in cheesecloth and boil in water.
• Cover the bottom of your cat’s litter box with baking soda
before adding litter.
• Use baking soda in refrigerators, closets and other enclosed
areas to absorb odors.
Grease and Oil Spills
on Concrete
Sprinkle cornmeal, sawdust or cat-litter, allow to sit for several hours
then sweep up.
Dandruff Shampoo
Take a handful of dry baking soda and rub it vigorously into your wet
hair and scalp, rinse thoroughly and dry. Wash your hair at the same
intervals as you usually do but only use baking soda and no chemicals
whatsoever. At first your hair might look like straw but stick with
it. After a few weeks your scalp will begin to generate its natural
oils, stop flaking and your hair will get very soft.