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safe alternatives to household toxics
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. Glass Cleaner 1 quart warm water 1/4 cup white vinegar (or 2 tablespoons lemon juice) Mix ingredients and store in a spray bottle. Dip a wet sponge in baking soda to clean a glass oven door. Stain Remover 1 part glycerin 1 part liquid dish washing detergent 8 parts water Test on unexposed area of fabric. Apply to stain as soon as possible and blot with cloth. Store in a plastic squeeze bottle. Shake well before each use. Disinfectant Use 1/2 cup of borax in one gallon of hot water. To prevent mold or mildew from forming, don’t rinse off the borax solution. Oven Cleaner 1 quart warm water 2 teaspoons borax 2 tablespoons liquid soap Spray on solutions, wait 20 minutes, then clean. You can also pour salt on spills as they occur and wipe while your oven is warm. 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 and keep them smelling fresh. Also, pour boiling water down drains on a weekly basis to prevent grime buildup. Toilet Bowls Put 1/4 cup borax in toilet bowl and let set overnight. Next day, scrub - or scrub with a solution of 1/2 cup borax to 1 gallon of water. Tub and Tiles Scrub surfaces with baking soda slightly moistened with water. Polishes Silver: Rub object gently with toothpaste on a soft cloth to avoid scratching. Rinse well with water. Copper: Pour vinegar and salt over copper and rub. Brass: Polish with Worcestershire sauce; or pour on ketchup, let sit, then wipe dry. Chrome: Shine wet chrome fixtures by rubbing with newspaper; or rub with baby oil and a soft cloth. Test first on an inconspicuous area. Preserving Indoor Wood Try borax-based wood preservatives for indoor applications. Instead of Moth Balls Store clean woolens in sealed plastic bags or air-tight containers. Place garments in the freezer for several days to kill adult moths and larvae. Fighting Silverfish Make traps with mixture of 1 part molasses to 2 parts vinegar. Place near cracks or holes where pests live. Repel silverfish by applying a mixture of borax and sugar or honey to baseboards and cupboards. Stick to Glue Use Elmer's-type white glue or yellow carpenter's glues for wood, china, paper and other porous materials. Use a glue stick or paste rather than rubber cement. Vinyl Floors 1 gallon warm water 1/2 cup white vinegar or 1/4 cup borax Wood Floors For unvarnished floors, damp mop with mild vegetable oil soap. For no-wax floors (such as polyurethane or Swedish finishes), clean with 1 part vinegar to 10 parts water. Alternative Air Fresheners Pour vanilla extract on a cotton ball in a saucer. Use in your car, home or refrigerator. Set out a dish of vinegar, or boil 1 tablespoon white vinegar in 1 cup of water to eliminate unpleasant cooking odors. Spice Up Your Home Wrap cloves and cinnamon in cheesecloth and boil in water; or, leave herbal bouquets standing in open dishes for a fragrant smell. Removing Onion Odors Add a few drops of vinegar to soapy water to remove onion odors from utensils, chopping blocks, or hands. Rubbing hands with the cut end of a celery stalk will also remove odor. Freshen Up Your Garbage Disposal To clean garbage disposals, grind used lemons in the disposal or pour in baking soda. Cat Smells Cover the bottom of your cat's litter box with baking soda before adding litter. It eliminates odors for days. Oil-based Paint / Spray Paint Use latex water-based paints and apply with a brush or roller whenever possible. Paint Stripper Use a scraper, rasp or abrasive block, heat gun or sandpaper to remove paint without chemicals. Use water or alkali-based paint strippers rather than solvent-based products. Slug Trap - or "Beer Garden" Cut several 1-inch square openings in the sides of a clean covered cottage cheese container or margarine tub. Sink the container into the soil so the openings are just above the soil surface. Remove the lid and pour in 1/2-inch of beer, or whip up a yeast mixture: 2 tablespoons flour 1/2 teaspoon baker's yeast 1 teaspoon sugar 2 cups warm water Replace the lid. Slugs will be attracted to the trap, fall in and drown. Empty the container every few days and refill. Weed Killer To control weeds, hand-pick them and apply mulch from wood chips or grass clippings. This mulch also acts as a natural fertilizer. You can also pour boiling water on dandelions. Repeat over several days. Make Your Own Fertilizer 4 parts seedmeal or fishmeal 1 part agricultural lime or dolomite 1 part rock phosphate or 1/2 part bonemeal 1/2 part kelpmeal Measure ingredients and place in a large container. Mix well. Use in garden or on lawn, as well as beneath seeds or as a side dressing for vegetables. Aphid & Mite Control Mix 1 tablespoon pure soap with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in 1 gallon of water. Spray on aphid- or mite-infested plant parts. Store unused portion in labeled container. Use pure soap only. Detergent can burn plants. Attract "Nice Bugs" Introduce friendly insects such as ladybugs (natural enemies of aphids), ground beetles and praying mantises, to rid your garden of uninvited pests. Check with a nursery for plants that attract these insects. Black Spot & Powdery Mildew Spray Mix 3 tablespoons baking soda with 2 teaspoons insecticidal soap or ultra-fine horticultural oil in 1 gallon of water. Spray on affected plant parts. |
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Information and products described here are compiled from available literature.