There are many inexpensive,
easy-to-use natural alternatives which can safely be used in place of
commercial household products. Here is a list of common,
environmentally safe products which can be used alone or in
combination for a wealth of household applications.
Baking Soda - cleans,
deodorizes, softens water, scours.
Soap - unscented soap in
liquid form, flakes, powders or bars is biodegradable and will clean
just about anything. Avoid using soaps which contain petroleum
distillates.
Lemon - one of the
strongest food-acids, effective against most household bacteria.
Borax - (sodium borate)
cleans, deodorizes, disinfects, softens water, cleans wallpaper,
painted walls and floors.
White Vinegar - cuts
grease, removes mildew, odors, some stains and wax build-up.
Washing Soda - or SAL Soda
is sodium carbonate decahydrate, a mineral. Washing soda cuts grease,
removes stains, softens water, cleans wall, tiles, sinks and tubs.
Use care, as washing soda can irritate mucous membranes. Do not use
on aluminum.
Isopropyl Alcohol - is an
excellent disinfectant. (It has been suggested to replace this with
ethanol or 100 proof alcohol in solution with water. There is some
indication that isopropyl alcohol buildup contributes to illness in
the body. See http://drclark.ch/g)
Cornstarch - can be used to
clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets and rugs.
Citrus Solvent - cleans
paint brushes, oil and grease, some stains. (Citrus solvent may cause
skin, lung or eye irritations for people with multiple chemical
sensitivities.)
Formulas
Combinations of the above basic
products can provide less harmful substitutions for many commercial
home products. In most cases, they're also less expensive. Here are
some formulas for safe, alternative home care products: Note: These
formulas and substitutions are offered to help minimize the use of
toxic substances in your home, and reduce the environmental harm
caused by the manufacture, use and disposal of toxins. Results may
vary and cannot be guaranteed to be 100% safe and effective. Before
applying any cleaning formulations, test in small hidden areas if
possible. Always use caution with any new product in your home. Make
sure to keep all home-made formulas well-labeled, and out of the
reach of children.
All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix
1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda (or 2 teaspoons borax) into
1/2 gallon (2 liters) water. Store and keep. Use for removal of water
deposit stains on shower stall panels, bathroom chrome fixtures,
windows, bathroom mirrors, etc. Or use a citrus-based natural
all-purpose cleaner. Another alternative are microfiber cloths which
lift off dirt, grease and dust without the need for cleaning
chemicals, because they are formulated to penetrate and trap dirt.
There are a number of different brands. A good quality cloth can last
for several years.
Air Freshener: Commercial
air fresheners mask smells and coat nasal passages to diminish the
sense of smell.
• Baking soda or vinegar
with lemon juice in small dishes absorbs odors around the house.
• Having houseplants
helps reduce odors in the home.
• Prevent cooking odors
by simmering vinegar (1 tbsp in 1 cup water) on the stove while
cooking. To get such smells as fish and onion off utensils and
cutting boards, wipe them with vinegar and wash in soapy water.
• Keep fresh coffee grounds on
the counter.
• Grind up a slice of lemon in
the garbage disposal.
• Simmer water and cinnamon or
other spices on stove.
• Place bowls of fragrant dried
herbs and flowers in room.
Bathroom mold: Mold in
bathroom tile grout is a common problem and can be a health concern.
Mix one part hydrogen peroxide (3%) with two parts water in a spray
bottle and spray on areas with mold. Wait at least one hour before
rinsing or using shower.
Carpet stains: Mix equal
parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray directly on
stain, let sit for several minutes, and clean with a brush or sponge
using warm soapy water.
For fresh grease spots, sprinkle
corn starch onto spot and wait 15 - 30 minutes before vacuuming.
For a heavy duty carpet cleaner,
mix 1/4 cup each of salt, borax and vinegar. Rub paste into carpet
and leave for a few hours. Vacuum.
Chopping block cleaner: Rub
a slice of lemon across a chopping block to disinfect the surface.
For tougher stains, squeeze some of the lemon juice onto the spot and
let sit for 10 minutes, then wipe.
Coffee and tea stains: Stains
in cups can be removed by applying vinegar to a sponge and wiping. To
clean a teakettle or coffee maker, add 2 cups water and 1/4 cup
vinegar; bring to a boil. Let cool, wipe with a clean cloth and rinse
thoroughly with water.
Deodorize:
• Plastic food storage
containers - soak overnight in warm water and baking soda
• In-sink garbage disposal units
- grind up lemon or orange peel in the unit
• Carpets - sprinkle baking soda
several hours before vacuuming
• Garage, basements - set a
sliced onion on a plate in center of room for 12 - 24 hours
Dishwasher Soap: Mix equal
parts of borax and washing soda, but increase the washing soda if
your water is hard.
If you want to use a commercial
dish washing soap, try CitraDish or Nellie's All-Natural dishwasher
powder, which contain no bleach or phosphates.
Dish washing Soap:A
detergent substitution is to use liquid soap. Add 2 or 3 tablespoons
of vinegar to the warm, soapy water for tough jobs. Or use a
citrus-based natural dish soap.
Disinfectant: Mix 2
teaspoons borax, 4 tablespoons vinegar and 3 cups hot water. For
stronger cleaning power add 1/4 teaspoon liquid Castile soap. Wipe on
with dampened cloth or use non-aerosol spray bottle. (This is not an
antibacterial formula. The average kitchen or bathroom does not
require antibacterial cleaners.)
To disinfect kitchen sponges, put
them in the dishwasher when running a load.
Drain Cleaner: For light
drain cleaning, mix 1/2 cup salt in 4 liters water, heat (but not to
a boil) and pour down the drain. For stronger cleaning, pour about
1/2 cup baking soda down the drain, then 1/2 cup vinegar. The
resulting chemical reaction can break fatty acids down into soap and
glycerin, allowing the clog to wash down the drain. After 15 minutes,
pour in boiling water to clear residue. Caution: only use this method
with metal plumbing. Plastic pipes can melt if excess boiling water
is used. Also, do not use this method after trying a commercial drain
opener--the vinegar can react with the drain opener to create
dangerous fumes.
A commercial alternative is to use
CitraDrain Build-Up Remover which uses natural enzymes to safely
eliminate grease, oil, soap residue and more to keep pipes flowing
properly.
Fabric softener: To reduce
static cling, dampen your hands, then shake out your clothes as you
remove them from the drier. Line-drying clothing is another
alternative.
Floor Cleaner and Polish:
Vinyl and linoleum: mix 1
cup vinegar and a few drops of baby oil in 1 gallon warm water. For
tough jobs, add 1/4 cup borax. Use sparingly on linoleum.
wood: apply a thin coat of
1:1 vegetable oil and vinegar and rub in well.
painted wood: mix 1
teaspoon washing soda into 1 gallon (4L) hot water.
brick and stone tiles: mix
1 cup white vinegar in 1 gallon (4L) water; rinse with clear water.
Most floor surfaces can be
easily cleaned using a solution of vinegar and water. For
damp-mopping wood floors: mix equal amounts of white distilled
vinegar and water. Add 15 drops of pure peppermint oil; shake to mix.
Furniture Polish: For
varnished wood, add a few drops of lemon oil into a 1/2 cup warm
water. Mix well and spray onto a soft cotton cloth. Cloth should only
be slightly damp. Wipe furniture with the cloth, and finish by wiping
once more using a dry soft cotton cloth. Or use CitraWood, a natural
wood polish.
For unvarnished wood, mix two
tsps each of olive oil and lemon juice and apply a small amount to a
soft cotton cloth. Wring the cloth to spread the mixture further into
the material and apply to the furniture using wide strokes. This
helps distribute the oil evenly.
Laundry Detergent: Mix 1
cup Ivory soap (or Fels Naptha soap), 1/2 cup washing soda and 1/2
cup borax. Use 1 tbsp for light loads; 2 tbsp for heavy loads.
Lime Deposits: You can
reduce lime deposits in your teakettle by putting in 1/2 cup (125ml)
white vinegar and 2 cups water, and gently boiling for a few minutes.
Rinse well with fresh water while kettle is still warm.
To remove lime scale on
bathroom fixtures, squeeze lemon juice onto affected areas and let
sit for several minutes before wiping clean with a wet cloth.
Marks on walls and painted
surfaces: Many ink spots, pencil, crayon or marker spots can be
cleaned from painted surfaces using baking soda applied to a damp
sponge. Rub gently, then wipe and rinse. A Hair dryer can remove
crayon from walls.
Metal Cleaners and Polishes:
Aluminum: using a soft
cloth, clean with a solution of cream of tartar and water.
B
Brass or bronze: polish
with a soft cloth dipped in lemon and baking-soda solution, or
vinegar and salt solution. Another method is to apply a dab of
ketchup on a soft cloth and rub over tarnished spots.
Chrome: polish with baby
oil, vinegar, or aluminum foil shiny side out.
Copper: soak a cotton rag
in a pot of boiling water with 1 tablespoon salt and 1 cup white
vinegar. Apply to copper while hot; let cool, then wipe clean. For
tougher jobs, sprinkle baking soda or lemon juice on a soft cloth,
then wipe. For copper cookware, sprinkle a lemon wedge with salt,
then scrub., A simpler method is to apply a dab of ketchup on a soft
cloth and rub over tarnished spots.
Gold: clean with
toothpaste, or a paste of salt, vinegar, and flour.
silver: line a pan with
aluminum foil and fill with water; add a teaspoon each of baking soda
and salt. Bring to a boil and immerse silver. Polish with soft cloth.
Stainless steel: clean with
a cloth dampened with undiluted white vinegar, or olive oil. For
stainless cookware, mix 4 tbs baking soda in 1 qt water, and apply
using a soft cloth. Wipe dry using a clean cloth. For stainless steel
sinks, pour some club soda on an absorbent cloth to clean, then wipe
dry using a clean cloth.
Mold and Mildew: Use white
vinegar or lemon juice full strength. Apply with a sponge or scrubby.
Mothballs: The common
mothball is made of paradichlorobenzene, which is harmful to liver
and kidneys. Cedar chips in a cheesecloth square, or cedar oil in an
absorbent cloth will repel moths. The cedar should be 'aromatic
cedar', also referred to as juniper in some areas. Cedar chips are
available at many craft supply stores, or make your own using a plane
and a block of cedar from the lumberyard.
Homemade moth-repelling sachets
can also be made with lavender, rosemary, vetiver and rose petals.
Dried lemon peels are also a natural moth deterrent - simply toss
into clothes chest, or tie in cheesecloth and hang in the closet. Bay
leaves can help repel pantry moths.
Oil and Grease Spots: For
small spills on the garage floor, add baking soda and scrub with wet
brush. Or use cat litter.
Oven Cleaner: Moisten oven
surfaces with sponge and water. Use 3/4cup baking soda, 1/4cup salt
and 1/4cup water to make a thick paste, and spread throughout oven
interior. (avoid bare metal and any openings) Let sit overnight.
Remove with spatula and wipe clean. Rub gently with fine steel wool
for tough spots.
Rust Remover: Sprinkle a
little salt on the rust, squeeze a lime over the salt until it is
well soaked. Leave the mixture on for 2 - 3 hours. Use leftover rind
to scrub residue.
Scouring Powder: For top of
stove, refrigerator and other such surfaces that should not be
scratched, use baking soda. Apply baking soda directly with a damp
sponge.
Shoe Polish: Olive oil with
a few drops of lemon juice can be applied to shoes with a thick
cotton or terry rag. Leave for a few minutes; wipe and buff with a
clean, dry rag.
Stickers on walls: To
remove, sponge vinegar over them several times, and wait 15 minutes,
then rub off the stickers. This also works for price tags (stickers)
on tools, etc.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner: Mix
1/4 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar, pour into basin and let it set
for a few minutes. Scrub with brush and rinse. A mixture of borax (2
parts) and lemon juice (one part) will also work.
Tub and Tile Cleaner: For
simple cleaning, rub in baking soda with a damp sponge and rinse with
fresh water. For tougher jobs, wipe surfaces with vinegar first and
follow with baking soda as a scouring powder. (Vinegar can break down
tile grout, so use sparingly.)
Wallpaper Remover: Mix
equal parts of white vinegar and hot water, apply with sponge over
the old wallpaper to soften the adhesive. Peel of the lifting paper
and reapply the mixture to stubborn patches. Open the room windows or
use a fan to dissipate the pungent vinegar smell.
Water Rings on Wood: Water
rings on a wooden table or counter are the result of moisture that is
trapped under the topcoat, but not the finish. Try applying
toothpaste or mayonnaise to a damp cloth and rub into the ring. Be
careful not to run too vigorously so as not to mar the finish. Once
the ring is removed, buff the entire wood surface.
Window Cleaner: Mix 2
teaspoons of white vinegar with 1 liter (qt) warm water. Use crumpled
newspaper or cotton cloth to clean. Only use the black and white
newspapers, not the colored ones. Don't clean windows if the sun is
on them, or if they are warm, or streaks will show on drying. Be sure
to follow the recipe, because using too strong a solution of vinegar
will etch the glass and eventually cloud it. The All-Purpose Cleaner
(above) also works well on windows.