Safe Chemical Alternatives
Friendly Reminder: Wear appropriate personal protective equipment when working with chemicals or cleaners.
Minimum protection for cleaning tasks is gloves and eye protection.
| For This... | Try This... |
|---|---|
| Air Freshener | Use herbal bouquets, pure vanilla on a cotton ball, or simmer cinnamon and cloves |
| Ants (in house) | Red chili powder at entrance |
| Car Battery Corrosion Removal | Baking soda and water |
| Chrome polish | Apple cider vinegar |
| Copper cleaner | Rub with a lemon, then rinse and dry |
| Dish detergent | 1/2 Cup of baking soda + usual amount of liquid detergent |
| Drain Cleaner | Plunger followed by 1/2 cup baking soda + 1/2 cup vinegar; wait a few minutes, then follow with 2 quarts boiling water. Repeat if needed. If this fails, rent or buy a drain snake |
| Fertilizer | Compost yard clippings or use organic fertilizers |
| Fleas (on pet) | Gradually add brewers yeast to pet's diet (consult your veterinarian first) |
| Flies | Well watered bowl of basil |
| Ink Spot Remover | Cold water + 1 tablespoon cream of tartar + 1 tablespoon lemon juice |
| Insects on plants | Soapy water on leaves, then rinse |
| Linoleum cleaner | 1 Cup white vinegar plus 2 gallons water |
| Linoleum floor polish | Skim milk (it doesn't smell, really!) |
| Mildew remover | Equal parts of vinegar and salt. Scrub hard. |
| Mosquito repellant | Burn citronella candles; citronella oil |
| Moth repellant | Cedar chips enclosed in cotton sachets |
| Oil stain remover | White chalk rubbed into stain before laundering |
| Oven cleaner | 2 Tablespoons liquid soap + 2 teaspoons borax + warm water. As a preventive measure, cover bottom with a sheet of aluminum foil. Clean up spills promptly. |
| Perspiration stain remover | White vinegar + water |
| Pet odor removal | Cider vinegar |
| Roach repellant | Chopped bay leaves and cucumber skins |
| Rug/carpet cleaner | Baking soda |
| Rusty bolt/nut removal | Carbonated beverage |
| Silver polish | 1 Quart warm water + 1 tablespoon baking soda + piece of aluminum foil + 1 tablespoon salt |
| Slugs and snails | Onion and marigold plants. |
| Stain removal | Club soda, lemon juice, or salt |
| Toilet bowl cleaner | Baking soda and castile soap |
| Tub and tile cleaner | 1/4 Cup baking soda + 1/2 cup white vinegar + warm water |
| Water softener | 1/4 Cup vinegar |
| Window cleaner | 2 Tablespoons vinegar in 1 quart warm water |