Cleaning Products

Product	Hazardous Properties	Alternative Recipe
Drain Cleaner	Causes burns, toxic	1/2 cup of baking soda followed by 1/2 cup of vinegar. Let stand for 15 minutes, then pour a teakettle of boiling water down the drain. Repeat if necessary. Periodic use will keep drains running freely. Seriously clogged drains may require a mechanical snake.
Cleanser	Causes burns, irritant, toxic	Straight vinegar, vinegar and salt, or a paste of baking soda and water are all effective grease cutters. Borax* sprinkled on a sponge or lemon wedge removes spots.
Aluminum Pan Cleaner		After removing as much substance as possible, fill pan with one quart of water and 2 Tbsp. cream of tartar. Bring to a boil and simmer for ten minutes. Rinse well.
Window Cleaner	Toxic	Equal amounts of vinegar and water, mixed in a spray bottle. Apply with a soft cloth and dry with a squeegee or newspaper.  A solution of 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol in 1 quart of water will remove hair spray residue.
Furniture Polish	Flammable, toxic	Olive oil or almond oil for all wood surfaces. Apply with a soft cloth, rub in, let stand for several hours, then polish with a soft, dry cloth to remove any residue.
Wood Floor Cleaner	Flammable, toxic	Castile soap or vegetable oil-based soap (like Murphy's oil soap). Vinegar and water. Follow package directions.
Multi-Purpose Cleaner	Causes burns, oxidizer	1 tsp. peppermint castile soap, 1 tsp. Borax*, and a squeeze of lemon in one quart of water. Vinegar, salt and water for surfaces. Baking soda and water for the bathroom.
Oven Cleaner	Causes burns, toxic	Mix 2 Tbsp. of castile soap and 2 tsp. Borax* in two cups of water. Apply and let sit for 20 minutes. Remove with a copper scrubber or green scouring pad. If the food is really baked on, follow up with a non-chlorine cleanser (Bon Ami) or a baking soda, salt, and water paste for added abrasion.
Bleach Cleaners	Causes burns, oxidizer	Use powdered, not liquid, bleach.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner	Irritant, causes burns, toxic	Sprinkle baking soda in the toilet, then scrub with a toilet bowl brush. For badly stained toilet, make a paste of lemon juice and Borax*, apply, and let sit for 20 minutes before scrubbing. To remove water line marks, pour in 2 cups of white vinegar and let stand overnight.
Tub and Tile Cleaner	Causes burns, oxidizer	Sprinkle baking soda on a sponge or green scouring pad. Add vinegar to remove rings or soap scum.
Shampoo: Upholstery, rug, and carpet	Irritant, causes burns, toxic	Mix 1/4 cup liquid dishwasher detergent with 1 cup of warm water in a large bowl and beat to a dry sudsy foam. Apply and scrub vigorously with a scrub brush. Let dry and vacuum. Dry cornstarch sprinkled on rug and vacuumed.
Silver Cleaner	Causes burns, toxic	Line the bottom of a glass container with a piece of aluminum foil, shiny side up. Add one tablespoon of baking soda, one tablespoon of salt and enough boiling water to cover your silver pieces. Wait a few seconds, then remove, rinse and dry silver. Tarnish is left on foil.
Decorative Metal Cleaner (for brass, copper or pewter)	Causes burns, toxic	Combine 1/2 cup of salt with 1/2 cup white vinegar. Add enough flour to make a paste. Apply and let sit 15 minutes to one hour. Rinse thoroughly  to prevent corrosion. Salt and vinegar should not be used on metals that have a lacquer coating.
Grease Stain Remover	Toxic, flammable	Sprinkle immediately with cornstarch or corn meal. Wait until the grease is absorbed and then brush it away.
Protein Stain Remover (eggs, blood, grass, milk and baby formula)	Toxic, flammable	Soak immediately in a solution of 1 cup Borax* in cold water for at least 30 minutes. Or, try club soda with lemon juice. Wash as usual.
Fruits and Vegetable Stain Remover	Toxic, flammable	Soak immediately in cold water. Wash with detergent, not soap.
Non-washables Stain Remover		Test this method on an inconspicuous area first as it may lighten the fabric color. Sponge with cold water or club soda. Isopropyl alcohol will remove wine stains and some types of ink. A small amount of Borax* on a sponge can be used to remove spots from upholstery.
Disinfectants	Toxic	More information is needed about agents used to eliminate microorganisms. Mix a solution of 1/2 cup Borax* in 1 gallon of water.

Odor Control

Product	Hazardous Properties	Alternative Recipe
Sinks and Garbage Disposals		Pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain with running water. Put orange or lemon halves or peels down the disposal with running water and turn it on.
Air Fresheners		Simmer whole spices such as cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice. Hang an orange or apple studded with cloves in small spaces. Herbal potpourri in bowls.
Cooking Odors		Place white vinegar in a shallow bowl or saturate a paper towel with vanilla extract.
Odor Control		Baking soda in the refrigerator, freezer, cat box, bottom of garbage can and sprinkled on rugs. Matches and candles.

Pesticides & Herbicides

Product	Hazardous Properties	Alternatives
Fungicides	Toxic	Do not over-water plants, keep areas clean and dry.
House Plant Insecticide	Toxic	Spray with solution of 1 Tbsp dish soap in 1/2 gallon water. Used dishwater works also.
Garden Insecticides	Toxic	Insecticidal soap, import predators such as ladybugs and ground beetles.
Rat and Mouse Poison	Toxic	Live traps, remove food supply, chopped bay leaves, cucumber skins.
Ant and Roach Killer	Toxic	For roaches, use traps or baking soda mixed with powdered sugar. For ants, use red chili pepper, Caulk and seal cracks to keep pests out. Wipe out cupboards to remove food sources.
Flies		Use flyswatter and flystrips. Use screens, protective clothing, creams and lotions.
Mosquitoes		Drink nutritional yeast or take in tablet form during summer months. Encourage predators: bats, martins, chimney swifts.
Fleas		Nutritional yeast, vitamin B and garlic tablets. Pennyroyal ointment. Herbal collar. Keep pets clean. Vacuum thoroughly and regularly and change vacuum bags often.
Mealy Bugs or Scales on Plants		Apply rubbing alcohol directly to the colonies with cotton swab.
Fertilizer, no weed killer		Waste Disposal: consume at home, purchase in usable lots sizes, offer to a friend for use.
Fertilizer, with weed killer		Waste Disposal: consume at home, purchase in usable lots sizes, offer to a friend for use.

Paint Products

Product	Hazardous Properties	Alternatives
Enamel or Oil-Based Paints	Flammable, toxic	Latex or water-based paints, avoid aerosol sprays.
Latex or Water-Based Paints	Flammable	Limestone-based whitewash, casein-based paint, avoid aerosol sprays.
Rust Paint	Flammable, toxic	Unknown
Thinners and Turpentine	Flammable, toxic	Use water with water-based paints, avoid unnecessary brush and roller cleanup.
Furniture Strippers	Flammable, toxic	Sandpaper, steel wool, water-based strippers.
Wood Preservative	Toxic, flammable	Unknown: for new construction use recycled plastic "lumber" or rot-resistant wood species.
Stains and Finishes	Flammable, toxic	Natural earth pigment finishes, rubbing oils, water-based finishes, latex paint.

*Notes:

• Never mix products containing ammonia with those containing bleach.
• Test each recipe on a small corner or section of item first.