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Cleaning products are the among the few
household products regulated by the Consumer
Product Safety Commission because they can
be harmful to human health. Here are some
non-toxic alternatives you might want to
consider trying:
* For ants, sprinkle red chili powder at
entry point.
* To remove perspiration stains, white
vinegar and water works well on fresh stains
on cotton.
* For synthetic blends or old stains on
natural materials, pre-soak the stain in
ammonia before applying vinegar and water.
* Polish chrome or remove pet odor with
cider vinegar.
* For automatic dishwashing detergent, try ½
cup baking soda with liquid dishwashing
detergent.
* Use a well-watered bowl of basil to kill
flies.
* Repel moths with cedar chips in cotton
sachets.
* Remove oil stains by rubbing white chalk
into the stain before laundering.
* Get rid of mold and mildew with bleach and
scrub hard. Note that you should use bleach
in a well-ventilated area and never mix it
with anything other than water. Equal parts
of vinegar and salt with a little elbow
grease will remove mold and mildew stains
but will not eliminate the problem.
* Clean your drains by pouring ½ cup each of
baking soda and vinegar into drain. Wait two
minutes, add two quarts boiling water, and
repeat.
* Throw away your air freshener and try
herbal bouquets, pure vanilla on a cotton
ball, or simmering cinnamon and cloves
instead.
* Fertilize with composted yard clippings
and organic waste from the kitchen (not
including meat or grease).
* Clean your oven by washing it frequently
with a mixture of warm water and baking soda
or warm water with two tablespoons each of
liquid soap and borax added. Soften
burned-on spills by placing a small pan of
ammonia in the oven overnight. Sprinkle salt
onto fresh grease spills and then wipe
clean.
* Scrub linoleum floors with one cup of
white vinegar and two gallons of water;
polish them with club soda.
* Wash windows and mirrors with a mixture of
1/4 cup ammonia and one quart water.
* Clean toilets using baking soda, a mild
detergent and a toilet brush.
For more ideas on how to make your home a
healthier and safer environment, visit
www.worldwise.com and click on the
Sustainable Living icon. |
