Household
Hazaradous Waste Alternatives
Though it’s not always feasible
to avoid them altogether, the most earth friendly option is to
use as few hazardous household products as possible. Here is a
list of some easy, inexpensive alternatives.
| All-Purpose
Cleaner:
|
|
| • |
One cup of baking soda in
one gallon of hot water.
|
| • |
In one quart of hot water,
mix 1 teaspoon liquid soap, boric acid (borax), lemon juice,
and vinegar. |
| Deodorizer: |
|
| • |
Baking soda or cornstarch |
| Disinfectant: |
|
| • |
Soap and hot water |
| • |
Citrus-based products |
| Glass Cleaner: |
|
| • |
1 part water, 1 part vinegar |
| Drain Cleaner: |
|
| • |
Prevention: Use strainer
to trap food and hair, don’t pour grease down drain,
and pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain weekly
to melt built up fat in the drain. |
| • |
Baking Soda and Vinegar:
Pour ½ Cup baking soda then ½ Cup white vinegar
down drain and cover. Set for a few minutes, then pour a
kettle of boiling water down the drain. |
| Furniture Polish: |
|
| • |
2 parts olive oil and 1 part
lemon juice. Apply and polish with a soft cloth. |
| Lime and Mineral
Deposit Remover: |
|
| • |
Cover deposits with vinegar-soaked
rags or paper towels. Leave for about 1 hour before cleaning.
This also cleans and shines chrome. |
| • |
For showerheads, submerge
showerhead in ½ cup white vinegar and 1 quart water
and boil for 15 minutes. Do not boil plastic showerheads—just
add hot water instead and soak for an hour. |
| Metal Cleaner/Polish: |
|
| • |
To remove stains from aluminum
cookware, fill cookware with hot water and add 2 Tbsp. Crème
of tartar to each quart of water, bring to a boil, and simmer
for ten minutes. |
| • |
Un-lacquered brass may be
cleaned with a soft cloth dampened with Worcestershire sauce.
Olive oil also retards tarnishing. |
| • |
Tarnish can be cleaned off
gold and silver (not silver plate) with toothpaste and a
soft toothbrush or cloth. |
| • |
Polish chrome with baby oil. |
| Mothballs: |
|
| • |
Cedar blocks or chips |
| Toilet Bowl Cleaners: |
|
| • |
Pumice stone to remove stains |
| • |
Borax and lemon juice paste
will clean rings if you let them set for two hours |
| Pests: |
|
| • |
Ants and roaches may be killed
with boric acid spread sparingly around where they are entering
the house. Do not use this around small children and animals. |
| • |
Caulk around openings |
| • |
Non-toxic traps |
| Laundry: |
|
| • |
Club soda can take out blood
and chocolate stains. |
| • |
Crème of tartar can
remove an ink stain by placing it on the stain, then placing
a few drops of lemon juice over it, then rubbing into the
stain. Rinse with warm water or launder. |
| • |
Use borax instead of bleach |
