For a Safer Home and a Cleaner Environment
Alternative Recipes
For most jobs, baking soda and/or vinegar do the trick. Have large containers of each in your home--they are inexpensive and really work. Baking soda is great for things like making a ceramic sink sparkle, and vinegar is great for cutting soap scum in the bathroom, and for doing windows. When you need to get a particular job done, the following recipes can really help. Happy cleaning!
INGREDIENTS
What you'll need
KITCHEN
All Purpose Cleaner
Dish Soap
Scouring Powder
Scouring Paste
Stain Remover
Drain Cleaner
Garbage Pail Deodorizer
Oven Cleaner
LAUNDRY
Laundry Soap
Fabric Softener
Bleach
Diaper Pail Deodorizer
Stains
BATHROOM
Tub & Tile Cleaner
Mold & Mildew
Plastic Shower Curtain
Antiseptic Soap Spray
Bathroom Deodorizer
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
FLOORS
All Purpose Floor Cleaner
No-Wax Floor Cleaner
Tile Floor Cleaner
Wood Floor Polish
METAL CLEANERS
Brass & Copper Cleaner
Chrome Cleaner
Silver Cleaner
LIVING ROOM
Glass Cleaner
Leather Cleaner
Wood Furniture Polish
Carpet Deodorizer
Carpet & Upholstery Stain Remover |
Why bother with alternatives?
Many commercial cleaners contain substances that are toxic and can burn skin or eyes on contact. Without proper ventilation, their use can also cause injury from harmful fumes. According to the Poison Control Center, in 1997 there were approximately 230,000 overexposures nationwide to household cleaners of which 7 were fatal.
Thoughtless disposal of hazardous products can have harmful impacts on people and the environment. Disposal in trash, or pouring them down the drain, can disrupt wastewater systems, seriously injure waste handlers, and contaminate drinking water.
What we mean by non-toxic.
This page offers non-toxic cleaning recipes for a safer home and cleaner environment. Non-toxic cleaners are cleaners that you can use relatively safely, as compared to other commercial cleaning products (which range from fairly safe to extremely dangerous). This does not mean that you can safely eat non-toxic cleaners or spray them in your eyes. Always label your home-made cleaners and keep them out of the reach of children.
These recipes generally work just as well as commercial cleaners and are less expensive. With the use of essential oils, non-toxic cleaners can smell more pleasant than commercial cleaners.
Many of the recipes on this page are from Clean House, Clean Planet by Karen Logan. For more recipes and information on household cleaners, this is an excellent resources well worth reading. Other books:
Clean and Green , Annie Berthold-Bond. New York: Ceres Press, 1990.
Nontoxic and Natural: A Guide for Consumers; How to Avoid Dangerous Everyday Products and Buy or Make Safe Ones, Debra Lynn Dadd. Los Angeles: Jeremy P. Tarcher, 1984.
Choosing the best alternative retail products.
The best way to tell if a product is hazardous is to read the label. DANGER indicates the product is extremely hazardous: a taste could be fatal. WARNING and CAUTION signal a somewhat lesser hazard. Select products with a CAUTION label over those with WARNING or DANGER. The best selection is one with no hazards.
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Ingredients: What You'll Need
BAKING SODA (sodium bicarbonate) Excellent odor absorbent and mild abrasive. Found in the baking section of the grocery store.
BORAX (brand name is 20 MuleTeam Borax) A strong alkali, eye irritant, and toxic if swallowed. Keep all borax-containing cleaners out of the reach of children. Found in the laundry detergent section of the grocery store. Disinfects, deodorizes and inhibits mold growth.
ESSENTIAL OILS Mostly used for deodorizing or scenting cleaners. Essential oils, such as mint, eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, and tea tree, can be found in health food stores or herbal supply shops. Tea tree oil* is currently in the process of being registered as a disinfectant in this country.
GLYCERIN Found in pharmacies or health food stores. An ingredient in stain- removing recipes because it helps oil mix with water.
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE Use the household concentration (3%) typically found in pharmacies. An antiseptic, useful in kitchens and bathrooms.
LIQUID SOAP Vegetable-based soap sometimes referred to as castile soap. Found in most health food stores. Dr. Bonners is a popular one.
LIQUID DETERGENT Detergents are made from synthetic materials that form less soap scum when conbined with minerals in hard water. Most dishwashing liquids are detergents. Try purchasing vegetable oil-based detergents, which can be less toxic than petroleum-based products. Vegetable oil-based detergents can be found in health food stores.
VINEGAR Removes soap scum, grease, and mineral deposits and acts as a deodorizer. Use only white distilled vinegar for these recipes.
WASHING SODA (sodium carbonate) It is slightly caustic and a great grease cutter. Don't use it on waxed floors (unless you want to remove the wax), fiberglass, or aluminum. Found in the laundry detergent sections, made by Arm & Hammer.
*Note: These ingredients may be toxic in their concentrated form. When used in small amounts in these cleaning recipes, they are non-toxic.
| KITCHEN |
| All Purpose Cleaner |
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 teaspoon borax or washing soda
2 cups hot water
1/4 cup liquid soap
Mix everything but soap in a spray bottle and shake. Add 1/4 cup liquid soap last. Mix gently. Apply and wipe clean. Good for counters, wood work, appliances, etc. |
| Dish Soap |
Use non-phosphate detergent
TIP: use half the recommended amount of detergent in your automatic dishwasher. |
| Scouring Powder |
Baking soda
Pour in shaker and sprinkle in sink or on pans.
Scrub with a rough pad and rinse. |
| Scouring Paste |
2/3 cup baking soda
1/2 cup liquid soap or detergent
Water
2 tablespoons vinegar
Mix everything except vinegar to form a paste. Add vinegar and stir. Keep paste in a tub at the kitchen sink for scouring pots and pans or the sink itself. |
| Stain Remover |
Salt
Juice of lemon or lime
Sprinkle surface with salt and squeeze lemon or lime juice over the area. Let sit and rub out. This can even remove rust if allowed to sit a few hours.
TIP: A wet pumice stone can remove tough stains from porcelain or enamel without scratching. |
| Drain Cleaner |
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup vinegar
Pour baking soda down the drain followed by vinegar. Let it bubble for 15 minutes, then pour down a teakettle full of boiling water. For stubborn clogs, use a mechanical snake. |
| Garbage Pail Deodorizer |
1 teaspoon tea tree oil
1 cup baking soda
Mix and work out all the lumps with a fork. Sprinkle in bottom of pail after liner is removed. Periodically rinse pail with vinegar and water and let dry in the sun. |
| Oven Cleaner |
1 tablespoon liquid soap
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup salt
3/4 cup baking soda
Spray oven surfaces with soapy water. Mix salt and baking soda and sprinkle on wet surface. Spray again so that the mixture is damp and pasty. Let stand overnight. Scrape off with putty knife or wet pumice stone.
TIP: Prevention is the key to a clean oven. Line your oven with foil or aluminum oven liner found in the baking section of grocery stores. |
| LAUNDRY |
| Laundry Soap |
Use non-phosphate detergent.
TIP: Add 1/2 cup borax or washing soda to the wash cycle to boost cleaning for heavily soiled clothes. |
| Fabric Softener |
Vinegar
Add 1-2 cups of vinegar to rinse cycle to deodorize and soften fabrics. |
| Bleach |
Hydrogen peroxide (3%)
Spot clean. Let dry. Repeat if necessary.
--or--
1/2 cup borax
Presoak in mixture of 1/2 cup borax in 2 gallons of hot water. |
| Diaper Pail Deodorizer |
1 cup baking soda
1 teaspoon tea tree oil and/or
other essential oil
Mix and work out all lumps with a fork. Sprinkle in bottom of pail after liner is removed. Periodically rinse pail with vinegar and water and dry in the sun. |
| Laundry Stain Removers |
1/4 cup liquid detergent
1/4 cup glycerin
1 1/2 cups water
Mix and pour into a squirt bottle. Use sparingly and run on stain. Wash. TIP: Do not use hot or warm water on sugary stains. Wash and rinse in cool water only.
--or--
Equal parts vinegar and water
Mix and use to remove tough stains including grass, perspiration, rust, jam, coffee, orange juice, wine, beer, ketchup, barbeque sauce, chili, urine and pet stains. |
| BATHROOM |
| Tub & Tile Cleaner |
1/2 tsp. washing soda
1 tsp. borax
1/2 tsp. vegetable-oil-based liquid soap
3 tablespoons vinegar
2 cups very hot tap water
A few drops of essential oil (optional)
Place all ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well. Rinse thoroughly after using to avoid leaving residue.
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| Mold and Mildew |
Equal parts vinegar and water
Spray and wipe clean. |
| Plastic Shower Curtain |
2 cups water
Laundry detergent
Machine launder along with a few towels. Air dry. To keep clean, spray weekly with a mixture of borax and water. |
| Antiseptic Soap Spray |
3 tablespoons liquid soap
20-30 drops tea tree oil
2 cups water
Mix in spray bottle and apply.
TIP: Hydrogen peroxide (3%) by itself may also be used as a mild antiseptic. |
| Bathroom Deodorizer |
One pound box baking soda
10-20 drops essential oil
Mix oil in baking soda. Place open box under sink or near toilet. Add more essential oil as needed. Replace baking soda every 3 months. Use the old baking soda in cleaning recipes. |
| Toilet Bowl Cleaner |
Tub and Tile Cleaner (above)
1/4 teaspoon tea tree oil (optional)
--or--
1/4 cup borax
Sprinkle on a wet bowl brush, scour and rinse. Clean bowl thoroughly and often.
TIP: Drain water from the toilet bowl for better cleaning. For serious stains or rust, empty water out of bowl and scrub with a wet pumice stone. When wet, the stone will not scratch porcelain. |
| FLOOR CLEANERS |
| All Purpose Floor Cleaner |
2 tablespoons liquid soap or detergent
1 gallon hot water
Mix, mop, and wipe clean. |
| No-Wax Floor Cleaner |
All Purpose Recipe (above)
1/4 cup vinegar
Mix, mop, and wipe clean. |
| Tile Floor Cleaner |
1 cup vinegar
1 gallon hot water
Mix, mop and wipe clean.
TIP: To remove scuff marks, sprinkle with baking soda and spray with equal parts vinegar and water. Wipe clean. |
| Wood Floor Polish |
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup vinegar
10 drops essential oil (optional)
Mix and apply. Wipe clean. |
| METAL CLEANERS |
| Brass & Copper Cleaner |
2/3 cup vinegar
2/3 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
In a glass bowl, mix vinegar and flour. Add salt and stir. Spread on tarnished metal. Wait 1-2 hours. Rinse, dry and polish with a soft cloth and a dab of olive oil. |
| Chrome Cleaner |
1/2 cup baking soda
1-2 tablespoons water
Mix to form a paste. Apply with sponge and rinse well. |
| Silver Cleaner |
3-inch square of aluminum foil
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 cup warm water
Dissolve salt and baking soda in warm water. Submerge the foil and silver in the solution. Wait one hour. Rinse silver and wipe dry with a soft cloth.
--or--
Use a non-gel toothpaste and rub tarnished spots with soft cloth and rinse. |
| LIVING ROOM |
| Glass Cleaner |
1/8 cup vinegar
1 cup water
Mix ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake and apply. Wipe clean.
--or--
2 tablespoons borax or washing soda
Mix ingredients. Apply to surface. Wipe clean. |
| Leather Cleaner |
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup vinegar
Mix in a squirt bottle and shake before each application. Rub with cloth into leather for cleaning and conditioning.
DO NOT USE ON SUEDE. |
| Wood Furniture Polish |
3/4 cup olive or mineral oil
1/4 cup vinegar
1/2 teaspoon lemon oil (optional)
Mix thoroughly in a squirt bottle. Shake well and squirt on furniture or rag and rub into wood. |
| Carpet Deodorizer |
1 pound box baking soda
1 teaspoon essential oil
Mix using a fork to work out lumps. Sprinkle on carpet. Vacuum after 1 hour. |
| Carpet and Upholstery Stain Remover |
1/4 cup liquid detergent
1/4 cup glycerin
1 1/2 cups water
Mix and pour into a squirt bottle. Use sparingly and rub on stain.
--or--
Club soda
Dish detergent
Blot stain with club soda then scrub with a dab of dish detergent.
--or--
Equal parts vinegar and water
Mix and use to remove tough stains including grass, perspiration, rust, jam, coffee, orange juice, wine, beer, ketchup, barbeque sauce, chili, urine and pet stains.
TIP: Never use warm or hot water on stains containing sugar!
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