Alternatives to Household Chemicals

Carpet and upholstery cleaner:
Clean stains immediately with club soda. Sprinkle cornstarch on carpet and vacuum. For red wine stains on carpet, gently blot the stain with a rag and apply a solution of 1 cup hydrogen peroxide with ½ teaspoon of dish soap. Blot solution with another clean rag and follow with a wet vacuum.

Drain cleaner:
Use a plunger or mechanical snake. Pour ½ cup washing soda into drain and then two cups of boiling water. Flush drain weekly with boiling water.

Furniture polish:
Dip cloth in olive, soybean, or raw linseed oil; or mix two tablespoons of olive oil with tablespoon of vinegar and slowly stir into one quart of water. Or mix two parts vegetable oil and one-part lemon juice and apply and rub clean.

General purpose cleaner:
Vinegar or lemon juice diluted with water; or three tablespoons of washing soda (sodium carbonate or soda ash) in one quart of water. (Sodium carbonate can be a skin or eye irritant and can irritate the lungs if inhaled.)

Glass cleaner:
Mix equal parts of water and vinegar in a spray bottle, spray surface and wipe with cloth towel.

Laundry pre-soak:
Make a paste of baking soda and water and apply to dirty spots.

Metal cleanser:
Baking soda (good for chrome) or make a paste of salt, vinegar, and flour as in ½ cup salt, vinegar to dissolve and flour to form a paste.

Mildew remover:
Dissolve ½ cup Borax and 1.2 cup vinegar in warm water.

Multi-purpose cleaner:
Combine 1 tsp washing soda, 2 tsp Borax, 2 tsp liquid Castile soap, 5-10 drops your choice of essential oil into 1-quart hot water.

Oven cleaner:
Wipe spills quickly; wash with baking soda using a scrubber; or sprinkle with baking soda or salt, let sit, and then rinse.

Porcelain cleaner:
Make a paste of baking soda and water, apply to the stain, let it set and then rub clean and rinse.

Rug cleaner:
Sprinkle baking soda on the rug and then vacuum. Club soda can be used to treat stains.

Scouring powder:
Baking soda, salt, or Borax

Shower head cleaner:
Place shower head in ½ cup of vinegar and 1 quart of water and boil for five minutes to remove stains and lime buildup.

Silver cleaner:
Soak silver in a quart of warm water containing 1 Tsp baking soda, 1 Tsp salt and a piece of aluminum foil.

Spot remover:
Clean spill quickly with club soda or use baking soda paste.

Toilet bowl cleaner:
Flat cola, Borax or baking soda; Borax may cause skin irritation.

More resources:

Alternatives do not exist for all items, but there are some great websites for those interested in reducing the amount of hazardous material in and around their homes. One such source is the Environmental Working Group’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning: https://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners  They also offer alternatives to help reduce the amount of hazardous waste generated through the use of personal care products: https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

Air freshener:
Use flowers, herbs, or potpourri; place vinegar or vanilla in an open dish; or cloves and cinnamon in boiling water; or leave an open box of baking soda. Source can also be cleaned with baking soda. Leave sliced citrus fruit out for fragrance.

Degreasers:
In 2 cups of warm water, add 2 tbsp baking soda, 2 tsp of Castile soap and 20 drops lemon essential oil.

Glues/adhesives:
Water based glue can be dried and disposed.

Oil-based paint:
Latex paint (can be cleaned with soap and water)

Paint stripper:
Sand or scrape paint.

There are few alternatives to the materials used in automobiles such as gasoline, oil and antifreeze. Purchase only what you need and minimize the amounts needing storage.

Aerosols:
Use pump or liquid application. Buying only what you need.

Ant Control:
Mix 2 Tabs boric acid, 2 tbsp. sugar and 2 cup water. Soak paper towels and place on dishes for ants. Pour a line of cream of tartar where ants enter. Put a light coating of petroleum jelly around base of pet’s feeding dish to keep ants out.

Bug sprays/insecticides:
Handpick or trap insects; keep household clean and food covered; caulk or seal entryways.

Disinfectants:
Borax or pine soap.

Flea killer:
Use flea comb, vacuum often and wash pet bedding. Pine needles, fennel, rue, or rosemary can be spread on a pet’s bed to repel fleas and ticks.

Insect spray for plants:
Blend 6 cloves crushed garlic, 1 minced onion, and 1 tbsp. dried hot pepper and 1 tbsp. pure soap in 1 gallon of hot water. Let sit 1-2 days, strain and apply with spray bottle.

Insect repellant:
Avoid wearing scented products outdoors. Lemon eucalyptus is an effective natural oil to use as a mosquito repellent, with sharp-scented compounds proven to drive mosquitoes away.

Mothballs:
Keep garments clean; wrap in linen or seal in paper packages or cardboard boxes; use cedar chips or dried lavender, wrapped in cloth bags or towels with clothing; kill eggs by running dry garment through a war dryer.

Weed killer:
Adjust lawn pH, mow high, water sufficiently to maintain grass and prevent weeds.

Wood preservatives:
Use wood resistant to rot such as cedar, locust or oak and protect from dampness and insects

Charcoal Fluid:
Use a chimney starter, which is basically a can with a handle. You place the charcoal on top and paper in the bottom, light the paper and that will start the charcoal without the need for fluid.

Hobby Supplies:
Use water-based paints, adhesives and nontoxic glues. For children, use crayons and water-based paints.