SAFER AND CHEAPER
HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS
SAFER AND CHEAPER
HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS
Less-toxic household cleaners can be made at home. You could even make some of the following cleaners in school and sell them to make some money for a club. All you need is a few simple ingredients. You may already have them in your kitchen cupboard! Ingredients for these safer substitutes include:
Baking Soda - White Vinegar - Salt - Borax - Lemon Juice - Herbs & Spices - Liquid Soap - Mineral Oil - Club Soda - Scouring Pads - Pump Spray Bottle - Olive Oil - Hydrogen Peroxide - Soap Flakes
Safer (and cheaper!) household products:
All-purpose cleaner: Mix two tablespoons of Boraxo (or Borax) and one teaspoon of liquid soap in one quart of warm water. Store it in a plastic spray bottle. For extra cleaning power, add two tablespoons of vinegar or baking soda to the liquid.
Drain opener: If a plunger does not work, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of vinegar into the water. Let it stand 15 minutes, then flush it with boiling water.
Fabric softener: Add 1/4 cup of white vinegar to the final rinse--doesn't smell.
Oven cleaner: Sprinkle water on the bottom of a cool oven, add a layer of baking soda, followed by a little more water. Let it sit for 8 hours, then wipe it clean with a rag or paper towels.
Brass polish: Mix equal parts of salt and flour with a little vinegar.
Chrome polish: Rub with pure white vinegar.
Copper polish: Rub with lemon juice and salt.
Silver polish: Soak silver in one quart of boiling water with salt and (yes) a piece of aluminum foil.
Stainless steel polish: Wipe with vinegar first, then baking soda, then a damp rag.
Mildew cleaner: Mix lemon juice and salt, the rub it into the dark spots. Let it sit for 30 to 60 minutes, then scrub with a damp sponge and hot water.
Glass cleaner: Mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with one quart of warm water.
Vinyl floor cleaner: Mix one gallon of water with 1 cup of vinegar or 1/2 cup of Borax or Boraxo. Polish with club soda.
Spot removers: Soak in cold water as soon as possible. Blot coffee or wine stains with club soda. Make a paste of lemon juice and cream of tartar to remove ink stains. Let it dry, then wash as usual. To get oil out of clothes, rub with white chalk before washing. To get blood out, pour 3% hydrogen peroxide on the stain, rinse with cold water, then launder as usual.
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