The best way to avoid hazardous household
products is to use alternative materials. For products that have no viable
alternatives, follow these guidelines for easier storage and disposal:
Choose a problem or product and try an alternative
to a costly, hazardous chemical...
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IN THE GARAGE
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FOR THIS:
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TRY THIS:
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| Car Battery
Corrosion |
- Baking soda and water |
| Grease Fires |
- Douse with baking soda. |
Π|
| Hand
Cleaner |
- Rub hands with baby oil or vegetable oil, then wash
with soap and water. |
| Rusty Bolt/Nut
Removal |
- Pour on a carbonated beverage. |
| Chrome
Polish |
- Apple cider vinegar. Baby oil to polish. |
| Stainless Steel Polish |
- Mineral oil. |
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[ In the Garage ] [
Around the House ] [ From the
Workbench ] [ For Pests,
Yard & Garden ] [ Top ]
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AROUND THE HOUSE
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FOR THIS:
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TRY THIS:
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| Air Freshener |
- Place saucers of vinegar around the house to absorb
odors.
- Light a candle or match.
- Simmer cinnamon and cloves on stove.
- Open windows.
- Use natural potpourri, dried flowers or herbs. |
| All Purpose
Cleaner |
- 1 teaspoon borax in 1 quart of warm water.
- 1 tablespoon of ammonia, 1 tablespoon liquid detergent and 2 cups
of water in a spray bottle. |
| Aluminum Cleaner |
- 2 tablespoons cream of tartar mixed with 1 quart
of water.
- To clean aluminum cookware, combine the ingredients in the cookware,
bring solution to boil and simmer 10 minutes. Wash and dry as usual. |
BACK TO:
[ In the Garage ] [
Around the House ] [ From the
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Yard & Garden ] [ Top ]
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FOR THIS:
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TRY THIS:
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| Bleach |
Borax. |
| Brass Cleaner |
- Use Worcestershire sauce.
- Make a paste of lemon juice and baking soda. Rub onto brass with
soft cloth. Rinse with water. |
| Chrome
Polish |
- Apple cider vinegar, baby oil to polish. |
| Coffee Cup
Stain Remover |
- Moist salt.
- Vinegar. |
| Decal
Remover |
- Soak in white vinegar. |
| Dish Detergent-Grease Cutting |
- 1/2 cup baking soda and usual amount of liquid detergent. |
BACK TO:
[ In the Garage ] [
Around the House ] [ From the
Workbench ] [ For Pests,
Yard & Garden ] [ Top ]
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FOR THIS:
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TRY THIS:
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| Drain Cleaner |
- To keep drains running smoothly, regularly pour
1/2 cup baking soda down drain, then pour in 1/2 cup vinegar. This
mixture will foam. After 15 minutes, flush with boiling or very hot
water.
- For a clogged drain, use plunger then baking soda and vinegar instructions
above.
- Do not use either of these methods if you have used a comercial
drain opener which may still be present in the drain.
- For bad clogs, use a plumber's snake. |
| Floor Cleaner |
- 1 cup vinegar and 2 gallons of water |
| Furniture
Polish |
- 1 tablespoon lemon oil in 1 pint of mineral oil. |
| Garbage Disposal
Deodorizer |
- Run used lemons through disposer.
- Sprinkle baking soda down disposer. |
| Grease Fires |
- Douse with baking soda. |
BACK TO:
[ In the Garage ] [
Around the House ] [ From the
Workbench ] [ For Pests,
Yard & Garden ] [ Top ]
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FOR THIS:
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TRY THIS:
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| Grease Removal-Laundry |
- Rub with borax on a damp cloth. |
| Ink Spot
Removal |
- Cold water with 1 tablespoon cream of tartar and
1 tablespoon of lemon juice.
- Open top of pump hairspray and dab onto ink with clean white cloth.
Rinse with water and repeat until stain is gone. |
| Linoleum Cleaner |
- 1 cup white vinegar and 2 gallons of water. |
| Mildew
Remover |
- Equal parts of vinegar and salt. |
| OIl Stain Remover-Laundry |
- Rub white chalk into stain before laundering. |
| Oven Cleaner |
- Sprinkle water on oven surface. Apply baking soda.
Rub using very fine steel wool. Wipe off scum with damp sponge. Rinse
well and dry.
- While oven is still warm, sprinkle water on the spill, then sprinkle
salt on it. when the oven cools down, scrape the spill away and wash
the area clean.
- Heat oven to 150 degrees. Turn off the oven, place a bowl of ammonia
in the oven. Let this set overnight.
- Wash with solution of 2 tablespoons liquid soap, 2 teaspoons of
borax and warm water. |
BACK TO:
[ In the Garage ] [
Around the House ] [ From the
Workbench ] [ For Pests,
Yard & Garden ] [ Top ]
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FOR THIS:
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TRY THIS:
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| Perspiration Spot
Remover |
- Baking soda. |
| Pet Odors |
- Wash area with apple cider vinegar or put apple
cider vinegar into washer with soiled item.
- Cat litter box odor - add layer of baking soda before adding litter. |
| Porcelain
Cleaner |
- Scrub stain with baking soda. |
| Refrigerator
Deodorizer |
- Put open box of baking soda in refrigerator to absorb
odors. |
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| Rug/Carpet
Cleaner |
- To deodorize rugs, sprinkle baking soda on dry carpet.
Vacuum after 30 minutes.
- Treat spots with club soda and blot up. |
| Rust
Remover-Laundry |
- Lemon juice, salt and sunlight. |
| Scorch Mark Removal |
- Rub grated onion over scorch. |
BACK TO:
[ In the Garage ] [
Around the House ] [ From the
Workbench ] [ For Pests,
Yard & Garden ] [ Top ]
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FOR THIS:
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TRY THIS:
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| Scouring Powder |
- Use baking soda instead. |
| Shaving Cream |
- Use a brush and shaving soap. |
| Shoe Polish |
- Try a banana peel. |
| Silver Cleaner |
- Soak silver for 10-15 minutes in 1 quart warm water,
1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt and a small piece of aluminum
foil. Wipe with soft cloth. |
| Spot
Remover |
- Club soda, lemon juice or salt. |
| Stainless Steel Polish |
- Mineral oil. |
BACK TO:
[ In the Garage ] [
Around the House ] [ From the
Workbench ] [ For Pests,
Yard & Garden ] [ Top ]
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FOR THIS:
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TRY THIS:
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| Toilet
Bowl Cleaner |
- Use a pumice bar to scour the toilet bowl ring.
- Mix lemon juice and borax into a paste about the consistency of
toothpaste. Flush toilet to wet sides. Rub paste on the toilet bowl
ring. Let sit for two hours and then scrub throroughly.
- Sprinkle baking soda into the toilet bowl. Add vinegar. Scour with
toilet brush.
Pour 1/2 cup chlorine bleach into toilet bowl. Let stand for 1/2 hour.
Scrub with brush. Flush. |
| Tub
& Tile Cleaner |
- Baking soda can be used as a mild abrasive for most
household needs. - Add 1/4 cup vinegar to each quart of water for
cleaning and disinfecting. Add salt or baking soda to intensify the
solution effects. |
| Upholstery Spot Remover |
- Club soda. |
BACK TO:
[ In the Garage ] [
Around the House ] [ From the
Workbench ] [ For Pests,
Yard & Garden ] [ Top ]
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FOR THIS:
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TRY THIS:
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| Water
Mark Remover |
- Rub toothpaste onto ring and wipe off. |
| Wine Stain
Remover |
- Salt or club soda. |
| Window Cleaner |
- Plain water.
- 1/2 cup white vinegar to 1 gallon of water.
- 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1 pint rubbing alcohol, 1 teaspoon dishwashing
liquid, 1 gallon of water.
- 1/2 cup ammonia, 1 pint rubbing alcohol, 1 teaspoon dishwashing
liquid, 1 gallon of water. |
BACK TO:
[ In the Garage ] [
Around the House ] [ From the
Workbench ] [ For Pests,
Yard & Garden ] [ Top ]
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FROM THE WORKBENCH
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FOR THIS:
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TRY THIS:
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| Handcleaner |
- Rub hands with baby oil or vegetable oil then wash
with soap and water. |
| Oil-Based
Paints |
- Use water-based products. |
| Paintbrush
Softener |
- Soak brush in hot vinegar. |
| Rusty Bolt/Nut Removal |
- Pour on carbonated beverage. |
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[ In the Garage ] [
Around the House ] [ From the
Workbench ] [ For Pests,
Yard & Garden ] [ Top ]
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FOR PESTS, YARD & GARDEN
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FOR THIS:
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TRY THIS:
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| Ant Control |
- Sprinkle red chili powder or dried peppermint where
ants enter.
- Wash counters, floors, etc. with a 50/50 mix of water and white
vinegar. |
| Garden Fertilizer |
- Compost kitchen scraps and yard waste. |
| Flea Control |
- Use flea comb on pets.
- Use herbal flea powders on pets.
- Add small amounts of brewer's yeast to your pet's food.
- Feed your dog garlic.
- Keep house thoroughly vacuumed and dispose of vacuum cleaner bag
in plastic garbage bag.
- Place a small light above a pan of soapy water or beer. Fleas will
jump at the light, land in the liquid and drown.
- Place eucalyptus leaves near animal's bedding. |
BACK TO:
[ In the Garage ] [
Around the House ] [ From the
Workbench ] [ For Pests,
Yard & Garden ] [ Top ]
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FOR THIS:
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TRY THIS:
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| Flies |
- Beat an egg yolk with 1 tablespoon of molasses and
finely ground black pepper and set out mixture in shallow plates.
- Buy sticky fly strips or fly paper.
- Grow basil in pots where flies abound. |
| Insects on Plants |
- Wash leaves with soapy water then rinse thoroughly.
- For aphids, use above methods, plus plant garlic, chives, petunias
or nasturtiums. |
| Mice |
- Use a humane mouse trap and let animal go in a park
or wooded area.
- Place all foodstuffs in plastic airtight containers (not bags).
- Get a cat. |
| Mosquito Repellant |
- Burn citronella candles.
- Plant sweet basil around patio and house.
- Plant "mosquito plants" around patio.
- Eliminate standing water where mosquitos breed. |
BACK TO:
[ In the Garage ] [
Around the House ] [ From the
Workbench ] [ For Pests,
Yard & Garden ] [ Top ]
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FOR THIS:
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TRY THIS:
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| Moths |
- Place cedar chips/blocks or lavender/rosemary/mint
sachets among clothes.
- Store clean clothes in airtight containers.
- Eggs can be killed by running items through the dryer. |
| Nematode Repellant |
Plant marigolds. |
| Roaches |
- Mix equal parts of baking soda and powdered sugar
and place where roaches congregate.
- Chop bay leaves and cucumber skins and leave where roaches are. |
| Slug & Snail Repellant |
- Place copper sheeting barriers around plants.
- Thickly layer diatomaceous earth (available at pool supply stores)
around base of plants.
- Place stale beer in saucers in garden at night.
- Plant onions and marigolds. |
BACK TO:
[ In the Garage ] [
Around the House ] [ From the
Workbench ] [ For Pests,
Yard & Garden ] [ Top ]
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