Natural Cleansers
Safe Alternatives to Commercial Cleaning
Products
Do not copy or distribute any portion of this page without the authors written permission. © 1997
Contributed by Kimberly Weeks
Baking soda uses:freshens, cleans and
deodorizes.Good scouring
powder.Softens water in creasing the cleaning power of
soap.Do not
use on aluminum - it will turn black.
Polishing paste for tarnished silverware,
bathtubs,
stainlesssteel sinks,
toilets, etc., mix equal parts baking soda
and warm water. Cover when not in use.
Liquid cleanermix 2 tablespoons baking
soda with 1 pint
warm waterin a spray bottle.
Use for mopping vinyl floors,
cleaning compact disks or washing windows.
Sponging - sprinkle baking soda onto a damp
sponge and wipe
scuffs, stains or
crayon marks from painted walls, laminated
countertops, tile surfaces,
and appliances like the microwave,
stove top and fridge.Dry witha clean cloth.
Borax (sodium borate):Cleans, freshens,
deodorizes and disinfects.
Softens water, prevents soap film.(when sprinkling powder,
you may want
to wear a painter's mask as this can, in some, irritate the
lungs.)
Soap:Biodegrades safely without polluting
water.Sold as liquid,
flake, powder or in bars.Check ingredients on label and
avoid synthetic
scents, colors and other additives.
[super] Washing soda ([hydrated]sodium
carbonate):Disinfectant.Cuts
grease and removes stains, aids soap and prevents soap film.
White vinegar:cuts grease, freshens.
Cider vinegar, GSE and tea tree oil are
naturally
anti-fungal/anti-bacterial.
Hot water and sunshine also kill germs.
3% food grade peroxide disinfects/freshens
Mildewy shower curtains - you can get mildew
proof cotton curtains.
You can take down the curtain you have periodically and throw it
in the
washer with detergent or borax or baking soda or vinegar.
Let it dry in the sun and rehang.Close the curtain after each shower to
help prevent mildew.Or wash with 1/2 cup soap and 1/2 cup baking
soda.Add 1 cup white vinegar to your rinse cycle.
All purpose cleaner:1 tsp. liquid soap, 1
tsp. borax, squeeze of lemon or
splash of vinegar in 1 qt. of warm water.
or:2 teaspoons borax, 1 teaspoon soap
and 1 quart water in a
spray bottle.Add vinegar or washing soda to cut grease.
Disinfectant:1/4 cup borax in 1/2 gallon
hot water.Used in Ca. hospitals for a year and met all the germicidal
requirements.Or 2 cups hot
wateron 2 cups fresh thyme leaves.
Steep 10 minutes. Strain, cool and put in spray bottle.
Scouring powder:firm bristle brush with
soap combined with either
borax, table salt or baking soda.
Window cleaner/mirrors: white
vinegar and newspaper
:1/4 cup white vinegar,
1
qt. warm water
or: one part white vinegar, three
parts water and a dash of lemon
or orange oil
or:3 tablespoons vinegar
with 1 quart warm water.
or:1 tablespoon vinegar in
water
or:1 part vinegar, 1 part
water(basically any combination of
vinegar and water)
or:rubbing alcohol and
water
or:2 tablespoons lemon
juice in quart of water
or: wipe with a damp cloth or
sponges sprinkled with baking soda.
Rinse with water and dry with soft towel.
For tough jobs first wash glass with warm soapy water.
(note: the first time
you wash windows after using commercial
cleaners you might need to clean them a second time to
get rid of the residue or use rubbing alcohol to
remove residue.)
Mold and Mildew - use the window cleaner spray.
or: 1/4 cup borax in 2 cups water
- borax acts as a mold inhibitor.
(You could wash down the bathroom walls, etc. with borax solution
and
just let it dry.)Heat also helps get rid of mold - it
dries it to
powder so it is more easily cleaned.Once cleaned, sprinkle
area with
borax to prevent more mold.To prevent mold growth,
ventilate well with a small fan.
or: for mildew a mixture of lemon
juice or white vinegar and salt.
Scratches in wood furniture:mix one
teaspoon instant coffee with two
teaspoons water to make a paste.Apply to the abrasion with
a cotton
ball.The more you dab the darker it gets.
Floor and furniture polish: mix 1 part
vegetable and 1 part lemon juice
of vinegar and apply a thin coat.Rub in well with a soft
cloth.On
unwaxed wood use vegetable oil and lemon oil to replenish
shine.Or mix
three parts olive oil and one part vinegar or one part lemon
juice with
two parts olive oil.You can buff with a solution of cool
black tea.
Skid marks on linoleum floors: scrub with
toothpaste.
Floor cleaners (linoleum):1/2 cup vinegar
in 1/2 gallon warm water.
Polish with club soda.
Crayon on wallpaper or vinyl paint:Blow
dry until the wax melts and
wipe with a paper towel or dry sponge.
Gum:Rub with ice - the gum will flake
off.
Oil and grease on driveways:sprinkle with
cat litter, allow the spill
to absorb and shovel or sweep away.
Insect repellant - burning citronella
candles.Plant sweet basil around
patio and house to repel mosquitoes.blend 6 cloves crushed
garlic, one
minced onion and one tablespoon soap in a gallon of hot
water.Let sit a
day or two, strain and apply with spray bottle.
Ants: block cracks & points of entry with
caulk.Try to water a little
more outside - ants come in when they are thirsty or they smell
something
good.Keep clean.Wipe down kitchen counters, floors
and cabinets with
equal parts vinegar and water.Place animal food bowls in
shallow pans
of vinegar or water (you can add a little citrus oil or something
to
deter ants further as long as your animals leave it alone).
Lay a line
of boric acid (can be mixed with sugar) along the ants path or
sprinkle
(or use an old spray bottle) behind areas such as ovens, sinks,
washers
and toilets. Cayenne pepper, chili pepper,
cream of tartar, dried
peppermint, paprika, cinnamon, salt, dried sage, cucumber
peelings and
boric acid allact as a barriers they will not cross.
For heavy
Infestations mix 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 tablespoon borax, and 2
tablespoons water into a thick syrup.Soak cotton balls in
the mixture
and place the cottonballs on low lids or something flat that ants
can
reach.Place these lids in themiddle of ant
infestations.The ants
will eat it and take it back to the nest and the numbers will
diminish
slowly.For carpenter ants, try to locate and remove the
nests.Drill
holes in thew wood they are attacking and fill the holes with
boric acid.
Fleas:Avoid all insecticides except those
with the active ingredient
de-limonine gas which is derived from citrus extracts (dips, flea
collars, and flea prescriptions as they all can cause harm to the
animal).Add brewer's yeast and garlic to the pet's
food.For fleas on
the pet, wash with warm soapy water and use a flea comb to remove
fleas.
Drown the fleas you remove from the animal.After toweling
down your
pet, put 1/2 cup fresh or dried rosemary in 1 quart of boiling
water.
Steep 20 minutes, strain and cool.Spray or sponge evenly
onto pet and
allow to dry.Do not towel dry.Flea comb the pet
regularly and reapply
rosemary solution as needed.For fleas in the home, vacuum
daily for 2
weeks and weekly thereafter. Make sure to
periodically vacuum under
sofa and chair cushions, move furniture and vacuum between
mattress and
box spring. Throw the bag away outside the house or freeze it
after each
use.If the problem continues, steam the rug and
upholstery.As a last
resort, work borax into the carpet with your fingers - use a dust
mask
and plastic gloves for this (under furniture, sofa cushions,
mattress,
etc) and don't vacuum for 24-48 hours minimum.Eucalyptus,
citrus,
pennyroyal, cedarwood, bay, fennel, rue and rosemary
(fresh/dried/oils)
are all repellants and the oils can be used on home made flea
collars (or
you can stuff a fabric tube with fresh/dried ingredients and make
a
collarand sprinkle these in the bedding, etc.).I
spray the oils on
the carpet etc - diluted of course.One suggestion I heard
for fleas in
the yard is to sprinkle cedar shavings on the lawn and mow them
into the
lawn.
Cockroaches:Caulk all cracks along
baseboards, shelves, cupboards,
pipes and sinks.Eliminate moisture.Apply a light
dust of boric acid
or borax in cracks and crevices.Allow 2 months to take
effect.Place
whole bay leaves in several locations around the kitchen.
Or set out
dishes with equal parts of either (1)oatmeal flour
andplaster of Paris
or (2)borax and brown sugar or (3) baking soda and powered
sugar (this
works for silverfish too - the sugar attracts, the baking soda
kills).
Mice and rats:Keep storage areas tidy,
seal holes in wall sand around
pipes.
Moths:avoid mothballs and flakes.
Clean garments thoroughly before
storing them in a sealed closet, bag, trunk or other container -
moths
are attracted to dirt on clothes. Vacuum the closet regularly to
get rid
of moths food sources.Cedar(hangers, lining,
shavings, oil) or
lavender (dried, sachets, oil) act as deterrents.Moth eggs
can be
destroyed by running the items through a hot dryer - be careful
of
shrinkage). For pantry moths keep all grain and
sugared products in
tightly sealed containers or in the refrigerator or freezer.
Spiders:In general leave them alone -
they are good bugs.Remove webs
with a broom.
Termites:Non-chemical termite control
includes:liquid nitrogen, heat
treatments, electrical shocks, biological controls, etc.
Mesh and sand
barriers are being developed to prevent (re)infestations.
If you must
use insecticide, hire a firm that uses beagles to sniff out all
active
nests for spot treatment.
Slugs and Snails:1-2 inches of beer in a
shallow container that has
been set into the soil with the rim at ground level.Or
place copper
sheeting around sensitive plants.
Flys:Make your own flypaper with honey
and yellow paper.
Insecticide for plants:8 oz. sugar, 4-8
oz. 3% peroxide (food grade) in
1 gallon water and use as a spray.
or:1%soap and 99%water as a
spray using a container affixed to
the end of a hose.
or:Use predator insects or
bacillus thuringiensis
or:Mix 1 gallon of water, 2
tablespoons dishsoap, 1/4 cup rubbing
alcohol and
2 tablespoons of tobasco.Wash well if used on something
edible.
Fertilizer:Compost.
Kitchen cleaner:3% food grade peroxide to
wipe counters, sink, cutting
boards and appliances.Disinfects and freshens.
Dishwashing (hand):Liquid or powdered
soap.Any detergent (even
phosphate free or biodegradable is still petroleum based - bad
for
everything including us! To cut grease sprinkle
baking soda on the
item or add a few tablespoons of vinegar to the wash
water. To remove
burnt-on food, cover with water and baking soda.Let
soak, then scrub.Or soak in a lemon juice solution, then
scrub with
baking soda.
Refrigerator:3% food grade peroxide.
Drain cleaner:Plunger.Plumbing
snake (or a straightened coat hanger).
Use a drain strainer to prevent clogs.Flush weekly with
boiling water.
To keep drains open or to clear sluggish drains before the become
clogs,
plug the overflow drain with a wet rag andpour a mixture
of 1/2 cup
salt and 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain periodically .
Flush with
hot water.Or plug the overflow drain and pour 1/4 cup
baking soda down
the drain, follow with 1/2 cup vinegar and close the drain
tightly until
fizzing stops.Flush with one gallon boiling water.
Or pour about 2
cups of 3% peroxide down drain, wait a while then flush with
boiling
water.Or pour 1/4 cup salt down drain and follow with hot
water.
To clean marks out of glass coffee pots:
lots of salt, ice cubes and a
little water.Swirl coffee pot around until marks are gone.
Dishwasher rinse:3% food grade peroxide
added to the dishwasher soap.
Dishwasher soap:equal parts borax and
washing soda.Increase
proportion of soda for hard water.
Scouring pads:Let post and pans soak in a
baking soda solution before
washing.
Oven - Avoid spills and overfilling pans.
Wipe spills that do happen
immediately as soon as the oven is cool enough to.
Line racks with
aluminum foil or placea baking rack on the shelf
below.Clean with
steel wool, washing soda and wateror with 2 tablespoons
liquid soap, 2
teaspoons borax and warm water in a spray bottle.Leave
this solution on
for 20 minutes then scrub with steel wool.Pumice works for
baked on black
spots.Or use a non metallic bristle brush and clean with a
paste of
baking soda, salt and hot water.Or sprinkle with dry
baking soda and
scrub with a damp cloth after 5 minutes.Or to remove baked
on spills,
sprinkle a little water on them and briefly turn on the oven to
steam-loosen them.Then scrub with baking
soda.(Don't let baking soda touch wires or heating
elements.)
Brass:Mix equal parts salt and flour with
a little vinegar and rub.Or
use Worcestershire sauce or pour on Ketchup and let sit. Wipe
dry.
Chrome:Rub with undiluted white
vinegar.Or rub fixtures with wet
newspapers or rub with baby oil and soft cloth.
Copper:Rub with paste oflemon
juice and salt (and flour if desired)
or hot vinegar and salt.(The ketchup idea posted
previously also
works).
Gold:wash in lukewarm soapy water, dry
and polish with a chamois cloth.
Silver and Stainless Steel:Rub with a
paste of baking soda and water.
Or soak for 10-15 minutes in one quart warm water, one teaspoon
baking
soda, one teaspoon salt and a small piece of aluminum foil and
then wipe
with a soft cloth.
Silver:Rub with toothpaste and soft
cloth.Rinse and polish dry.
Stainless steel polish:baking soda or
mineral oil for shining, vinegar
to remove spots.Or rub with olive oil or club soda
Aluminum:dip cloth in lemon juice
to clean then rinse the item with
warm water.Or soak overnight in a mix of vinegar and water
then rub.
Tub, tile and toilet:Scrub with powdered
soap and a scouring powder
made of baking soda, borax or table salt.Use white vinegar
to loosen
lime deposits.
or:1/2 cup borax dissolved
in one gallon hot water.
or:for the toilet -
sprinkle baking soda in bowl, drizzle with
vinegar and scour with brush.Adding vinegar or lemon juice
to sit
overnight can help remove old stains
Air fresheners:find source of odors and
eliminate them.Keep house and
closets clean and well ventilated.Set out 2-4 tablespoons
of vinegar
or baking soda in open dishes.Use plenty of houseplants
which are great
air purifiers.Boil herbs and spices for natural fragrance.
Carpet deodorizers:sprinkle baking soda
or cornstarch on carpet, using
about 1 cup for a medium sized room.Vacuum after 30
minutes.Or mix 2
parts cornmeal with one part borax, sprinkle liberally, leave on
1 hour
and vacuum.Also for upholstery but you may want to test
for
colorfastness first.
Carpet cleaners:Mix: 1/2 cup mild liquid
washing detergent and 1 pint
hot water.
Let cool until it forms a jelly. Whip into a stiff foam with a
beater.
Apply with damp cloth or sponge to small section at a time.
Rub gently.
Wipe with clean cloth.
Allow to dry. For steam cleaning, don't use the
commercial solutions.
Instead use plain water or plain soap or baking soda or a
combination of
the two.
To remove odors (pet or other - carpet or furniture) -
blot the fresh
stain with cloth soaked in cider vinegar.
Laundry:When you first switch from
detergent to soap, wash laundry once
with washing soda alone to get rid of the detergent residue and
avoid
yellowing of fabric.After that add 1/3 cup washing soda to
water before
placing clothes in machine and substitute soap flakes or powder
for
detergent.For more cleaning power add 1/2 cup borax.
Bleach:powdered non-chlorine bleach
only.Can also use peroxide.
Fabric softener:add 1 cup of vinegar or
1/4 cup baking soda during
final rinse.Not necessary on natural fibers like cotton or
wool - they
don't produce static.
Presoak:soak heavily soiled items in warm
water with 1/2 cup washing
soda for 30 minutes.Rub soiled areas with liquid soap.
Spot remover:Mix: 1/4 cup borax and 2
cups cold water.Sponge on and
let dry.
Or soak the fabric in above mixture before washing in soap and
cold
water.
Spray starch: dissolve 2 tablespoons
cornstarch in 1 pint cold water in
a spray bottle.Shake before each use.
Stain remover:Vinegar
Coffee and wine stains:Blot the fresh
spill with a cloth soaked with
club soda. Or rub with moist salt.
Wine and fruit stains:Clean with club
soda or pour on salt or soak in
milk before washing.
Oil stains: Rub white chalk into the stain
before laundering.Or rub
with damp cloth dipped in borax.Or apply a paste of
cornstarch and
water, let dry and brush off.
Ink stains:Wet the stain with cold
water.Apply paste of cream of
tartar and lemon juice.Let sit one hour.Wash as
usual.Or mix 1/3
cup white vinegar and 2/3 cup warm water.Apply a small
amount to the
stain. Blot until no more stain can be removed.
Lipstick stains:Rub with shortening and
wash with washing soda.
Rust stains:Scrub with crumbled aluminum
foil.
Dry cleaning: Many garments labeled
"dry clean only" can be safely
handwashed using mild soap and cold water or sent out for
pressing.If
you must dry clean try to find a dry cleaner who does not use
"perc".
And do so as little as possible no matter what kind of dry
cleaning you
use and air clothes outside before putting in your closet.
There is also
a product (no commercial interest) called "Sweater
Fresh" by McLaughlin
Inc. that is made from plant oils that breaks down soil
bonds.You spray
it on and throw the item in the dryer for 2 minutes.(407)
467-8074.
Recipes for milk paint:
"Pour just enough hot water in instant nonfat dry milk (not
the yellowish
sort) to reconstitute it into a smooth syrup.Add powdered
pigment in
small
amounts until the desired shade is reached.Apply several
coats to raw
wood with a
brush or rag for a flat finish much like that of latex wall
paint.
Put 6 oz of hydrated lime into a bucket and add enough milk to
make it
the
thickness of cream (you will need one half gallon of milk in all)
Stir in
4
oz of linseed oil, a little at a time, and add the rest of the
milk.
Sprinkle 3 oz
finely powdered calcium carbonate over the top and let it sink in
before
stirring it well into the mixture.Add powdered pigment for
color, if
desired.
By Kimberly
breetheasy@earthlink.net
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