All Purpose Cleaner
Vinegar or lemon juice, full strength, for tougher stains, or diluted with water
for regular cleaning.
You can also try mixing 3 tablespoons baking soda with one quart warm water.
Aerosol Sprays
Use pump sprays instead of aerosol whenever possible.
Glass / Window Cleaner
Mix 1/8 cup vinegar or rubbing alcohol in one cup warm water. Wipe with
newspaper.
Scouring Cleanser
Use baking soda as a paste or diluted with water (DO NOT USE ON ALUMINUM);
or salt or Borax sprinkled on a sponge.
Drain Cleaner
Pour 2 to 4 quarts of boiling water down the drain weekly, or pour 1/2 cup
baking soda and 1/2 cup warm vinegar down the drain and after 15 minutes flush
with boiling water. For clogged drains, use a plunger or a snake.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Sprinkle baking soda into toilet bowl. Drizzle white vinegar in and scour with a brush.
Oven Cleaner
Mix 3 tablespoons of baking soda with one quart warm water and scrub.
Silver Polish
Rub with baking soda paste or soak silver in a porcelain pan for 5 minutes
with a piece of aluminum foil and enough water to cover. Add 1 teaspoon of salt
and 1 teaspoon of baking soda per quart of water.
Copper Cleaner
Pour vinegar and salt over surface and rub.
Ant Control
Sprinkle cream of tartar across ant's path. They won't cross it.
Insecticide
Mix 2 to 4 tablespoons liquid soap in 1 gallon of water. Spray on foliage.
Test first as soap may damage some plant foliage.
Latex Paint
To dispose of small amounts of leftover LATEX paint, leave the container in
a well-ventilated area until the paint is completely dried out. Then deposit
entire container in the trash, lid off.
A Few More Ideas
Before purchasing a product, read the label carefully to make sure it will
do what you want it to do.
- Buy what you need. Use it up.
- Except for pesticides, give leftovers to a friend or neighbor who can use
them up. Be sure to keep the product in its original container, with the original
label and any precautionary leaflets.