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.