Non-toxic Cleaners

All Purpose Cleaner

• 1 quart warm water

• 1 teaspoon liquid soap (not antibacterial soap)

• 1 teaspoon borax

• 1/4 cup undiluted white vinegar

Mix ingredients and store in a spray bottle.

Use for cleaning countertops, floors, walls, carpets and upholstery.

Scouring Cleansers

1. Sprinkle baking soda, or mix baking soda with water and scrub with a wet sponge. 

2. If the baking soda leaves a residue, rinse with cold water and vinegar.

3. Dry with a cloth.

Also, non-chlorinated scouring powders are safe to use eg. Bon Ami

Glass Cleaner

• 1 quart warm water

• 1/4 cup white vinegar or 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Mix ingredients and store in a spray bottle.

Vinegar and water is far superior to commercial glass cleaners.

Disinfectant

• Use 1/2 cup of borax in one gallon of hot water

• Hydrogen Peroxide (3% solution)

Mildew Removers

1. Scrub mildew spots with 1/2 cup borax mixed with 1 gallon water using a nylon scouring pad.

2. To prevent mildew from forming, don’t rinse off the borax.

3. Scrub with a vinegar and salt paste.

Applying heat to an area will kill mold and mildew.

Degreaser

• 1/2 teaspoon washing soda (sodium carbonate, soda ash or sal soda)

• 2 tablespoons white vinegar

• 1/4 teaspoon liquid soap

• 2 cups hot water.

Mix and store in spray bottle.

Use vinegar, lemon or a citrus-based cleaner.

Bathroom

1. Clean sink, shower, tub and tile with diluted liquid soap and scrub with a nylon scrubbing pad.

2. Use a stiff toothbrush or scrubbing brush for tiles.

Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap or Cal Suds is the best.

Toilet Bowls

1. Put 1/4 cup borax in the toilet bowl and let sit for a few hours or overnight.

2. Next day scrub or scrub with a solution of 1/2 cup borax to 1 gallon of water.

3. A few drops of pine oil can be added for increased disinfecting. 

4. Scrub with baking soda and//or liquid soap.

5. To remove stains, pour 1/4 cup borax and let sit for at least 30 minutes, scrub and flush.

Tub and Tiles

1. Scrub surfaces with baking soda slightly moistened with water.

2. To remove mineral deposits around faucets, cover deposits with strips of paper towels soaked in vinegar.

3. Let sit for 1 hour and clean.

Upholstery Cleaner

• Mix 1/4 cup liquid soap with 3 tablespoons water.

Rub foam into upholstery with a cotton cloth then rinse with a clean sponge.

Spot Removers

• Fruit and wine: Immediately blot stain with a towel an add cold water, continuing to blot.

• Grease: Pour boiling water on stains and follow with dry baking soda.

• Blood: Soak in cold water or remove with hydrogen peroxide. For more stubborn stains, apply a paste of cornstarch, corn meal or talcum powder, allow to dry, brush away. Think before you kill again.

• Rust: Saturate with lemon juice and rub with salt. Place in sunlight until dry, the wash.

• Mildew: Pour soap and salt on spots a place in sunlight. Keep moist and repeat as often as necessary. 

• Perspiration odor: Add 1 cup vinegar or baking soda per wash load. 

Oven Cleaner

• 1 quart warm water

• 2 teaspoons borax

• 2 tablespoons liquid soap

Spray on solution, wait for 20 minutes, then clean.

Alternately, make a thick paste with water and baking soda and scrub with a nylon scrubbing pad.

To remove spots, use very fine steel wool.

A wet cleaning pumice bar can be used to remove the toughest spots.

Drains

1. Pour 1/4 cup baking soda down the drain followed by 2 ounces of vinegar.

2. Cover drain and let sit for 15 minutes.

3. Rinse with 2 quarts of boiling water.

Use this treatment regularly to prevent clogged drains.

Also, pour boiling water down drains on a weekly basis to prevent grime buildup.

For clogged drains, use a plunger or snake.

Before using a plunger, be sure there is water standing over the drain.

Push and pull vigorously.

Prevention: 

1. put a strainer or filter in all drains

2. never pour any type of grease down your drains

3. use an enzyme based ‘buildup remover’ to break down grease and prevent clogs

4. plant away from sewer lines.

Ant Bait

• 3 cups of hot water

• 1 cup of sugar

• 4 tablespoons of borax

Mix water and sugar, stir to dissolve sugar.

Mix borax into mixture and stir to dissolve.

Put in closed lid containers with holes poked in tops.