ALTERNATIVES TO
HOUSEHOLD CLEANING PRODUCTS

• White vinegar
• Lemon and other citrus fruits
• Baking soda
• Vegetable-based soap and warm water
• Salt water
• Essential oils (peppermint, eucalyptus, lemon, rose) to freshen the house. In a spray bottle mix 4 drops of oil with one pint of water, shake and spray
• Eucalyptus leaves (steam the leaves to freshen the house and keep cockroaches away
• Potpourri (to freshen the house)
• Cooking oil and lemon combined (to clean and polish the furniture)
• Mayonnaise (to polish furniture and remove water stains on wood)
• Boric acid (put in the corners and near molding to kill cockroaches)
• Cayenne pepper or paprika (ants will stay away)
• "Simple Green" non-toxic cleaner (available at many stores)

Other safe and cheap cleaning recipes:

All Purpose Cleaner

Combine in a spray bottle:

2 tsp. Borax
1 tsp. Soap
enough water to fill the spray bottle

 

Bathtub Cleaner

Mix baking soda and vinegar to form a thick paste. Spread it onto the bathtub and wait 15 minutes before scrubbing.

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Glass Cleaner

Mix ¼ cup white vinegar and enough water to fill a spray bottle. After washing, dry glass with a clean, dry rag.

 

Better than Bleach (for clothes)

Use ½ cup white vinegar, or ½ cup baking soda, or ½ cup borax per washload.

 

Safe Drain Cleaner

Pour ½ cup baking soda down the drain, then pour ½ cup vinegar down the drain. The mixture will gurgle and bubble. Wait 15 minutes then follow with hot water, a plumbing snake or a plunger.

 

Grease Stain Remover

Rub borax into the stain, let it sit for 5 minutes, then rinse with cool water.

 

Mold Remover

Saturate a sponge with vinegar and scrub the moldy area. Do you want to make the recipes anti-bacterial? Just add a little hydrogen peroxide. You don’t like the smell of vinegar? Just add a few drops of essential oils.