Safe and Healthy Alternatives

If you are concerned about the safety of children or pets, try these recipes for safe cleaning in your home.

For The Bathroom

Glass Cleaner
Mix 1 quart warm water with ¼ cup white vinegar (or two tables of lemon juice). Store this mixture in a spray bottle for future use.

Toilet Disinfectant
Mix ½ cup of borax with 1 gallon of hot water. Let mixture sit for 30 minutes before scrubbing.

Mildew Remover
Mix ½ cup of borax with 1 gallon of hot water. Using mixture, scrub with a nylon scouring pad. Use hot water to rinse. Scrubbing with a vinegar and salt paste mixture will also work.

Tile Cleaner
Use diluted liquid soap and scrub with a nylon pad or old toothbrush.

Mineral Stain Remover
To remove mineral deposits around faucets, cover stains with strips of paper towel or cloth that have been soaked in vinegar. Let sit for 1 hour and rinse.

For The Kitchen

Scouring Cleanser
Sprinkle baking soda on a sponge and scrub

Drain Cleanser
Pour ¼ cup of baking soda down the drain followed by 2 ounces of vinegar. Cover the drain and let sit for 15 minutes. Rinse with 2 quarts of boiling water.

Floor Cleaner
Mix 1 cup of vinegar with 2 gallons of warm water.

For The Living Room

All Purpose Cleaner
Mix 1 quart warm water, 1 teaspoon liquid soap, 1 teaspoon borax, ¼ cup undiluted white vinegar thoroughly, and store in a spray bottle. Good for countertops, floors, walls, carpets, and upholstery.

Upholstery Cleaner
Mix ¼ cup liquid soap with 3 tablespoons of water. Rub foam into upholstery with a cotton cloth then wipe clean with a sponge.

For The Yard

Education about your yard or garden is an effective preventative measure to many problems. Select native, pest-resistant or drought-tolerant plants that are suited to the soil and climate. Learn to identify the useful insects that eat other pests and aerate the soil. There are home composting and healthy pest control workshops in our area.

Weed Killer
White Vinegar is effective and non-toxic for your children and pets.

Ant Pesticides
First try removing all sources of food and water. Locate entry point and seal it with caulk. Pour tarter, red chili powder, paprika, cinnamon, or dried peppermint at point of entry. Kill visible ants with soapy water or vacuum. Baits or traps are preferable over sprays.

Roach Pesticides
Remove all sources of food and water. Remove hiding places such as old newspapers, garbage bags, and other clutter. Place bay leaves in cracks where pests may enter. Set out a dish of baking soda and powdered sugar. Carefully apply boric acid powder into cracks where roaches hide (Keep this chemical away from children and pets).

Flea Collars and Sprays
Add small amounts of brewers yeast or vitamin B in pet's food. Use an herbal collar, ointment, or bath (eucalyptus or rosemary). Wash pet bedding and treat with flea soap or citrus oil product. Sprinkle carpet with borax and vacuum twice a week.

Pesticides
Remove pests by hand. Spray pests with a strong stream of water. Mist or spray with soapy water.

Snail/Slug Killers
Remove tall grass and debris from area. Overturn clay pots or lay board between rows of planted vegetables. Fill a shallow pan with stale beer and place in infested area.

Chemical Fertilizers
Buy or make your own compost. Use natural soil enhancers, such as greensand, bone meal, or fish meal.

Do not over-water your garden. This will help prevent run-off into storm drains. Use compost in your potting soil - it's a natural pesticide.

Tips For Paint