Safe Alternatives to Commercial Cleaning Products- Pest Barriers

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Safe Alternatives to Commercial Cleaning Products- Pest Barriers

JoAnn Guest

Jan 06, 2005 21:19 PST

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Safe Alternatives to Commercial Cleaning Products-

Natural Cleansers

Contributed by Kimberly Weeks

 

Baking soda uses: freshens, cleans and deodorizes.

Good scouring powder.Softens water in creasing the cleaning power of

soap.Do not use on aluminum - it will turn black.

Polishing paste for tarnished silverware, bathtubs, stainless

steel sinks, toilets, etc., mix equal parts baking soda and warm water.

Cover when not in use.

 

Liquid cleaner: mix 2 tablespoons baking soda with 1 pint warm waterin a

spray bottle. Use for mopping vinyl floors, cleaning compact disks or

washing windows.

 

Sponging - sprinkle baking soda onto a damp sponge and wipe scuffs,

stains or crayon marks from painted walls, laminated countertops, tile

surfaces, and appliances like the microwave, stove top and fridge. Dry

with a clean cloth.

 

Borax (sodium borate): Cleans, freshens, deodorizes and disinfects.

Softens water, prevents soap film.(when sprinkling powder, you may want

to wear a painter's mask as this can, in some, irritate the lungs.)

 

Soap: Biodegrades safely without polluting water.Sold as liquid, flake,

powder or in bars.Check ingredients on label and avoid synthetic scents,

colors and other additives.

 

[super] Washing soda ([hydrated]sodium carbonate):Disinfectant.Cuts

grease and removes stains, aids soap and prevents soap film.

 

White vinegar: cuts grease, freshens.

 

Cider vinegar, GSE and tea tree oil are naturally

anti-fungal/anti-bacterial.

 

Hot water and sunshine also kill germs.

 

3% food grade peroxide disinfects/freshens

 

Mildewy shower curtains - you can get mildew proof cotton curtains. You

can take down the curtain you have periodically and throw it in the

washer with detergent or borax or baking soda or vinegar. Let it dry in

the sun and rehang.Close the curtain after each shower to help prevent

mildew.Or wash with 1/2 cup soap and 1/2 cup baking soda.Add 1 cup white

vinegar to your rinse cycle.

 

All purpose cleaner:1 tsp. liquid soap, 1 tsp. borax, squeeze of lemon

or splash of vinegar in 1 qt. of warm water. or:2 teaspoons borax, 1

teaspoon soap and 1 quart water in a spray bottle.Add vinegar or washing

soda to cut grease.

 

Disinfectant:1/4 cup borax in 1/2 gallon hot water.Used in Ca. hospitals

for a year and met all the germicidal requirements.

Or 2 cups hot water on 2 cups fresh thyme leaves.

Steep 10 minutes.

Strain, cool and put in spray bottle.

 

Scouring powder:firm bristle brush with soap combined with either borax,

table salt or baking soda.

 

Window cleaner/mirrors: white vinegar and newspaper:1/4 cup white

vinegar, 1 qt. warm water or: one part white vinegar, three parts water

and a dash of lemon or orange oil or:3 tablespoons vinegar with 1 quart

warm water.

or:1 tablespoon vinegar in water or:

1 part vinegar, 1 part water(basically any combination of vinegar and

water) or:

rubbing alcohol and water or:

2 tablespoons lemon juice in quart of water or:

wipe with a damp cloth or sponges sprinkled with baking soda.

 

Rinse with water and dry with soft towel. For tough jobs first wash

glass with warm soapy water. (note: the first time you wash windows

after using commercial cleaners you might need to clean them a second

time to get rid of the residue or use rubbing alcohol to remove

residue.)

 

Mold and Mildew - use the window cleaner spray. or: 1/4 cup borax in 2

cups water - borax acts as a mold inhibitor. (You could wash down the

bathroom walls, etc. with borax solution and just let it dry.)Heat also

helps get rid of mold - it dries it to powder so it is more easily

cleaned.Once cleaned, sprinkle area with borax to prevent more mold.To

prevent mold growth, ventilate well with a small fan. or: for mildew a

mixture of lemon juice or white vinegar and salt.

 

Scratches in wood furniture:mix one teaspoon instant coffee with two

teaspoons water to make a paste.Apply to the abrasion with a cotton

ball.The more you dab the darker it gets.

 

Floor and furniture polish: mix 1 part vegetable and 1 part lemon juice

of vinegar and apply a thin coat.Rub in well with a soft cloth.On

unwaxed wood use vegetable oil and lemon oil to replenish shine.

Or mix three parts olive oil and one part vinegar or one part lemon

juice with two parts olive oil.You can buff with a solution of cool

black tea.

 

Skid marks on linoleum floors: scrub with toothpaste.

 

Floor cleaners (linoleum):1/2 cup vinegar in 1/2 gallon warm water.

Polish with club soda.

 

Crayon on wallpaper or vinyl paint:Blow dry until the wax melts and wipe

with a paper towel or dry sponge.

 

Gum:Rub with ice - the gum will flake off.

 

Oil and grease on driveways:sprinkle with cat litter, allow the spill to

absorb and shovel or sweep away.

 

Insect repellant - burning citronella candles.Plant sweet basil around

patio and house to repel mosquitoes.blend 6 cloves crushed garlic, one

minced onion and one tablespoon soap in a gallon of hot water.Let sit a

day or two, strain and apply with spray bottle.

 

Ants: block cracks & points of entry with caulk.

 

Try to water a little more outside - ants come in when they are thirsty

or they smell something good.

 

Keep clean.Wipe down kitchen counters, floors and cabinets with equal

parts vinegar and water.

 

Place animal food bowls in shallow pans of vinegar or water (you can add

a little citrus oil or something to deter ants further as long as your

animals leave it alone).

 

Lay a line of boric acid (can be mixed with sugar) along the ants path

or sprinkle (or use an old spray bottle) behind areas such as ovens,

sinks, washers and toilets.

 

Cayenne pepper, chili pepper, cream of tartar, dried peppermint,

paprika, cinnamon, salt, dried sage, cucumber peelings and boric acid

all act as a barriers they will not cross.

 

For heavy Infestations mix 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 tablespoon borax, and 2

tablespoons water into a thick syrup.Soak cotton balls in the mixture

and place the cottonballs on low lids or something flat that ants can

reach.

Place these lids in the middle of ant infestations.

 

The ants will eat it and take it back to the nest and the numbers will

diminish slowly.For carpenter ants, try to locate and remove the

nests.Drill holes in the wood they are attacking and fill the holes with

boric acid.

 

Fleas:Avoid all insecticides except those with the active ingredient

de-limonine gas which is derived from citrus extracts (dips, flea

collars, and flea prescriptions as they all can cause harm to the

animal).

Add brewer's yeast and garlic to the pet's food.

 

For fleas on the pet, wash with warm soapy water and use a flea comb to

remove fleas. Drown the fleas you remove from the animal.After toweling

down your pet, put 1/2 cup fresh or dried rosemary in 1 quart of boiling

water. Steep 20 minutes, strain and cool.

Spray or sponge evenly onto pet and allow to dry.

Do not towel dry.

 

Flea comb the pet regularly and reapply rosemary solution as needed.For

fleas in the home, vacuum daily for 2 weeks and weekly thereafter. Make

sure to periodically vacuum under sofa and chair cushions, move

furniture and vacuum between mattress and box spring.

 

Throw the bag away outside the house or freeze it after each use.

 

If the problem continues, steam the rug and upholstery.As a last resort,

work borax into the carpet with your fingers - use a dust mask and

plastic gloves for this (under furniture, sofa cushions, mattress, etc)

and don't vacuum for 24-48 hours minimum.

 

Eucalyptus, citrus, pennyroyal, cedarwood, bay, fennel, rue and rosemary

(fresh/dried/oils) are all repellants and the oils can be used on home

made flea collars (or you can stuff a fabric tube with fresh/dried

ingredients and make a collar and sprinkle these in the bedding, etc.).

I spray the oils on the carpet etc - diluted of course.One suggestion I

heard for fleas in the yard is to sprinkle cedar shavings on the lawn

and mow them into the lawn.

 

Cockroaches:Caulk all cracks along baseboards, shelves, cupboards, pipes

and sinks.Eliminate moisture.Apply a light dust of boric acid or borax

in cracks and crevices.

Allow 2 months to take effect.Place whole bay leaves in several

locations around the kitchen.

Or set out dishes with equal parts of either (1)oatmeal flour and

plaster of Paris or (2)borax and brown sugar or (3) baking soda and

powered sugar (this works for silverfish too - the sugar attracts, the

baking soda kills).

 

Mice and rats: Keep storage areas tidy, seal holes in wall sand around

pipes.

 

Moths:avoid mothballs and flakes. Clean garments thoroughly before

storing them in a sealed closet, bag, trunk or other container - moths

are attracted to dirt on clothes.

Vacuum the closet regularly to get rid of moths food sources.

 

Cedar(hangers, lining, shavings, oil) or lavender (dried, sachets, oil)

act as deterrents.

Moth eggs can be destroyed by running the items through a hot dryer - be

careful of shrinkage). For pantry moths keep all grain and sugared

products in tightly sealed containers or in the refrigerator or freezer.

 

 

Spiders:In general leave them alone - they are good bugs.Remove webs

with a broom.

 

Termites:Non-chemical termite control includes:liquid nitrogen, heat

treatments, electrical shocks, biological controls, etc. Mesh and sand

barriers are being developed to prevent (re)infestations. If you must

use insecticide, hire a firm that uses beagles to sniff out all active

nests for spot treatment.

 

Slugs and Snails:1-2 inches of beer in a shallow container that has been

set into the soil with the rim at ground level.

Or place copper sheeting around sensitive plants.

 

Flys: Make your own flypaper with honey and yellow paper.

 

Insecticide for plants:8 oz. sugar, 4-8 oz. 3% peroxide (food grade) in

1 gallon water and use as a spray. or:

1%soap and 99%water as a spray using a container affixed to the end of a

hose. or:

Use predator insects or bacillus thuringiensis or:

Mix 1 gallon of water, 2 tablespoons dishsoap, 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol

and 2 tablespoons of tobasco.

Wash well if used on something edible.

 

Fertilizer:Compost.

 

Kitchen cleaner:3% food grade peroxide to wipe counters, sink, cutting

boards and appliances.Disinfects and freshens.

 

Dishwashing (hand):Liquid or powdered soap.Any detergent (even phosphate

free or biodegradable is still petroleum based - bad for everything

including us!

To cut grease sprinkle baking soda on the item or add a few tablespoons

of vinegar to the wash water. To remove burnt-on food, cover with water

and baking soda.Let soak, then scrub.

Or soak in a lemon juice solution, then scrub with baking soda.

 

Refrigerator:3% food grade peroxide.

 

Drain cleaner:Plunger.Plumbing snake (or a straightened coat hanger).

Use a drain strainer to prevent clogs.Flush weekly with boiling water.

To keep drains open or to clear sluggish drains before the become clogs,

plug the overflow drain with a wet rag and pour a mixture of 1/2 cup

salt and 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain periodically .

 

Flush with hot water.Or plug the overflow drain and pour 1/4 cup baking

soda down the drain, follow with 1/2 cup vinegar and close the drain

tightly until fizzing stops.

Flush with one gallon boiling water. Or pour about 2 cups of 3% peroxide

down drain, wait a while then flush with boiling water.Or pour 1/4 cup

salt down drain and follow with hot water.

 

To clean marks out of glass coffee pots: lots of salt, ice cubes and a

little water.Swirl coffee pot around until marks are gone.

 

Dishwasher rinse:3% food grade peroxide added to the dishwasher soap.

 

Dishwasher soap:equal parts borax and washing soda.Increase proportion

of soda for hard water.

 

Scouring pads:Let post and pans soak in a baking soda solution before

washing.

 

Oven - Avoid spills and overfilling pans. Wipe spills that do happen

immediately as soon as the oven is cool enough to. Line racks with

aluminum foil or placea baking rack on the shelf below.Clean with steel

wool, washing soda and wateror with 2 tablespoons liquid soap, 2

teaspoons borax and warm water in a spray bottle.Leave this solution on

for 20 minutes then scrub with steel wool.

 

Pumice works for baked on black spots.Or use a non metallic bristle

brush and clean with a paste of baking soda, salt and hot water.Or

sprinkle with dry baking soda and scrub with a damp cloth after 5

minutes.

Or to remove baked on spills, sprinkle a little water on them and

briefly turn on the oven to steam-loosen them.Then scrub with baking

soda.(Don't let baking soda touch wires or heating elements.)

 

Brass:Mix equal parts salt and flour with a little vinegar and rub.Or

use Worcestershire sauce or pour on Ketchup and let sit. Wipe dry.

 

Chrome: Rub with undiluted white vinegar.Or rub fixtures with wet

newspapers or rub with baby oil and soft cloth.

 

Copper:Rub with paste oflemon juice and salt (and flour if desired) or

hot vinegar and salt.(The ketchup idea posted previously also works).

 

Gold:wash in lukewarm soapy water, dry and polish with a chamois cloth.

 

Silver and Stainless Steel:Rub with a paste of baking soda and water. Or

soak for 10-15 minutes in one quart warm water, one teaspoon baking

soda, one teaspoon salt and a small piece of aluminum foil and then wipe

with a soft cloth.

 

Silver:Rub with toothpaste and soft cloth.Rinse and polish dry.

 

Stainless steel polish:baking soda or mineral oil for shining, vinegar

to remove spots.Or rub with olive oil or club soda

 

Aluminum:dip cloth in lemon juice to clean then rinse the item with warm

water.Or soak overnight in a mix of vinegar and water then rub.

 

Tub, tile and toilet:Scrub with powdered soap and a scouring powder made

of baking soda, borax or table salt.Use white vinegar to loosen lime

deposits. or:1/2 cup borax dissolved in one gallon hot water. or:for the

toilet - sprinkle baking soda in bowl, drizzle with vinegar and scour

with brush.Adding vinegar or lemon juice to sit overnight can help

remove old stains

 

Air fresheners:find source of odors and eliminate them.Keep house and

closets clean and well ventilated.Set out 2-4 tablespoons of vinegar or

baking soda in open dishes.Use plenty of houseplants which are great air

purifiers.

Boil herbs and spices for natural fragrance.

 

Carpet deodorizers:sprinkle baking soda or cornstarch on carpet, using

about 1 cup for a medium sized room.

Vacuum after 30 minutes.Or mix 2 parts cornmeal with one part borax,

sprinkle liberally, leave on 1 hour and vacuum.Also for upholstery but

you may want to test for colorfastness first.

 

Carpet cleaners:Mix: 1/2 cup mild liquid washing detergent and 1 pint

hot water. Let cool until it forms a jelly. Whip into a stiff foam with

a beater. Apply with damp cloth or sponge to small section at a time.

Rub gently. Wipe with clean cloth. Allow to dry. For steam cleaning,

don't use the commercial solutions. Instead use plain water or plain

soap or baking soda or a combination of the two.

 

To remove odors (pet or other - carpet or furniture) - blot the fresh

stain with cloth soaked in cider vinegar.

 

Laundry:When you first switch from detergent to soap, wash laundry once

with washing soda alone to get rid of the detergent residue and avoid

yellowing of fabric.After that add 1/3 cup washing soda to water before

placing clothes in machine and substitute soap flakes or powder for

detergent.For more cleaning power add 1/2 cup borax.

 

Bleach:powdered non-chlorine bleach only.Can also use peroxide.

 

Fabric softener:add 1 cup of vinegar or 1/4 cup baking soda during final

rinse.Not necessary on natural fibers like cotton or wool - they don't

produce static.

 

Presoak:soak heavily soiled items in warm water with 1/2 cup washing

soda for 30 minutes.Rub soiled areas with liquid soap.

 

Spot remover:Mix: 1/4 cup borax and 2 cups cold water.Sponge on and let

dry. Or soak the fabric in above mixture before washing in soap and cold

water.

 

Spray starch: dissolve 2 tablespoons cornstarch in 1 pint cold water in

a spray bottle.Shake before each use.

 

Stain remover:Vinegar

 

Coffee and wine stains:Blot the fresh spill with a cloth soaked with

club soda. Or rub with moist salt.

 

Wine and fruit stains:Clean with club soda or pour on salt or soak in

milk before washing.

 

Oil stains: Rub white chalk into the stain before laundering.Or rub with

damp cloth dipped in borax.Or apply a paste of cornstarch and water, let

dry and brush off.

 

Ink stains:Wet the stain with cold water.Apply paste of cream of tartar

and lemon juice.Let sit one hour.Wash as usual.Or mix 1/3 cup white

vinegar and 2/3 cup warm water.Apply a small amount to the stain. Blot

until no more stain can be removed.

 

Lipstick stains:Rub with shortening and wash with washing soda.

 

Rust stains:Scrub with crumbled aluminum foil.

 

Dry cleaning: Many garments labeled " dry clean only " can be safely

handwashed using mild soap and cold water or sent out for pressing.If

you must dry clean try to find a dry cleaner who does not use " perc " .

And do so as little as possible no matter what kind of dry cleaning you

use and air clothes outside before putting in your closet. There is also

a product (no commercial interest) called " Sweater Fresh " by McLaughlin

Inc. that is made from plant oils that breaks down soil bonds.You spray

it on and throw the item in the dryer for 2 minutes.(407) 467-8074.

 

Recipes for milk paint: " Pour just enough hot water in instant nonfat

dry milk (not the yellowish sort) to reconstitute it into a smooth

syrup.Add powdered pigment in small amounts until the desired shade is

reached.Apply several coats to raw wood with a brush or rag for a flat

finish much like that of latex wall paint. Put 6 oz of hydrated lime

into a bucket and add enough milk to make it the thickness of cream (you

will need one half gallon of milk in all) Stir in 4 oz of linseed oil, a

little at a time, and add the rest of the milk. Sprinkle 3 oz finely

powdered calcium carbonate over the top and let it sink in before

stirring it well into the mixture.Add powdered pigment for color, if

desired.

 

By Kimberly breet-

_________________

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

DietaryTi-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Genes

 

 

 

 

 

AIM Barleygreen

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

 

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