| Product |
Hazardous Property |
Less Toxic Alternative |
| Abrasive Cleaners and Scouring
Powders |
Corrosive
Toxic |
Baking soda or borax on
damp cloth, or 1/2 lemon dipped in borax, scrub rinse and dry. Toothpaste
and a little elbow grease for light stains. |
| Ammonia-Based Cleaners |
Corrosive
Irritant
Toxic
Reactive |
White vinegar and water
mixture or dissolved baking soda. |
| Bleach-Based Cleaners and
Chlorine Bleach |
Corrosive
Reactive
Toxic |
For disinfecting: mix 1/4 c borax with 2 quarts hot water;
For a general household cleaner that disinfects and whitens: mix 1/4 c baking soda, 1/2 c borax, 1/2 c vinegar, and 1 gallon water. |
| Carpet & Upholstry Shampoo |
Irritant
Toxic |
Deodorize: use dry baking
soda or corn starch, sprinkle and leave 15 minutes (or up to overnight), then vacuum (250 ml
for medium sized room). Shampoo: clean immediately with soda water or baking
soda and water paste, then vacuum; or make cleansing foam by mixing 1/4 cup vegetable-oil-based liquid soap with 3 tbsp. water. Whip into a foam, rub into problem area. Rinse well. Heavy-duty cleaner for colour-fast carpet: mix 1/4 c salt, 1/4 c borax, 1/4 c vinegar; rub into stain, leave several hours, vaccuum thoroughly.
Mud: rub with salt, sit one hour, vaccuum
Coffee: rub with club soda, clean with sponge
Red wine: cover with salt while wet; let dry, vaccuum
Chocolate: mix borax and water into paste, rub into stain, dry, and vaccuum.
Grease: cover with cornstarch/cornmeal, let sit, rub in, vaccuum. |
| Disinfectants |
Corrosive
Toxic |
125 ml borax in 4 litres
of boiling water, a dilute rubbing alcohol and water mixture, or undiluted
white vinegar. |
| Floor Cleaners |
Corrosive
Toxic |
Soap and wet mop or 125
ml vinegar and 2 litres water. |
| Glass and Window Cleaners |
Corrosive
Toxic |
Wash with equal parts vinegar
and warm water, or 15 ml lemon juice in 1 litre water; use newspapers or cotton cloths. |
| Oven Cleaners |
Toxic |
Mix 1/4 c baking soda, 2 tbsp salt, and hot water to make a paste. Spread it on the oven and let it sit for 5 minutes, then scrub (use steel wool for the tough bits). Or mix 2 tbsp liquid soap, 2 tsp borax, 1 qt warm water into a spray bottle, spray in the oven, wait 20 minutes, then clean. |
| Spot Remover |
Flammable
Irritant
Toxic |
Cold water immediately or
60 ml borax in 250 ml cold water. |
| Toilet Bowl Cleaner |
Corrosive
Irritant
Toxic |
Pour 1/4 c baking soda into the bowl, and spritz with vinegar; let sit 15 to 30 minutes. Scrub and flush. Use borax for tough stains. |
| Drain Openers and Cleaners |
Corrosive
Toxic |
Pour 125 ml baking soda and
125 ml vinegar down drain,cover and let stand for 15 minutes, then flush
with boiling water. Use plunger or plumber's snake. Repeat each week to help prevent clogs. |
