Natural Cleansers

Safe Alternatives to Commercial Cleaning Products

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, stainlesssteel sinks, toilets, etc., mix equal parts baking soda and warm water. Cover when not in use.

Liquid cleanermix 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 witha 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 wateron 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 allact 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 themiddle 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 thew 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 collarand 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 andplaster 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 andpour 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.