Air Fresheners/ Deodorizers
Contain: formaldehyde, methylene chloride, and propane. Harmful to lungs if inhaled in large quantities or for an extended period of time. Solid fresheners are fatal if eaten.
**Glade plug-ins were found to be the most highly volatile chemical in the average household- DO NOT USE. Air fresheners are readily inhaled and pleasant enough to seem harmless.
**Air fresheners only mask odors, not freshen or sanitize the air.
Sol-U-Mel
Simmer a mixture of cinnamon and cloves in water on the stove.
Leave box of baking soda open in the room or refrigerator to deodorize and absorb food odors.
Set out an open dish of vinegar.
Sprinkle baking soda on odor-producing areas.
Pet odor eliminator: cider vinegar.
Ventilate with a fan or open windows, or both to avoid odor accumulation in your home
Ant Control
Toxic pesticide exposure leads to immediate, long-term poisoning. There are many less dangerous chemicals available for ant control.
**See www.pesticides.org for more information.
"Least toxic" chemicals- boric acid, salt or silica gel on trails, nest and traps.
2 Tb boric acid, 2 Tb sugar, 1 cup water. Soak paper towels, place on dishes, set out for ants.
Place a line of cream of tarter or red chili powder at point of entry.
Commercial sticky barriers to block.
Boiling water on nest to destroy.
Sweet: Float bowl of sugar water in sink to kill.
Carpenters/Termites: Reduce stored rotting wood.
Carpeting/Rugs Floor Cleaner
Contain: borax, trichloroethane. Toxic; irritant to skin, eyes, and mucous membrane; may be flammable. Avoid breathing vapors and wear gloves to prevent contact with the skin.
Clean carpets on dry, sunny days with the windows open to speed drying time (and avoid exposure).
Sol-U-Mel or Prespot remover in your shampooer.
Neutralize odor: Sprinkle dry baking soda, or paste, let set overnight before vacuuming.
Grease stains: citrus-based solvents.
Alcohol, Coffee, or Tomato-foods Stains: Soak up, using club soda or clear cold water to rinse.
Sprinkle cornstarch on rug, then vacuum.
Chlorine Bleach
Chlorine is a reactive chemical and can form toxic gases when mixed with other cleaners, especially ammonia; irritant to eyes and mucous membranes; corrosive.
Dishwashing Detergent
Phosphates, chlorine, sodium carbonate, and surfactants in detergents are harmful if swallowed and will burn skin and eyes with contact.
Liquid dishwashing detergent is the mildest of the detergent cleaners; automatic dish detergent is the harshest.
Drain Cleaners
Highly corrosive to all body parts, vapors are irritants; poisonous. Chemical compounds in drain cleaners are highly caustic!
Clean out obstruction with snake or plunger.
DO NOT POUR GREASE DOWN SINK
Garbage Disposal Deodorizers
Chemicals will corrode pipes; harmful if vapors inhaled. Deodorizers are poisonous, toxic.
**See Air Fresheners/Deodorizers
Grind citrus rinds (natural deodorizer!).
Grind ice cubes.
Grind used lemons.
Pour baking soda down the drain.
Laundry Detergent/ Spot Removal
Phosphates, chlorine, sodium carbonate, and ammonium hydroxide in detergents and spot removers are harmful if swallowed and will burn skin and eyes with contact. Flammable; highly toxic; readily inhaled and absorbed.
AVOID DRYCLEANING - agents such as perchloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene may cause light-headedness, dizziness and central nervous system symptoms of toxic exposure, as well as a disposal problem for the drycleaner.
Metal Polishes and Spot Removers
Contain: ammonia, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid. Irritants; flammable; highly toxic. Hydrofluoric acid is highly corrosive to the skin, and may cause blindness. Keep tightly closed and safely stored.
Metals: 2 tablespoons cream of tartar and 1 quart hot water.
Metal: mix � c salt with enough vinegar to dilute, adding flour to create a paste.
Chrome: Clean: Rub baking soda with a dry cloth. Polish: (apple cider) vinegar or baby oil.
Aluminum: Fill cookware with hot water, adding 2 Tb cream of tarter for each qt, bring to boil and let simmer for 10 minutes; wash and dry.
Aluminum coffee pot: to remove lime deposits boil equal water and vinegar as long as needed.
Stainless Steel: Clean: baking soda. Polish: mineral oil.
Brass polish: Worcestershire sauce or paste of equal parts vinegar salt and flour. Rinse completely to prevent corrosion.
Copper cleaner: lemon juice and salt mix or paste of equal parts vinegar salt and flour. Rinse completely to prevent corrosion.
Silver: To clean: Large object- rub gently with baking soda and damp sponge. Small objects- place in pot of water with piece of aluminum foil on bottom. Boil adding 1 tsp baking soda + 1 tsp salt; add tarnished silver and boil 2-3 minutes. Remove and wash in soapy water and polish.
Rub gently with toothpaste on a cottonball.
Mothballs/Moth Crystals
Hazardous materials include naphthalene and p-dichlorobenzene. Poisonous when eaten and if residue is still present on recently stored clothing. Irritant to lungs, nose, and throat when inhaled. Long-term exposure to vapors may result in liver and/or kidney damage. Chemically sensitive individuals at a great risk.
Avoid buying mothballs and moth crystals. Never use as an air freshener. Keep stored in a very secure and air-tight location.
**The powerful smell associated with mothballs is derived from paradichlorobenzene.
Clean any used furniture or clothing brought into the household.
Wash woolens well before storing (by hand using a mild soap) DO NOT DRYCLEAN, it is a significant source of air pollution.
Shake out wool clothing periodically.
Tightly wrap clothing to be stored (double wrap or place in sealed [cedar] chest).
Add newspaper, cedar chips (or sprigs) or dried lavender flowers to sealed container when storing, or sew dried lavender or cedar chips into small cloth bags and place with clothes.
Kill moth eggs by running through a warm clothes dryer cycle.
Infestation: place item in plastic bag in freezer for at least 48 hours, bring back to room temperature then freeze again. Tightly store the item to avoid reinfestation.
Vacuum rugs, carpets behind and under furniture, and upholstered furniture.
When use air out clothing before wearing.
Do not use inside or near people and animals.
Multi-Purpose Cleaner
Irritant, toxic when ammonia exposure is mixed with multiple chemicals. Mild to extreme irritation of eyes, nose, throat, and skin with contact; corrosive if swallowed.
**The average person in the U.S. uses 40.6 pounds of household cleaners each year.
Oven Cleaner
Corrosive to skin and eyes, soft tissue and internal organs. Aerosol oven cleaners are one of the worst contributors to indoor air pollution, especially individuals with sensitivities to the fumes from these products (like asthma and chronic bronchitis).
** No matter how thoroughly you scrub, residue from toxic cleaners remains and begins to emit fumes the second the oven is turned on.
Tub and Tile Cleaner
Corrosive, toxic compounds. POISONOUS
Vinyl Floor Cleaners and Polishes; Waxes and Strippers
Exposure will cause mild to extreme irritation with contact of nose, throat, eyes, or skin; corrosive if swallowed. Ammonia, sodium hypochlorite problematic and toxic.
**DO NOT MIX AMMONIA-BASED WITH BLEACH-BASED CLEANERS DUE TO HAZARDOUS FUMES Headaches and nausea may result from exposure
Window/Glass Cleaners
Chemical exposure to skin, eyes, nose, and throat may cause mild to extreme irritation. Corrosive if swallowed.
Wood Floor and Furniture Cleaners and Polishes
Toxic fumes; use in ventilated area. Flammable. Absorbed through mucous membranes, skin contact. Contain: turpentine, ammonia, trichloroethane, silicone
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