All-Purpose Cleaner

• 1/2 cup (125 ml) pure soap
• 1 gallon (4 liters) hot water
• For a clean scent and to help cut grease add 1/4 cup (60 ml) of lemon juice.

This solution is safe for all surfaces, should be rinsed with water, and is effective for most jobs. For a stronger cleaner, double the amounts of soap and lemon juice.

Disinfectant

• Mix 50-100 ml of eucalyptus oil with a liter of water.

This can be used in a spray bottle, but remember to shake the mixture before using to disperse the oil.

Scouring Powder

• Use a firm bristle brush and scrub with pure soap combined with either table salt or baking soda.
• Baking soda alone on a damp sponge is also effective on most surfaces. You can also personalize your scouring powder by adding an aromatic herb or flower. Put the ingredients in a blender and blend until the fragrance has infused the powder.
• For oven spills, scrub using straight baking soda or combine with the stronger version of the all purpose cleaner.
• Remember to wear gloves when scrubbing.

Air Fresheners

Commercial air fresheners work by masking smells and coating the nasal passages with chemicals which diminish the sense of smell by deadening the nerves. Avoid these products. Instead, try the all-natural air purifiers — house plants. Or try these natural recipes to diminish odor and add a fragrant smell to your house:

• Use baking soda in your garbage or refrigerator to help reduce odors at their source.
• Dissolve 1 tsp (5 ml) of baking soda in 2 cups (500 ml) of hot water, add 1 tsp (5 ml) lemon juice. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray as you would an air freshener.
• Place a few slices of a citrus fruit, cloves or cinnamon in a pot with enough water to simmer gently for an hour or two.

Liquid Dish Soap

Grate a bar of pure soap into a sauce pan. Cover with water and simmer over low heat until they melt together. Add some vinegar to the water for tough grease and to remove spots. Pour into a container and use as you would any liquid dishwashing soap.

Bathroom Cleaners

If you thought soap scum was a problem, just take a look at all the environmental hazards lurking in your bathroom. Next time you clean your bathroom checkout the ingredients. The rule is: if you don't know what it is, and you can't pronounce it, it is probably not good for you.

• Drains
  • Your drains can be kept open, clean and odor-free without the use of corrosive drain cleaners. There are two simple rules: never pour liquid grease down a drain and always use a drain sieve.
  • Use this preventive measure for drains once a week: mix 1 cup (250 ml) baking soda and 1 cup (250 ml) salt. Pour 1/4 cup (60 ml) of this mixture into the drain. Follow with a pot of boiling water, and flush with cold water. Done once a week, your drain should remain open and odor free.
  • For clogged drains, pour in 1/4 cup (60 ml) baking soda followed by 1/2 cup (125 ml) vinegar. Close the drain until the fizzing stops and flush with boiling water. As a last resort, use a plumber’s snake, available at most hardware stores but beware, it can damage pipes.
  • If hair comes out while showering, don’t wash it down the drain. Just put it at the edge of the drain and throw it out afterwards.
• Tub and Tile

  Most commercial tile cleaners do more harm than good because many contain chlorine, a serious irritant to the eyes, nose and skin, and one of the most dangerous chemicals found in municipal sewers.

  • For bathroom cleaning, use a firm bristled brush with either baking soda or a mild all-purpose cleaner and baking soda. Rinse with hot water.
  • For hard-water areas use vinegar or lemon juice to dissolve the mineral build-up. For really tough jobs, saturate a rag and lay it on the problem spot for a few hours before rinsing.
  • For mold and mildew, rub tiles and grout with a cloth which has been moistened with vinegar and scrub with an old toothbrush.

Mirrors, Glass and Windows Cleaner

Wash with pure soap and water, rinse with a solution of 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water. Use washable, reusable cheese clothes instead of paper towels.

Carpets Cleaner

To fully clean and deodorize carpets: vacuum, liberally sprinkle cornstarch or baking soda, leave one hour, then vacuum again. For tougher stains, try cold soda water or repeatedly blot with vinegar and soapy water.

Polishers

Most store-bought polishes contain solvents harmful to the environment. Aresol sprays are wasteful and also contain harmful gases.

• Furniture Polish: Dissolve 1 tsp (5 ml) lemon oil in 1 cup (250 ml) vegetable oil. Apply with a clean dry rag.
• Floor Polish: Melt 1/8 cup (30 ml) paraffin wax in a double boiler. Add 1 quart/liter mineral oil and a few drops of lemon oil. Apply with a rag, allow to dry and polish.

Metals Polishers

• Copper: Try lemon juice and a little salt or hot vinegar and a little salt on a rag.
• Chrome: Try white flour on a dry rag.
• Brass: Try equal parts salt and flour, with a little vinegar on a dry rag.
• Silver: Bring to a boil in a large pan: 1 quart/litre water, 1 Tbsp (15 ml) salt, 1 Tbsp (15 ml)
baking soda and a strip of aluminum foil. Drop in silver, boil for 3 minutes and polish with a soft cloth. Or polish with a paste of wood ash and water.Note:These methods should be done on sterling silver only and not on silver plate.

Detergent

Try using more naturally made detergents and cleaners

Stain Removers

The first rule of thumb with stains is the sooner you treat them, the more likely you are to completely remove them. The second rule of thumb is to spot test any "remedy" on your fabric first. If the spot you are testing starts to discolor, you can stop it from leaving a stain by "neutralizing" the cleaning agent. For example, the effects of an acid like lemon juice or vinegar, will be neutralized or reversed by adding an alkaline like baking soda and vice versa. Remember to wash after the spot test.

• Soiled Diapers: Pre-soak in 3 Tbsp (45 ml) baking soda dissolved in warm water in either a tub or washing machine.
• Fruit and Wine: Immediately pour salt or cold soda water on the stain and soak in milk before washing. In general, it is a good idea to keep some soda water in the fridge as a stain remover.
• Grease: Strain boiling water through white cottons and follow with dry baking soda or rub with washing soda in water. For other materials, blot with a towel, dampen stain with water, and rub with soap and baking soda. Follow by washing in water as hot as possible using extra soap. Note: Make sure to check washing instructions before using boiling water or washing in hot water.
• Ink: Soak in milk or remove with hydrogen peroxide.
• Blood: Immediately pour salt or cold soda water on the stain and soak in cold water before washing. For a more stubborn stain, mix cornstarch with either talcum powder or cornmeal in water and apply mixture. Allow to dry and brush away.
• Coffee and chocolate: Mix egg yolk with lukewarm water and rub on stain.
• Chewing gum: Rub with ice. Gum will flake off.
• Lipstick: Rub with cold cream or shortening and wash with washing soda.
• Rust:Saturate with sour milk (add 2 tsp/10 ml of vinegar to a cup of milk to make it sour) or lemon juice and rub with salt. Place in direct sunlight until dry, then wash.
• Mildew: Pour strong soap and salt on the spots, or spray with vinegar and place in sunlight. Keep the spots moist and repeat as often as necessary.
• Scorches: Gently boil scorched article in 1 cup (250 ml) soap and 2 quarts/liters milk.
• Water marks on wood furniture: Using a dry cloth, rub the mark with vegetable oil or a mixture of butter and enough cigarette ashes to make the butter brown.