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Cleaning products are the among the few household products regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission because they can be harmful to human health. Here are some non-toxic alternatives you might want to consider trying:
* For ants, sprinkle red chili powder at entry point.
* To remove perspiration stains, white vinegar and water works well on fresh stains on cotton.
* For synthetic blends or old stains on natural materials, pre-soak the stain in ammonia before applying vinegar and water.
* Polish chrome or remove pet odor with cider vinegar.
* For automatic dishwashing detergent, try ½ cup baking soda with liquid dishwashing detergent.
* Use a well-watered bowl of basil to kill flies.
* Repel moths with cedar chips in cotton sachets.
* Remove oil stains by rubbing white chalk into the stain before laundering.
* Get rid of mold and mildew with bleach and scrub hard. Note that you should use bleach in a well-ventilated area and never mix it with anything other than water. Equal parts of vinegar and salt with a little elbow grease will remove mold and mildew stains but will not eliminate the problem.
* Clean your drains by pouring ½ cup each of baking soda and vinegar into drain. Wait two minutes, add two quarts boiling water, and repeat.
* Throw away your air freshener and try herbal bouquets, pure vanilla on a cotton ball, or simmering cinnamon and cloves instead.
* Fertilize with composted yard clippings and organic waste from the kitchen (not including meat or grease).
* Clean your oven by washing it frequently with a mixture of warm water and baking soda or warm water with two tablespoons each of liquid soap and borax added. Soften burned-on spills by placing a small pan of ammonia in the oven overnight. Sprinkle salt onto fresh grease spills and then wipe clean.
* Scrub linoleum floors with one cup of white vinegar and two gallons of water; polish them with club soda.
* Wash windows and mirrors with a mixture of 1/4 cup ammonia and one quart water.
* Clean toilets using baking soda, a mild detergent and a toilet brush.
For more ideas on how to make your home a healthier and safer environment, visit www.worldwise.com and click on the Sustainable Living icon.
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