Scientists agree that the toxic chemicals found in our homes and schools are having a negative effect on our health. Many articles have pointed to the link between toxic chemicals and such things as cancer, infertility, skin disorders, asthma and allergies and even behavior problems, hyperactivity and learning disabilities in children. It is a well-known fact that when combined together, chemicals are even more dangerous. Yet we think nothing of mixing different kinds of cleaning products together as we go about cleaning our homes, particularly our kitchens and bathrooms. There is a different kind of product for cleaning floors, counters, stoves, sinks, toilets, etc. etc.

Not only are these products costly, they are endangering our health unnecessarily. There are many less toxic alternatives in your pantry that can accomplish a variety of cleaning tasks at half the price with less risk to your health. The following are just a few suggestions you can use to clean your house without endangering your family’s health.

One of the best household cleaners is white vinegar; it can be used to clean in many different ways. 

• Vinegar is excellent for cleaning bathrooms, especially windows, mirrors and shower doors.
• Clean mineral deposits on your showerhead by unscrewing and soaking it in equal parts of vinegar and hot water.
• Clean grungy-looking tile grout with full strength vinegar.
• To clean your toilet bowl, flush to wet the sides of the bowl, sprinkle 1 cup of borax around the toilet bowl and then drizzle with ½ a cup of white vinegar. Let stand before scrubbing with a toilet brush. For stubborn stains, repeat but leave vinegar stand over night.
• To keep your drains fresh and clog-free, pour ½ cup of baking soda down the drain and then add 1 cup of white vinegar. Let the mixture foam for several minutes before flushing the drain with hot water.
• To remove mold use ½ cup vinegar, ½ cup borax and 1 cup of water combined in a spray bottle. Spray generously on moldy surfaces and then wipe clean with a damp sponge.
• To get rid of mineral deposits from water in your iron or kettle use a solution of half vinegar and half water to run the appliance until clean.
• Clean mineral deposits on humidifier parts with vinegar.
• Use vinegar diluted in warm water to clean wood floors.
• Use 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water to remove stains from carpet, rinse well with water
• To remove polish build up, mix ½ cup of vinegar with ½ cup of water and rub with a soft cloth that has been moistened with this solution (wring out). Dry immediately with another soft cloth.
• To clean leather tabletops, remove all wax build-up with a ¼ cup of vinegar and ½ cup of water solution.
• Use vinegar to clean the brick tiling around the fireplace, scrub with a brush dipped in vinegar.
• To get rid of the odor of cigarette smoke in a room, place small bowls of vinegar (or charcoal) in each corner of the room.
• Add 4 tablespoons of vinegar to the rinse compartment of your automatic dishwasher for sparkling glasses without spots.
• Use vinegar to clean spots on stainless steel.
• To prevent mildew from forming in your fridge, wipe with vinegar.
• To clean your dishwasher, place a bowl in the bottom of the dishwasher and fill with 1 cup of vinegar.
• Simmer a small pan of vinegar on top of the stove to get rid of unpleasant cooking odors or bake a small amount of cinnamon on a piece of silver foil in your toaster oven.
• Bring vinegar to a boil in a new frying pan to prevent foods from sticking to it.
• To clean copper pots, fill a spray bottle with vinegar and 3 tablespoons of salt. Spray all over copper pot, leave for a few minutes and then rub clean.
• To wash crystal, rinse in 1 part vinegar to 3 parts warm water and air dry.
• To clean your washing machine and unclog soap scum from the hoses, fill with warm water and pour a gallon of vinegar into it and run the machine through an entire cycle.
• To use vinegar as a fabric softener, fill the washing machine with water and add ¼ cup of baking soda and then the clothing. During the last rinse cycle add ½ cup white vinegar to the softener dispenser.
• To eliminate the lint problem, add a cup of vinegar to the final rinse cycle. This also helps to make sure that clothes get a thorough rinsing, as it dissolves the alkalines in soaps and detergents. It works really well for clothes that need hand washing by cutting down on the rinse time.
• Apply a solution of equal parts vinegar and water to clean salt stains off your boots and clothes.
• Remove perspiration stains from clothing by soaking in warm vinegar water.
• Remove grease from suede with a cloth dipped in vinegar or club soda.
• Loosen chewing gum by soaking in vinegar before washing.
• To remove ring around the collar, apply a paste of vinegar and baking soda, rub in and wash as usual. This also works for dirt and mildew.
• Clean your eyeglasses without streaking by using a drop of vinegar on each lens.

 Baking soda and lemon are also very good cleaners and deodorizers.

• Use baking soda to deodorize shoes or carpets.
• Put baking soda in the ashtray of your car to keep it smelling clean.
• Sprinkle burnt pots with baking soda and add enough water to moisten and let stand for several hours.
• Add a tablespoon of baking soda to soapy water to help wash dishes, it cuts grease and softens hands at the same time.
• Remove stubborn stains on non-stick cookware by boiling 2 tablespoons of baking soda, ½ cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water for 10 minutes.
• To remove food stuck to a casserole dish, fill with boiling water and add 2 tablespoons of baking soda or salt.
• To clean the oven make a paste of baking soda and hot water, sponge onto stains and wipe clean.
• To polish silver, find a pan large enough to hold the silverware. Fill with enough water to cover the silverware and add 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 1 sheet of aluminum foil. Bring the mixture to a boil. Add the silverware and boil for three to four minutes. Remove and wipe with a towel to remove tarnish. This process may have to be repeated for heavily tarnished items.
• If the kitchen sink drain is clogged with grease, pour a cup of salt and cup of baking soda into the drain followed by a kettle of boiling water, this usually unclogs the drain by dissolving the grease right away.
• Refresh your sponge or dishrag by soaking it overnight in salt or baking soda water, or wash in the dishwasher with the dishes.
• To remove white water rings and spots from furniture, dampen a soft cloth with water and put a dab of toothpaste on it. For stubborn stains add baking soda to the toothpaste or try wiping briskly with a few drops of alcohol.
• Use 4 tablespoons of lemon juice to 1 gallon of water spray on glass and wipe dry with newspaper.
• Squeeze lemon into the dust bag of your vacuum cleaner before vacuuming the house to leave it smelling clean.
• Dip lemon halves in salt and rub on copper pots to clean.
• Grind half a lemon in the garbage disposal to get rid of any unpleasant odors.
• Use a little lemon juice to get a glass tabletop sparkling clean.
• To remove rust or mildew stains from clothing apply lemon juice and salt and then place in the sun.
• Get rid of soap residue on shower doors by rubbing with half a lemon before scrubbing.
• To remove rust from countertops and other similar surfaces make a paste of cream of tartar and lemon juice. Apply this paste to the spot and let sit for half an hour. Scrub with a sponge, rinse well and dry.
• To clean your microwave place a slice of lemon in a microwavable bowl filled with water. Run the microwave for 2 or 3 minutes until water boils. Let sit for 5 minutes in the closed microwave. Remove the bowl and wipe the microwave clean.

• Clean jewelry with toothpaste.
• Polish silver with plain white toothpaste, rub it on with your finger, let it sit for a few minutes and then wipe off with a soft cloth.
• Remove black scuff marks on linoleum floors rub the spot with toothpaste before washing the floor.
• To clean plastic tabletops, rub in some toothpaste and buff.
• To remove rust from countertops, rub with toothpaste.
• Make scratches on glassware disappear by polishing with toothpaste.
• Remove stains from carpets or upholstery with white shaving cream, spray a bit of shaving cream on the spot, rub with a toothbrush and the dab with a clean damp cloth to remove the shaving cream.

Some Other Miscellaneous Non-toxic Cleaning Solutions

• Polish brass or copper with ketchup or Worcestershire sauce.
• Club soda cleans and polishes household appliances.
• Club soda shines up stainless steel very quickly. For stains on stainless steel sinks use inexpensive frozen concentrated orange juice.
• Club soda is great for eliminating pets’ urine stains on carpets.
• Use rubbing alcohol on a cloth to get rid of smudges and finger prints from walls, then wipe with a soapy cloth, it won’t damage the walls.
• Clean crystal chandeliers quickly and easily with an alcohol based, pre-moistened towelette.
• Try removing grass stains on clothing by rubbing them with rubbing alcohol.
• Remove chocolate stains by soaking with cold water and meat tenderizer.
• To remove rust from toilets and porcelain use rubber gloves to apply a thick paste of frozen concentrated orange juice and allow to sit.
• Use a solution of cream of tartar and hydrogen peroxide paste for stained sinks or tubs. Let it dry after scrubbing before removing it.
• Sprinkle stains on tubs with cream of tartar and rub with a lemon wedge.
• Use Coca-Cola to loosen grease stains from clothes, just add a can of coke and detergent to greasy clothes and run through a regular cycle.
• Use Coca-Cola to clean stains from your toilet bowl, pour a can into the toilet bowl, let it sit for an hour and then flush clean.
• Coca-Cola will remove rust from stainless steel and chrome when used with aluminum foil.
• Use Coca-Cola to clean road haze off the car windshield.
• To clean rust from chrome car bumpers rub with crumpled aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.
• Use the eraser of a pencil to remove marks from walls or scuff marks on floors.
• For spills in the oven, sprinkle salt on them immediately and wipe away when oven cools.
• Rub a warm not hot grill after cooking with a piece of balled up aluminum foil to clean without using a brush and harsh chemicals.
• Use olive oil or other cooking oil to remove paint from hands.
• Use 2 parts vegetable or olive oil to 1 part lemon juice to make furniture polish.
• Put cloves in your pockets when storing clothes instead of mothballs.