Environmentally Safe Alternatives

   The average American family generates approximately 21.5 pounds of toxic waste per year.  Many of our cleaning products and other household products contain chemicals that can be hazardous to ourselves and the environment when they are left to disintegrate in our landfills or dumped down the drain or incinerated. The hazardous chemicals can be leached into our water supplies, soil, or air. (see "eliminating poisons around the house")  

   Below are some alternatives to some household chemicals.  They are much safer to our health and the health of the environment.  Wild Spirit is not responsible for any damage that these recipes may cause.  Test them on a small portion of the items that they are to be used on before doing the entire item to be sure it will not do any damage to the item.

All-purpose cleaner To 1 gallon of hot water add 1 tablespoon baking soda and 1/4 cup soap flakes. Rinse away with water.
Furniture polish Mix together 1 part lemon juice and 2 parts olive or vegetable oil. Rub onto furniture with a clean, lint free cloth.
Furniture polish 2 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon white vinegar, and 1 quart warm water.
Glass Cleaner Add 2 tablespoons cornstarch and 1/2 cup white vinegar to 1 gallon of warm water.
Toilet bowl cleaner Vinegar, a natural acid, will remove most lime deposits from porcelain without polluting water
Rug and carpet deodorizer Sprinkle liberal amounts of baking soda over a dry carpet, wait 15 minutes and vacuum.
Silver Polish   Soak Silver in 1 quart water, 2 tablespoons baking soda, 1 tablespoon salt and a small piece of aluminum foil.
Metal Polish Rub some soft grade blackboard chalk onto a damp course-textured cloth and polish the surface.
Drain opener Pour 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup salt, and 1/2 cup white vinegar down the clogged drain and let sit for 15 minutes.  Flush drain with boiling water.
Insecticide Add 1 part chopped leaves of pine or poplar to 1 part water. spray on plants once a week or after a rain.
Oven Cleaner   Mix 1 cup baking soda with enough water to make a paste.  Apply to oven surfaces, and let stand. Use elbow grease and a brillow pad to clean. Not for use on self cleaning ovens.
Linoleum Floor Cleaner Mop with a mixture of 1/2 cup vinegar in a bucket of warm water. The vinegar odor will go away shortly after the floor dries.
Small mammal repellent Sprinkle hot cayenne pepper around the area you want to keep the animals away from.
Ant Repellant To keep ants from entering your house, place cucumber (skins only) around peramiter of inside of house.
Silverfish Repellant Bayleaves scattered around under sink will keep away silverfish.

If you have any environmentally friendly alternatives that you would like to share, send them to us so that we can include them on this page.  Thank you!

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