I Made It Myself ~ Safer Alternatives

[queenofthehivemomof5]

You can't get much low toxic than this for cleaning your bathroom mirrors

All you need is 2 microfiber cloths (which can be found at most stores and can be washed) and a spray bottle of water. Lightly mist one cloth with water and wash mirror pushing a little harder on the rag over anything that is stubborn (toothpaste spatter?) then buff with the other dry rag. No chemicals needed. If you do it every other day or so its never a chore.

[YouPdWhat]

Mold & Mildew Removers:


(1). To remove mildew from bathtubs, bathroom curtains and tile, make a mixture of: one-half cup vinegar one-half cup of Borax cleaning detergent 2 cups of water. Pour it on the dirty areas and let it sit for a few minutes, and then scrub with a cloth. If mildew is still visible, use the mixture twice. To clean the toilet bowl, combine equal parts of baking soda, Borax cleaning detergent and white vinegar. Pour generously around the bowl and scrub with a brush. Or leave it over night if badly stained.



(2). Tea Tree Treaure
Nothing natural works for mold and mildew as well as this spray. It successfully works on a moldy ceiling from a leaking roof, on a musty bureau, a musty rug, and a moldy shower curtain. Tea tree oil is expensive, but a little goes a very long way. Note that the smell of tea tree oil is very strong, but it will dissipate in a few days.

2 teaspoons tea tree oil
2 cups water
Combine in a spray bottle, shake to blend, and spray on problem areas. Do not rinse.
Makes 2 cups
Preparation Time: Under a minute
Shelf Life: Indefinite
Storage: Leave in the spray bottle

[YouPdWhat]

Soft Scrubber

* 1/2 cup baking soda
* Enough liquid soap or detergent to make a frostinglike consistency (see note, below)
**5 drops antibacterial essential oil such as lavender, tea tree oil, or rosemary (optional)

Pour the baking soda in a bowl; slowly pour in the liquid soap or detergent, stirring all the while, until the consistency reaches that of frosting.

Scoop the creamy mixture onto a sponge, wash the surface, and rinse.

Note: If you have hard water, you will want to choose a liquid detergent instead of a liquid soap. Most health food stores offer all-purpose liquid detergents and soaps. These are the best choices because they include no synthetic perfumes and dyes, and tend to be the most concentrated. If you are lucky enough to have soft water and can use a liquid castile soap in your softscrubber, consider one in which peppermint has been added, for extra antibacterial action.







Source Unknown

[couponfanatic]

1.) Gold & Silver Cleaning.
Works excellent for jewelry or anything you can submerge.
Ammonia.
Just put it in a bowl/cup enough to cover and let sit. How long depends on how dirty. It will get all that gunk that collects in and around the stones of jewlery off eventually.
Then rinse w/ warm water and dry w/ a soft cloth.
And when in a REAL pinch and you need ammonia- use window cleaner. Ammonia is normally the active ingredient.

2.) Linoleum floor cleaner:
Mix baking soda, vinegar, ammonia and lots of Hot water.
Experiment with ratios to find the strength you like best.

3.) Straight Ammonia will strip linleom floors. Removes wax & "Mop & Glo" floor shine stuff.
Open all the doors and windows, send the family out somewhere and pour it on so it puddles up. Wait 3-5 minutes (don't let it dry) and wipe up with a scrubby or something. Gross job. It comes off in goo like rubber cement, so have a bucket of hot water handy to rinse the scrubby. Moved into a house w/ 20 yr. old linoleum, and they only used Floor Shine for all 20 yrs. This is the only thing that finally removed it all.
If it does dry after you puddled it up, pour on another puddle.
Do the floor in small sections. Otherwise it will either dry on you, or you'll pass out from the fumes.

[YouPdWhat]

Wall Paper Remover


A solution of half vinegar and water will dissolve wallpaper paste better than any of the commercial products and leaves your walls non sticky and the room smelling fresh!

[koledust]

I use the thick paper towels and put them on my swiffer, picks up cat hair and junk.

Shampoo is good to clean the tub... be careful you could slip

[KrazyKatie]

To keep ants out of your humming bird feeder:

If it is on a pole, grease the pole with petrolium jelly from the base up for about 2 feet and don't let your grass get higher than that.

[Beana913]

Non-Toxic Weed Killer

I have a bad infestation of Canadian thistle this year, none of the chemical sprays worked but this worked great. Cheap too!!!! Safe to use around pets and kids! Be careful it kills all plants it touches!!!!

1 Gallon White Vinegar
1 Canister regular table salt
a few good squirts of dish soap

I mixed this up in a tank sprayer. Dissolved the salt in the vinegar first, then added soap and mixed gently. Can use a spray bottle too.

[CouponSanta]

Laundry Detergent

1 Bar of Soap, grated (Ivory, Fels Naptha, any bar soap)
1/2 Cup of WASHING soda (Arm & Hammer is a common brand, NOT baking soda)
1/2 Cup of Borax (you can find both of these products in the laundry aisle)

Mix together, and you'll have a nice powdered laundry detergent. Use one tablespoon per load, more if your clothes are soiled.