Chemical Alternatives

For this:	Try This:
Ants	Red chili powder at entry, hot boiling water in the mound
Drain Cleaner	Plunger followed by 1/2 cup of baking soda + 1/2 cup vinegar + 2 quarts boiling water
Fertilizer	Compost

Flea & Tick repellant	Pine needles, fennel, rye or rosemary on or in pet’s bed
Fleas (on pet)	Feed pet Brewer’s Yeast, Vitamin B or garlic tablets
Flies (insects)	Well watered basil plant
Insects on plants	Soapy water on leaves, then rinse

Mildew remover	Equal parts vinegar and salt
Worm repellant	Plant marigolds
Oven cleaner	2 table spoons liquid soap + 2 tsp borax and warm water
Paint; oil based/stain/spray	Water based, non aerosol paints

Paint brush softener	Hot vinegar
Roach repellant	Chopped Bay leaves & cucumber skins
Rusty bolt and nut removal	Carbonated beverage
Slug and snail repellant	Onion and marigold plants

Spot remover	Club soda, lemon juice or salt
Air freshener	Simmer cinnamon and cloves
Aluminum spot remover	2 table spoons cream of tartar + 1 quart hot water
Bleach	Borax
Brass polish	Worcestershire sauce
Car battery corrosion	Baking soda and water
Chrome polish	Apple cider vinegar; then polish with baby oil

Cleaners (general household)	Baking soda
Coffee cup stain remover	Moist salt
Coffee pot stain	Vinegar
Copper cleaner	Lemon juice and salt
Decal remover	Soak in white vinegar
Dish detergent- grease cutter	1/2 cup baking soda + usual amount of liquid soap

Fiberglass stain remover	Baking soda paste
Floor cleaner	1 cup vinegar + 2 gallons of water
Furniture polish	1 tablespoon lemon oil in 1 pint of mineral oil (baby oil)
Garbage disposal deodorizers	Used lemons
Grease fire	Douse with baking soda
Grease removal	Borax on damp cloth
Hand cleaner for paint or grease	Baby oil
Ink spot remover	Cold water + 1 tablespoon cream of tartar + 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Laundry detergent	Basic soap

Laundry pre-soak	Make paste of baking soda and water and apply to spots
Linoleum floor cleaner	1 cup white vinegar + 2 gallons water
Mosquito repellant	Burn citronella candles
Multi Purpose cleaner	Mix 1/2 cup ammonia, 1/3 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 gal warm water
Oil stain remover	White chalk rubbed into the stain before laundering
Perspiration spot remover	Baking soda
Pet odor remover	Cider Vinegar
Porcelain cleaner	Make paste from baking soda and water; let set, rub clean and rinse
Rug and carpet cleaner	Club soda
Rust removal (clothing)	Lemon juice + salt + sunlight
Scorch mark removal	Grated onion
Scouring powder	Baking soda
Shaving cream	Brush and shaving soap
Shoe polish	Banana peel
Silver polish	1 quart warm water + 1 tablespoon baking soda + piece of aluminum foil + 1 tablespoon salt
Stainless steel polish	Mineral oil
Toilet bowel cleaner	Paste of borax and lemon juice
Tub and tile cleaner	1/4 cup baking soda + 1/2 cup white vinegar + warm water
Upholstery spot remover	Club soda
Water mark removal	Toothpaste
Water softener	1/4 cup vinegar
Wine stain removal	Salt
Window cleaner	1/2 cup vinegar in 1 gallon warm water
Wood polish	3 parts olive oil + 1 part white vinegar; almond or olive oil (interior unvarnished wood only)