Alternative products really do work. Try these non-toxic, or less toxic products as alternatives to hazardous household chemicals. You'll benefit from improved indoor air quality, decreased exposure to chemicals, and fewer disposal concerns.  Best of all, you can find most of these items in your house, so it's convenient and you'll save money.

Click here for a pocket guide of earth friendly alternatives to HHW.

General Cleaning

Air freshener	simmer cinnamon and cloves
Aluminum spot remover	2 tbsp cream of tartar and 1 quart hot water
Brass polish	Worcestershire sauce
Carpet cleaner	club soda
Chrome polish	clean with apple cider vinegar, polish with baby oil
Copper cleaner	lemon juice and salt
Decal remover	soak in white vinegar
Furniture polish	1 tbsp lemon oil in 1 pint of mineral water
General household cleaners	baking soda
Ink spot remover	cold water plus 1 tbsp cream of tartar and 1 tbsp lemon juice
Laundry detergent	basic soap
Laundry pre-soak	make paste of baking soda and water, apply to spots
Linoleum floor cleaner	1 cup white vinegar in 2 gallons of water
Multi-purpose cleaner	mix 1/2 cup ammonia, 1/3 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 gallon water
Oil stain remover	white chalk rubbed into stain before laundering
Oven cleaner	2 tbsp liquid soap plus 2 tsp borax and warm water
Perspiration spot remover	baking soda
Pet odor remover	cider vinegar
Scorch mark remover	grated onion
Scouring powder	baking soda
Spot remover	club soda, lemon juice, or salt
Stainless steel polish	mineral oil
Toilet bowl cleaner	paste of borax and lemon juice
Tub & tile cleaner	1/4 cup baking soda plus 1/2 cup white vinegar in 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

Kitchen Cleaning

Coffee cup stain remover	moist salt
Coffee pot stain	vinegar
Dish detergent/grease cutter	1/2 cup baking soda & liquid detergent
Drain cleaner	plunger followed by 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup vinegar, and 2 cups boiling water
Garbage disposal deodorizer	used lemons
Grease fire	douse with baking soda
Grease removal	borax on damp cloth
Porcelain cleaner	mix paste of baking soda & water, let sit, rub clean, rinse
Refrigerator deodorizer	open box of baking soda
Shoe polish	banana peel
Silver polish	1 quart warm water, 1 tbsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt

Alternatives for the Garage

Car battery corrosion	baking soda and water
Hand cleaner for paint/grease	baby oil
Mildew remover	equal parts vinegar and salt
Paint brush softener	hot vinegar
Roach repellant	chopped bay leaves and cucumber skins
Rust removal	lemon juice, salt, and sunlight
Rusty nut/bolt removal	carbonated beverage
Wood polish (interior, un-varnished)	3 parts olive oil, 1 part white vinegar

Alternatives for the Yard

Ants	red chili powder at entry point
Fertilizer	compost
Flea and tick repellant	scatter pine needles, fennel, rye, or rosemary on pet's bed
Fleas on pet	feed brewer's yeast, vitamin B, or garlic tablets
Flies	well watered pot of basil
Insects on plants	soapy water on leaves then rinse
Mosquito repellant	burn citronella candles
Nematode (parasitic worm) repellant	plant marigolds
Slug/snail repellant	onion and marigold plants

Toxic Free is Easy as 1-2-3!

According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, there are 2,200,000 human poison exposures annually. Of those, nearly 50% involved children younger than 6 years. Furthermore, common household items such as cleaning products and medicines are the leading cause of poisonings in this age group.