| For this: |
Try this: |
| Air freshener |
Simmer cinnamon and cloves; leave opened box of baking soda in room; or
set out a dish of vinegar. |
| Aluminum spot remover
|
2 tablespoons cream of tartar + 1 quart hot water
|
| Ants |
Red chili powder or cream of tartar at point of entry
|
| Bleach |
Borax |
| Brass polish |
Worcestershire sauce |
| Car battery corrosion
|
Baking soda + water |
| Chrome polish |
Apple cider vinegar; then polish with baby oil |
| Cleaners (general household)
|
Mix 1/2 cup ammonia, 1/3 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup baking soda in one gallon of
warm water |
| Coffee cup stain remover
|
Moist salt |
| Coffee pot stain |
Vinegar |
| Copper cleaner |
Lemon juice + salt |
| Decal remover |
Soak in white vinegar |
| Dish detergent - grease cutter
|
1/2 cup baking soda + usual amount of liquid detergent
|
| Drain cleaner |
Plunger followed by 1/2 cup baking soda + 1/2 cup of vinegar + 2 quarts
boiling water |
| Fertilizer |
Compost and vermicompost |
| Fiberglass stain remover
|
Baking soda paste |
| Flea & tick repellent |
Scatter pine needles, fennel, rye or rosemary on pet's bed |
| Fleas (on pets) |
Feed pet brewer's yeast, vitamin B or garlic tablets |
| Flies (insects) |
Well watered pot of basil |
| Floor cleaner |
1 cup vinegar + 2 gallons water
|
| Furniture polish |
2 parts vegetable oil and 1 part lemon juice - Apply, rub in, wipe clean
|
| Garbage disposal deodorizers
|
Use citrus rind or ice cubes |
| Grease fire |
Douse with baking soda |
| Grease removal |
Borax on damp cloth |
| Hand cleaner for paint/grease
|
Baby oil |
| Ink spot remover |
Cold water + 1 tablespoon cream of tartar + 1 tablespoon lemon juice
|
| Insects on plants |
Soapy water on leaves, then rinse
|
| Laundry detergent |
Basic soap |
| Laundry pre-soak |
Make paste of washing soda & water; apply to spots |
| Linoleum floor cleaner
|
1 cup white vinegar + 2 gallons water
|
| Mildew remover |
Equal parts of vinegar and salt
|
| Mosquito repellent |
Burn citronella candles |
| Moth repellent |
Cedar chips or dried lavender enclosed in cotton sachets
|
| Multi-Purpose Cleaner |
Mix 1/2 cup ammonia, 1/3 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup baking soda
in 1 gallon of warm water |
| Nematode (parasitic worm) repellent
|
Plant marigolds |
| Oil stain remover |
White chalk rubbed into stain before laundering
|
| Oven cleaner |
2 tablespoons liquid soap + 2 teaspoons borax + warm water
|
| Paint; oil based/stain/spray
|
Water-based, non-aerosol paints
|
| Paint brush softener
|
Hot vinegar |
| Perspiration spot remover
|
Baking soda |
| Pet odor remover |
Cider vinegar |
| Porcelain cleaner |
Make paste from baking soda & water; let set, rub clean and rinse |
| Refrigerator deodorizer
|
Open box baking soda |
| Roach repellent |
Chopped bay leaves and cucumber skins
|
| Rug/carpet cleaner |
Club soda |
| Rust removal (clothing)
|
Lemon juice + salt + sunlight
|
| Rusty bolt/nut removal
|
Carbonated beverage |
| Scorch mark removal |
Grated onion |
| Scouring powder |
Baking Soda |
| Shaving cream |
Brush and shaving soap |
| Silver polish |
1 quart warm water + 1 tablespoon baking soda + piece of aluminum foil + 1
tablespoon salt |
| Slug and snail repellent
|
Onion and marigold plants |
| Spot remover |
Club soda, lemon juice, or salt
|
| Stainless steel polish
|
Mineral oil |
| Toilet bowl cleaner |
Paste of borax + lemon juice
|
| Tub and tile cleaner
|
1/4 cup baking soda + 1/2 cup white vinegar + warm water
|
| Upholstery spot removal
|
Club soda |
| Water mark removal |
Toothpaste |
| Water softener |
1/4 cup vinegar |
| Wine stain removal |
Salt |
| Window cleaner |
Use 1/2 cup of vinegar in 1 gallon of warm water
|
| Wood polish |
3 parts olive oil + 1 part white vinegar; almond or olive oil (interior
unvarnished wood only) |