Web Stats 
| Product | Description |
|---|---|
| Baking Soda | cleans, deodorizes, scours, polishes and removes stains |
| Borax | deodorizes, removes stains and boosts the cleaning power of soap |
| Cornstarch | cleans and deodorizes carpets and rugs |
| Lemon Juice | cuts grease and stains on aluminium and porcelain |
| Table Salt | mild disinfectant, gentle scouring powder |
| White Vinegar | removes mildew, stains, grease and wax build-up |
| Washing Soda | cuts grease and disinfects, boosts cleaning power of soap |
| Product | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Dishwasher Detergent |
Borax Washing Soda | Use equal parts of washing soda and borax. Increase the amount of baking soda if your water is hard. Do not use on a combined aluminium and Teflon-coated surface as the Teflon will darken in colour. |
| Linoleum Floor Cleaner |
250 ml (1 cup) white vinegar 9L (2 gal.) water | Combine the white vinegar with water. |
| Stove Cleaner |
30 ml (2 tbsp.) liquid dish soap 15 ml (1 tbsp.) borax | Mix liquid dish soap and borax in a one-litre spray bottle. Spray soiled area, wait one hour and gently scrub with a scouring pad. |
| Bathtub and Tile Cleaner |
50 ml (1/4 cup) baking soda 125 ml (1/2 cup) white vinegar 1 L (5 cups) water | Mix baking soda and white vinegar with warm water. |
| Toilet Cleaner |
baking soda mild detergent (e.g. phosphate-free) | Use a toilet brush with baking soda and a mild detergent. |
| Spot-Stain Remover | Bar of soap | Use as a laundry "pre-treater". |
| Bleaching Agent | Borax | Replace bleach with borax. Borax is less damaging to fabric, so clothes will last longer. HHW Recipes for Your Home (cont'd) |
| Detergent Substitute |
80 ml (1/3 cup) washing soda 375 ml (1 ½ cup) soap powder 125 ml (1/2 cup) vinegar | Add washing soda to water as machine is filling. Add clothes after it has dissolved. Add soap powder. If water is hard, add 50 ml (1/4 cup) washing soda or 50ml (1/2 cup) vinegar to the first rinse. |
| Fabric Softener | 125 ml to 250 ml (1/2 cup to 1 cup) vinegar | Add vinegar in the rinse cycle if you wash with soap. |
| Waxed Wood Polish |
125 ml (1/2 cup) paraffin wax 50 ml (1/4 cup) vinegar | Gently melt paraffin wax in a double boiler and add vinegar. Soak a clean cloth in the mixture for half an hour. Wring cloth out and use as a polishing cloth when dry. |
| Floor and Furniture Polish |
Lemon juice Olive or vegetable oil | Use a mix of one part lemon juice with two parts olive or vegetable oil, and polish with a soft cloth. |
| Brass Polish | Worcestershire sauce | Polish brass with Worcestershire sauce on a soft cloth. |
| Silver Polish |
Lemon juice 15 ml (1 tbsp.) salt 15 ml (1 tbsp.) baking soda | Rub surface with mixture of lemon juice, baking soda and salt and polish with a soft cloth. |
| Wood Polish | Lemon juice Cooking oil | Apply a mixture of one part lemon juice to two parts cooking oil and polish with a soft cloth. |
| Copper Cleaner | Vinegar Salt | Pour vinegar and salt over the copper item and rub with a soft cloth. |
| Stainless Steel Cleaner | 45 ml (3 tbsp.) baking soda 4.5 L (1 gal.) water | Soak in a mixture of warm water and baking soda. |
| Porcelain Cleaner | Baking soda Water | Apply baking soda / water paste and let sit. Rub clean with a soft cloth then rinse. |
| Drain Cleaner | 125 ml (1/2 cup) each of baking soda and vinegar 4.5 L of water. | Open drains with metal snake or plunger. Pour baking soda followed by vinegar down drain pipe and cover with stopper. Rinse after 15 minutes with boiling water. Keeps drains clear by rinsing with boiling water twice a week. |
| Chrome Cleaner | rubbing alcohol | Polish with a soft cloth and rubbing alcohol. |
| Window Cleaner | vinegar water | Use a mix of one part vinegar and five parts water, and store in a spray bottle. |