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Purpose & Contact Information Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Applications & Instructions Ordinances & Other Resources Related Links News & Events Cleaning Alternatives
All Purpose Household Cleaners
- 1 quart warm water
- 1 teaspoon liquid soap
- 1 teaspoon borax (optional)
- a squeeze of lemon or splash of vinegar
This solution can be used for a multitude of cleaning jobs including countertops, floors, walls, rugs and upholstery.
Air Freshener
- Leave open boxes of baking soda in refrigerators, closets and bathrooms.
- Open doors and windows for good ventilation when possible.
- Use flowers, cedar chips, herbs, and spices to add subtle fragrances to indoor air.
- Use stove fan when cooking.
Bathrooms
For fiberglass tubs, make a paste out of vinegar and baking soda, saturate tub with the paste, and use a sponge to wipe clean.
- Tile, tub, sink and toilet cleaners:
- Mix equal amounts of vinegar and salt and apply to bathroom surfaces with sponge. Also, very effective on mildew.
- Sprinkle baking soda, washing soda or borax on surfaces. Scrub with a plastic mesh scrubber or sponge.
- Scrub toilet bowl with baking soda or mild detergent.
- Scrub toilet bowl with baking soda and castile soap.
- Apply vinegar full strength on sponge to tub and tile.
- Apply baking soda over vinegar as a scouring agent. Rinse clean.
Brass and Copper Cleaners
Use lemon juice and baking soda to make paste. Apply paste and rub with soft cloth and rinse thoroughly.
Use equal parts of vinegar, salt and flour. Rub with soft cloth and rinse thoroughly.
Carpet Cleaner and Deodorizers
To clean, sprinkle cornstarch on dry carpets or rugs to absorb dirt and grease. After five minutes vacuum thoroughly.
To deodorize, sprinkle baking soda liberally on dry carpet or rug. Leave at least 15 minutes and vacuum thoroughly.
To shampoo, mix up to 1/4 cup of liquid dishwashing soap in 2 cups of boiling water. Let it cool. Mix it well and apply with a damp sponge or cloth and rub gently. To rinse use a clean cloth with 1 cup white vinegar and 4 cups water. Wipe dry with another cloth. Repeat if necessary.
Carpet spills can be cleaned immediately by applying soda water with a damp sponge.
Stains: mix ¼ cup of borax in 2 cups of water in a spray bottle. Spray on stain and wipe from the carpet with a damp sponge or use undiluted white vinegar or lemon juice.
China Cleaner
Dampen cloth and place small amount of baking soda on cloth. Gently rub cups and mugs to remove coffee and tea stains.
Coffee Makers and Tea Kettles
Run a cup of vinegar through your coffee pot, drain and run cool water through numerous times or until you no longer smell vinegar in the water. Boil a tea kettle with a cup of vinegar for approximately twenty minutes. Empty and fill with cool water and bring to boil, repeating until vinegar is no longer smelled.
Degreaser
Use a non-chlorinated scouring powder with abrasive scouring pad.
Disinfectants and Mold Killers
The Environmental Protection Agency recommends simple soap to use as a disinfectant but there are many essential oils, such as clove, lavender and tea tree oil that are natural fungicides. Grapefruit seed extract is also an antiseptic. Use one teaspoon of essential oil to two cups of water in a spray bottle. Make sure to avoid any eye contact.
One half cup borax in one gallon water.
To inhibit mold and mildew, no not rinse off borax solution.
Drain Cleaner
Pour a quarter of a cup of baking soda in drain, add three tablespoons of salt, add one half cup of vinegar. Let it stand for up to twenty minutes. Pour a kettle full of boiling water down drain to flush. A second kettle of boiling water can also be used. (The salt can be eliminated and the baking soda increased to one half cup.) Repeat every so often for better smelling drains and drains that are less likely to clog.
Glass and Mirror Cleaner
Try this mixture to remove waxy buildup left behind by commercial cleaners. Mix one quarter cup white vinegar and two cups water with one-half teaspoon liquid soap or detergent. Apply to surfaces. After using this recipe, the waxy buildup will soon disappear. Wipe with rubbing alcohol and rinse. Use vinegar and water to avoid future buildup.
Insect Spray
Place one garlic bulb, one small onion, one tablespoon cayenne pepper and four cups of water in a blender, Mix until well blended and let settle for one hour. Pour through a filter and add one tablespoon liquid soap. Pour into spray bottle and use wherever bugs are a problem.
Laundry
Use non-phosphate detergent or soap flakes. If you have heavily soiled clothes add one-half cup borax with the soap. Experiment and use the least amount of each to get the best results. For diapers, soak in one-half cup baking soda for at least two hours and launder as usual. Baking soda in the wash cycle is also a fabric softener.
Spot or stain remover can be used by making a paste of soap flakes and warm water to scrub the stain before laundering. Lemon juice mixed with salt may remove some tough stains. Boiling a lemon slice with your cottons may turn your dull grays to white again.
Oven Cleaner
Make a paste of baking soda and water. Spread the paste on area to be cleaned. Make sure to keep the paste wet while you watch the baking soda absorb the stained areas. For baked in messes, use pumice to scrub the worst areas with the paste of baking soda. For the burned in stains, as a last resort, use a pump oven cleaner that has no caustic fumes and no lye.
Silver Cleaner
Rub gently with baking soda and damp sponge. With objects that will fit in pan on stove, place small piece of aluminum foil and one teaspoon baking soda in hot water and let soak for 5 minutes. Remove item from water and dry with soft cloth.
Spot Remover
Rinse area with club soda immediately and repeat if necessary. Wash
Chocolate: as usual.
Blood: Apply hydrogen peroxide directly to the stain, rinse with water and wash as usual.
Ink: For ink, mix a paste of lemon juice and cream of tartar. Apply to spot and allow to dry. Wash as usual.
Stainless Steel Cleaner
Baking soda, water and a soft cloth will clean your stainless steel. A towel gently soaked in vinegar can be used to remove scale on fixtures or the fixtures can be removed and soaked in one part vinegar and two parts water.
Sticker Removal
Dampen sticker with vinegar, hot water or isopropyl alcohol. Peel or remove sticker, keeping sticker wet through to the adhesive.
Wood and Furniture Polish
Here are a few different types to try for stained wood that has not been varnished or painted.
- Two parts olive oil and one part lemon juice. Apply and polish with a soft cloth.
- One pint mineral oil with a few drops of lemon juice. Apply and polish with a soft cloth.
- Almond, olive or vegetable oil and lemon juice in a two to one ratio. Apply and polish with a soft cloth.
- For varnished or lacquered wood mix two tablespoons olive oil with 1 tablespoon white vinegar and four cups of water in a spray bottle. Spray furniture lightly; dry with a clean cloth. Label the bottle clearly.
The above mentioned remedies are not the sole remedies and may not work in every instance depending on the type of stain and application of product. The Will County Land Use Department, Waste Services Division, is not responsible for any misuse of product or application which might cause further damage. Always test first.