PRODUCT

MAY CONTAIN (A)

POSSIBLE HEALTH OR ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS (B)

ALTERNATIVE PRODUCT

GENERAL HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS

All-purpose cleaners

ammonia, glycol ethers

eye and skin irritant; corrosive; poisonous; ammonia vapors can irritate lungs or trigger asthma; ammonia produces toxic fumes when mixed with chlorine bleach

Use soap-water, vinegar-water with salt, Borax-water, or baking soda; wipe dry. For stains on counters, squeeze lemon juice on the counter; leave for 45 minutes; sprinkle baking soda and rub with sponge or soft cloth.

Glass and window cleaner

ammonia, glycol ethers

eye and skin irritant; corrosive; poisonous; ammonia vapors can irritate lungs or trigger asthma; ammonia produces toxic fumes when mixed with chlorine bleach

Try tap water using a clean lint-free rag; if glass is very dirty, use vinegar-water. To remove greasy fingerprints, use lemon juice-water. Use a clean lint-free rag or newspaper to dry glass.

Linoleum and no-wax floor cleaners

ammonia

ammonia vapors can irritate lungs or trigger asthma; ammonia produces toxic fumes when mixed with chlorine bleach

Use vinegar-water. To cut grease, use soap-water, then rinse with vinegar-water. To prevent water spots, dry with a cloth. To remove black heel marks on floors, rub with a pencil eraser.

Wood floor cleaner

Use a damp mop of vinegar-water and dry immediately. Or, use vinegar-oil-lemon juice, rub on surface, and buff with clear, dry cloth. To remove black heel marks on floors, rub with a pencil eraser.

Linoleum wax and cleaner

diethylene glycol, dipentene, nitrobenzene, ozocerite, paraffin, VOCs

eye, nose, throat and skin irritant; mental fatigue; carcinogenic; toxic; component in production of smog or ozone

Dampen mop with oil soap, use vinegar-water to mop. Polish with club soda. Add 1/4 skim milk to rinse water for shine.

Rug and upholstery cleaners

diethylene glycol, napthalene, perchlorethylene, other organic solvents

skin and eye irritant; affects nervous system; poisonous; toxic; carcinogenic; flammable; corrosive

For odors, sprinkle corn meal, baking soda, or corn starch on dry rugs, let sit for 15 minutes, or overnight for serious odors, and vacuum. For spills, blot immediately with a clean rag or towel. For spots, use soap-water, spray lightly and blot with rug or towel. For grease, spot with baking soda, let the grease absorb, and vacuum.

Furniture cleaners and polish

diethylene glycol, dipentene, lauroyl peroxide, nitrobenzene, turpentine, petroleum distillates, other organic solvents, VOCs

eye, nose, throat and skin irritant; mental fatigue; toxic; cause headaches and breathing problems; flammable; component in production of smog or ozone

Use lemon juice-oil, rub in, and wipe. Dry with clean cloth. Rub toothpaste on wood furniture to remove water marks. Hide wood scratches by rubbing with the meat of a walnut.

Chlorine bleach

sodium, potassium, calcium or magnesium hypochlorite; chlorine

eye and skin irritant; corrosive; produces toxic fumes if mixed with ammonia

Use baking soda. Use Borax-water to whiten and cut grease.

Disinfectants

VOCs

eye, nose and throat irritant; mental fatigue; component in production of smog or ozone

Use Borax-water, or mix 3 tablespoons liquid soap, 2 cups water, and 20-30 drops of tea tree oil.

Room deodorizers and air fresheners

orthophenylphenol, paradichlorobenzene, VOCs, formaldehyde

liver and nerve damage; eye, nose, throat and skin irritant; mental fatigue; component in production of smog or ozone

Place bowls of vinegar, baking soda, or vanilla extract in the room.

KITCHEN

Dishwasher detergent

phosphates

Eutrophication of lakes and streams

As you pile dishes in the sink, sprinkle them with baking soda. Or, add a little baking soda to your dishwasher. Decrease the amount of detergent you use.

Oven cleaner

caustic soda, sodium hydroxide, lye, VOCs

burns or irritates eye, nose, throat and skin; mental fatigue; poisonous; corrosive; component in production of smog or ozone

For lightly soiled ovens, make a thick paste with water and baking soda. Scrub well with a white nylon pad. Add a small amount of liquid soap if oven is greasy. To remove spots, use very fine steel wool or a wet cleaning pumice bar (test for scratching).

Tea kettle lime remover

Mix 1 cup apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons salt, and 1 cup water. Add to kettle; boil for 15 minutes, then let stand overnight. Rinse with cold water.

China

Denture tablets will remove coffee and tea stains from china coffeepots, teapots, cups and mugs.

BATHROOM

General bathroom cleaner

VOCs

eye, nose, throat and skin irritant; mental fatigue; component in production of smog or ozone

To clean the sink, shower, bathtub, and tile grout, soak with soap-water, sprinkle baking soda, and scrub with a white nylon scrubbing pad and rinse. Use a stiff toothbrush or scrub brush on tiles. If there is any residue, rinse with vinegar-water.

Mildew Remover

bleach

eye and skin irritant; poisonous

Apply hydrogen peroxide, then scrub with thin paste of lemon juice and borax. To prevent mildew, bacteria, and mold, eliminate moisture by keeping the area dry.

Toilet bowl cleaner

paradichlorobenzene

corrosive; poisonous; can burn skin and eye tissue; liver and nerve damage

Use soap-water or baking soda and a scrub brush. To remove stains, pour 1/4 cup of Borax and let sit for at least 30 minutes or overnight. Scrub bowl well and flush. To remove mineral deposits, scrub with bar of cleaning pumice (check small area for scratching). Or, try using 2 denture tablets in place of toilet bowl cleaner.

Scouring cleansers

silica, chloride

irritant (silica in some cleansers can be dangerous if inhaled); poisonous; chlorine bleach produces toxic fumes if mixed with ammonia

Sprinkle baking soda or make a paste of soap-water and baking soda. Scrub with a damp white nylon cloth, sponge or very fine steel wool (check for scratching). Rinse with vinegar-water if necessary. Dry with a cloth.

Drain cleaner

caustic soda, sodium hypochlorite

corrosive; poisonous; can cause burns to skin and permanent eye damage

Unclog drain with plunger or snake. For very stubborn clogs, pour a cup of baking soda and a half cup of table salt, followed by a cup of white vinegar, down the drain. The vinegar causes the baking soda to bubble, moving the grains of salt, which act as an abrasive on the clog. After 20 minutes, pour in a gallon of boiling water to wash away the clog. If the drain is still slow, use a plunger. To prevent clogged drains, put a strainer or filter in all drains; never pour grease down drains; and pour boiling water down or put a handful of baking soda followed by hot water down the the drain each week.

METAL CLEANERS AND POLISHERS

acidified thiourea, ammonia, perchloroethylene, petroleum distillate

carcinogenic; poisonous; eye and skin irritant; combustible; flammable

Aluminum pot cleaner

see metal cleaners and polishers

see metal cleaners and polishers

Bring vinegar-water to boil in pot; continue boiling until stains are gone.

Brass cleaner

see metal cleaners and polishers

see metal cleaners and polishers

Saturate a sponge or soft cloth with vinegar and lemon juice, sprinkle fine table salt on sponge, and rub. Rinse thoroughly and dry.

Chrome cleaner

see metal cleaners and polishers

see metal cleaners and polishers

Wipe with vinegar. Rinse with water, and dry. For oil on the chrome, wipe with soap-water. Polish with dry cloth.

Copper cleaner

see metal cleaners and polishers

see metal cleaners and polishers

Saturate a sponge or soft cloth with vinegar and lemon juice, sprinkle fine table salt on sponge, and rub. Rinse thoroughly and dry.

Pewter cleaner

see metal cleaners and polishers

see metal cleaners and polishers

Polish with the outer leaves of a cabbage and then buff with a soft cloth.

Silver polish

see metal cleaners and polishers

see metal cleaners and polishers

Rub silver with toothpaste or a paste of baking soda.

Stainless steel cleaner

see metal cleaners and polishers

see metal cleaners and polishers

Use baking soda or soap-water mixed with baking soda. Rinse with vinegar-water, buff with a dry cloth.

LAUNDRY AND STAIN REMOVERS

Laundry cleaners

surfactants, phosphates

Eutrophication of lakes and streams

Add baking soda and reduce the amount of commercial detergent. If you use liquid detergent, add 1/2 cup baking soda at the beginning of the wash. If you use powdered detergent, add 1/2 cup baking soda during the rinse cycle.

Clothing stain removers

dichloroisopropyl ether, diethanolamine, enzymes, perchloroethylene, petroleum distillates, trichloroethylene, TSPP, VOCs, other organic solvents

carcinogenic; poisonous; toxic; headache; drowsiness; skin, eye, nose and throat irritant; allergic reactions; hallucinations; confusion; mutagenic; combustible; flammable

see specific stain

Heavy Dirt Remover

see clothing stain removers

see clothing stain removers

Rub with solution of 2 tablespoons washing soda in 1 cup warm water.

perspiration stain remover

see clothing stain removers

see clothing stain removers

Sponge stain with vinegar-water or lemon juice-water, and wash as usual.

water stains on leather remover

see clothing stain removers

see clothing stain removers

Rub with a cloth dipped in equal parts of white vinegar and water.

candle wax stain remover

see clothing stain removers

see clothing stain removers

Stain can be removed with denture cleaning tablets in a container with warm water. Immerse the stained portion, add the tablets in the ratio recommended on the package and let them dissolve. Soak the cloth until the spot disappears and wash as usual.

Ink stain remover

see clothing stain removers

see clothing stain removers

Soak stain in milk or remove with hydrogen peroxide, or soak in a mixture of cold water with one tablespoon of cream of tartar and one tablespoon of lemon juice.

Ball-point pen stain remover

see clothing stain removers

see clothing stain removers

Using methylated spirits, flush fabric repeatedly then rinse.

Blood stain remover

see clothing stain removers

see clothing stain removers

Soak in cold water for ten minutes and then wash with soap. For more stubborn stains, mix cornstarch, talcum powder, or cornmeal with water and apply to stain. Allow to dry and brush away.

Coffee stain remover

see clothing stain removers

see clothing stain removers

Wash out with cool water, then vinegar. Rinse. Or, mix egg yolk with lukewarm water and rub on stain.

Fruit stain remover

see clothing stain removers

see clothing stain removers

Immediately cover stain with salt and soak in milk before washing.

Grass stain remover

see clothing stain removers

see clothing stain removers

Soak with methylated spirits, allow to dry and then wash.

Grease stain remover

see clothing stain removers

see clothing stain removers

If the spot is fresh, sprinkle thickly with baking soda, leave for a few minutes then brush off. For dried grease stains, wet fabric and rub baking soda into spot. If a stubborn stain, repeat and leave for a few hours then wash.

Lipstick stain remover

see clothing stain removers

see clothing stain removers

Soak stain in milk for thirty minutes or rub with cold cream or shortening, then wash in warm soapy water. Also try putting a little glycerine on the stain and a few hours later wipe with eucalyptus.

Oil stain remover

see clothing stain removers

see clothing stain removers

Rub white chalk into stain before washing.

Red wine stain remover

see clothing stain removers

see clothing stain removers

Pour salt on immediately, let it stand for a while, then soak in cold water and rub out.

Rust stain remover

see clothing stain removers

see clothing stain removers

Saturate stain with lemon juice and cover with baking soda and leave to soak. Also try vinegar.

Scorch stain remover

see clothing stain removers

see clothing stain removers

Boil scorched article in 1 cup soap and 2 quarts milk.

Wax and chewing Gum remover

see clothing stain removers

see clothing stain removers

To remove from fabric, place a block of ice onto wax or gum or place fabric in plastic bag and put in freezer. After two hours scrape off and sponge with eucalyptus.

Shoe polish

nitrobenzene, turpentine

eye and skin irritant; respiratory effects; toxic

Use a little olive oil.

INSECTICIDES/ INSECT REPELLANT

carbaryl, chloropicrin, diazinon, dichlorvos, ethohexadiol, mercuric chloride, napthalene, paradichlorobenzene

carcinogenic; poisonous; toxic; eye, skin and lung irritant; mutagenic; affects central nervous system; poisonous; flammable

General insecticide/ Insect repellant

see insecticides/ insect repellant

see insecticides/ insect repellant

Spray plants evenly with soap-water, aiming directly at pests when possible. Or try chopping 1 small onion and 1 bulb of garlic, mix with 1 quart water, add 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper, let sit for one hour. Then add 2 tablespoons liquid soap. Mix well. When foam subsides, strain into spray bottle. Keep refrigerated; good for 1-2 weeks.

Ant repellant

see insecticides/ insect repellant

see insecticides/ insect repellant

Pour a line of cream of tartar, boric acid, talcum powder, or chalk, or sprinkle red chili pepper, cayenne pepper, paprika or dried peppermint where ants enter house.

Roach killer

see insecticides/ insect repellant

see insecticides/ insect repellant

Set out a dish of equal parts sugar and baking soda, or try chopped bay leaves and cucumber skins.

Moth repellant

see insecticides/ insect repellant

see insecticides/ insect repellant

Use cedar chips instead of mothballs.

Flea killer/repellant

see insecticides/ insect repellant

see insecticides/ insect repellant

Combine orange and grapefruit peels, 3 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon rosemary, and 1 pint of water in blender; blend until liquified. Heat mixture on low heat for 15 minutes. Strain liquid into spray bottle. Spray on pet and massage thoroughly into pet's coat (avoid eyes). Also try gradually adding brewer's yeast or garlic to pet's diet (check with veterinarian first). Vacuum furniture and carpet frequently. Clean pet's sleeping spots regularly and sprinkle with fennel, rue, or rosemary.

Fly repellant

see insecticides/ insect repellant

see insecticides/ insect repellant

Basil in a bowl of water.

(A) Not all products will contain the listed chemicals; also, some products may contain additional chemicals not listed here. Read the product label or contact the manufacturer for exact content.

(B) One or more of the possible contents has been found to have these effects.

Soap-Water: Mix vegetable-based liquid soap (such as castile soap) with water (about 2 tablespoons liquid soap with 1 quart of water). Use spray bottle or damp sponge or cloth.

Borax-Water: Mix 1/2 cup Borax with 1 gallon hot water. Use spray bottle or damp sponge or cloth.

Vinegar-Water: Mix 1/2 cup of white vinegar with 1 gallon water. Use spray bottle or damp sponge or cloth. For abrasive, use salt on the sponge or cloth.

Baking Soda: Use on non-scratch surfaces. Sprinkle baking soda on a wet sponge. If the baking soda leaves a residue, rinse with white distilled vinegar diluted in water, and dry with a cloth.

Lemon Juice-Water: Mix 1 tablespoon lemon juice with 1 quart of water. Use spray bottle or damp cloth.

Lemon Juice-Oil: Mix 1 part lemon juice with 2 parts olive or mineral oil. Use spray bottle or cloth.

Vinegar-Oil-Lemon Juice: Mix 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1/2 cup vegetable or mineral oil, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice.

Dichlorvos, mercuric chloride, nitrobenzene, and thiourea are considered "Extremely Hazardous Substances" by the U.S. EPA. See the EPA's List of Extremely Hazardous Substances for more information.

Ammonia, chlorine, diazinon, dichlorvos, formaldehyde, mercuric chloride, and trichloroethylene have been listed as Priority Hazardous Substances by the U.S. Agency for Toxic Susbtances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

For more information about the chemicals listed here, see the U.S. Agency for Toxic Susbtances and Disease Registry ToxFAQs, EPA's Envirofacts Warehouse and The Environmental Defense Scorecard.

For information about alternatives to pesticides in the garden, see The City of Boulder's Office of Environmental Affairs Integrated Pest Management web page and the EPA Citizen's Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety