NATURAL and NON-TOXIC ALTERNATIVES

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We live in an increasingly chemical society. Most people come in contact with a wide array of chemicals and products produced from chemicals every day.

It is not only when you use these chemical products that you are exposed to possibly negative effects. VOC's (volatile organic compounds) are part of many common household products. VOC's are found in the air of most homes where products such as cleaners are used and stored. Indoor air pollution is one of the nation's most pressing personal health concerns.  According to a 5-year EPA study, concentrations of 20 toxic compounds, some of which are linked with cancer and birth defects, were 200-500 times higher inside some homes than outdoors. (U.S. EPA 1991)

Many people believe that if products are available for purchase then they must have been tested and, therefore, are safe. This is not always the case.  There are no requirements for testing of adverse health effects from exposure to many of these chemicals. There is no requirement to list ingredients. The manufacturers are only required to label that products are poisonous or hazardous. Most chemicals used today were not available just 70 years ago.  More research is needed before we will know the impact of this continual contact and the cumulative effects of all these chemicals.

 

All Water Ends Up In The Ocean

 

 

 The high level of toxicity associated with these products is not only a potential hazard to people, but is now also posing a great threat to the environment.  As many chemical based products are manufactured, consumed and ultimately poured down drains or otherwise disposed of, many of these chemicals end up in the ocean.  As a result we now have ocean life with toxicity levels so high that "they exceed the limits for disposal of hazardous waste at sea." (Chadwick, Douglas H.,2005 National Geographic Magazine).  See our Environment area for more detailed information.
Most contact with dangerous chemicals can be avoided by watching what you buy, reading labels and choosing natural non-toxic products whenever possible. There are many commercially available products that are either less toxic or non-toxic. For a list of stores where you can shop for these products and help See the Sea, please see our Shop iGive.com page. 

 

There Is A Better Choice
We have compiled a list of natural alternatives, many of which you may already have in your home. Some of these natural alternatives require a little more time and a bit more elbow grease, but are safer for you and your family.  

Disclaimer: While we encourage using natural and non-toxic alternatives instead of the often highly toxic commercial formulations, please use the following suggestions with caution. While chemicals like isopropyl alcohol, borax and hydrogen peroxide are found in some of the following suggestions, they can be dangerous to both health and property if used incorrectly.  Always test the following suggestions by first using a small test portion to satisfy yourself with the functionality and safety prior to full use. Use of any of these  suggestions are at your own risk.  We assume no responsibility for the outcome or for any accidents, injuries or harm that might befall any person or property. 

 

 

Cleaning

  • General Household Cleaners

    • All-purpose cleaners

      • Baking Soda 

        • to clean glass and coffee pots - mix with water to form a thin cleaning paste

        • to remove red-wine stains from carpeting and clothing - sprinkle on spilled wine and then remove after absorption.

        • to polish aluminum, chrome, jewelry, plastic, porcelain, silver, stainless steel, and tin - mix with water to form a thin cleaning paste

        • to remove tea stains from cups and saucers - mix with water to form a thin cleaning paste

        • to clean sinks, countertops, toilets and tubs - mix with castile or vegetable based liquid soap and a drop tea tree or lavender oil

      • Distilled White Vinegar  

        • to clean linoleum floors and glass (from windows to shower doors) - mix with water and a little castile or vegetable soap

        • to cut grease and remove stains -use straight or with a little lemon juice

        • to remove soap scum and clean toilets - mix with a little baking soda 

        • for antibacterial cleaning - pour down drains once a week

        • to kill mold and mildew - mix with water in a spray bottle 

        • to dissolve mineral deposits - use straight 

        • to remove mildew or wax buildup - use straight

        • to polish some metals - use straight

        • to clean brick or stone - mix with water

        • to clean out the metallic taste in coffeepots - use straight

        • to shine windows without streaking - use straight 

      • Corn Starch 

        • to clean windows - make a weak solution with water or vinegar

        • to polish furniture - mix with water to a paste

        • to clean carpets and rugs - mix with water to a paste, let it dry and vacuum

        • to starch clothes - make a weak solution, put in a spray bottle, spray on and iron while still wet

      • Coarse salt- abrasive, stain absorbent

        • to clean copper pans and scour cookware -  make a strong solution with water

        • to clean ovens - sprinkle on fresh spills, wipe off  

        • to remove rust stains - sprinkle on, squeeze a lemon over the stain, let sit several hours, wipe off

      • Potatoes

        • to remove rust from baking pans and tin - scrub with cut or halved potatoes, follow with a salt scrub or dip the potato in salt before scrubbing

      • Pumice stick

        • to clean and remove rust from tools and BBQ grates - rub with wet pumice stick

    • Window Cleaning 

      • White vinegar 

        • wipe or spray on 1/2 cup mixed with 1 gallon, dry off with newspaper

         

    • Wood furniture and floor polish

      • white vinegar and vegetable oil 

        • (50/50) mix well,  rub on, buff with dry cloth

    • Metal/Silverware

      • Baking soda, salt, aluminum foil and boiling or very hot water makes a great silver cleaner. Combine all ingredients in a clean kitchen sink (not if it is aluminum), glass or other bowl. Place silver into water. The natural chemical reaction will remove all the tarnish. 

      • Baking Soda mixed to a paste with water will polish aluminum, chrome, jewelry, plastic, porcelain, silver, stainless steel, and tin.

 

  • Disinfectant/Antibacterial

    • Borax will boost the cleaning power of soap or detergent

      • mix 1/2 cup borax into 1 gallon of hot water to disinfect and deodorize

    • Isopropyl Alcohol

      • use straight or mix with water for general disinfectant

    • Tea Tree Oil 

      • mix 20-50 drops in bucket of water

  • Deodorize

    • Essential Oils - add a few drops to a bowl of hot water or put a few drops on a small scrap of cloth and leave on an open shelf for a room freshener.  Refresh as needed.  Peppermint, eucalyptus and lavender make nice nonpolluting air fresheners.

    • Baking Soda - open boxes in the refrigerator, sprinkle on smelly carpets, upholstery or vinyl, sprinkle into a smelly drain

    • Borax - sprinkle in the bottom of garbage pails or diaper pails to inhibit odor causing mold and bacteria growth

    • Vinegar - place partially filled dishes of vinegar around the kitchen to combat unpleasant cooking odors

    • Cinnamon and Cloves - boil  in a pan with water

    •  Potpourri-  lemon  peel, rosemary and whole cloves in a bowl will give inside air a pleasant scent

  • Drain Cleaners

    • Baking Soda - pour 1/2 cup down the drain, follow with 1 cup vinegar, plug drain tightly, wait for fizzing to stop, flush with 3 cups of boiling water

     

  • Laundry

    • Use only phosphate-free detergent, and use only the prescribed amount. Be sure to check the label. You can find phosphate-free laundry detergents in many stores or try one of the stores at iGive.com.

    • Hydrogen peroxide - alternative to bleach

    • Lemon Juice - bleaching effect especially in combination with sun light

    • Baking Soda - softens fabrics and removes certain stains

    • Borax - Removes stains and boosts effectiveness of detergents; to bleach, treat area with lemon and borax paste

    • Spot and Stain Removers

      • chocolate or coffee stains -  if fresh, blot with a clean cloth, use Club soda and cold water; otherwise soak in cold water, rub with soap and a mild borax solution, rinse, then wash in the hottest water the fabric will stand.

      • blood stains -  if fresh, blot with a clean cloth, use Club soda and cold water; if stain persists, rub with cornstarch and water paste, let dry in the sun if possible, brush or vacuum, wash as usual or apply mixture of ¼ cup borax and 2 cups water; rinse and wash. Do not apply hot water as the blood protein will coagulate and become fixed to the fabric.

      • grease stains - mix a paste of cornstarch and water, apply to grease stain, let dry then brush off; if stain persists, scrub spot with toothpaste.

      • ballpoint ink, - sponge with rubbing alcohol, rub with soap, rinse and wash.

      • lipstick -  rub with cold cream or shortening to dissolve color; rinse area with solution of washing soda and warm water to remove grease; wash in soapy water as hot as fabric will stand.

      • perspiration stains - sponge stain with a weak solution of white vinegar or lemon juice and water or soak clothes in a solution of corn meal and water.

      • rust stains from clothing - moisten spot with lemon juice, sprinkle with salt and expose to sunlight. To remove rust stains from white washables, cover the stains with cream of tartar, gather up the ends of the article so that the powder stays on the spot, dip the whole thing in hot water for 5 minutes, then wash as usual.

       

  • Mold Removers

    • Borax

      • mix 1/2 cup borax into 1 gallon of hot water to disinfect and deodorize

    • Hydrogen Peroxide 

    • Grapefruit seed extract

    • Tea tree oil

 

Garden

You can find many non-toxic commercially available garden products at Gardens Alive, see our Shop iGive page for a link.

  • Fertilizers

    • Grasscycle mow your lawn when it is about 3-31/2 inches high and cut off no more than about one inch. The grass clippings and leaves will quickly break down acting as a natural fertilizer. A mulching mower will cut the grass into smaller pieces.

    • Instead of using store bought fertilizers, compost your waste and use as fertilizer. 

    • Use organic fertilizers such as bone meal, fish emulsion, and manure.

  • Weed control

    • Pull weeds when they first appear, before they can become established.

    • Vinegar - Spray full strength directly on weeds, preferably on a sunny day.

    • Smother  

      • Cover weeds with newspaper (at least 4 pages thick) or cardboard which will degrade naturally and provide organic material. For a more aesthetic appearance, cover the paper with mulch or bark.

    • Burn 

      • Pour boiling water on the weeds.

      • Wave an open torch flame over the weeds. Many garden stores sell torches specifically for this purpose. 

       

  • Fungus control

    • Milk can control powdery mildew and black spots (often found on roses). Mix 1 part milk to 9 parts water and apply three times every 5 days with spray bottle. 

  • Garden Pests

    • Natural Insecticide recipes (Always test these blends on the lower leaves of plants and wait a few days to make sure that that particular plant will not sustain any leaf damage.)

      • Mix a few drops of liquid detergent (preferably vegetable or castile based), a couple of hot peppers, and 1 finely chopped garlic clove with water in a handheld spray bottle.  Spray directly at infested areas.

      • Use a blender to puree equal parts hot peppers, white onions and garlic. Add 3 cups of water to the mixture and soak overnight in a covered bowl. Strain and add enough water to the liquid solution to make 1 gallon.  Spray solution on infested areas.

      • Mix 1 cup of vegetable oil with 1 tablespoon liquid dishwashing soap. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons for every cup of warm water to a handheld spray bottle or add entire mixture to a  1 gallon garden sprayer and fill with water. Spray entire plant, including the undersides of leaves

      • Chop 10 - 15 garlic cloves into small pieces to soak in 1 pint mineral oil overnight. Strain and add 1 pint water and small amount (less than 1/2 ounce) liquid soap (preferably vegetable or castile based).  Spray oil mixture directly on infestations.

    • Aphids

      • Spray infested areas with mild soap (preferably vegetable or castile based) and water solution.

      • Introduce ladybugs as a natural aphid control. 

    • slugs and snails: 

      • Place bowls of 1/2 - 1 inch of beer around the garden or sprinkle sawdust, ashes or lime around the affected areas.

      • Introduce beetles as a natural slug control. 

 

 

Pests In The Home

A number of nontoxic substances can be used to repel insects. Generally, they are highly fragrant or volatile herbs or spices. Powdered red chill pepper, peppermint, bay leaves, cloves, citrus oil, lavender, rosemary, tobacco, peppercorns, and cedar oil can repel various types of insects.

  • Ants: Sprinkle powdered red chill pepper, paprika, dried peppermint, chalk or borax where the ants are entering. 

  • Beetles: Kill manually when you see them.

  • Cockroaches: Sprinkle borax and sugar (50/50) anywhere cockroaches are visible.

  • Fleas: Mix powdered brewer's yeast into pet food or feed your pet garlic pills.

  • Moths: Air clothes in the sun then store in airtight containers.  Place sachets of lavender or cedar chips in with clothing.

  • Rodents (rats and mice):  Prevention may be the best cure. Holes in exterior or interior walls should be closed off and storage spaces kept orderly. Garbage should be kept tightly covered. To catch rodents, the most efficient system is the oldest: a cat. Next best are mouse and rat traps.

  • Termites: Any wooden parts of the house should be at least 18 inches off the ground because subterranean termites cannot tolerate being exposed to air and light. However, most existing houses have only about an 8-inch clearance between wooden parts and the ground, making the wood vulnerable. Metal shields may help discourage termites but they cannot prevent infestations. If you already have active infestation, there are less toxic alternatives.  Try Extermax from N-Viro Products, Ltc. Telephone in U.S. (516)567-2628

Cosmetic and Personal care

  • Moisturizers and conditioners: egg yolk, milk, yogurt, safflower oil (for light moisturizing), olive oil (for dry skin or hair), water, oatmeal, jojoba oil

  • Astringents/after shaves: witch hazel, diluted isopropyl alcohol

  • Deodorants: baking soda, white clay, deodorant crystals, baking soda

  • Toothpastes: baking soda, salt

  • Soaps/cleansing agents: castle soap, olive oil based soap

  • Perfumes: essential oils provide nontoxic fragrances that can be used to scent shampoo, bath soaks, or even, in the case of peppermint, to flavor toothpaste.

 

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