Household Hazardous Waste

Kitchen

All Purpose Disinfecting Cleaner

• 1 cup warm water
• 2/3 cup white vinegar

In a spray bottle, mix the vinegar and water. Add an essential oil like lemon or tea tree which have disinfecting properties.  If the area is very messy, you may want to mix 1 teaspoon of liquid castile soap and a cup of water to wash the area before using this cleaner.  You can also scrub a surface with baking soda first.

Dish Soap

• Use non-phosphate detergent

TIP: use half the recommended amount of detergent in your automatic dishwasher.

For hand washing try:

just washing with your regular liquid soap or dish soap or more creatively...

• 1 1/4 cup boiling water
• 1/4 cup castile bar soap, grated
• 1 Tbsp washing soda
• 1/4 cup liquid castile soap
• 10-20 drops essential oils (optional)

 

Add grated castile soap to boiling water until dissolved, add washing soda and stir, let mixture cool and add essential oils.  Transfer to soap dispenser.

TIP: If the mixture cools and is too thick, add warm water and shake.  Washing soda is the thickener, so add less if the soap is too hard, which will depend on your water and the temperature of your kitchen. 

 

Scouring Powder

• Baking soda

Pour in shaker and sprinkle in sink or on pans.
Scrub with a rough pad and rinse.

Soft Scrub

• 1/2 cup baking soda
• liquid soap
• essential oil, optional

Depending on the size of your job, place up to 1/2 cup of baking soda into a bowl. Slowly pour liquid soap, stirring constantly until mixture has the consistency of frosting. Add essential oil for scent and anti-fungal properties (e.g. lavender), if desired. Scoop the creamy mixture onto a damp sponge, scrub surface, and rinse.

Stain Remover

• Salt
• Juice of lemon or lime or vinegar

Sprinkle surface with salt and squeeze lemon or lime juice over the area. Let sit and rub out. This can even remove rust if allowed to sit a few hours.
TIP: A wet pumice stone can remove tough stains from porcelain or enamel without scratching.

Counter Top and Cutting Board Cleaners

• Vinegar
• Baking Soda

Spray with straight vinegar to kill mold in wet places. No need to rinse. Sprinkling baking soda onto a cutting board will absorb odors and provide grit to clean up tougher spills. Wipe down with a damp cloth.

Drain Cleaner

• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1/2 cup vinegar

Pour baking soda down the drain followed by vinegar. Let it bubble for 15 minutes, then pour down a teakettle full of boiling water. For stubborn clogs, use a mechanical snake or a Zip-It tool from the hardware store.

Garbage Pail Deodorizer

• 1 teaspoon tea tree oil
• 1 cup baking soda

Mix and work out all the lumps with a fork. Sprinkle in bottom of pail after liner is removed. Periodically rinse pail with vinegar and water and let dry in the sun.

Oven Cleaner

• 1 tablespoon liquid castile soap
• 1-1/2 cups baking soda
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• water
• brush such as a pastry brush

Remove your racks to be cleaned in the sink.  Scrape the oven interior with a wooden or plastic scraper or spatula to removed baked-on food.  Now combine the castile soap, baking soda and vinegar in a small bowl.  Add just enough water to make a thick paste.  Now use a brush such as a pastry brush to paint the inside of your oven including the celing and the door.  Leave for at least and hour and then remove with a cloth and scrubbie with water.
TIP: Prevention is the key to a clean oven. Line your oven with foil or aluminum oven liner found in the baking section of grocery stores.

Ant Eradicator 

• 1 cup borax
• 1 cup sugar water
• 4 loose wads of toilet paper
• 4 shallow glass jars with screw tops