Reduce your use of hazardous products! Zero Waste Marin encourages everyone to use less harmful and toxic products to clean your home and office. Use baking soda as a good all-purpose cleaner and vinegar to make your windows and mirrors sparkle. Look for less toxic or non-toxic products when you shop, or create your own less toxic cleaning recipes. Be aware of “green” or “eco-friendly” packaging as it is sometimes simply a marketing ploy to promote a perception of truly environmentally friendly products.
Regular Cleaner | Less Toxic Alternative |
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Brass polish | Mix equal parts salt, white vinegar and flour to make a paste; let sit 10–15 minutes and rinse thoroughly. |
Chrome polish | Wipe with vinegar, then rinse and dry; shine chrome fixtures with baby oil and a soft cloth. |
Copper polish | Cut a lemon or lime in half, sprinkle with salt and rub onto copper. |
Dishwashing | Hand washing: Use vegetable oil based liquid soaps. Dishwasher: Use low phosphate detergents and run only when full. |
Drain cleaner | For minor clogs, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain followed by 1/2 cup of white vinegar; wait 5 minutes and follow with a kettle of boiling water. For serious clogs, use a plunger or a metal snake. |
Fertilizer | Use compost and mulches instead of chemical fertilizers. |
Furniture polish | Mix 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup vinegar, and a couple drops of lemon oil; wipe mixture on a clean cloth and polish. |
General household cleaner | Mix 1 teaspoon liquid soap, 1 teaspoon borax or baking soda, and a dash of lemon juice or white vinegar with 1 quart warm water. |
Mildew/mold remover | Mix 1/2 cup of borax with 1 gallon of water and scrub with nylon scouring pad. |
Oven cleaner | As a preventive measure, line the bottom of your oven with foil. To clean, use baking soda, soap and water with a copper scrubber. |
Silver polish | For jewelry: Place a few strips of aluminum foil in a jar of water; add 1 teaspoon of salt and mix; add your silver jewelry and let stay in solution for at least one hour or overnight; remove and polish with a soft cloth. For a “quick” polish, rub toothpaste on your silver, rinse with water and polish with a soft cloth. |
Stain remover | Mix 1/4 cup liquid detergent, 1/4 cup glycerin and 1-1/2 cups of water, then pour into spray bottle; club soda may also work. |
Stainless steel cleaner | Clean with baking soda and a soft sponge. Rinse with white vinegar/water solution. |
Toilet bowl cleaner | Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into bowl; let sit for an hour or so and scrub. |
Tub and tile cleaners | Mix 1–2/3 cups of baking soda, 1/2 cup of liquid soap, 1/2 cup of water, then add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar; use as a soft scrub cleanser. |
Window cleaner | Mix 1/4 cup of white vinegar and 1 quart of warm water. Use a squeegee for best results. |
Wine stains | Use club soda directly on stain; also try white wine on red wine stains. |