Job or Household Product

Substitute Method or Cleaning Aid

Air freshener for refrigerator, closets, basement, storeroom, garage, workroom

1. Opened box of baking soda, or

2. Activated charcoal. (replace either one every 3 months or according to package instructions)

3. Blow odors out of a room or closet with an electric fan

Air freshener for garbage pail

Wash without borax solution. Then sprinkle some dry borax on bottom of pail.

Air freshener for pet litter

Add borax to litter mix

Anti mold product

1. White vinegar

2. Borax in warm water

Boot and shoe polish (for leather)

Small amounts of olive or lemon oil. Buff with soft cloth.

Chrome cleaner

1. Apply cider vinegar with soft cloth, then buff with paper towel.

2. Apply whiting* with damp cloth, then dry with soft cloth

Coffeemaker and teapot (nonaluminum) cleaner

Pour baking soda on damp sponge and rub

Crayon mark removal

1. Apply white vinegar sparingly and rub. Then apply fuller’s earth⁺. Remove after few minutes.

2. See also whiting* with damp cloth, then dry with soft cloth

Diapers

Flush and put in solution of ½ cup borax and 2 gallons warm water. Soak overnight to get rid of odors and stains, then launder

Disinfectant

Borax in warm water

Drain opener and pipe unclogger sinks and tube

1. Flush with: ½ cup baking soda and 1 cup white vinegar. Or 3 tablespoon washing soda. Or equal parts of salt and baking soda.

2. Unclog with plunger and plumber’s snake, available at hardware stores.

Drain opener and pipe unclogger garbage disposal

Sprinkle 3 tablespoon borax in drain. Let stand 15 minutes. Turn on disposal and flush with cold water for a few seconds.

Electric iron cleaner (not for Teflon or other specially coated iron surface)

In saucepan, combine white vinegar and salt to make a thick paste. Warm slightly and, with cloth, rub moisture on bottom of iron to remove dark spots or scorched matter.

Furniture polish

Rub thoroughly after applying: beeswax, or olive oil, or 100% lemon oil, or beeswax and olive oil.

General cleaning compounds (painted walls, woodwork, floors and tile)

1. Combine ½ cup borax and ½ teaspoon Ivory dishwashing liquid in 2 gallons warm water.

2. Borax in warm water.

Grease spots on clothing

Sprinkle fuller’s earth on the spot. Remove after 15 minutes to 2 hours. Careful: Will lighten colored fabric if left on too long

Grease stains on rug and upholstery

Vegetable oil, followed by soap and water

Jewelry

1. Costume jewelry, diamonds and gems; clean with warm (not hot), soapy water and a soft nailbrush or soft toothbrush. Dry with a very soft cloth.

2. Pearls: rub on a few drops of glycerin (available at drugstores) and shine with a very soft cloth.

Laundry bleach

Use nonchlorine (oxygen) bleaches

Laundry detergent

Use Ivory powder or enzyme free laundry detergent, baking soda or borax

Laundry rinse

To remove all traces of detergent, add ½ cup borax or ½ cup white vinegar to first rinse cycle.

Laundry stain removal and whitener

1. Add ½ cup borax to wash load

2. Hang washed laundry in sunshine to dry

Metal cleaner (for brass, bronze, copper, pewter and stainless steel; not for silver plate or jewelry)

1. Dampen table salt with lemon juice and rub.

2. Combine 1 tablespoon salt and 1 tablespoon flour. Add 1 tablespoon white vinegar. Mix into a thick paste. Apply with a damp sponge or cloth and rub gently. Let dry for about an hour. Rinse well with warm water. Buff dry with a soft cloth.

Mildew removal on refrigerator door and rubber gasket

Wipe with white vinegar

Miscellaneous surface cleanser (Formica, glass, marble)

Rub with salt and rinse thoroughly with warm water

Moth repellent

Store clothes with cheesecloth sachets of: dried lavender, or a mixture of ½ pound rosemary, ½ pound mint, ¼ pound thyme and 2 tablespoons cloves.

Oven cleaner

1. Wipe with damp cloth while oven is still warm.

2. Scrub with steel wool and washing soda.

Percolator (nonaluminum) cleaner

Fill with water to full cup capacity. Add 1 teaspoon borax for every cup. Let percolate, then stand for 20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.

Pot and pan scrubber

Soak in warm salt water, then rub with plain steel wool

Refrigerator cleaner

Sponge with a solution of 1 tablespoon borax and 1 quart warm water. Rinse with cold, clear water.

Scorch stains in clothing

Saturate with white vinegar, then wash as usual

Scouring powder for sinks, tubs, bathroom tile, fiberglass

Sprinkle baking soda or borax on a damp sponge and rub. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.

Silver polish

1. Place in aluminum pan with: 1 teaspoon cream of tartar and 1 quart warm water, or 1 teaspoon baking soda and 1 quart warm water.

2. Rub with whiting* on damp cloth

Window cleaner

1 tablespoon white vinegar in 1 quart warm water or ¼ cup white vinegar in 1 gallon warm water.

Windshield cleaner

Apply baking soda with a damp sponge