ERNATIVE

' OME CLEANERS

Ve’ve all become used to using harsh cleaners with- ut a second thought - cleaners that are often toxic. These recipes for cleaners and other products are easy o make, easy to use and easier on the environment.

he Rules: Never mix Chlorine bleach and ammonia: sadly fumes will result. Never mix chlorine bleach vinegar or certain toilet bowl cleaners; deadly ilorine gas is produced.

ll-Purpose Cleaner 2 cup ammonia hite vinegar

ix together.

1/2 cup baking soda 1/2 cup 2 quarts of water

Drain Cleaner; 1/2 cup baking soda flowed by 1/2 cup vinegar and a handful of salt will cut through grease. eave 15 minutes. Pourakettle of boiling water nthe drain. 0 keep drains clear, pour about 1/4 cup salt down the ain followed by a kettle of boiling water once or vice a week. low drains can be helped along with hot water and 1/ cup washing soda. Wait 15 minutes, then flush ith more hot water. leaners; Baking sodaona damp cloth works well on | inks and appliances and for tea and coffee stains in ps. Borax is preferred for formica. lass Cleaner; mix 1/2 cup vinegar in a quart of ater. Keep ina spray bottle. Very good for cutting ease.

Purniture Polish; For furniture that doesn’t havea fotective hard coating. Combine | teaspoon lemon land | pint mineral oil. Put ina spray bottle. ray on, rub in, then wipe clean.

imiture Polish; For furniture that has been var-

hed, lacquered or shellacked. Add 2 tablespoons

ve oil to | tablespoon white vinegar and | quart

wet water, Mix ingredients and put ina spray. ttle, The polish works best when warm; heat the

le ina pan of hot water. Spray on furniture, rub

with a soft cloth,

h Repellents; Hang a small bag of cedar chips le at pet stores) at either end of the clothes

5

In the Laundry; Replace bleach with borax.

Soap powders are safer than detergents. Don’t use excessive amounts of soaps or detergents and only run your washer with full loads.

Static builds up when cloths become too dry. There are two simple ways to avoid the problem. Remove the clothes from the dryer when slightly damp, hang to finish drying OR you can toss a small wet towel into the dryer a few minutes before the end of the cycle. Remove the garments and hang them up as soon as the dryer stops. Cloths will be wrinkle free too. Descalers; Use a solution of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water to clean your electric kettle. Bring it to the boil unplug and leave it overnight. Rinse thoroughly. Steam Iron; First clean the steam ports on the bottom ofthe iron. Poke apipe cleaner, straightened paper clip or stiff wire into each hole and ream it out. Next fill the iron with a 50-50 vinegar and water solution. Place the iron on a metal cake rack in the sink, plug the iron in and set it on steam. The vinegar will remove the mineral deposits. Fill again with soft water and steam it out.

.

Toilet Bowl; For regular cleaning use 1 teaspoon household ammonia, | cup hydrogen peroxide and 2 quarts water. Mix ingredients in a pail and pour mixture into toilet. Let stand for 30 minutes. Scuba with toilet brush and flush. The cleaner can be left in the bowl for several hours if needed to remove hard stains.

Chrome Appliances; Clean chrome by polishing with a soft cloth and rubbing alcohol or with a little ammo- nia and hot water.f Dry baking soda anda dry cloth can also do the job.

By Rhoda Kernested

WORK IN FRANCE — OR,THE U.S.A.

FE TRAVEL CUTS HALIFAX 902) 494-205

RESS

March 26, 1992