Cheaper and more Environment-friendly

Natural and handicraft cleaning products do not contaminate rivers or maritime currents; they do not poison you or the earth. There are many natural alternatives without chemicals which are as effective as commercial products. For example, instead of using insecticides to rid ants in the kitchen, you can wash the working places and floors well with a mixture of vinegar and water.

Here are more do-it-yourself tips:

Water Softener: Use half cup of vinegar in the final rinse.

Window-Cleaner: Rub with a mixture of white vinegar/water or alcohol and water.

To Clean Copper: Make a paste with lemon juice, salt, flour or a mixture of vinegar and salt.

Homemade Detergent: Put 3 spoonfuls of sodium bicarbonate diluted in one liter of water.

To Clean Stainless Steel: Use sodium bicarbonate or mineral oil to make it shine, use vinegar to remove the stains.

Odorless detergent: Vinegar.

Coffee and Wine Stains: Rub with mineral water.

Rust-oxidation Stains: Remove with lemon juice or white vinegar and salt.

Wax/Linoleum Detergent: Put one cup of white vinegar diluted in 8 liters of water to remove the greasy stains, use mineral water to make it shine.

Anti-Moth (Wool): Use pieces of cedar or little bags of lavender.

Clean Out Pipes: Use boiling water once a week to prevent clogged pipes, or half cup of bicarbonate and half cup of vinegar.

Environmental Deodorant: Leave a box of bicarbonate open in the room, make an infusion of cloves and cinnamon or use flowers or dried herbs.

Fly and Cockroach Repellent: Feed the insects garlic and brewer's yeast.

Fennel. Rue and Rosemary: Effective against flies. Put eucalyptus grains and leaves near where animals sleep.

Kitchen Scrubbers: Soak plates and pots in a bicarbonate solution before washing them.

To Polish Furniture: Mix 3/4 of olive oil and 1/4 of vinegar or mix 1/3 of lemon juice with 2/3 of olive oil and rub with a soft cloth.

To Clean Lights. Mirrors and Windows: Put a small quantity of bicarbonate on a damp cloth and rub, then rinse with water and dry with a cloth.

Original source: Energy & Environment Newsletter.
Our source: YWCA Bolivia.