Resources FAQ Terms & Definitions For Educators En Español Home

Maintaining the Home:
Environment Issues

Hazardous Household Substances: Alternatives That Are Relatively Free of Toxic Effects

Many people believe that hazardous or toxic chemicals are found only in industries that manufacture plastics, pesticides, pharmaceuticals or automobiles. However, a variety of products that we use in our homes contain chemicals that fit the definition of hazardous or toxic. Hazardous products line our kitchen, bath, utility and garage shelves. In most cases the concentration of the chemical products found in the home are much lower than the concentration of those in the work place. However, the potential for exposure to chemicals from household products in the home does exist.

What Can We Do?

Misuse or improper disposal of these hazardous products can pose a threat to your health. Long term or cumulative problems, such as contamination of drain fields, septic systems and surface and groundwater can also occur.

To decrease exposure to pollutants, and produce less hazardous household waste, consider using alternatives that contain non-toxic chemicals.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines a substance as hazardous if it is flammable, can react or explode when mixed with other substances, is corrosive, or is toxic.

Why do we use potentially hazardous products? Time and convenience are the primary reasons. In the past, sinks were scrubbed with baking soda. Extra effort was needed to maintain a stain free sink. Wood floors were cleaned with oil and vinegar or just mineral oil. This eliminated the need for wax, but required more work. Today, most households contain relatively non-toxic substances, which can be combined to do the same job as a hazardous product.

Is it Hazardous?

Check the label. Many household products used for household cleaning, car care or yard care can be toxic, corrosive, flammable or reactive. All of these designations are considered hazardous. Signal words on the label are "CAUTION", "WARNING", or "DANGER". "CAUTION" indicates the lowest level of toxicity and "DANGER" is the highest level of toxicity.

Household Cleaners

Many common household cleaning products contain caustics or solvents, which when used, stored or disposed of improperly, could threaten your family’s health or damage the environment. Caustic chemicals, such as those found in oven cleaners (lye, sodium hydroxide), drain cleaners, scouring powders or bleach, can burn and severely damage the skin and eyes.

Solvents are fast-drying substances that dissolve another substance. Inhalation of these vapors or accidental ingestion can be harmful or even fatal. Long-term exposure to some solvents may cause liver and kidney problems, birth defects, central nervous system disorders and cancer. Furniture polish, silver cleaner, paint remover and wood floor wax contain solvents.

Waste Disposal

Be aware of the hazards indicated on the label before using the product. Carefully follow directions concerning use, storage and disposal. In most cases there will be no specific directions for disposal of the "left over" product. The best disposal route for hazardous products is to use them up according to the directions or share with a friend. If you need to separate any portion of the product from its original container, be sure to duplicate the label in its entirety and attach it to the new container.

Your Alternatives

You can reduce handling, use and disposal hazards associated with dangerous household products by substituting safer alternatives. Some of these alternatives are as simple as immediately mopping up spills with water or club soda. Full strength vinegar or lemon juice applied to rust stains or hard water deposits will fade and perhaps eliminate the stain. In some cases, using these alternatives may require more effort in order to get the desired results.

Reducing the amount of hazardous products you purchase not only saves money, but also eliminates the threat of accidental exposure and pollution of the environment. You may decide to use latex water base paint, scrub your sink with baking soda, or spray your plants with a mixture of pepper water and garlic. Once you understand the basic substitutes, formulas and procedures, you can make your own decisions about tradeoffs. Fortunately, most households have the basic ingredients for safer substitutes for most of these hazardous household materials.

To help you get started, alternatives to hazardous household products have been provided. These alternatives are relatively free of toxic effects.

Relatively Toxic-Free Household Alternatives

  • Open the windows, use an exhaust fan or both.
  • Use the air conditioner to dry the air and keep odors down.
  • Sprinkle baking soda in odor-producing areas.
  • Place an open box of baking soda in the refrigerator to absorb food odors.
AIR FRESHENERS
  • Scour badly abraded aluminum vessels with whiting (calcium carbonate, found in paint stores) and soap jelly (recipe given in the "General Purpose Cleaners" section).
    Use very fine steel wool.
  • Brighten a discolored aluminum pan by boiling it in one of the following solutions until the discoloration disappears:
    • 1 tablespoon of vinegar to 1 quart water.
    • 2 teaspoonfuls of cream of tartar to 1 quart water.
ALUMINUM CLEANERS
  • Mildew and other stains can be removed from grout with a solution of 1/2 cup of bleach and 1 cup water. Let stand 5 minutes and rinse with clear water.
  • Scrub with washing soda (sodium carbonate).
  • Scrub with borax (sodium borate).
BATHROOM CLEANERS/ DISINFECTANTS
  • Make a paste of:
    • 1 pint soap jelly (see "General Purpose Cleaners").
    • 1 cup whiting.
    • 1 teaspoon household ammonia.
    Add whiting and ammonia to soap jelly before it congeals and beat together. After using the paste, wash articles in hot suds, rinse and dry.
  • Tarnished copper also can be cleaned with salt dissolved in hot white cider vinegar or lemon juice.
  • Brass with antique finish can be polished with boiled linseed oil or lemon oil.
BRASS AND COPPER CLEANERS
  • Clean the carpet on a sunny day. Open the windows to speed up drying. Don’t soak the carpet—it may mildew.
  • Test the shampoo first on an inconspicuous area to check for possible discoloration.
  • Use a mix of baking soda with water.
  • Prepare a liquid detergent and boiling water solution (see "Upholstery Cleaners" section). Rub the foam in 4-foot sections. Continue the same process as for upholstery.
CARPET AND RUG CLEANER
  • Prepare a mixture of 2 tablespoons of trisodium phosphate (TSP) and 1 gallon of water. Apply to tile and grout with a brush or cloth. Mop up dirty water with a sponge or cloth.
CERAMIC TILE CLEANER
To keep drains clean:
  • Cover drains with screens.
  • Flush pipes with 1/2 pound of washing soda in 2 cups of boiling water, then rinse. Do this once a month.
To unclog drains:
  • Mix 1 cup each of baking soda, salt and white vinegar. Wait 15 minutes. Pour it down the drain and flush thoroughly with boiling water. Use a rubber plumber’s snake if the drain is seriously clogged.
DRAIN CLEANERS
FLOOR POLISH (liquid)
  • 1/4 cup paraffin and 2 quarts mineral oil. Melt paraffin in a double boiler.
    Stir in mineral oil. Transfer to bottles and label.
FURNITURE POLISH
  • Dust with cloths that gather dust rather than scatter it. Make dust cloths by putting cloths in a tin container or jar in which a few drops of oil or wax have been placed. Cover tightly and leave overnight. The cloths will absorb just enough oil or wax to remove dust and polish the surface at the same time.
  • Use lemon oil and beeswax.
  • Use beeswax and olive oil.
  • Mix 2 teaspoons of lemon oil and 1 pint of mineral oil in a spray bottle.
  • Mix 1 tablespoon of mild soap powder, 1quart of water, 1 tablespoon of household ammonia, and 2 tablespoons of boiled linseed oil.
  • Mix equal portions of denatured alcohol, strained fresh lemon juice (not canned or frozen), olive oil or boiled linseed oil and gum turpentine. Shake mixture each time before using. This polish keeps indefinitely.
GENERAL PURPOSE CLEANERS
  • Vinegar with salt and water.
  • Vinegar mixed with water.
  • Baking soda on a damp sponge (rinse with water and polish to shine).
  • Most soap pads (example, SOS pads).
  • Baking soda—rub with 1/2 lemon dipped in borax.
  • 2 tablespoons of ammonia, 2 tablespoons liquid detergent, 1 quart warm water.
  • Soap jelly (used in other formulas). To make, dissolve 1 cup of shaved soap or soap flakes in 1 quart of boiling water. When entirely melted or dissolved, pour into a wide mouth jar. Let the mixture stand in a cool place until it jells.
GENERAL PURPOSE METAL POLISH
  • 1/2 cup of household ammonia, 1/2 cup of denatured alcohol, and 1 cup diatomaceous earth. Mix ammonia and alcohol. Stir in the diatomaceous earth. Add water to make a creamy mixture. Store in bottle that has been labeled and shake before using.
IRON CLEANER
  • Boil the item in soda water (sodium bicarbonate solution) for a few minutes to clean. Remove rust from iron with steel wool or scouring powder.
  • Before storing untreated iron or steel pots and pans, coat with saltless fat or oil, wrap in paper, and store in a dry place.
OVEN CLEANERS
  • Wipe away grease and spills after using the oven. Wipe away charred spills with a non-metallic bristle brush. If the oven is wiped out after each use, there will not be a need to use harsh chemicals for cleaning.
  • To remove baked-on grease and spills, scrub with a baking soda, salt and water paste. Or sprinkle with dry baking soda, then scrub with a damp cloth after 5 minutes. (Do not let baking soda touch wires or heating elements.) Scour racks and burner inserts with steel wool.
PAINTED SURFACES
  • To prevent streaking, wash walls by starting at the baseboard and working upward. If soiled water runs down on the clean surface, clean it up immediately. Gloss enamel-painted walls are easier to clean than flat- painted walls because they can withstand stronger washing solutions.
  • For general cleaning, use a mixture of soap jelly (see "General Purpose Cleaners") or liquid detergent and warm water. Add enough water to make light suds. Dust all painted surfaces thoroughly before washing, then wash with a soft cloth dipped in the cleaning solution and wrung out. Rinse well and then dry with a soft cloth. Wash only a small area at a time.
  • Whiting paste will remove fingerprints and clean heavily soiled places. Make it by mixing four parts of whiting with one part soap jelly. Keep it in a small jar. Apply with a soft cloth, rubbing lightly, then rinse.
SILVER
  • Pour water into an aluminum or enameled pan with aluminum foil covering the bottom of the pan. Fill to a depth of 2 to 3 inches (enough to cover silver with water). Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of salt, and heat until the water boils. Add tarnished silver and boil 3 minutes. Remove silver, wash in soapy water and polish dry. (Not for use on silver jewelry or flatware with hollow handles.)
TOILET BOWL CLEANER
  • Clean with borax and lemon juice.
  • Pour 1/2 cup of liquid chlorine bleach into toilet bowl. Let stand for at least 30 minutes, then scrub with a long-handled brush and flush. Remember, never mix ammonia and bleach.
  • Salt and water.
UPHOLSTERY CLEANER
  • Mix 1/2 cup mild liquid dishwashing detergent with 1 pint boiling water. Let cool. Whip into a thick foam using an electric mixer. Test a small area before proceeding. Apply the foam to the fabric with a damp sponge. Wipe off the suds with a clean cloth. To rinse, add 1 cup of white vinegar to 1 gallon of lukewarm water. Rinse well, using as little liquid as possible, and change the water often. Put pressure on a clean white towel to remove the moisture (do not rub).
WINDOW AND MIRROR CLEANER
  • Remove surface soil with a paper towel or soft cloth. Apply cleaning liquid with a sponge. Rub dry and polish with a newspaper or cloth.
  • On windows, rub the inside in one direction and the outside in another to determine which side the streaks are on. Avoid spilling the cleaner on painted or varnished woodwork because it can damage the finish.
  • Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar to 1 quart of water. Apply with a wadded-up newspaper.
  • Mix 3 tablespoons of ammonia, 1 tablespoon white vinegar, and 3/4 cup of water in a clean spray bottle.
  • Mix 1/4 cup of cornstarch, 1/2 cup of ammonia, and 1 cup of vinegar in a jar. Wear gloves, if necessary, because vinegar is a mild acid. It will remove rust or lime deposits on the outside of windows.

General rules for managing toxic household products

Peventive measures

Safety considerations

Where to purchase products mentioned in this publication

Ammonia Retail Supermarket/Pharmacy
Baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate) Retail Supermarket/Pharmacy
Boiled linseed oil Hardware Store
Borax Retail Supermarket/Pharmacy
Cream of tartar Retail Supermarket/Pharmacy
Denatured alcohol Hardware Store/Pharmacy
Diatomaceous earth Pool Chemical Supply Co.
Fuller’s earth Ceramic Shop/Pharmacy
Gum turpentine Hardware Store/Pharmacy
Salt (sodium chloride) Retail Supermarket/Pharmacy
Trisodium phosphate Hardware Store/Pharmacy
Vinegar Retail Supermarket
Washing soda (sodium carbonate) Retail Supermarket
Whiting Paint Store

 

This material was adapted from publications produced by New Mexico State University.

Next: Radon Gas

Back to top

Sponsored by New Mexico State University and the City of Las Cruces.

Supported by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. NMSU and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating.
© 2005 NMSU Board of Regents. All rights reserved.