One of the easiest ways to help our lake is to choose environmentally friendly
cleaning products. There are now some great products that are both as effective
as other products as well as less harmful.
The Good Guide is an American site that lists and ranks the environments impact of
various products. Remember that not all Canadian products will be listed there, and that
some of the products listed are only available south of the border. Nonetheless, it is
a good resource. For more
information, visit their web site at www.goodguide.com
Method are the "people against dirty", and they have a wide range of excellent
products. They are conveniently available at Shoppers Drugmart. For more
information, visit their web site at www.methodhome.com/products/
Nature Clean is Canada's oldest and leading brand of environmentally safe,
non-toxic, household cleaning, laundry and body care products. For more
information, visit their web site at
www.naturecleanliving.com
These products are sold at Home Hardware stores across Canada. The wonder cloth is apparently made from 100% natural
wood fibres, and resists bacterial growth, thus making it an ideal multi-use cloth. It feels pretty stiff straight
out of the package, but it will mellow out a little with some use!
Another product is the Natura static-free, re-usable dryer sheets. Each box contains 2 re-usable sheets and they are
good for more than 500 loads. I�m not sure if that is 500 each or combined, but either way this is not only more eco-friendly
but also quite a bit cheaper than Bounce or other dryer sheets. The box cost $12.95, so even if it was only good for 500 loads
total, thats 5X more than the 100-sheets of Bounce (which probably cost $4 or $5).
Also, one other thing worthy of mention � it looks as though some money is donated to the Tree Canada Foundation for any Natura
products (or at least the Wonder Cloth) purchased.
Holding Tank Treatment by Natura
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Drain and Spetic Tank Maintainer by Natura
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Borax by Natura
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Dishwasher Gel by Natura
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Dishwashing Liquid by Natura
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Dishwashing Liquid by Natura (refill)
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Concentrated Dishwashing Liquid by Natura
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Dryer Sheets by Natura
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Toilet Bowl Cleaner by Natura
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Concentrated Laundry Detergent by Natura
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Concentrated Laundry Detergent by Natura
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Fabric Softener by Natura
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Carpet Stain Remover by Natura
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Glass Cleaner by Natura
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Odour Eliminator by Natura
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Tile and Grout Cleaner by Natura
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Concentrated Tile and Grout Cleaner by Natura
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General Purpose Cleaner by Natura
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The following items are some more environmentally friendly products that can
be found at the Independent Grocers in Gravenhurst.
Shampoo by Natures Harmony
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Tile & Bath Cleaner by Nature Clean
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All-Purpose Cleaner by Simply Clean
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Liquid Laundry Detergent by Nature Clean
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Dish Soap by President's Choice
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Steel Wool by S.O.S.
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Dish Soap by bio*life
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Laundry Detergent with Fabric Softener by BioGreen
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Dishwasher Tabs by BioGreen
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Inexpensive old-fashioned substances can easily replace more toxic cleaners and
chemicals around the house. This handy chart is compiled from the Ecology
Action Centre, Environment Canada, Greenpeace, Pollution Probe, Eartheasy, and
from Canadians for a Clean Environment.
| Category |
Product |
Alternative |
| Cleaners |
Drain cleaner |
Mix equal portions of baking soda and vinegar OR mix 1 cup (250 ml) baking
soda, 1 cup (250 ml) salt and 1/4 cup (50 ml) cream of tartar Pour 1/4 cup (50
ml) of either mixture into drain weekly. After 15 minutes, follow with pot of
boiling water. Flush with cold water. Do not use this method after trying a
commercial drain opener - the vinegar can react with the drain opener to create
dangerous fumes. |
| Oven cleaner |
1/4 cup (50 ml) ammonia. Preheat oven for 20 minutes. Turn off. Place ammonia
in shallow (non aluminium) pan, fill with water and place in oven overnight. In
morning, clean with baking soda and water. |
| All-purpose cleaner |
1/4 cup (50 ml) baking soda, 1/2 cup (125 ml) ammonia, 1/4 cup (50 ml) vinegar,
1 gallon (4 litres) warm water. |
| Toilet bowl cleaner |
1,000 mg vitamin C overnight OR baking soda OR mild detergent OR borax |
| Tub and Tile cleaner |
Rub baking soda with a damp sponge and rinse with fresh water. For tougher
jobs, wipe surfaces with vinegar first and follow with baking soda as a
scouring powder. |
| Glass cleaner |
1 part vinegar, 4 parts water. Clean with newspapers or cotton cloth. |
| Rug/upholstery |
Sprinkle liberally with cornstarch/baking soda mixture OR 2 parts cornmeal,
1part borax; leave 1 hour, then vacuum. |
| Chlorine bleach |
Borax or washing soda |
| Abrasive scouring powder |
Baking soda |
| Paint brush cleaner |
Non-toxic, citrus oil based solvents |
| Washing Detergents |
Laundry detergent |
Add 1/4 cup (50 ml) washing soda as washer fills. Add clothes and 1-1/2 cups
(375 ml) soap powder. If your water is hard, add 1/4 cup (50 ml) washing soda
OR 1/2 cup (125 ml) vinegar at first rinse. |
| Automatic dishwasher detergent |
Use equal parts of washing soda and borax. Do not use on teflon or aluminum
pots. |
| Dishwashing detergent |
Place 500ml (2 cups) of grated bar soap or soap flakes in a pot. Add 4 litres
of water. Heat to boiling to dissolve soap. Cool. Store tightly covered. |
| Ceramic tile cleaners |
Approximately 1/2 cup of vinegar in 4 litres of water. Scrub floor with
solution. |
| Metal Cleaners and Polishes |
Aluminum |
Using a soft cloth, clean with a solution of cream of tartar and water. |
| Brass or bronze |
Polish with a soft cloth dipped in lemon and baking soda solution, or vinegar
and salt solution. |
| Chrome |
Polish with baby oil, vinegar, or aluminum foil shiny side out. |
| Copper |
Soak a cotton rag in a pot of boiling water with 1 tbsp. salt and 1 cup of
white vinegar. Apply to copper while hot; let cool, then wipe clean. For
tougher jobs, sprinkle baking soda or lemon juice on the cloth before wiping. |
| Gold |
Clean with toothpaste, or a paste of salt, vinegar and flour. |
| Silver |
Toothpaste OR cover bottom of stainless steel pot with aluminum foil. Fill with
1 litre of boiling water. Add 1 tsp. baking soda and 1 tsp. salt. Soak silver
for 15 minutes. This method should not be used on silver plating. |
| Stainless steel |
Clean with a soft cloth dampened with undiluted white vinegar. |
| Furniture polish |
Dissolve 1 tsp (10 ml) lemon oil in 2 cups (500 ml) mineral oil. |
| Floor polish |
Melt 1/8 cup (20ml) of paraffin wax. Add 1 quart of mineral oil. |
| Shoe polish |
Apply olive oil with a few drops of lemon juice to shoes using a thick cotton
or terry rag. Leave for a few minutes; wipe and buff with a clean, dry cloth.
Walnut oil and other nut oils also work well. |
| Pests |
Moths and mothballs |
Use cedar chips (aromatic cedar) in a cheesecloth or cedar oil in an absorbant
cloth or bayleaves to repel moths. Homemade moth-repelling sachets can be made
with lavender, rosemary, vetiver and rose petals. Dried lempeels are also a
natural moth deterrent. |
| Flies |
Place honey on yellow paper on the window sill. |
| Ants |
Will retreat from: cucumber, or lemon juice and lemon peel, or red chili
powder, or paprika, or dried peppermint leaves, or lines of chalk, or damp
coffee grounds, or bone meal, or talcum. Place at point of entry. |
| Fleas |
Add Brewers' yeast to your pets diet: 5ml for each kilogram of weight, twice a
week, depending on the severity of the infestation. |
| Earwigs, cockroaches, snails, slugs |
Set a trap with a bottle containing stale beer or a raw potato (lightly grease
thebottle's neck). OR kill with a mixture of baking soda and powdered sugar. |
| Caterpillars |
Melt 15 ml of paraffin wax on low heat and mix with 1-1/2 cup (375ml) rosin and
1 cup (250ml) lineseed oil. Spread mixture around base of tree. |
| Aphids |
In blender, mix garlic and green onion tops. Strain and mix liquid with soapy
water. Spray garden, wait 1/2 hour and rinse. |
| Garden pests |
Place a handful of tobacco in 4 quarts (approx. 4 litres) of warm water. Let
stand for 24 hours. Dilute and spray on plants. OR blend 3 hot peppers, half an
onion, and 1 clove of garlic in 4 quarts (approx. 4 litres) of warm water. Let
stand for 2 days. Strain and spray on plants. |
| Rats/mice |
Mousetraps |
| Garden Products |
Weedkiller |
Keep lawn over 2-1/2 inches (5 cm) long; hand pick weeds; hoe. |
| Pesticides |
Insecticidal soap, hand-pick insects, tobacco spray, companion planting,
biological pest control (see above). |
| Household Products |
Fabric dye |
Natural dyes |
| Air freshener |
Set out vinegar or baking soda with lemon juice in an open dish; potpourri;
baking soda in fridges, diaper pails. For cooking odour, simmer 1 tbsp. vinegar
or lemon juice in 1 cup (250ml) of water. |
| Enamel/oil-based paint |
Latex or water-based paint, limestone-based whitewash, casein-based paint |
| Lime deposits |
For lime deposits in your tea kettle use 1/2 cup (125ml) white vinegar and 2
cups (500ml) water, and gently boil for a few minutes. Rinse well with fresh
water while kettle is still warm. Lemon juice will work too in place of
vinegar. |
