Oven Cleaner
Prevention. Put a sheet of aluminum foil on the floor of the oven, underneath but not touching the heating element. Although this may slightly affect the browning of the food, the foil can be easily disposed of when soiled. Clean up the spill as soon as it occurs.
Salt. While the oven is still warm, sprinkle salt on the spill. If the spill is completely dry, wet the spill lightly before sprinkling on salt. When the oven cools down, scrape away the spill and wash the area clean.
Vinegar. Retard grease buildup in your oven by
dampening your cleaning rag in vinegar and water before wiping out your oven.
Baking Soda and Very Fine Steel Wool. Sprinkle water followed by a layer of baking soda. Rub gently with a very fine steel wool pad for tough spots. Wipe off scum with dry paper towels or a sponge. Rinse well and wipe dry.
Arm & Hammer Oven Cleaner. Consumers Union chemists declared this product nontoxic. Use according to label directions.
Paint Brush Renewer
Vinegar. Soften hard paintbrushes in hot vinegar for a few minutes. Then wash paintbrush in soap and warm water and set out to dry.
Pest Control
Helpful predators around the home include frogs,
spiders, ladybugs, praying mantis, and dragonflies. Keeping these beneficial creatures around can help you reduce pest populations.
Ants
Vinegar. Wash countertops, cabinets, and floor with equal pans vinegar and water to deter ant infestations.
Flour and Borax*. Mix 1 cup flour and 2 cups borax in a quart jar. Punch holes in the jar lid. Sprinkle the contents around the house foundation. Keep borax out of the reach of children and pets.
Bonemeal or powdered charcoal or lemon. Set up
barriers where ants are entering. They will generally not cross lines of bonemeal or powdered charcoal. If you can find a hole where ants are entering the house, squeeze the juice of a lemon in the hole or crack. Then slice up the lemon and put the peeling all around the entrance.
Pennyroyal*, Spearmint, Southernwood, and Tansy.
Growing these plants around the border of your home will deter ants and the aphids they carry.
Fleas
Vacuum. Vacuum, remove the vacuum bag, seal it, and dispose of it immediately outside your home.
Vinegar. A ratio of 1 teaspoon vinegar to 1 quart
water (per 40 pounds of pet weight) in their drinking water helps to keep your pets free of fleas and ticks.
Fennel, Rosemary, Red Cedar Shavings*, Sassafras*, Eucalyptus*, or Pennyroyal*. Spread leaves or shavings of these plants under and around the pet's bed.
Flies
Prevention: Keep kitchen garbage tightly closed.
Sprinkle dry soap or borax into garbage cans after they've been washed and allowed to dry; it acts as a repellent.
Orange. Scratch the skin of an orange and leave it out; the citrus acts as a repellent.
Cloves. Hang clusters of cloves to repel flies.
Mint or Basil. Mint planted around the home repels flies. A pot of basil set on the windowsill or table helps to repel fleas. Keep basil well-watered from the bottom so that it produces a stronger scent. Dried ground leaves
left in small bowls or hung in muslin bags are also effective.
Sugar and Corn Syrup. Make your own fly paper by
boiling sugar, corn syrup, and water together. Place mixture onto brown paper and hang or set out.
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How-To: Information about Homemade Cleaners
