Try these non-toxic or less-toxic products as alternatives to hazardous household chemicals. While a little more "elbow grease" may have to be used with some of these products, the benefits in terms of improved indoor air quality, decreased exposure to chemicals, fewer waste disposal concerns, convenience, and lower costs should make the switch an easy one.

For this:	Try this:
Air freshener	Simmer cinnamon and cloves
Aluminum spot remover	2 tablespoons cream of tartar + 1 quart hot water
Ants	Red chili powder at point of entry
Bleach	Borax
Brass polish	Worcestershire sauce
Car battery corrosion	Baking soda + water
Chrome polish	Apple cider vinegar Baby oil to polish
Cleaners: general household	Baking soda
Coffee cup stain remover	Moist salt
Coffee pot stain	Vinegar
Copper cleaner	Lemon juice + salt
Decal remover	Soak in white vinegar
Dish detergent: grease cutter	1/2 cup baking soda + usual amount of liquid detergent
Drain cleaner	Plunger followed by 1/2 cup baking soda + 1/2 cup of vinegar + 2 quarts boiling water
Fertilizer	Compost and vermicompost
Fiberglass stain remover	Baking soda paste
Fleas on pets	Gradually add brewers yeast to pet's diet
Flies	Well watered pot of basil
Floor cleaner	1 cup vinegar + 2 gallons water
Furniture polish	1 tablespoon lemon oil in 1 pint of mineral oil
Garbage disposal deodorizers	Used lemons
Grease fire	Douse with baking soda
Grease removal	Borax on damp cloth
Handcleaner: paint/grease	Baby oil
Ink spot remover	Cold water + 1 tablespoon cream of tartar + 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Insects on plants	Soapy water on leaves, then rinse
Laundry detergent	Basic soap
Linoleum floor cleaner	1 cup white vinegar + 2 gallons water
Mildew remover	Equal parts of vinegar and salt
Mosquito repellent	Burn citronella candles citronella oil
Moth repellent	Cedar chips enclosed in cotton sachets
Nematode repellent	Plant marigolds
Oil stain remover	White chalk rubbed into stain before laundering
Oven cleaner	2 tablespoons liquid soap + 2 teaspoons borax + warm water
Paint; oil based/stain/spray	Water-based, non-aerosol paints
Paint brush softener	Hot vinegar
Perspiration spot remover	Baking soda
Pet odor remover	Cider vinegar
Porcelain stain removal	Baking soda
Refrigerator deodorizer	Open box baking soda
Roach repellent	Chopped bay leaves and cucumber skins
Rug/carpet cleaner	Club soda
Rust removal (clothing)	Lemon juice + salt + sunlight
Rusty bolt/nut removal	Carbonated beverage
Scorch mark removal	Grated onion
Scouring powder	Baking Soda
Shaving cream	Brush and shaving soap
Shoe polish	Banana peel
Silver polish	1 quart warm water + 1 tablespoon baking soda + piece of aluminum foil + 1 tablespoon salt
Slug and snail repellent	Onion and marigold plants
Spot remover	Club soda, lemon juice, or salt
Stainless steel polish	Mineral oil
Toilet bowl cleaner	Paste of borax + lemon juice
Tub and tile cleaner	1/4 cup baking soda + 1/2 cup white vinegar + warm water
Upholstery spot removal	Club soda
Water mark removal	Toothpaste
Water softener	1/4 cup vinegar
Wine stain removal	Salt
Window cleaner	2 tablespoons vinegar in 1 quart warm water
Wood polish	3 parts olive oil + 1 part white vinegar; almond or olive oil (interior unvarnished wood only)