Hazardous Waste Environmental Fact Sheet
Print Version
WMD-HW-12	1998

Alternative Household Products

Part of pollution prevention is "product substitution," that is, using a less toxic or non-toxic product to create a less toxic or non-toxic waste. The following is a partial list of substitutions you may consider to replace some of the toxic products you may presently be using in your home. For more ideas, call the NH Department of Environmental Services, Household Hazardous Waste Program at 271-2900, or refer to the additional information below.

Air freshener:
Simmer cloves and cinnamon in boiling water.
Leave opened box of baking soda in room.
Set out a dish of vinegar. Ant control:
Mix 2 Tbls. boric acid, 2 Tbls. sugar and 1 cup water.
Soak paper towels, place on dishes, set out for ants.
Pour a line of cream of tartar where ants enter.

Chrome cleaner:
Use baking soda and a dry cloth. Carpet & Upholstery cleaner:
Clean stains immediately with club soda.
Sprinkle cornstarch on rug and vacuum.
Use soap-based, nonaerosol rug shampoo.

Drain opener:
Use plunger or mechanical snake.
Pour ½ cup washing soda into drain, then pour 2 cups boiling water into drain.
Flush drain weekly with boiling water. Flea & tick repellent:
Scatter pine needles, fennel, rue or rosemary on pet's bed.
Feed pet brewer's yeast, vitamin B or garlic tablets.

Furniture polish:
Mix 2 parts vegetable oil and 1 part lemon
juice. Apply, rub in, wipe clean. Insect spray for plants:
Blend 6 cloves crushed garlic, 1 minced onion, 1 Tbls.
dried hot pepper and 1 Tbls. pure soap in 1 gal.
hot water. Let sit 1-2 days; strain & use.

Additional Information

For more information regarding alternative household products, please refer to the following organizations.

"Clean & Green: The Complete Guide to Nontoxic and Environmentally Safe Housekeeping", Annie Berthold-Bond, Ceres Press, P.O. Box 87, Woodstock, NY 12498, ISBN: 0-9606138-3-8
Catalog: "Gardens Alive!: America's Number One Source for Organic Garden Products", 5100 Schenley Place, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025, telephone: (812) 537-8650
Catalog: "Real Goods: Everything Under the Sun" and "Earth Care", 555 Leslie Street, Ukiah, CA 95482-5576, telephone: (800) 762-7325
Catalog: "Tomorrow's World", Hilltop East, 1564 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23451, telephone: (800) 229-7571
Catalog: "Seventh Generation", 1 Mill Street, Box A26, Burlington, VT 05401-1530, telephone: (800) 456-1177
"Buy Smart, Buy Safe: A Consumer Guide to Less-Toxic Products", Philip Dickey, Washington Toxics Coalition, 4516 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105, telephone: (206) 632-1545
Pamphlet: "A Healthy Environment Starts at Home: A Guide to Safely Dealing with Household Hazardous Waste", Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, 100 First Avenue, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA 02129, telephone: (617) 242-6000
Newsletter: "Household Hazardous Waste Management News: The Quarterly Newsletter of The Waste Watch Center", Waste Watch Center, 16 Haverhill Street, Andover, MA 01810, telephone: (508) 470-3044
Magazine: "E: The Environmental Magazine", Subscription Department, P.O. Box 699, Mt. Morris, IL 61054, ISSN: 1046-8012. Web site: http://www.emagazine.com

(This listing is not intended to be all inclusive nor does it imply any endorsement.)

NH Department of Environmental Services
Waste Management Division
29 Hazen Drive
Concord, NH 03301-6509
Telephone: 603 271-2900
TDD Access: Relay NH 1-800-735-2964
E-mail: hhw@des.state.nh.us
http://www.des.state.nh.us/hhw

Air freshener: Simmer cloves and cinnamon in boiling water. Leave opened box of baking soda in room. Set out a dish of vinegar.	Ant control: Mix 2 Tbls. boric acid, 2 Tbls. sugar and 1 cup water. Soak paper towels, place on dishes, set out for ants. Pour a line of cream of tartar where ants enter.
Chrome cleaner: Use baking soda and a dry cloth.	Carpet & Upholstery cleaner: Clean stains immediately with club soda. Sprinkle cornstarch on rug and vacuum. Use soap-based, nonaerosol rug shampoo.
Drain opener: Use plunger or mechanical snake. Pour ½ cup washing soda into drain, then pour 2 cups boiling water into drain. Flush drain weekly with boiling water.	Flea & tick repellent: Scatter pine needles, fennel, rue or rosemary on pet's bed. Feed pet brewer's yeast, vitamin B or garlic tablets.
Furniture polish: Mix 2 parts vegetable oil and 1 part lemon juice. Apply, rub in, wipe clean.	Insect spray for plants: Blend 6 cloves crushed garlic, 1 minced onion, 1 Tbls. dried hot pepper and 1 Tbls. pure soap in 1 gal. hot water. Let sit 1-2 days; strain & use.