Once you have properly disposed of a hazardous household product -- oven cleaner, drain opener, weed killer -- consider NOT replacing it. Because the good news about hazardous household products is that most of them are unnecessary. Although paint, motor oil and anti-freeze are inescapable ingredients of modern life, almost all other household toxics are not. You can easily replace them with safe, cheap alternatives.
White vinegar, salt and baking soda are the non-toxic household's best friends. Used in various concentrations and proportions, these products can clean just about anything. They cost a lot less than commercial products, too. Try a few of these recipes and you might find that you never need dispose of a toxic cleanser again.
Recipes:
* For a mild all-purpose cleaner, mix a gallon of hot water, a half cup vinegar and a tablespoon of baking soda. For a stronger mixture, dissolve double the ingredients in the same amount of water.
* Tub, tile and toilet can be cleaned with baking soda and a sponge or a brush. To wash mirrors and windows, mix vinegar and water in a spray bottle and use with clean rags.
* To open a clogged drain, pour a half cup of baking soda down it, chased by a half cup vinegar. Cover the drain if you can, and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then flush it with a kettle full of boiling water. Prevent clogged drains by always using a drain sieve and by giving the sink the above-prescribed treatment whenever you're feeling especially virtuous.
* Spilled something in the oven? Sprinkle the spots with salt right away. When the oven cools -- or whenever you get around to it -- wet the spill and scrub it with baking soda and a brush.
* Replace your furniture polish with a fragrant mixture of one part lemon juice to two parts olive or vegetable oil. An equal mixture of salt and vinegar makes a fine brass and copper cleaner. Be sure to rinse the objects thoroughly afterward. Use a paste of baking soda and water instead of silver polish. Be careful not to scratch your silver, and rinse when you're done.
* Laundry detergents are a problem for a number of reasons. They often contain ingredients that break down more slowly in the environment than soap does. And they often contain phosphates, which are powerful fertilizers. Small amounts of these cause explosive growth of algae in lakes and streams, clogging the water with more matter than the natural system can handle.
