Choose Non-Hazardous Products

Avoid Health Hazards in Your Home by Choosing Safer Products

• Use latex paint whenever possible. Look for the nontoxic seal on art and craft supplies.
• Leave grass clippings on the lawn for a natural source of nitrogen.
• Use natural fertilizers and insects (ladybugs, praying mantids) for gardens and plants.
• Use scrapers, heat guns or sand paper instead of solvents to remove old paints and finishes.
• Use borax, a natural mineral cleanser and degreaser, with a damp sponge. Add citrus oil for stubborn grease.
• Use baking soda and water to make a paste as a scouring cleanser.
• Use hydrogen peroxide to bleach food stains and to kill many household germs.
• Use 2 teaspoons tea tree oil and 2 cups water in a spray bottle to eradicate mold.
• Use 1 cup white vinegar in 1 quart water to clean windows. Spray on and rub off with newspaper.
• Boil 1 lemon with water to cover in burned pots and pans. Scrub with the lemon water to make pots glisten.
• Use a drain cleaner and flush drains weekly with boiling water. For clogs, use a plunger or mechanical snake. 
• Use cedar chips to freshen clothes and fabrics. Make dried lavender sachets for drawers and closets.
• Add brewer's yeast or garlic to your pet's diet to keep fleas away.

Courtesy of the Dutchess County Resource Recovery Agency.