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The chemical contamination of our environment is an important issue and one which should concern every thinking person. You may think that the amount of household detergents and other cleaning products that are discharged from your home is small and has no impact, but think of the cumulative effect of thousands of homes and the impacts this can have on our waterways.

By making small changes in our domestic routines, we can significantly reduce pollution.

Use the following as a guide to direct you towards safe and effective alternatives.

Always use your judgement and test on a small area first before going ahead on a larger scale. And remember to be careful when using hot/boiling water.

• The crux of stain removal is to rinse the stained fabric immediately in cold water. Alternatively, rinse in soda water to which a little vinegar has been added. If the stain persists, soak in borax solution. A dry stain will always be more difficult to remove, and some stains (especially those caused by meat juice, blood, fruit or egg white) may be impossible to remove if allowed to dry.
• Glycerine may help soften stubborn stains, as does lemon juice.
• To avoid a ring developing, first treat the area around the stain, then work back towards the centre.
• Remove stains before putting articles through a normal wash cycle. Soak delicate fabrics in a weak borax and soap solution. Borax acts as a soap booster and will dissolve most dirty spots.

Eucalyptus oil or spray can be used to remove biro, chewing gum, grass, grease, gum, some glues, ink, nicotine, lipstick, oil, shoe polish and tar. Simply place an absorbent cloth under the stain, then dab or spray with eucalyptus oil, working towards the centre of the mark. Follow with a normal wash.

Methylated spirits can be used to remove biro, felt pen, grass, grease, nicotine or shoe polish.

Washing soda (sodium carbonate) softens water and removes stains, and is very good at removing grease. For best results, dissolve the crystals in hot water, then leave the greasy articles to soak before putting them through a normal wash cycle.

Rinse in cold water to which a little vinegar has been added. If the stain persists, soak in borax solution.

Dab with vinegar, then rinse in cold water.

Stains on a cotton or linen cloth may be removed by soaking in cold water in which 1 tablespoon of salt has been dissolved.

Sponge with a cloth moistened with eucalyptus oil. Alternatively, spray with eucalyptus oil, then soak in lemon juice prior to a normal wash. You may need to repeat the process.

Soak in cold salty water. Follow with a vinegar wash, if necessary.

If the blood is dry, make up a borax and water paste and apply it to the stain. Let it dry, then brush clean.

Place the cloth in a plastic bag then put it in the freezer (or hold an ice-cube over the wax) until the wax is hard. Now scrape off the hardened wax using a sharp knife. If a stain remains, put an absorbent cloth under the stained area and sponge with eucalyptus oil. Work towards the centre of the mark, to avoid a ring developing.

Or, scrape away surface wax. Place pieces of blotting paper both underneath and on top of the stain. Iron with a warm iron. Repeat until the stain has disappeared.

Combine 1 tablespoon of salt with 1 cup of vinegar and add to cold water. Soak cement stained clothes in the mixture. Follow with a normal wash.

Place the article in a plastic bag, then put it in the freezer for 2 to 3 hours. Scrape off the hardened gum with a knife. Sponge with eucalyptus oil to remove all traces of the gum.

Sponge with a borax or vinegar solution.

Soak immediately in cold water, then sponge with a borax or vinegar solution.

Sponge dirty collars with eucalyptus oil, or bicarb soda moistened with vinegar or soft soap gel. Leave to absorb, then follow with a normal wash.

Sponge off with cold soapy water. Rinse well.

Sponge with a cold borax or vinegar solution.

Or, sponge with a cold bicarb soda solution to neutralise the acid.

Soap and warm water will usually remove grass stains from cotton. If they don't, dampen the stained area with water, then sprinkle with white sugar. Roll up and leave for 1 hour. Follow with a normal wash.

Or, sponge with methylated spirits or eucalyptus oil. To prevent a ring forming, place an absorbent cloth under the stain and work towards the centre of the mark.

Add 1 teaspoon of eucalyptus oil, plus 1 tablespoon of washing soda (or bicarb soda or borax) to the normal washing powder you use in your washing machine. Allow to soak, then proceed with a standard wash cycle.

Soak overnight in lemon juice or salty water. Wash in warm soapy water, rinse well and dry in the sun.

Soak in cold water then wash normally.

Soak in a warm vinegar or lemon juice solution for 30 minutes. Rinse well, then wash normally.

Or, dissolve bicarb soda in warm water and soak clothing for 1 hour. Follow with a normal wash.

Soak the material in warm vinegar then rinse.

Or, moisten salt (or borax) with lemon juice. Apply the paste to the rust marks and work it into the stain. Leave for 10 minutes then rub clean. Rinse well with cold water.

Children's dirty socks can be cleaned by soaking overnight in salty water, then washing normally.

Sprinkle the stain with dry borax, then with droplets of cold water. Leave for 5 minutes, then wash in hot soapy water.

Soak the article in borax and water, then wash normally. Even long-standing stains benefit from this treatment.

Sprinkle salt over the stain as soon as possible, then rinse in cold water and wash in the usual way.

Soak for 30 minutes in a solution of borax and hot water (1 tablespoon of borax dissolved in 1 cup of hot water). Follow with a normal wash.

Alternatively, pour soda water through the stain, then wash normally.

Stewart R (2002). Robin Stewart’s Chemical Free Home. Black Inc. Melbourne, Victoria.

Zero Waste SA shall not accept responsibility for injury, loss, or damage occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of material in this information sheet, whether or not such injury, loss, damage is in any way due to any negligent act or omission, breach of duty or default in the part of Zero Waste SA or the Government of South Australia.