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Safe Alternatives to Household
Hazardous Products

Safe Solutions

The best thing we can do to reduce household hazardous waste is simply to stop using dangerous products and replace them with safer alternatives.

Simple. Because your greatest exposure to harmful substances is right in your home, and every chemical product used at home ultimately ends up in the environment. Your house or shed is probably full of everyday products made from materials and substances that have the potential to be harmful to your health if they are not handled, used, or stored in accordance with the directions provided with the product.

Everyone can benefit by reducing his or her use.

Bicarb soda occurs abundantly in nature but depends upon sophisticated processing to reach high standards of quality and purity. This non-poisonous powder is inexpensive and has a multitude of uses within the home. It will remove stains, help take away unpleasant smells, soften water, polish, relieve itching and act as toothpaste and a deodorant.

Borax is a naturally occurring mineral salt. This fine white powder acts as a stain remover, natural deodorant, fabric and water softener and soap booster. It possesses bleaching and disinfectant qualities as well. Borax is effective in controlling insect pests.

It must be recognised that borax is poisonous when swallowed, so care needs to be taken in its use and storage. It can also enter the body through broken skin.

Cloves are the dried flower buds of tropical myrtles used as spice. They are non-poisonous, sweet smelling, readily available and inexpensive. Moths find them totally unacceptable.

This natural Australian oil is distilled from gum trees (eucalypts). It has many medicinal properties ranging from relieving the symptoms of colds and influenza, to easing aches and pains. Eucalyptus oil is penetrating oil that evaporates rapidly and is useful as an antiseptic, disinfectant and deodorant.

As a cleaning agent its uses range from freshening a load of washing to removing grease, gum, some glues and stubborn stains from clothes, lifting tar and adhesive material from paintwork and dog’s paws. It is also an important part of most wool washes and is useful as an insect repellent. Ever had trouble with indelible markers, use some eucalyptus oil on a tissue and simply wipe them off.

Although natural in origin eucalyptus oil contains ingredients that are highly toxic if swallowed. Keep out of reach of children.

One for the kitchen, one for the laundry and you can get rid of those pest strips, aerosol sprays and insect bombs.

There’s nothing more useful than a lemon tree in your garden. Due to its acidic nature lemon juice has many uses beyond that of food. It serves as mild bleach, a deodorant and a cleaning agent. Lemon juice will also soften stains and repel insects.

Pressed from the fruit of the olive tree this oil is commonly used in cooking but has many other uses as well. As a protective oil with smoothing qualities, it is an excellent beauty aid. It is good as a polish for wood and leather surfaces.

Salt is naturally occurring and non-toxic. It has been used as a form of currency since ancient times and is very important as a seasoning and preserving agent for food. It may also be used as an antiseptic to clean cuts and grazes, simply dissolve two teaspoons of cooking salt in one cup of boiled water (wait for it to cool down before using). This solution can also be used as a mouthwash and to treat gum disease. Salt dissolved in boiled water can also be used as an eye bath.

Salt is invaluable when scouring clean and disinfecting food preparation areas and utensils. To clean and disinfect a drain simply use a handful of salt followed by a jug full of boiling water. Salt helps prevent colours running in the wash and removes stains.

Powered by your wrist, a metal soap shaker makes use of all those left over slivers of soap, and offers a cheap, safe alternative to detergents for washing your dishes.

A simple, inexpensive and highly effective means of removing stubborn dirt without using powerful and potentially harmful chemicals.

Vinegar is made by fermenting apples, grapes or malt. This mild acid is able to neutralise grease and soap residues. It is also an anti mould agent, a mild disinfectant, a bleach and a deodorant. Vinegar is a general purpose cleaner.

This crystalline powder (or crystals) is useful as a water softener, stain remover, degreaser, silver tarnish remover and drain cleaner. It can also be used as a poultice to reduce swelling and in a bath to relieve aches and pains. Do not use on silk, wool, vinyl or aluminium.

The above listing consists of a few of the suggestions that are available in your local library or on the internet. Hopefully this will encourage you to seek more information.

1. Dadd, D L (1997). Home Safe Home. Jeremy P.Tarcher/Putnam. New York, USA.

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

3. Total Environment Centre (1996). A-Z of Chemicals in the Home. National Library of Australia

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.