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Water Quality Then & Now

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Household Hazardous Waste Disposal

Clean Alternatives

Green Gardens

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Consider the Alternative

Have a question about how to dispose of a product you have hanging around the house? Or are you looking for a water-friendly alternative? All you need is listed right here.

Instead of reaching for the industrial strength cleaner to tidy up, try some earth friendly, homemade remedies.

Cleaner

  • Mix vinegar with salt and water for a surface cleaner
  • Dissolve baking soda in water for a general cleaner
  • To get rid of mildew scrub the area with a paste of lemon juice or white vinegar and salt.
  • To clean and disinfect, try 1/2 cup of borax in a gallon of hot water.

Polish

  • For finished or unfinished wood, mix 3 parts light mineral oil with 1 part olive oil and a drop of lemon juice.
  • To hide scratches on wood, rub with the meat of a walnut.
  • To clean silver, rub with toothpaste and wipe with a clean cloth.
  • Remove rust by rubbing the affected metal area with wet aluminum foil. Be careful as foil will scratch chrome.

When in Doubt Look it Up

Product Disposal Suggestions Substitutes
Ammonia-based cleaners Purchase amount needed, use completely, or flush with plenty of water. Never mix ammonia with chlorine bleach; a poisonous gas is produced. Baking soda; vinegar & salt
Bleach (chlorine) Flush with plenty of water. Never mix ammonia with chlorine bleach; a poisonous gas is a produced. Borax; non-chlorine bleach; lemon juice
Disinfectants & detergent Drop off at HHW collection site. These products should never be sent to a septic tank. Isopropyl alcohol; borax; cleaners
Boiling drain cleaners Drop off at HHW collection site. These products should never be sent to a septic tank. Plunger, plumber's snake; water & salt; washing soda.
Floor care products Drop off at HHW collection site.These products should never be sent to a septic tank. Many substitutes such as lemon juice with water.
Furniture polish Drop off at HHW collection site. for information. Olive oil/vinegar or lemon juice
Oven cleaner Drop off at HHW collection site. These products should never be sent to a septic tank. Salt, vinegar; baking soda.
Dry cleaning solvent Drop off at HHW collection site. Club soda
Toilet bowl cleaner Flush with plenty of water. These products should never be sent to a septic tank. Baking soda & vinegar
Tub & tile cleaners Purchase amount needed or use completely Baking soda & vinegar
Window cleaner Flush with plenty of water. Water or vinegar, wipe w/newspaper or linen towel
Metal polish (with petroleum distillates) Drop off at HHW collection site. Baking soda; fine steel wool; lemon juice on copper.
Rat poison; insect and pest sprays Drop off at HHW collection site. Lures & traps; natural pesticides
Oil-based paints Drop off at HHW collection site. Water-based paints
Alkaline battery Drop off at HHW collection site. Rechargeable battery
Light bulbs Recycle. Fluorescent lights
Cosmetics Dispose of properly in trash. Let your natural beauty shine through
Hair removers Flush with plenty of water. Shaving
Alcohol-based lotions Dispose of properly in trash. Glycerin-based lotions
Medicine (expired) Dispose of properly in trash None

Report dumping of hazardous materials into storm drains to the SAWS Resource Compliance Division: 704-SAWS.

Green Gardens >>

 
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