From: daydream All of these and the others that I have sent are from other people on the list, I take no credit for any of them, I am just passing them on. Homemade Air Fresheners for Household Odors Most commercial air fresheners do not freshen the air at all. Instead, they mask one odor with another, coat your nasal passages with an undetectable oil film, or diminish your sense of smell with a nerve deadening agent. For a safer alternative, you may wish to consider an alternative method: Ventilation. Open windows or doors in the house for at least a short period every day. This will also help to reduce toxic fumes that may be building up indoors. Cinnamon and Cloves. Boil these spices for a fragrant smell. For ease of cleaning, make a cheesecloth bag to contain these spices, and boil the cheesecloth bag. An excellent alternative when entertaining is to steep spiced tea or cider. Potpourri. Buy or make your own potpourri from your favorite herbs and spices. Place the potpourri in a small basket or jar or in small sachet bags. Oil of Wintergreen Dampen cotton balls with oil of wintergreen and place out of sight but where air will touch them. Vinegar. Distribute partially filled saucers of vinegar around the room or boil 1 tablespoon of white vinegar in 1 cup of water to eliminate unpleasant cooking odors. Vanilla. Place pure vanilla on a cotton ball in a small saucer. Place the saucer in the car or refrigerator to remove odors. It is renowned to remove even skunk odors. Keep the cotton ball out of reach of children; vanilla has a high alcohol content. Baking Soda. Place a partially filled saucer of baking soda on the refrigerator shelf. Replace every two months and when you do, pour the contents of the used box down the drain to remove odors and keep the drain clean. Baking soda can also be used to deodorize bottles by filling them with undiluted baking soda and allowing the bottles to soak overnight. Then wash as usual. Borax. Empty the garbage frequently and clean the can as needed. To inhibit growth of odor-producing molds and bacteria, sprinkle 1/2 cup Borax in the bottom of the garbage can. Vinegar or Celery Stalk. To avoid or remove onion odors from your hands, rub white vinegar on your hands before and after slicing. Rubbing hands with the end of a celery stalk will also remove the odor. Fuel Oil Odor Removal FAQ If even a small amount of fuel oil is spilled in a home, the odor lingers. Some sprays or powders are recommended to absorb this odor. Two brands (and there may be more) are: "Neu-troda" made by Tankit Co., Union, N. J. "Odor-Neutralizer" Contact a fuel oil dealer who may carry it or know where to get such a product in your area. Some dealers get it through their wholesaler. If spilled on a cement floor, spread an absorbent product like "Kitty Litter" or "All-Dri" 1 to 2 inches deep on oil stain. Leave till oil soaks up to the top. Sweep up, and put on thinner layer; leave a couple of days and sweep up. This should blot oil out of cement. If odor still remains, sprinkle an odor-removing powder (brands suggested above or other) lightly over area and leave 2-3 days before removing. All Purpose Cleaners Vinegar and Salt. Mix together for a good surface cleaner. Baking Soda. Dissolve 4 tablespoons baking soda in 1 quart warm water for a general cleaner. Or use baking soda on a damp sponge. Baking soda will clean and deodorize all kitchen and bathroom surfaces. Anti-Fog Glass Spray To make a homemade anti-fogging glass cleaner try any one of the three following: .rub a few drops of liquid dish washing detergent applied with a damp paper towel over the window (or) .2 oz white vinegar to 1 quart tap water (or) .1 oz. sudsy ammonia, 4 oz. rubbing alcohol, 1/4 teaspoon liquid dish washing detergent, 1 quart water Baking Dishes - Enamel, Ceramic or Glass Soak in hot soapy water, then scour with salt or baking soda and rinse thoroughly. Bathroom Bowl Cleaners Toilet Bowl Cleaner - IF YOU DO USE BLEACH TO CLEAN YOUR TOILET BOWL, NEVER MIX BLEACH WITH VINEGAR, TOILET BOWL CLEANER, OR AMMONIA. The combination of bleach with any of these substances produces a toxic gas which can be hazardous. Baking Soda and Vinegar. Sprinkle baking soda into the bowl, then drizzle with vinegar and scour with a toilet brush. This combination both cleans and deodorizes. Borax and Lemon Juice. For removing a stubborn stain, like toilet bowl ring, mix enough borax and lemon juice into a paste which can cover the entire ring. Flush toilet to wet the sides, then rub on paste. Let sit for 2 hours and scrub thoroughly. For less stubborn toilet bowl rings, sprinkle baking soda around the rim and scrub with a toilet brush. Candles Sponge with a piece of cotton dipped in rubbing alcohol. Ceramic Tub And Tile Cleaners Baking Soda. Sprinkle baking soda like you would scouring powder. Rub with a damp sponge. Rinse thoroughly. Vinegar and Baking Soda. To remove film buildup on bathtubs, apply vinegar full-strength to a sponge and wipe with vinegar first. Next, use baking soda as you would scouring powder. Rub with a damp sponge and rinse thoroughly with clean water. Vinegar. Vinegar removes most dirt without scrubbing and doesn't leave a film. Use 1/4 cup (or more) vinegar to 1 gallon water. Baking Soda. To clean grout, put 3 cups baking soda into a medium-sized bowl and add 1 cup warm water. Mix into a smooth paste and scrub into grout with a sponge or toothbrush. Rinse thoroughly and dispose of leftover paste when finished. Removing Christmas Tree Pitch When working with evergreen branches, trimming the Christmas tree, or working with evergreen cones, the resin or pitch from the cones or cut ends of branches will stick to the skin. To remove try either of two methods: .dampen a cloth with rubbing alcohol and rub the spots or .rub the spots with lard or vegetable shortening; then wipe off with paper towels or cloth and wash remaining grease off with soap and water. Easiest way is to put a tablespoonful or so of shortening on a scrap of waxed paper or foil and lay a couple paper towels beside it on a newspaper before starting to work with the evergreens; then, at end of job you can just run shortening on sticky spots on hands, wipe off and discard on paper; wash hands and discard paper in trash without getting sticky or very greasy hands on surfaces in home. Cobwebs For hard to reach spots, slip a sock over the end of a yardstick and secure with a rubber band, then sweep the area. This method works well for cleaning under radiators and refrigerators also. Coffee Stains To remove coffee stains from cups or counters, rub with baking soda paste. For stubborn stains, rub a drop of chlorine bleach into the affected area until the stain disappears, then wash immediately with hot soapy water to prevent fading, and rinse well. Concrete Grease Spot Remover To remove grease from concrete flooring sprinkle dry cement over grease. Allow it to absorb the grease, then sweep up. Decal and Gummed Label Remover Vinegar. To remove non slip appliques and strips from bathtubs, saturate a cloth or sponge and squeeze hot vinegar over decals. Vinegar also removes stick-on hooks from painted walls. Saturate a cloth or sponge with vinegar and squeeze the liquid behind the hook so that the vinegar comes in contact with the adhesive. In addition, vinegar can be used to remove price labels and other decals from glass, wood, and china. Paint the label or decal with several coats of white vinegar. Give the vinegar time to soak in and after several minutes the decal can be rubbed off. Disinfectant Soap. Regular cleaning with plain soap and hot water will kill some bacteria. Keep things dry. Mold, mildew, and bacteria cannot live without moisture. Borax has long been recognized for its disinfectant and deodorizing properties. Mix 1/2 cup Borax into 1 gallon hot water and clean with this solution. Isopropyl Alcohol. This is an excellent disinfectant. Sponge and allow to dry. (It must dry to do its job.) Use in a well-ventilated area and wear gloves. Grease Rub greasy spots with a mild or moderate abrasive, such as fine steel wool, and a dish detergent until they disappear. Lime And Mineral Deposit Remover Vinegar and Paper Towels. Hard lime deposits around faucets can be softened for easy removal by covering the deposits with vinegar-soaked paper towels. Leave the paper towels on for about one hour before cleaning. Leaves chrome clean and shiny. For Plastic and Metal Shower Heads: Vinegar. To remove deposits which may be clogging your metal shower head, combine 1/2 cup white vinegar and one quart water. Then completely submerge the shower head and boil 15 minutes. If you have a plastic shower head, combine 1 pint white vinegar and 1 pint hot water. Then completely submerge the shower head and soak for about one hour. Mildew Remover Dilute 3/4 cup chlorine bleach in 1 gal of water. Apply to tile and grout and scrub; wipe shower stall and curtain; rinse thoroughly. Oven Cleaners The first step is prevention. Put a sheet of aluminum foil on the floor of the oven, underneath but not touching the heating element. Although this may slightly affect the browning of the food, the foil can be easily disposed of when soiled. Clean up the spill as soon as it occurs. Fill a small glass bowl with 1/2 cup full-strength ammonia, place in oven and close. Let stand overnight, then wipe loosened dirt with paper towels or newspapers. If necessary, rub surfaces with a suitable abrasive, such as fine steel wool, then wash with warm soapy water and rinse. Repeat process if necessary. .Salt While the oven is still warm, sprinkle salt on the spill. If the spill is completely dry, wet the spill lightly before sprinkling on salt. When the oven cools down, scrape away the spill and wash the area clean. .Vinegar Retard grease buildup in your oven by dampening your cleaning rag in vinegar and water before wiping out your oven. .Baking Soda and Very Fine Steel Wool Sprinkle water followed by a layer of baking soda. Rub gently with a very fine steel wool pad for tough spots. Wipe off scum with dry paper towels or a sponge. Rinse well and wipe dry. Paint Brush Renewer Vinegar. Soften hard paintbrushes in hot vinegar for a few minutes. Then wash paintbrush in soap and warm water and set out to dry. Pet Urine Dab area with toweling, wash with suds of liquid dish detergent, and rinse with 1/2 cup vinegar diluted in 1 qt warm water. Lay towels or paper towels over the spot and weight down to absorb excess moisture. Let stand 4 to 6 hours, then remove toweling, brush up nap and allow to dry completely. To speed drying, use an electric fan. Plumbing Fixtures To clean stainless steel, chrome, fiberglass, ceramic, porcelain or enamel fixtures, dissolve 2 tbsp baking soda in 1 qt of water Porcelain Cleaner Cream of Tartar. To clean porcelain surfaces, rub with cream of tartar sprinkled on a damp cloth. Works well on light stains. Pots and Pans Burned, and Crusted on Foods Soak or boil a solution of 2 tbs. baking soda per qt of water in each pan. Let stand until particles are loosened, then wash as usual. Use a mild or moderate abrasive if necessary. Purple Price Marks Whatever method you use, first test the cleaning/removal material in an inconspicuous part of the surface the label is stuck on the be sure it will not damage that surface. Purple price marks which so easily transfer to kitchen counter tops can be removed with a cloth dampened in a solution of half chlorine bleach and half water. Rinse at once with clear water to prevent bleaching counter top. Refrigerators To clean exterior and interior walls, dissolve 2 tbs. baking soda in 1 qt warm water and wipe all surfaces. For stubborn spots, rub with baking soda paste. Be sure to rinse with a clean, wet cloth. (This works well on other enamel-finished appliances as well.) To clean interior fixtures, such as vegetable bins and shelves, wash in hot soapy water, rinse well and dry. Rust Remover Peeled Potatoes and Baking Soda or Salt. To remove rust from tin-ware, rub with a peeled potato dipped in a mild abrasive such as baking soda or salt. Aluminum Foil. Briskly scrub rust spots on car bumpers with a piece of crumpled aluminum foil, shiny side up. Also works well on the chrome shafts of golf clubs. Rust Stain and Hard Water Deposit Remover Apply full-strength vinegar or lemon juice and let stand until spot disappears, then rinse. Repeat if necessary. Scouring Powder The amount of chlorine in scouring powder is usually not significant enough to cause harm. If you want to totally avoid chlorine or are sensitive to it follow this recipe. Non-Chlorine Scouring Powder Baking Soda or Dry Table Salt. Both of these substances are mild abrasives and can be used as an alternative to chlorine scouring powders. Simply put either baking soda or salt on a sponge or the surface you wish to clean and then scour and rinse. Shoe Polish Cold Pressed Nut Oil, Olive Oil, Walnut Oil, or Beeswax. Apply oil to leather product and buff with a chamois cloth to a shine. Lemon Juice. Lemon juice is good polish for black or tan leather shoes. Follow by buffing with a soft cloth. Vinegar. Remove water stains on leather by rubbing with a cloth dipped in a vinegar and water solution. Petroleum Jelly. A dab of petroleum jelly rubbed into patent leather gives a glistening shine and prevents cracking in the winter. Vinegar. To shine patent leather, moisten a soft cloth with white vinegar and wipe clean all patent leather articles. The color of the leather may be slightly changed. Art-Gum Eraser and Sandpaper or Emery Board. Dirt marks on suede can be rubbed out with an art-gum eraser. Then buff lightly with sandpaper or an emery board. Soap Scum Remover Apply baking soda dry or as a thick paste, rub vigorously with a wet sponge, then rinse. Stained No-Stick Cookware To remove stains from no-stick surfaces, pour a solution of 1 cup water, 2 tbs. baking soda and 1/2 cup chlorine bleach into the pan and simmer 5 to 10 minutes. Do not allow mixture to boil or to boil over the side of the pan. Wash in hot soapy water, rinse and dry. Apply a light coating of cooking oil. (Note: This formula may fade dark-colored surfaces.) Sticky Labels See our Sticky Tape, Label, Applique Page Tea Stains To remove tea stains from cups or counters, rub with baking soda paste. For stubborn stains, rub a drop of chlorine bleach into the affected area until the stain disappears, then wash immediately with hot soapy water to prevent fading, and rinse well. Telephone Cleaner Sponge with a piece of cotton dipped in rubbing alcohol. Toilet Bowl Cleaner Pour 1/4 cup full strength chlorine bleach OR 1/2 cup full strength ammonia into bowl. DO NOT USE BOTH. Swish with a bowl brush and flush. Windshield Wiper Frost Free Fluid When you have to leave your car outside overnight in the winter, mix 3 parts vinegar to 1 part water and coat the windows with this solution. This vinegar and water combination will keep windshields ice and frost-free. Furniture Polish and Scratch Remover FAQ's The idea behind furniture polish for wood products is to absorb oil into the wood. Many oils commonly found in our kitchens work very well. Vegetable Oil or Olive Oil and Lemon Juice. Mix 2 parts oil and 1 part lemon juice. Apply and polish with a soft cloth. This leaves furniture looking and smelling good. For Unfinished Wood: Mineral Oil. Mineral oil is flammable. Apply sparingly with a soft cloth. For lemon oil polish, dissolve 1 teaspoon lemon oil into 1 pint mineral oil. CAUTION: Mineral spirits should never be substituted for mineral oil as it can be dangerous when inhaled or absorbed through the skin. For Mahogany: Vinegar. Mix equal pans white vinegar and warm water. Wipe onto wood and then polish with a chamois cloth. For Grease Spots: Salt. Immediately pour salt on the grease spot to absorb grease and prevent staining. For Scratches: Lemon Juice and Vegetable Oil. Mix equal pans of lemon juice and salad oil. Rub into scratches with a soft cloth until scratches disappear. For Water Spots: Toothpaste. To remove water marks, rub gently with toothpaste on a damp cloth. For Washing Wood: Mild Soap. Dampen cloth with a solution of water and mild soap, such as Ivory or Murphy's Oil Soap. Wring the cloth almost dry and wipe the furniture section by section, drying with a clean dry cloth as you go so that no section stays wet.