The Environmental Health Center offers the following “safer solutions.”

For This:	Try This:
Ants	Red chili powder at their entrance point
Chrome polish	Apple cider vinegar
Dish detergent	1/2 cup baking soda + liquid detergent
Flies	Well watered bowl of basil
Ink spot remover	Cold water +1 tablespoon cream of tarter + 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Moth Repellant	Cedar chips enclosed in cotton sachets
Pet odor removal	Cider vinegar
Roach repellant	Chopped bay leaves and cucumber skins
Window cleaner	2 tablespoons vinegar in 1 quart warm water
Air Freshener	Use herbal bouquets, pure vanilla on a cotton ball, or simmer cinnamon and cloves
Mold and Mildew	*Bleach
Drain Cleaner	1/2 cup baking soda + 1/2 cup vinegar, wait a few minutes, then 2 quarts boiling water; repeat process
Rusty bolt/nut Remover	Carbonated beverage

*Never use chlorine bleach on nylon carpeting.

The article containing the above information (“Making Your Home Environment More Healthy!”) also suggested baking soda as a “Rug/Carpet Cleaner.” NOT a good idea.

There are also grocery store products for pet urine odor control in carpeting that contain baking soda. Again, NOT a good idea.

Reason: First of all, baking soda is not a good overall cleaner for carpeting, because it cannot cut the broad variety of soils that accumulate. It will work on some soils, not on others. Second, the substance is extremely difficult to get out of carpeting. And, once used, when your carpet is cleaned, the baking soda causes pile yarn to become stiff.