Discover - Non-Toxic Alternatives



Often, the cleaners we use in our homes are toxic. On your toxic waste hunt, you might have found some cleaners in your house that are toxic and have hazardous waste symbols on them.



These cleaners can be harmful to you and they can be harmful for the environment when they are rinsed down the sink, tub, or toilet.



Many people are finding different ways to clean instead of using toxic chemicals. They do not want to use cleaners that can harm them or the environment.

Question: What kind of environmentally friendly alternatives can I find for chemical cleaners?


Part A

  1. Do an Internet search to find environmentally friendly cleaners you can make at home.  Use keywords such as “homemade cleaning products”.

  2. Choose one that you would like to try.

  3. Use household products to make your home cleaning recipe.

  4. Try your homemade cleaner by cleaning something in your house.

Part B

Test a homemade cleaner and a regular chemical cleaner for the same job.  Find something that you can clean, such as the bathtub, stove top, or an old rag that you can put stains on.  Make a homemade cleaner that is intended to replace a chemical cleaner for that job.  Clean part of the thing you are cleaning with the homemade cleaner and part with the chemical cleaner.  Compare the results.  Which cleaner cleaned better?  Which cleaner smelled better?  Which cleaner was more environmentally and people safe?  How should you dispose of each kind of cleaner?