The Nontoxic Home

The Kitchen

The kitchen, long the heart of the home, a place of comfort and safety that stays with us from our childhood throughout our lives, is one of the most hazardous places in the average home.  Why? Because of the widespread use of toxic products to clean all of its surfaces, including those intended to come in contact with food.

Fortunately, there are alternate ways to handle every job, and most of them are not only infinitely safer, but cheaper as well.

Supplies Floor Counters

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Supplies

Construction
Do's	Don't's
Ceramic Tile Stainless Steel Cob Rammed or Poured Earth	Linoleum PVC Lead Solder Copper Pipes
Cleaning
Do's	Don't's
Borax Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) Table Salt	Ammonia Chlorine Bleach Sodium Lauryls & Laureths

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Cleaning

For the floor:

• Dump all those toxic products, and try a simple solution of Borax in water – this takes grease and grime right up!

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For the counters:

• use baking soda as a powdered cleanser – sprinkle liberally on the counter, and wipe or scrub with a damp sponge or cloth

• mix baking soda with borax and use as a powdered cleanser – sprinkle liberally on the counter, and wipe or scrub with a damp sponge or cloth – this is VERY good for grease

• mix baking soda with salt for use as a powdered cleanser – sprinkle liberally on the counter, and wipe or scrub with a damp sponge or cloth – this is for when you need a serious scrub, so don't use it on fragile surfaces

• try a simple solution of Borax in water – this takes greasy grime right up!

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© copyright March 24, 1998 - present

Last updated on December 15, 1998