What is
Sustainability?

Program
Deliverables

How Can I
Help?

The Arboretum at
Penn State Behrend

HOW CAN I HELP?

Environmental Friendly Cleaning

• Six ingredients can met most of cleaning needs:
  • Vinegar
  • Soap
  • Baking soda
  • Washing soda
  • Borax
  • Ammonia
• All-purpose cleaner
  • 1 gallon hot water
  • ¼ cup sudsy ammonia
  • ¼ cup vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon baking soda
  • For stronger cleaner double all ingredients except water
• Don’t use paradichlorobenze (PDCB) containing deodorizers
• Furniture or floor polish
  • Lemon oil and beeswax in mineral oil base
• Toilet bowl cleaner
  • Strong solution of natural acid (i.e. vinegar)
• Glass cleaner
  • 2 tablespoons borax or washing soda
  • 3 cups water
• Laundry detergent
  • Soak in cool water
  • Hand-washing: bar of soap and small amounts of washing soda
  • Washing machines: phosphate-free powders
• Drain cleaners
  • Never pour liquid grease down a drain
  • Once a week:
    • Mix:
      • 1 cup baking soda
      • 1 cup salt
      • ¼ cup cream of tartar
    • Pour ¼ mixture down drain, follow with a pot of boiling water
  • To remove a clog:
    • ¼ cup baking soda, followed by ½ cup vinegar
    • Close drain till fizzing stops, flush with boiling water
• Air fresheners
  • Open window or use exhaust fan as natural air freshener
  • Simmer small amount of:
    • Cinnamon
    • Orange peel
    • Cloves
  • Potpourri candles
    • Fresh cut flowers
    • Open box of baking soda
• Many companies now offer full lines of environmentally-friendly cleaning products
• Control of indoor pests:
  • Ants
    • Sprinkle barriers of:
      • Talcum powder
      • Chalk
      • Bone meal
      • Boric acid
  • Cockroaches
    • Repair cracks
    • Light dusting of borax around fridge, stove and ductwork
    • For a trap:
      • Grease inner neck of bottle and put stale beer or raw potato inside
    • Combine sugar, flour and boric acid into powder
  • Flies
    • Shut windows before the sun hits them
  • Moths
    • Keep woolens and other cloths dry and well aired
    • Store in:
      • Cedar chests or closets
      • Tightly sealed plastic bags
  • Ticks and fleas
    • After washing, apply herbal rinse
    • Herbal rinse:
      • ½ cup fresh or dried rosemary to quart of boiling water
      • Steep twenty minutes
      • Strain
      • Allow to cool
      • Spray or sponge evenly
      • Do not rinse off
    • Prevent entrance of pests
      • Repair holes
      • Reduce moisture
      • Add weather stripping
    • Use low toxicity chemicals
      • Boric acid
      • Silica aerogel
      • Diatomaceous earth