3 More Natural (Green) Non-Polluting Cleaning Solutions

On Monday I wrote about a great article I had seen on AOL/Shelterpop about 66 common natural household items that could be used in furthering the “green” objective to not pollute the earth especially our water supply.
The full article can be found at:
http://home.aol.com/new_in_home/photogallerytall/_a/66-all-natural-cleaning-solutions/20090615135209990001
I promised a few more and I think I saved at least one of the best for last and my use isnt listed. As I have discussed before the most frequent questions and comments I get as well as the most read blogs I have written are regarding “Whats that Smell”. The biggest offender in creating sewer smells in the home is dry “P”traps and a permanent solution for evaporating water in a seldom used “P” trap is cooking oil, the first thing on our list today. Cooking oil doesn’t evaporate easily and so if you have a drain that dries out from a lack of use just pour cooking oii into it and it seals the trap. Just remember that once you wash the oil down when using the drain you will have to replace it. Here are some more uses for cooking oil around the house:
Cooking Oils: Vegetable and plant-based oils, such as olive and sunflower, dislodge dirt, diminish scratches and imperfections, and "hydrate wood that has aged or dried out from exposure to the sun," says Hunter. Price: About $7 a pint at supermarkets. Use them to clean your...
Cast-iron pans: Make a scrubbing paste with vegetable oil and a teaspoon of coarse salt to combat cooked-on debris, then rinse with hot water.
Hands: To get paint off your skin, rub with vegetable oil, then wash thoroughly with soap.
Leather shoes: Wipe away dirt with a damp sponge, then apply a drop of vegetable oil to a soft cloth and rub the surface to remove scuff marks. Buff the shoes with a chamois to a shine.
Rattan and wicker furniture: To prevent rattan and wicker from drying or cracking, lightly brush them with vegetable or sunflower oil and gently rub in with a cloth. Warm the oil on the stove first to thin it and make it easier to apply.
Baking and Soda: (a.k.a. sodium bicarbonate) and its close cousin, washing soda (sodium carbonate), both absorb odors. But unlike baking soda, slightly stronger washing soda can't be ingested; wear rubber gloves when handling it. Price: About $1.08 for a pound of baking soda; $7 for 4 pounds of washing soda; both available at supermarkets. Use it to clean your...
Can opener: Dip a toothbrush in a paste of 2 tablespoons baking soda and 1 teaspoon water and use it to dislodge gunk.
Garage floors (and other concrete surfaces): Pour washing soda generously on oil and grease spots and sprinkle with water until a paste forms. Let stand overnight. The next day, scrub with a damp brush, hose down, and wipe clean.
Garden tools: Dip a moist stiff-bristled brush in washing soda to scrub trimmers, clippers, and more. Rinse, then place in a sunny area to dry. (Don't use washing soda on aluminum tools.)
Grills and barbecue utensils: To combat tough grease stains, dip a moist stiff- bristled brush in washing soda and scrub away.
Stove burner grates: In a dishpan, soak them in 1 gallon warm water and 1/2 cup washing soda for 30 minutes. Rinse and dry.
Stained teacups and coffee mugs: Fill with 1 part baking soda and 2 parts water and soak overnight; rub with a sponge and rinse.
Upholstered furniture: To remove odors, sprinkle baking soda on the fabric, then vacuum.
Scuffed walls: Erase crayon marks by applying a baking- soda paste (equal parts baking soda and water) to white painted walls (baking soda may dull colored walls). Let dry before brushing it off with a clean cloth.
Not mentioned in this article is the old trick of keeping an open box of baking soda in your refrigerator and freezer to eliminate unpleasant smells.
Table Salt: Salt's granular texture makes it perfectly suited for scouring. Table salt, sea salt, and kosher salt can all be used, but table salt is the cheapest choice. Price: About 69 cents a pound. Use it to clean your...
Artificial flowers: Place the fake blooms inside a paper bag and pour in salt. Close the bag and shake vigorously. The salt will dislodge accumulated dust and dirt.
Glassware: Salt won't scratch the way a scouring pad can. To get out stubborn stains, add some salt for extra abrasion and scrub.
Greasy pots and pans: Sprinkle salt on cookware to absorb excess grease. Dump out the salt before washing as usual. (Not recommended for nonstick cookware.)
Spills in the oven: If that casserole bubbles over as you take it out of the oven, pour salt on the spill to soak it up. When the oven is cool, wipe with a damp sponge.
Stained teacups and coffee mugs: Sprinkle salt on the outside of a lemon peel; rub the affected area till clean.
Wooden counters. cutting boards and tables: Cover grease splatters with salt to absorb as much as possible. Wait an hour, then brush away the salt.

I hope you will take a few minutes and look at the article and see all 66 of the natural products that can be used to avoid dangerous chemicals that pollute the earth.