An Adventure with Household Cleaners

As a college student, my sentimental attachment to my cheap housing is pretty low, but I try to keep my apartment clean enough that my mom wouldn’t kill me were she to make a surprise visit. For many years, the only factor impacting my choice of cleaners was cheapness, the last thing I ever did was look at the label. And I had no idea you weren’t supposed to just throw them away. I associated the term “household hazardous waste” with “nuclear waste,” and other “wastes” with which I had no personal contact.

I have recently been made to recognize my often environmentally destructive attitude and am making vows to be better. The first step is knowing what products are considered HHW-which is what the cool kids call household hazardous waste.

Common Cleaning HHW Products:

• Oven cleaners
• Wood and metal polishers
• Toilet cleaners
• Laundry bleach
• Shower cleaners
• Pool chemicals
• Drain cleaners

Other HHW Products (that you will hopefully never use for cleaning):

• Nearly all sprays or poisons that rid your home of insects or vermin
• Motor oil, antifreeze and transmission/brake fluid
• Herbicides and Insecticides
• Oil and enamel-based paint
• Paint strippers and removers
• Batteries
• Products containing mercury: thermometers, fluorescent light bulbs, etc.
• Medication (don’t flush it)
• Highly flammable products: propane tanks, gas/oil mixes, lighter fluid, etc. (Check out the EPA’s Web site for a more detailed list.)

It’s important to read the labels of all products before purchasing them. You should know what you are bringing into your home.

A good move is to try to avoid buying HHW products when possible. I’m not suggesting never cleaning again (appealing though it may sound), but cleaning with a natural alternative. I tried out one of the alternatives suggested by the EPA so I could speak from experience.

(Note: I would be lying to say I didn’t completely enjoy myself doing this extremely simple experiment. So aside from the benefit of not having to worry about proper disposal of a traditional cleaner, I submit that alternative cleaners are much more fun.)

My Experiments

1. To create the experiment station, I smeared peanut butter and jelly on my counter, sort of a PB&J sandwich without bread. I made the kitchen/bathroom surface cleaner by mixing water, white vinegar and a little bit of salt. It worked like a charm. Even the thick PB came off easily.
2. The alternative cleaner I am really excited to try out is the drain de-clogger. This one is next on my testing list. Start by pouring about half a cup of baking soda down the stubborn drain, followed by an equal amount of vinegar. Cover the drain if possible. After a few minutes, pour down at least six cups of boiling water. Your drain should be running smooth as a whistle.
3. Another natural cleaner suggested by the EPA is a tile/tub cleaning paste made by mixing baking soda with non-chlorine bleach. Wipe the paste away with a cloth after letting it sit for a moment. Lemon juice and borax also work well to clean up your kitchen and bathroom.

Good luck with your experiments and please share with us any natural cleaners you find effective in your home.

If you still have HHW products sitting around, find an HHW event location using Earth 911. Many cities have a HHW proper disposal and recycling program and we can help you find a location or event in your area.