There are no alternatives to most automotive products. The only way to reduce the use of these products is to drive less by riding the bus, carpooling, cycling, or walking. For proper disposal of unused amounts of these products take them to the Benton County Regional Moderate Risk Waste Facility (942-7502).

Used motor oil	Engine degreaser	Diesel fuel
Antifreeze	Carburetor cleaner	Windshield wiper solution
Transmission fluid	Gasoline	Auto body repair products
Car batteries	Car wax	Fuel oils
Brake fluid

LESS TOXIC ALTERNATIVES: REDUCING THE RISK

One of the best means of avoiding exposure to household hazardous materials is to use less toxic alternatives whenever possible. Included in this section are time-honored recipes and suggestions to help you make the switch toward less toxic household products. Ingredients, followed by instructions, will guide you through an array of easy-to-make, easy-to-use less toxic alternatives. Some ingredients recommended as alternatives are safer, but not nontoxic.

The suggested alternatives that follow are only a sampling of available options. Making your own simple and effective products is fun and economical. We think you will be happily surprised with the results.

AEROSOLS

Aerosols contain an active ingredient and a liquid or gaseous propellant that is packed under at least 40 pounds of pressure per square inch. These pressurized aerosol containers are explosive and may be flammable. Depending upon other ingredients, the aerosol sprays may be irritants, corrosives, poisons or contain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

Prevention: Use non-aerosol (pump-spray, roll-on or liquid) products.

ANTIFREEZE (ethylene glycol) Propylene glycol-based: Use Propylene Glycol-based antifreeze as it is significantly less toxic than Ethylene Glycol-based. Ask for it when you buy antifreeze.

All Purpose Cleaner

Dishsoap: Use 2 tablespoons of a mild dishsoap or 1/4 cup of soap flakes plus 2 gallons of warm water to wash the vehicle. Use the same solution and a brush to scrub the tires.

Vinegar/lemon juice: For glass cleaning combine 2 table spoons of white vinegar or lemon juice with 3 cups of water; store in a spray bottle and use as needed.

Chrome

Vinegar: To clean chrome, wipe with a soft cloth dipped in undiluted white or cider vinegar.

Baby Oil: Apply baby oil with a soft cloth and polish to remove stains from chrome trim on faucets, kitchen appliances, vehicles, etc.

Newspaper: To make chrome fixtures shine brightly, rub them with newspaper after they have been wet. Wear gloves to avoid getting newsprint of your hands and other surfaces.

Aluminum Foil: Rub chrome with aluminum foil, shiny side out.

Baking soda: To clean the chrome apply a paste of baking soda and water to the chrome surface with a sponge; let the paste set for a few minutes, the rinse and wipe drive with a soft cloth.

Rust Spots

Steel wool: Use a soap filled steel wool pad to scrub the rust spots.

Stainless Steel

Olive Oil: Rub stainless steel sinks with olive oil to remove streaks.

Vinegar: To clean and polish stainless steel, simply moisten a cloth with undiluted white or cider vinegar and wipe clean. Can also be used to remove heat stains on stainless steel cutlery.

Club Soda: Remove streaks or heat stains from stainless steel by rubbing with club soda.

TAR

Linseed oil: Soak tar spots with raw linseed oil. Allow to stand until soft. Then wipe with a soft cloth that has been dampened with the linseed oil.

BATTERY CORROSION

Baking soda and petroleum jelly: Scrub the battery terminals and holder with a strong solution of baking soda water. Then smear them with petroleum jelly.

DEGREASERS

Citrus/vegetable oil: Use citrus or vegetable oil based products with "Non-toxic", "Biodegradable" and "Non-flammable" on the label. These are effective, but much safer.

Kitty litter/cornmeal: For grease spots sprinkle kitty litter or cornmeal on the spot; after allowing it to sit for several hours, sweep up and dispose of in the garbage.

Baking soda: For battery terminals use a baking soda and water paste to clean away corrosion, after reconnecting the clamps to the terminals, wipe them with petroleum jelly to prevent future corrosion.

DE-ICERS

Salt alternative: Use sand, chicken grit or kitty litter (instead of salt) for traction on icy walkways or driveways.

HAND CLEANERS

Prevention: Use nitrile or other type gloves suited for the activity.

Oils: Massage hands with a few drops of baby oil, margarine or butter, or petroleum jelly; wipe dry; wash with soap and water.

Non-toxic: Use a lanolin and glycerin-based, non-toxic hand cleaner.

MOTOR OIL

Recycle: If you change your own oil, recycle it. If you have it changed it a service station use a station that has the waste oil recycled.

Re-refined oil: Ask for re-refined oil. This will help improve the market for used oil, advance oil recycling efforts, help decrease the reliance on foreign suppliers and slow the rate of resource depletion.

OIL SPOTS ON THE GARAGE FLOOR

Mineral spirits: To remove oil drippings from concrete: Soak the area with mineral spirits for 30 minutes and then scrub with a stiff brush as you add more mineral spirits. Immediately after the scrubbing absorb the grease with oil towels or newspaper. Allow the concrete to dry, then wash the area with a solution of laundry detergent, 1-cup borax, and 1-gallon water.

PAINT

Prevention: Determine the amount of paint you need for a job and purchase only that amount.

Alternative to oil-based paint: Use water based paint instead of oil-based paint; latex paints are free of the flammable and toxic solvents found in oil-based paints.

Alternative to water-based paint: Use whitewash (a combination of hydrated lime, water and salt which lacks heavy metal pigments, alkyd resins and other chemicals common in water-based paint) for fences,, barns, basements and outbuildings. Use a dust mask when mixing.

WINDOW AND GLASS CLEANER

A few tips on window washing:

1. never wash windows while the sun is shining on them because they dry too quickly and leave streaks;
2. when polishing windows use up and down strokes on one side of the window and side to side strokes on the other to tell which side requires extra polishing; and
3. to polish windows or mirrors to a sparkling shine, try a natural linen towel or other soft cloth, a clean, damp chamois cloth, a squeegee, or crumpled newspaper. One word of warning about newspaper: while newspaper does leave glass lint-free with a dirt-resistant film, persons with sensitivities to fumes from newsprint may wish to avoid the use of newspaper as a cleaning tool.

All Purpose Cleaner

Paste: If the glass has a heavy buildup of dead bugs, combine 1/2 cup whiting (powdered chalk can be purchased at hardware and paint stores), 1/4 cup baking soda, 1 cup fuller's earth (powdered clay or kitty litter) and water to make a paste solution. Apply the paste solution to the glass with a sponge and polish with a dry lint-free cloth.

Vinegar: Wash windows or glass with a mixture of equal parts of white vinegar and warm water. Dry with a soft cloth. Leaves windows and glass streakless. To remove those stubborn hardwater sprinkler spots and streaks, use undiluted vinegar.

Borax or Washing Soda: Two tablespoons of borax or washing soda mixed into 3 cups water makes a good window cleaner. Apply to surface and wipe dry.

Cornstarch and Vinegar: Mix 3 tablespoons cornstarch and 1/2 cup white vinegar into 1 gallon warm water. Apply to surface and wipe dry.

Lemon Juice: Mix 1-tablespoon lemon juice in 1 quart water. Apply to surface and wipe dry.

Baking Soda: To clean cut glass, sprinkle baking soda on a damp rag and clean glass. Rinse with clean water and polish with a soft cloth.

Scratches, Stains and Discoloration in Windows and Glass

Toothpaste: Rub a little toothpaste into the scratch. Polish with a soft cloth.

Dry Mustard and Vinegar: Blend 3 parts dry mustard and 1 part white vinegar into a paste. Apply paste to discolored or stained portion of window or mirror and rub until the stain disappears. Rinse well with clean water. AVOID EYE CONTACT; DRY MUSTARD CAN BE DAMAGING TO THE CORNEA.

WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID

Vinegar: When you have to leave your car outside overnight in the winter, mix 3 parts vinegar to 1 part water and coat the windows with this solution. This vinegar and water combination will keep windshields ice and frost-free.

Rubbing alcohol: Combine 1 quart rubbing alcohol, 2 tablespoons liquid detergent and 1 cup water. This formula will not freeze down to 35 degrees below zero.