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Public Health Solutions
District Health Department
995 East Hwy 33, Ste 1
Crete, NE 68333-2562
888.310.0565
Webmail »
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Make the Least Toxic Product Choices....
Pest Control |
Safer Alternative |
Aphids |
Spray thoroughly with water. Repeat three times weekly. |
Ants |
Mix borax, sugar and water on a cotton ball to treat openings to outside. Patch and plug holes and cracks, seal doors and windows. |
Fertilizer |
Use compost or coffee grounds, bone meal and wood ashes. |
| Cockroaches |
Boric acid paste (with flour and/or sugar)...keep out of reach of children. Use in conjunction with low-toxicity cockroach gels to avoid building resistance to control method. |
| Lice |
Use a lice/nit comb and manually remove. Apply thick conditioner to slow lice down (keep them from moving into already checked sections). Repeat daily for 1-2 weeks. |
Fleas |
Use a flea comb. Bathe pet weekly. Feed pets Brewer’s yeast, vitamin B, garlic |
Rats / Mice |
Snap or live traps |
Slugs / Snails |
Pan with beer or slug hotel. |
Weeds |
Pull by hand. Keep grass on the long side to 'shade-out' the weeds. |
| Cleaning |
Safer Alternative |
Bathroom cleaner |
Mix baking soda and castile soap. Scrub. |
| All purpose cleaner |
Mix of 1/2 white vinegar, 1/2 water, tsp dish detergent, few drops of essential oil for smell (i.e. orange extract) |
Copper cleaner |
Scrub with vinegar and salt. Rinse well. |
Air fresheners |
Simmer cinnamon and cloves. |
Drain openers |
Baking soda and vinegar, followed by boiling water. Or, use a plumber’s snake. |
Glass & window cleaner |
Vinegar and water. |
Furniture polish |
For unvarnished surfaces, mix lemon juice and vegetable oil. |
Laundry detergent |
Use washing soda, or a non-phosphate concentrate. |
Oven cleaners |
Washing soda. |
Oil or solvent based paint |
Water based or latex paints. |
Rug / upholstery cleaners |
Club soda. Baking soda paste. |
Scouring powders |
Baking soda or borax. Rinse thoroughly. |
Toilet bowl cleaner |
Baking soda and castile soap. |
Printable Guide to Safer Cleaning (pdf)
Know of others? Send 'em in!
888-310-0565, marcy@phsneb.org
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