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Bathroom Cleaners

PORCELAIN CLEANER

• Cream of Tartar: To clean porcelain surfaces, rub with cream of tartar sprinkled on a damp cloth.  Works well on light stains.

RUST REMOVER

• Peeled Potatoes and Arm & Hammer Baking Soda or Salt: To remove rust from tinware, rub with peeled potato dipped in a mild abrasive such as baking soda or salt.
• Aluminum Foil: Briskly scrub rust spots on car bumpers with a piece of crumpled aluminum foil, shiny side up.  Also works well on the chrome shafts of golf clubs.

SCOURING POWDER

The amount of chlorine in scouring powder is not significant enough to cause harm, but if you ant to totally avoid chlorine or are sensitive to it, follow these recipes:

• Non-Chlorine Scouring Powder: Bon-Ami Cleaning Powder and Bon-Ami Polishing Cleaner are two examples of commercially available products
• Arm & Hammer Baking Soda or Dry Table Salt: Both of these substances are mild abrasives and can be used as an alternative to chlorine scouring powders.  Simply put either baking soda or salt on a sponge or the surface you wish to clean and then scour and rinse.

TOILET BOWL CLEANER

CAUTION -IF YOU USE BLEACH TO CLEAN YOUR TOILET BOWL, NEVER MIX BLEACH WITH VINEGAR, TOILET BOWL CLEANER, OR AMMONIA.  THE COMBINATION OF BLEACH WITH ANY OF THESE SUBSTANCES PRODUCES A TOXIC GAS, WHICH CAN BE HAZARDOUS.

•  Arm & Hammer Baking Soda and Vinegar: Sprinkle baking soda into the bowl, then drizzle with vinegar and scour with a toilet brush.  This combination cleans and deodorizes.  Sprinkle Arm & Hammer Baking Soda around the rim and scrub stains with a toilet brush.

TUB AND TILE CLEANER

• Arm & Hammer Baking Soda: Sprinkle baking soda like you would a scouring powder.  Rub with a damp cloth or sponge.  Rinse thoroughly.
• Vinegar and Arm & Hammer Baking Soda: To remove film buildup on bathtubs, apply vinegar full strength to a sponge and wipe with vinegar first.  Next, use baking soda as you would scouring powder.  Rub with a damp sponge and rinse thoroughly with clean water.
• Vinegar: Vinegar removes most dirt without scrubbing and doesn’t leave a film.  Use ¼ cup (or more) vinegar to 1 gallon of water.

GROUT CLEANER

• Arm & Hammer Baking Soda: Put 3 cups baking soda into a medium-size bowl and add 1 cup warm water.  Mix into a smooth paste and scrub into grout with a sponge or toothpaste.  Rinse thoroughly.

DRAIN CLEANERS AND OPENERS

• Prevention: To avoid clogging drains, use a drain strainer to trap food particles and hair. 
• Collect grease in cans rather than pouring it down the drain.
• Pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain weekly to melt fat that may be building up in the drain, or weekly, put some vinegar and Arm & Hammer Baking Soda down your drain to break down fat and keep your drain smelling fresh.
• Plunger: A time-honored drain opener is the plunger.  This inexpensive tool will usually break up the clog and allow it to float away.  It may take more than a few plunges to unclog the drain.

CAUTION -   DO NOT USE THIS METHOD AFTER ANY COMMERCIAL DRAIN OPENER HAS BEEN USED OR IS STILL PRESENT IN THE STANDING WATER.

• Salt and Arm & Hammer Baking Soda: Pour ½ cup salt and ½ cup baking soda down the drain.  Follow with 6 cups of boiling water.  Let sit overnight and then flush with water.  The hot water should help dissolve the clog and the baking soda and salt serve as an abrasive to break through the clog.
• Mechanical Snake: A flexible metal snake can be purchased or rented.  It is threaded down the clogged drain and physically pushes the clog  away. 

ALL PURPOSE CLEANER

• Vinegar and Salt: Mix together for a good surface cleaner.
• Arm & Hammer Baking Soda: Dissolve 4 tablespoons baking soda in 1 quart warm water for a general cleaner.  Baking soda on a damp cloth or sponge also works well.  Baking soda will clean and deodorize kitchen and bathroom surfaces.