Home & Garden...

Most commercial metal and wood cleaners are chock full of dangerous toxins and chemicals that aren't safe for humans or pets. Not to mention, all that packaging cleaning products usually come in.

Still, most of us have wood and metal fixtures, walls, or furniture that we'd like to keep clean. What to do? How about try some natural cleaners...

Tips for naturally cleaning wood:

Remove water marks on wood by rubbing a small amount of toothpaste into the mark. If minty fresh isn't your style try mixing equal amounts of salt and salad oil (like a vegetable oil), and rub it onto the water mark. You have to wipe it off after about a minute though. Toothpaste has less potential to damage wood.

To clean wood floors try mixing one tablespoon lemon oil, 1/2 cup white vinegar, and 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol. That's a little much though, in most cases, plain water and a squirt of eco-soap and lemon juice will spiffy up your floors (and not smell like vinegar - ick).

For dusting a slightly damp cloth alone will amaze you. No spray duster needed.

Tips for naturally cleaning metals:

Metal polishes are seriously bad cleaners - almost all give off toxic fumes as you use them. Try this instead...

For silver: Soak silver in warm water mixed with a teaspoon of salt and teaspoon of baking soda, usually for about 15-30 minutes. Wipe down with soft, non abrasive cloth. You can also use toothpaste on silver, just be sure to wash it off completely.

For chrome: Rub chrome with straight up vinegar - although lemon juice can often work as well, and again, no icky vinegar smell. Dry in a circular motion with a super soft cloth.

For aluminum: Soak a towel in lemon juice and place the cloth on the aluminum for about an hour or so, then rub well with dry cloth. If you can't soak your aluminum (can be messy), try a cloth dampened with white vinegar - rub in and then dry.

For brass or copper: Make a paste of lemon juice and baking soda. Apply and let sit for ten minutes. Wash well with warm water and dry with non-abrasive cloth.

To see more natural cleaners read: 25 Safe, Non-toxic, Homemade Cleaning Supplies