Recipes from Pat, poet and writer

Most of you know I have chemical sensitivity which means I can't use products with petro-chemicals or fragrances. Pat Daharsh , a regular reader and an award winning poet and writer, sent me a long list of non-chemical cleaning recipes and uses for simple safe items we have in our kitchens. I am sharing a few here today. Some of you might have tried these already. I plan to print this list and keep it handy. If you have tried one of these, let us know

Hair Dryer as Sticker Remover - A little hot air quickly loosens price labels—with zero fingernail-chipping frustration.

Mustard Powder as Jar Deodorizer - Deodorize smelly glass jars by washing them with a mixture of one teaspoon powdered mustard and one quart warm water.

Onion as Basement Deodorizer - Clear the air in a dank basement. Cut an onion in half, place it on a plate, and leave it out overnight. Once the initial salad-bar aroma dissipates, you'll have a fresh (non-oniony) atmosphere.

Rubber Glove as Pet Hair Remover - Put on a damp rubber dishwashing glove and run your hand over hair-covered upholstery—the hair will cling to the glove, not the sofa. Rinse off the glove in the sink (with the drain catcher in place, of course).

Vanilla as Freezer Freshener - Trade frostbite funk for a more pleasing freezer scent and wipe the inside of the icebox with an extract-dampened cotton pad.

Vinegar as Garbage Disposal Deodorizer - Deodorize a garbage disposal. Make vinegar ice cubes and feed them down the disposal. After grinding, run cold water through the drain.

Coffee Filter as Screen Cleaner - For lint-free viewing, grab a coffee filter to wipe down dusty and staticky computer monitors and TV screens regularly.

Club Soda as Stainless Steel Polisher - Shine stainless-steel cookware and fixtures. Buff scuffs with a soda-dampened cloth, then wipe dry.

Coffee Filter as Mirror Cleaner - Get a streak–free shine by using a coffee filter to buff a mirror or window.

White Bread as Painting Cleaner - To clean an oil painting, softly rub a piece of white bread over it to remove dust or dirt.