We draw our water from a well and our home is serviced with a septic tank. We are keenly aware of water contaminants and the need for maintaining high water quality, as well as, the need for water conservation.

I avoid the use of soil and water contaminating products when I clean. I also collect housecleaning tips from wherever I can find them and then I put them to the test. I found these tips on Beryl Bender Birch Power Yoga website. My conclusion is that Alka Seltzer rocks!

If you look at the ingredients for Alka-Seltzer, you will find that it contains citric acid and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). Now, just look what you can do with Alka-Seltzer:

• Clean a toilet – drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush, and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous china.

• Clean a vase – to remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase, fill with water and drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets.

• Polish jewelry – drop two Alka-Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes.

• Clean a thermos bottle – fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka-Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary).

• Unclog a drain – clean the sink drain by dropping three Alka-Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of white vinegar. Wait a few minutes, then run the hot water.

If you have an earth conscious cleaning tip to share please post it in a comment box. :)