Natural Living
NATURAL LIVING
Natural ways to get rid of ants
Making your own non-toxic cleaning kit will take you no time at all with these simple, Straight forward directions, and with this kit you will be supplied with enough cleaning product for months of cleaning. As an added bonus, ounce for ounce homemade cleaning formulas cost about one-tenth the price of their commercial counterparts -- and that includes costly, but worthwhile essential oils and concentrated, all-purpose detergents for homemade recipes.
SUPPLIES
baking soda
washing soda
white distilled vinegar
a good liquid soap or detergent
tea tree oil
6 clean spray bottles
2 glass jars
MAKE YOUR OWN PRODUCTS
Note: Make sure to label all your homemade cleaning products, and keep them away from pets and children.
these are just some of the basic house cleaning supplies we use
WINDOW CLEANER
Make a great all-purpose window cleaner by combining
1/4 cup vinegar,
1/2 TSP liquid soap or detergent,
2 cups of water in a spray bottle. Combine in a spray bottle. Shake to blend.
DRAIN CLEANER
Baking Soda Drain Cleaner
If water hasn't yet backed up in your drain, pour 1 cup of baking soda followed by 3 cups of boiling water.
The boiling water will change the chemical composition of baking soda, making it more alkaline. Repeat a few times until the drain is clear.
The Bubbling Method Using Vinegar and Baking Soda
Baking soda and vinegar react with each other to cause bubbles and fizzing. Sometimes the fizzing can unlodge clogs.
Follow the baking soda and boiling water formula, above, with 1 cup of vinegar
OVEN CLEANER
1)Sprinkle baking soda all over the bottom until it is covered completely with about 1/4 of an inch of baking soda.
2)Using a clean spray bottle spray the baking soda with water until the baking soda is thoroughly damp but not flooded.
3)After that, this lazy cleaner goes off and does other things. When you think of it, dampen the baking soda again if it is drying out.
4)Before I go to bed, do that again.
5)Upon waking in the morning, the baking soda can effortlessly be scooped out of the oven with a sponge, bringing all the grime with it.
That's it! The only downside is that you need to rinse out the white residue left by the baking soda, but it sure beats Turkey à La Oven cleaner because there are no fumes!
MOLD & MILDEW
Tea Tree Treasure
2 teaspoons tea tree oil
2 cups water
Combine in a spray bottle, shake to blend, and spray on problem areas. Do not rinse.
Makes 2 cups
Preparation Time: Under a minute
Shelf Life: Indefinite
Storage: Leave in the spray bottle
*Note that the smell of tea tree oil is very strong, but it will dissipate in a few days.*
Grapefruit Seed Extract
20 drops grapefruit seed extract
2 cups water
Combine in a spray bottle, shake to blend, and spray on problem areas. Do not rinse.
Makes 2 cups
Preparation Time: A minute or so
Shelf Life: Indefinite
Storage: Leave in the spray bottle
ANTI-BACTERIAL SPRAY
Lightly Lavender Antibacterial Spray
1 cup water
20 drops pure essential oil of lavender
Pour the water into a spray bottle. Add the lavender essential oil and shake to blend.
Spray on the surface and let set for at least 15 minutes, or don’t rinse at all.
Makes: 1 cup spray
Shelf Life: Indefinite
CREAMY SOFT SCRUBBER
pour about 1/2 cup of baking soda into a bowl, and add enough liquid detergent to make a texture like frosting.
Scoop the mixture onto a sponge, and wash the surface.
FURNITURE POLISH
1/2 teaspoon oil, such as olive (or jojoba, a liquid wax)
1/4 cup vinegar or fresh lemon juice
Mix the ingredients in a glass jar. Dab a soft rag into the solution and wipe onto wood surfaces. Cover the glass jar and store indefinitely.
Floor Cleaner w/ Herbs
1/8 cup liquid soap or detergent
1/4 to 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar or lemon juice
1/2 cup fragrant herb tea
(peppermint is great as it adds antibacterial qualities)
Combine ingredients in a pail or bucket. Swirl the water around until it is sudsy. Proceed as normal.
Shelf Life: Discard unused formula
Many thanks to cali4niachef for this list
Natural ways to get rid of ants
Making your own non-toxic cleaning kit will take you no time at all with these simple, Straight forward directions, and with this kit you will be supplied with enough cleaning product for months of cleaning. As an added bonus, ounce for ounce homemade cleaning formulas cost about one-tenth the price of their commercial counterparts -- and that includes costly, but worthwhile essential oils and concentrated, all-purpose detergents for homemade recipes.
SUPPLIES
baking soda
washing soda
white distilled vinegar
a good liquid soap or detergent
tea tree oil
6 clean spray bottles
2 glass jars
MAKE YOUR OWN PRODUCTS
Note: Make sure to label all your homemade cleaning products, and keep them away from pets and children.
these are just some of the basic house cleaning supplies we use
WINDOW CLEANER
Make a great all-purpose window cleaner by combining
1/4 cup vinegar,
1/2 TSP liquid soap or detergent,
2 cups of water in a spray bottle. Combine in a spray bottle. Shake to blend.
DRAIN CLEANER
Baking Soda Drain Cleaner
If water hasn't yet backed up in your drain, pour 1 cup of baking soda followed by 3 cups of boiling water.
The boiling water will change the chemical composition of baking soda, making it more alkaline. Repeat a few times until the drain is clear.
The Bubbling Method Using Vinegar and Baking Soda
Baking soda and vinegar react with each other to cause bubbles and fizzing. Sometimes the fizzing can unlodge clogs.
Follow the baking soda and boiling water formula, above, with 1 cup of vinegar
OVEN CLEANER
1)Sprinkle baking soda all over the bottom until it is covered completely with about 1/4 of an inch of baking soda.
2)Using a clean spray bottle spray the baking soda with water until the baking soda is thoroughly damp but not flooded.
3)After that, this lazy cleaner goes off and does other things. When you think of it, dampen the baking soda again if it is drying out.
4)Before I go to bed, do that again.
5)Upon waking in the morning, the baking soda can effortlessly be scooped out of the oven with a sponge, bringing all the grime with it.
That's it! The only downside is that you need to rinse out the white residue left by the baking soda, but it sure beats Turkey à La Oven cleaner because there are no fumes!
MOLD & MILDEW
Tea Tree Treasure
2 teaspoons tea tree oil
2 cups water
Combine in a spray bottle, shake to blend, and spray on problem areas. Do not rinse.
Makes 2 cups
Preparation Time: Under a minute
Shelf Life: Indefinite
Storage: Leave in the spray bottle
*Note that the smell of tea tree oil is very strong, but it will dissipate in a few days.*
Grapefruit Seed Extract
20 drops grapefruit seed extract
2 cups water
Combine in a spray bottle, shake to blend, and spray on problem areas. Do not rinse.
Makes 2 cups
Preparation Time: A minute or so
Shelf Life: Indefinite
Storage: Leave in the spray bottle
ANTI-BACTERIAL SPRAY
Lightly Lavender Antibacterial Spray
1 cup water
20 drops pure essential oil of lavender
Pour the water into a spray bottle. Add the lavender essential oil and shake to blend.
Spray on the surface and let set for at least 15 minutes, or don’t rinse at all.
Makes: 1 cup spray
Shelf Life: Indefinite
CREAMY SOFT SCRUBBER
pour about 1/2 cup of baking soda into a bowl, and add enough liquid detergent to make a texture like frosting.
Scoop the mixture onto a sponge, and wash the surface.
FURNITURE POLISH
1/2 teaspoon oil, such as olive (or jojoba, a liquid wax)
1/4 cup vinegar or fresh lemon juice
Mix the ingredients in a glass jar. Dab a soft rag into the solution and wipe onto wood surfaces. Cover the glass jar and store indefinitely.
Floor Cleaner w/ Herbs
1/8 cup liquid soap or detergent
1/4 to 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar or lemon juice
1/2 cup fragrant herb tea
(peppermint is great as it adds antibacterial qualities)
Combine ingredients in a pail or bucket. Swirl the water around until it is sudsy. Proceed as normal.
Shelf Life: Discard unused formula
Many thanks to cali4niachef for this list