Natural Household Remedies

If you have a greasy film on your appliances, this solution will work wonders:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of water
• 1/4 cup oil based soap (Murphy’s will do just fine)
• 10 drops of either rosemary, lavender, or even citrus essential oil

In a plastic spray bottle, combine all ingredients and shake well before you use the solution.  Then spray generously on the surfaces you wish to clean and wipe with a damp cloth.  You cuold also use a sponge to wipe.  If thgrease is difficult to wipe off, let the solution sit for a moment before you wipe it off.  Wipe everythign dry with a towe.

Three eco-friendly cleaner recipes to try out at your next “green party”:

Furniture polish: Combine 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar and 2 teaspoons of lemon juice for fragrance (optional). Shake well. Dip a clean, dry cloth into the polish and rub wood in the direction of the grain. Refrigerate if you add lemon juice.

Toilet bowl cleaner: Sprinkle toilet bowl with baking soda, drizzle with white distilled vinegar. Let soak for at least 30 minutes and scrub with toilet brush. For persistent stains, let ingredients soak overnight.

All-purpose cleaner: Combine 2 cups white distilled vinegar and 2 cups water. To reduce the smell of vinegar, add 20 to 30 drops of lemon or lavender oil, available at specialty grocery stores or health food stores. Use on countertops, kitchen floors, windows, mirrors and other hard surfaces. For tough jobs, warm cleaner in the microwave until barely hot.

Source: Women’s Voices for the Earth (womenandenvironment.org)

Via: Faith Acre Farm

Tara writes:

Homemade Cleaning

Six or so years ago I started making homemade household cleaners out of the neccessity to save money. It didn’t take long for me to realize the enormous benefits of making and using homemade cleaners. Yes it is a great way to cut costs, but even better than that is the fact that you are cutting out harmful chemicals from your home! Not to mention reducing waste by not buying & rebuying containers full of chemical cleaners.

I’ve tried many different recipes over the years and have come up with a few favorites. One thing I have noticed is that you don’t have to have a cleanser for every purpose. I’ve simplified things and use 2 basic recipes for almost every cleaning need.

Read her recipes here

Here is a recipe for a basic sink cleaner that can be used for stainless steel and porcelain sinks alike.  If you store the vinegar separately, the baking soda-essential oil mixture can be made in larger quantities in advance and stored.  Use large plastic jars  with shaker tops - spice or herb jars do the job well.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 1/2 cup vinegar
• 3 drops lavender, rosemary, lemon, lime or orange essential oil

Combine all ingredients.  Rinse the sink well with hot water, then pour cleanser int he sink and wipe with sponge or cloth.  Rinse well again with hot water.

If you find baking soda residue in your sink, rinse with vinegar once before the final hot water rinse.

Here are a few more ideas to make doing dishes a healthy and enjoyable experience for you:

Uplifting Blend

Ingredients:

• liquid castile soap
• 10 drops lemon essential oil
• 6 drops bergamot essential oil
• 4 drops lavender essential oil
• 2 drops orange essential oil

Herbal Blend

Ingredients:

• liquid castile soap
• 10 drops lavender essential oil
• 8 drops rosemary essential oil
• 4 drops eucalyptus essential oil

Sweet Blend

Ingredients:

• liquid castile soap
• 20 drops lime essential oil
• 10 drops sweet orange essential oil
• 5 drops citrus seed extract

For all blends, take a clean 22 ounce squirt bottle. Fill it with castile soap; dilute according to directions if you use a concentrate. Add the essential oils, shake the bottle before each use. To wash dishes as usual, add 1 to 2 tbsp to the dishwater.