Natural Household Remedies

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)

Works great for stove tops and refrigerators if s[prayed generously on the appliance and wiped off with a damp sponge or cloth, and then wiped dry with another cloth.

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp liquid castile soap
• 1/8 cup white vinegar
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 cups water
• 6 drops citrus seed extract
• 4 drops lemon, lime, orange or eucalyptus essential oil
• 1 tsp borax

Combine all ingredients in a plastic spray bottle.  Shake well before every use.

Ingredients:

• water
• vinegar
• 3-4 drops citrus essential oil

A simple mixture of equal parts of vinegar and water is the best thing for cleaning faucets.

Buildup of grime around the base can be treated with a 3-4 drops of a citrus essential oil dropped directly on the grime, then scrubbed away with an old toothbrush.

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.

Grills that rest on gas stove burners and chrome rings surrounding burners on an electric stove, as well as oven knobs collect food splatters and grease.  These items can be soaked in a solution of

• 1 cup baking soda
• 1/2 cup vinegar
• 4-6 drops essential oil of your choice, for example lemon

while you are cleaning the oven.  If stains are stubborn, use fine steel wool, and an old toothbrush helps to remove grime from small spaces.