Natural Household Remedies

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.

For extra heavy-duty oven cleaning jobs, use the following procedure.

Block the vents in the oven floor with waxed paper or aluminum foil, then preheat the oven to 300F for 15 minutes. Turn off the oven and leave the door open.

The following morning, combine the following pre-cleaning mixture in a spray bottle and shake well:

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup vinegar

Spray the oven walls and floor generously, then wipe well. If necessary, use fine steel wool to work off stubborn spots. To remove any residue, rinse several times.

• 1/4 cup water
• 10 drops of essential oil, either sweet orange, lemon or rosemary

Spray the oven walls and floors with the mixture. Then combine the following ingredients and sprinkle the mixture on the particularly greasy areas:

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup salt
• 1/2 cup baking powder

Then combine the following for a paste to be applied to the oven walls:

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup water
• 3/4 cup baking powder
• 1/4 cup of salt
• 2 tsp liquid castile soap

After spreading this paste on the oven walls, remove the waxed paper or aluminum foil from the vents and allow to sit over night.

For a very messy stove, or one that has not been cleaned in a while, this formula will help you fix the issue.

First preheat the oven to 250F for 15 minutes, without racks or baking sheets, then shut it off and leave the door open. then add the following ingredients to make a paste.  If any scrubbing is needed, for example for food splatters or baked on grease, use fine steel wool and, if necessary, a bit more salt.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cups salt
• 1/4 cups borax or washing soda
• 16 ounces baking soda (1 box)
• scant 1/4 cups water

Spread the paste carefully over the walls using a cloth or sponge.  Let sit for 20 to 30 minutes.

Then combine the following ingredients in a spray bottle:

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cups white vinegar
• 10 drops thyme essential oil
• 10 drops lemon or lemon grass essential oil

Shake well and spray the oven walls with it.  Wipe clean and rinse well.