Natural Household Remedies

If you have a lot of grease to fight, try this vinegar formula:

Ingredients:

• 1 gallon of hot water
• 2 tbsp liquid castile soap
• 1/4 cup washing soda
• 1 cup vinegar
• 20 drops essential oil, either peppermint, eucalyptus or tea tree

Clean your floor as usual.  Rinsing is not necessary.  For extremely stubborn spots, drop essential oil directly on the spot, wait a litte, and scrub off.

If your fridge or freezer doesn’t smell as fresh as you would like it to, here is a simple fix:

Refresh-Your-Fridge-or-Freezer Mix

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup water
• 3 tbsp baking soda
• 6 drops of essential oil, peppermint or eucalyptus (for freezer)
• 10 drops of essential oil, peppermint or eucalyptus (for fridge)

Mix a solution of these ingredients.  After emptying the fridge / freezer and turning down the temperature regulator, or even shutting it off if you can, wipe the inside, walls and floor, of the fridge / freezer with a damp cloth and above solution, and don’t forget the shelves either.

Rinse well to remove baking powder residue, then dry walls, floor and shelves well with ahand towel before putting the food back.  Turn the temperature settign back up or switch it back on.

And the fourth part of my mini series deals with

Centipedes, Earwigs and Silverfish

Several drops of either of the following essential oils placed in all areas that collect moisture, like damp basements, garages or cabinets that house plumbing fixtures will deter any of these critters:

• peppermint
• eucalyptus
• wintergreen
• citronella

Here is the second part of my mini series:

Ants

Wipe your cabinets out with a damp sponge and 6-8 frops of peppermint essential oil, or citronella essential oil.  Use the same oil and put 3-5 drops on windowsills, edges between countertop and wall, and wherever you see the ants marching.

This is a little series I am starting today - I will post advice about how to evict critters from your kitchen without using chemicals

Mice

Mice do not like peppermint.  If you a few sprigs of fresh peppermint between your cabinets, and also where you suspect them to enter your kitchen, they will be deterred.  You can also make a solution of 2 cups of water and 3 tsp of peppermint essential oil, and spray wherever you find mouse droppings.

Hint:  Mice usually stay close to walls, so that’s where you need to look for the droppings.