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.

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.

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.

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.