Natural Household Remedies

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.

The inside of your microwave can trap food odors and grease which will spoil the flavor of the food you heat in it.  Here is a recipe for a paste that removes odors and grease easily and your microwave will be smell new.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 1 tsp vinegar
• 5-6 drop essential oil, either lemon, lemongrass or thyme

Make a paste from all ingredients and spread over the interior of the microwave, floor and sides.  Let sit for a little while, then wipe away with a damp sponge or cloth.  Rinse well to remove all residue.  Then leave the microwave door open for about half an hour to air it out.

If your microwave has a glass turntable, remove it an dwash it by hand.

Cockroaches are tough, as all of you who have to put up with them know.

IF you do not have children or pets that walk around the house freely, you can mix borax and sugar and put it into all the dark spots, which is where cockroaches like to hide.  But even this it might not be enough and you will need professional help.

If anyone has good ideas, ideally tried and tested, of how to get rid of cockroaches naturally, please comment !

This is the last part of my mini series:

Insects

In general, you can get rid of any number of insects in your kitchen by placing loose bay leaves in your kitchen cabinets.

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