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Natural Remedies and Household Cleaners
Reduce the use of household cleaners by buying less, using less and looking for natural and safer alternatives. Use glass or stainless steel bowls, cups, and spoons to mix the ingredients. Plastic absorbs the scents and oils. When shopping, read the label to avoid buying the more toxic product and buy only what you need. Suggestions welcome.
Air Freshener
.Leave an open box of baking soda in room.
.Boil water, add cloves and cinnamon and simmer.
Ant Repellant
.In kitchen and bathrooms, wash counter-tops, cabinets and floors with equal parts of vinegar and water.
.Borax
Avoid Wrinkles
.Don't get too much sun.
.Eat fruits, dark leafy vegetables, and monosaturated fats (such as olive oil, beans, nuts). Studies show that people that eat more have smoother skin because of their high levels of vitamin A, C and E.
Battery Cleaner
.Clean battery terminals with a mixture of 2 teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda with 1 liter of water and apply generously.
.Vaseline smeared around the base of the terminals will prevent further build up.
Bleach
.Use one cup of lemon juice in bucket that has been half filled with water and soak overnight.
.Substitute half a cup of borax per wash load to whiten whites and brighten colors.
Bug Bites
.Cut a potato in half and gently apply the cut section to the rash, bite or sting. The potato will help draw toxins out of the skin. (Of course, if it was a poisonous insect or if you have an allergic reaction to the but, seek medical help.)
.A wedge of fresh pineapple can help neutralize the enzymes that are injected into the skin from insects. Stop using if it causes any redness or pain. Pineapple contains bromelain.
Carpet
.Candle wax can be removed by using an ice cube to harden it and then scrape it off.
.Removing wax. It is really quit simple all you will need is a iron and a few paper towels....fold the paper towel it fours and place it over wax ...heat iron to a medium setting a press do not rubbed the iron ...over the wax and paper towel...repeat this process with clean paper towels until wax is gone.
.General Stains - Mix 1/2 white distilled vinegar and 1/2 distilled warm water (or 1/3 distilled vinegar & 2/3 distilled warm water) into a spray bottle. Spray on area and then Blot (do not push the stain in). Repeat as necessary.
.Greasy stains can be cleaned with baking soda, corn starch or corn meal. Let it stand overnight (at least 6 hours), then vacuum.
.Gum can be removed by using an ice cube to harden it and then scrape it off.
.Odors can be removed with baking soda. Most other products just mask smells with fragrances. Sprinkle the baking soda over the carpet surface and leave it for 15 minutes to half an hour. After this time, vacuum it up. Note: keep pets and kids away while the baking soda is on the floor.
.Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda on carpet before vacuuming to deodorize. Makes a good stain remover as well.
.Remove red wine stains with club soda.
Car Polish
.Give your car a normal wash. Allow it to dry and then sprinkle corn flour over the car paint. Polish it in and off to give that extra sheen.
Coffee Stains
.Blot with club soda.
Dishwashing Detergent
.Pure soap to wash dishes and add white vinegar to the rinse water to give glasses an extra shine.
Drain Opener
.Prevent clogging by flushing drain weekly with boiling water.
.If clogged, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda, then 1/2 cup vinegar down the drain.
Flea & Tick Repellant
.Feed brewer's east and garlic to pet. Fennel, rue and rosemary repel fleas. Place eucalyptus seeds and leaves around pets sleeping areas.
Furniture Polish
.Mix three parts olive oil and one part vinegar and use a soft cloth.
.Mix one part lemon juice with two parts olive oil and a soft cloth.
.Lavender & Carnauba Furniture Wax
2 tbsp. Beeswax
1/4 cup Carnauba Wax
1 tsp. Lavender Essential Oil
1 1/2 cup Olive Oil
Melt wax over a low heat and stir in other ingredients. Let harden. Rub on wooden furniture and floors in a circular motion.
General Household Cleaner
.3 tablespoons of baking soda mixed into one quart of warm water.
.Warm water mixed with pure soap or white vinegar.
.Bicarbonate of soda on a damp cloth.
Glass / Window/ Mirror Cleaner
.Wash the window first with warm soapy water, especially if dirty. Use crumpled newspaper moistened with vinegar to get a beautiful sheen.
.Add half a cup of vinegar to a liter of warm water.
.Mix rubbing alcohol and water.
.Apply eucalyptus oil with a wad of newspaper to prevent mirrors fogging.
Linoleum Floor Cleaner/ Wax
.Mop with one cup of white vinegar mixed with two gallons of water to remove greasy film.
.Polish with club soda.
Mold and Mildew
.Mold and mildew can be tackled with a mix of borax and water. Spray on and wipe off. In the shower, wash down with borax and do not rinse. The borax residue will fight mold growth.
Mosquito Repellant
.Drink brewer's yeast or take it in tablet form on a daily basis during the summer months.
Mothballs
.Cedar chips or dried lavender sachets.
Mouthwash
Dissolve one teaspoon of baking soda in half glass of water and swish between your teeth.
Odor
.An open container of bicarbonate of soda absorbs odors: refrigerator, cigarette, and pet odors.
Oil Stains
.White chalk rubbed in before wash.
Oil and Grease on Driveway
.Sprinkle the area with kitty litter, allow it to absorb, then remove it with a shovel or broom.
Oven
.Avoid caustic oven cleaners. Wipe the oven down while still warm with a soapy cloth.
Roach Repellant
.Bay leaves
.Borax
Scale
.White Distilled Vinegar. Pour the vinegar on the item with scale and it instantly dissolves the minerals and it is crystal clear clean. For the shower stall or around a sink faucet, soak a washcloth in straight vinegar and lay the cloth over the area for as long as needed.
Stain Remover
.Vinegar
Stainless Steel Polish
.Baking soda or mineral oil for shining.
.Vinegar removes spots.
Sunburn Reliever
.Soak in baking soda bath or apply a damp cloth saturated with a baking soda solution.
Tar Remover
Moisten a cloth with eucalyptus oil and rub clean.
Tile
.Clean tiles, toilets, baths, and sinks with bicarbonate of soda by using a damp cloth.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
.Vinegar
.Make a paste from borax and lemon juice for cleaning non-septic toilet bowls.
Washing Pans and Utensils
.Wash in a baking soda solution before washing.
Water Softener
.1/4 cup vinegar in final rinse.
Whitening
.Use a water softener. Hard water minerals can gray your clothes. If you have hard water, add 1/2 cup of white distilled vinegar to your rinse water.
.Lemon juice, approximately 1/2 a cup, added to the rinse cycle will lightly bleach clothing.
.1/2 cup of borax to wash cycle.
.Natural oxygen safe bleaches which are based on hydrogen peroxide. Do not use chlorine bleaches.
Wine Stains
.Blot with club soda.
from EcoLiving Center |
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