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This thread is for all Ecological, i.e., Green Cleaning products for your home |
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Weedkiller - 3 simple recipes. 1. Weeds such as Dandelions can be difficult to get rid of. If you sprinkle salt right into the middle of them, they will shrivel up and die. A brown patch will be left, but things will return to normal pretty quickly. Best done on a dry sunny day. 2. Vinegar can also be used to kill weeds, but care must be taken not to spray other plants, or they will die too. 3. Vinegar and Orange Oil Extract, mixed together makes an even stronger weed killer. |
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Furniture Polish: Simple recipe 1: 2 parts Olive Oil to 1 part Lemon Juice Mix the ingredients together, and use as you would a comercial polish. Simple recipe 2: tablespoons of Olive Oil 2 tablespoons of Vinegar Quart of Water Mix all the ingredients together, and put in a spray bottle. Use as a comercial polish. |
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Carpet Deodorizer Ingredients: - 10 drops Tea Tree
- 10 drops Lemon
- 20 drops Lavender
- 1 16 ounce box of baking soda
Directions: Add the baking soda to a large bowl and then add the essential oils. Be sure to mix the oils into the baking soda well. Since lemon essential oil is normally yellow, it is essential that it is mixed well into the baking soda so that no undiluted lemon oil stains your carpet. This blend may be adapted to use your favorite essential oils, but strive to add essential oils that offer antibacterial and disinfectant properties to give the deodorizer an added benefit (the oils in this blend work to accomplish that). After you have blended the oils into the baking soda, the deodorizer can be stored in a glass jar or airtight container. Instructions for Use: Sprinkle the deodorizer onto your carpet (use of a discarded but clean large spice container that has holes for "shaking" out the spice works well for this). Allow the deodorizer to work its magic for 10-20 minutes and then vacuum normally. |
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Lavender Linen Spary 1 T. vodka 12 to 15 drops Lavender Essential Oil (I use 15 'cause I like it so much..LOL) 1 pint distilled water Put all of the above ingredients in a spary bottle and shake really well. The alcohol helps to disperse the oil in the water. Spray on your linens and even spray on your bedding. This helps promote a restful night's sleep and keeps your linen closet smelling nice. |
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Homemade Hand Sanitizer - Germ Killing Recipe This is just as effective as those commercial types of hand sanitizer gels - why not save a whole lot of money and make a batch yourself? :)
1/2 cup aloe vera gel
1/4 cup 99% rubbing alcohol
Mix ingredients together.Pour into a pump-style bottle or a squeeze bottle.Use a quarter sized dollop and rub hands together. Wipe residue off of hands with a paper towel. |
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~Lemon and Baking Soda Spray~ Dissolve baking soda in 2 cups hot water, add lemon juice, pour into
spray bottle, spray into air as air freshener.
Non-Abrasive Soft Scrub
1/4 cup borax
Vegetable-oil based liquid soap (such as Murphys Oil Soap)
1/2 teaspoon lemon oil
In a bowl, mix the borax with enough soap to form a creamy paste.
Add lemon oil and blend well. Scoop a small amount of the mixture
onto a sponge, wash the surface, then rinse well. |
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The Lemon Infusion
(for purification)
When the Moon is full, completely peel nine lemons using your hands
alone. As you finish peeling each one, place the peels in a bucket or
a large bowl of water.
Next, gently squeeze the peels into the water, expressing their oils
until the sharp, clean fragrance of lemon hangs heavily in the air.
Visulize the lemons' powers cleansing your home of negativity.
Next, visualizing, scrub the floors, doorknobs and windows with lemon
water. Pour a little of the remaining water down each drain. Repeat
this ritual each Full Moon.
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Naturally Clean - Nontoxic Products for Your Home
Safe and Easy Replace the toxic household cleaning products under your sink with environmentally friendly cleaners. Here's What You Need: - White Vinegar
- Baking Soda
- Lemon Juice
- Borax
- Olive Oil
- Essential Oils
- Water Bottle
How They Work - Vinegar and lemon juice cut grease
- Baking soda cleans and deodorizes
- Borax cleans, deodorizes and disinfects
- Essential oils add fragrance and boost cleaning power
Recipes Liquid Cleaner Mix 2 Tbs. of baking soda with 1 pint of warm water in a spray bottle. Add a squeeze of lemon juice or a splash of vinegar to cut the grease. Sink and Tub Scrubber Mix 1/2 cup borax, 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 1/2 tsp. each of lemon and orange essential oils. Store in a glass jar and label. Use a scrubbing cleanser. Citrus and Herbal Vinegar Fill a glass quart jar with the colored peelings of any citrus fruit. Remove the white pulp. Cover the peels with white vinegar and let it sit for 2 weeks. Remove the peels. Use fresh or dried herb instead of citrus peels to make herbal vinegar. Furniture Polish Mix 3 parts olive oil with one part citrus or herbal vinegar in a glass jar and label. Shake before using. Apply with a cotton cloth, rub in and buff to a shine. Oven Cleaner Mix 1 part vinegar to about 4 parts water. Out in a spray bottle and spray onto a cool oven. Use baking soda or citrus-based scrubber on stubborn spots. Be sure to label all cleaning products. Helpful Hints - Use vinegar to clean metal screens and storm doors
- Use hydrogen peroxide-based bleaches. It breaks down hydrogen and oxygen in water.
- Use newspaper to clean windows
Properly dispose of toxic household products at a hazardous waste collection site. You Can Make a Difference Cleaning the house does not have to damage the environment. Simple, inexpensive, safe and effective products can be made right at home. |
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Lemon-Mint Window Wash If you live where flies routinely cause problems in the summer, you'll love this recipe. Your windows will be sparkling clean, and the fresh lemon juice and peppermint oil in the formula discourages the pesky critters from perching on your windows again. Before you wash the windows, whisk away dust and dead bugs from the casing using a small, hand-held broom. For the shiniest windows, use sheets of newspaper (black and white only) to scrub and shine them. The newspaper ink may darken your hands, but it shines the windows without streaking. Juice from one fresh lemon 2 cups water or club soda 1-2 teaspoon peppermint essential oil 1 teaspoon cornstarch Mix all ingredients and pour into plastic spray bottle. Shake well before using. |
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HERBAL CLEANING RECIPES
Today I have a VERY easy way to make an herb vinegar that you can use in cleaning around the house, garage or basement. Experiment with the herbs listed until you come up with your favorite blend!
You'll need a large jar that has been cleaned and has a lid.(I find plastic lids work best. If they have metal on, place a double layer of plastic wrap over the jar opening before putting on the lid. The vinegar corrodes it a little bit as it "brews". If
you have an old gallon sun tea jar you can make a lot of this at once!
Fill the far with the leaves, stems or flowers of one or more of the following herbs:
sage
mint
rosemary
lavender
wormwood
Pour white or cider vinegar over the herbs to fill the jar. Cover and place on the lid. Put in a cupboard or somewhere else out of the way and steep it for 6 weeks. Strain when finished. You can then use it in recipes that call for vinegar to clean. Such as this one:
Sink and Tub Cleaner
You'll need:
1/2 cup baking soda
1/8 cup herb vinegar
Mix together in a pail or bowl. Scrub your sinks for about 5 minutes (or the tub), rinse off with warm water. Wipe dry with a soft rag.
Floor Cleaner
You'll need:
1/2 cup herb vinegar
1 gallon of water
Mix in a pail and mop as usual.
Glass Cleaner
You'll need:
1 quart water
1/2 cup herb vinegar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice or 5 drops lemon essential oil
Mix in a spray bottle and use on windows.
Linoleum Cleaner
You'll need:
1 cup herb vinegar
2 gallons water
Mix in a pail and mop as usual.
To clean hair brushes and combs: Mix 2 tablespoons
borax with a quart of the herb vinegar and mix well. Soak, clean and rinse brushes and combs. You can also use on china and crystal. |
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Floral & Herbal Bath Vinegar
~Makes 1 quart
To 1 quart of Apple Cider Vinegar, add:
1/2 Cup Lavender Flowers
1/2 Cup Lemon Verbena leaves
Mix the herbs and the vinegar well and allow to steep for 2 weeks in
a tightly covered container, shaking daily. Strain out the herbs and
pour into a pretty bottle with a tight lid.
Add:
15 Drops essential oil of Lemon Verbena
5 Drops essential oil of Lavender
Add 1 Cup vinegar to a tubful of warm water, soak until water cools.
Apple cider vinegar is a natural product, the helps restore the
skin's natural pH balance. It is particularly effective during the
winter months when the skin tends to be drier. |
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Natural Alternatives for Insect Repellants
NEWS RELEASE FROM THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY:
"Catnip Repels Mosquitoes More Effectively Than DEET"
CHICAGO, August 27, 2001 �?Researchers report that nepetalactone,
the essential oil in catnip that gives the plant its characteristic
odor, is about ten times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than
DEET �?the compound used in most commercial insect repellents
Nepetalactone is about 10 times more effective than DEET because it
takes about one-tenth as much nepetalactone as DEET to have the same
effect. Most commercial insect repellents contain about 5 percent to
25 percent DEET. Presumably, much less catnip oil would be needed in
a formulation to have the same level of repellency as a DEET-based
repellent.
Why catnip repels mosquitoes is still a mystery, says Peterson. "It
might simply be acting as an irritant or they don't like the smell.
But nobody really knows why insect repellents work."
More tips
The following essential oils have been found to have moderate
to high effectiveness in keeping various insects away from you.
To repel mosquitoes: Basil, Cedarwood, Citronella, Geranium, Juniper,
Rosemary
To repel house flies: Citronella, Geranium, Juniper
To repel ants: All Mints
To repel fleas: Cajeput, Lemon, Pine
Try Lemon Eucalyptus- E. citriodora, as a bug repellent this summer.
Due to it's high percentge of citronellal it's quite effective.
It's lemony scent makes it pleasant to use. Unlike most Eucalyptus
it's scent is relaxing. |
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| Key Lime Dish Detergent Powder Given the sheer volume of dirty dishes generated by the average household, this is probably the most ecologically important recipe in this book. Powdered dish detergent eliminates the need for buying plastic bottles and then recycling or disposing of them. The weight of the water included in dishwashing liquid need not be shipped from coast to coast, saving fuel and air pollution. Washing dishes in the sink saves electricity and water, too. This powder is just as effective as liquid. If you find that you really prefer a liquid, add some boiling water to the formula, stir until the powder is dissolved, and bottle in your favorite squirt dispenser. The following formula will last the average family of four approximately six months. 1/2 cup clay powder 2 tablespoons lime essential oil 4 cups sodium lauryl sulfate or 2 cups sodium lauryl sulfoacetate 6 cups baking soda Wear a dust mask to mix this formula. Mix clay powder and essential oil, then, in a two-gallon pail or container, combine with the baking soda and sodium lauryl sulfate. Mix well. To convert to liquid soap, add 18 cups of boiling water and stir until all ingredients are dissolved. Store in gallon jugs and refill squirt bottles as needed.To use, add about a tablespoon of powder or a good squirt of liquid per sink load while filling the sink. For tough jobs, make a paste of the powder by adding water and rub directly on the spot, or apply the liquid directly to it. |
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Herbal Disinfectant 4 large lemons (or limes) 1/4 cup, cider vinegar 1 pint distilled water 5 drops Lavender essential oil 5 drops Eucalyptus essential oil 5 drops, Tea Tree essential oil Spray bottle Squeeze the lemons and strain out the pulp. Pour into a pitcher and add the vinegar and distilled water. Mix well by lightly whisking, then carefully add the essential oils. Pour solution into a spray bottle, and label. Store in a dry place away from direct sunlight, and use as a disinfectant each time you clean the nursery. |
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| Eucalyptus-Mint All-Purpose Disinfecting Soft Soap for Kitchen and Bath This soap can be used for dishes, handwashing, floors, stoves, refrigerators, sinks, and hands. It’s mild to the skin but effective enough to get cleaning jobs done. The eucalyptus and mint provide a disinfecting quality as well as a fresh scent; any areas washed with this soap will be undesirable to crawling insects and flies. They’ll stay away for quite a while. 5 cups grated castile soap 1/2 cup baking soda 1 teaspoon borax 6 cups hot peppermint tea 1 teaspoon eucalyptus essential oil Put grated soap into a 3-quart stainless steel saucepan and add hot mint tea. Simmer for fifteen minutes on low heat. Add baking soda, borax, and eucalyptus oil. Store in a labeled plastic jug or squirt bottle. Shake before using. |
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