All-Purpose Tree Fertilizer recipe 3 parts cottonseed meal, soy meal, or blood meal 2 parts finely ground raw phosphate rock or steamed bone meal 3 parts wood ashes, granite rock or greens 1 part dolomitic limestone
Mix all materials. Apply 1 pound of fertilizer for each foot of the drip line diameter of the tree (3 feet = 12 pounds). --------------- Aluminum Pot Cleaner recipe 2 tablespoons cream of tartar 1 quart water
Mix; boil in the aluminum pot for 10 minutes. Scour lightly if needed -------------- Anti-Static Spray recipe 1/4 cup commercial liquid fabric softener 1/4 cup ammonia 2 cups water
Mix ingredients and store in a spray bottle. Spray liberally on the rug, your shoes, chair, desktop, or file cabinet, but do not spray directly onto your computer system ------------- Appliance Cleaner Spray recipe 1 teaspoon borax 3 tablespoons vinegar 2 cups hot water
Combine in a spray bottle. Shake to mix and dissolve borax. Spray on appliances and wipe off with a soft cloth or sponge. ---------------- Aromatic Carpet Cleaner recipe 2 cups baking soda 1/2 cup cornstarch 4 to 5 bay leaves 1 tablespoon cloves
Mix all ingredients together and keep in a closed container. Sprinkle on carpet and let sit for a couple of hours. Vacuum carpet in usual manner. ---------------- Automatic Dishwashing Soap recipe
Like Cascade and Sun Light
Homemade natural formula will safely cut through grease and sanitize your dishes as well.
1/2 cup liquid castile soap 1/2 cup water 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 3 drops tea tree extract 1/4 cup white vinegar
Combine water and liquid Castile soap. Stir and then add lemon juice, tea tree extract, and vinegar. Stir until blended evenly and store in a squeeze bottle. --------------------- Baby Wipes recipe 2 cups warm water 2 tablespoons baby shampoo 2 tablespoons baby oil
Mix these ingredients. Soak heavy, white paper towels in this solution and tuck into used baby wipes containers or plastic bags to use in the nursery. --------------------- Barbecue Fire Starters recipe 1 pound paraffin Sawdust
Melt paraffin and mix with sawdust. Pour into an empty cardboard egg carton. After the wax is set, the 12 cubes are cut from the egg carton. To start the charcoal, place one cube in the barbecue container and cover with briquettes. Light, then relax until the coals are ready. ------------------- Bathroom Window Frost recipe 4 tablespoons Epsom salt 1 cup beer
Dissolve Epsom salt in beer. Apply with a 2-inch wide brush to the inside of the windowpanes. It dries well, lasts a long time and, when washed off, is easily re-applied. Also, you can get prettier crystallization by dipping a terry cloth in the above mixture and dabbing it on. ---------------- Beeswax Furniture Polish recipe 4 ounces beeswax 2 tablespoons carnauba wax 2 1/2 cups odorless turpentine or mineral spirits
Melt the waxes on HIGH in a microwave or in a double boiler. Remove the waxes from the heat and stir in the turpentine or mineral spirits. When cool, store in a tightly capped container.
Apply the polish with a clean cloth and rub in small circles. Turn the cloth as it becomes dirty. Allow the polish to dry, then buff with a clean cloth. If more than one coat is desired, wait two days between applications. -------------------- Better Baby Wipes recipe
This recipe is from a pediatrician.
I've seen some recipes on Dollar Stretcher for baby wipes, but none mentioned boiling water! When you boil the water it cuts down on the bacteria and the wipes are good for months, not weeks! I used this recipe for my two babies and it worked great! I saved a lot of money doing it this way. Keeping a container of wipes in the car is convenient, too.
2 cups boiling water 2 tablespoons baby bath 2 tablespoons baby lotion (any lotion may be used) 1/2 roll of Bounty Paper Towels (This brand holds together well.)
Boil water; pour water, baby bath and lotion in round container. (Look at Wal-Mart for a round Rubbermaid 10-cup plastic container.)
Put in 1/2 roll of Bounty. Invert container after a few minutes for even distribution.
Take out cardboard; unroll from center. ----------------- Bleach (heavy-duty) recipe 1 gallon water 2 cups chlorinated lime 3 cups washing soda
Mix in an old plastic bucket. Stir well. Let stand, uncovered, for 24 hours. Strain into storage containers. Use as any commercial bleach. AVOID CONTACT WITH SKIN AND FUMES WHEN MIXING. -------------- Christmas Snow recipe 1/3 cup liquid starch 1 cup soap flakes or detergent granules 1 to 2 tablespoons water Blue food coloring
Mix liquid starch into the soap flakes. Add the water and beat with a rotary beater until the mixture has the consistency of marshmallow fluff or thick meringue.
Beat in the blue food coloring drop by drop to achieve a white, icy effect. Using a clean paintbrush, dab the snow onto the tops of your green branches in various artistic patterns.
You can also sprinkle sequins, glitter or confetti over the Christmas Snow.
CAUTION: Make certain that children realize the snow is made of soap and should not be handled or played with. ---------------------- Clogged Drain Remedy recipe 1 cup salt 1 cup baking soda 1 cup vinegar
Mix, then pour down the drain. Follow with 2 quarts boiling water. -------------- Cockroach Control recipe 4 parts borax 2 parts all-purpose flour 1 part cocoa powder
Mix; sprinkle where pets and children cannot get to it. -------------- "Elmers" Glue recipe 1 quart skim milk 3/4 tablespoon baking soda 1 tablespoon white vinegar 10 ounces water
Place milk and vinegar in a double boiler. Cook on low heat and stir as curds form. Drain off liquid. Wash remaining mass with water until the vinegar smell is gone. Put into a clean bowl. Dissolve baking soda in water. Pour over curds and stir until a white paste forms. Seal in suitable containers. -------------- Fireplace Logs recipe 4 pounds copper sulfate 3 pounds rock salt 1 gallon water
Dissolve copper sulfate and rock salt in water in a 5-gallon crock. Wrap old newspapers tightly and tie. Soak the newspapers in the solution, then dry them well and stack away for future use. These logs will burn a beautiful blue for a long time. ----------------------- Leather Upholstery Cleaner recipe 1/2 cup isopropyl alcohol 1 1/2 cups water 1/2 cup vinegar
Mix ingredients. Store in a clean glass jar with a tight-fitting cover. Apply solution to leather upholstery with a soft cloth. Buff dry with another clean, soft cloth. If you want to waterproof the clean leather, apply 1 tablespoon castor oil to a soft cloth, then buff vigorously. ------------------------ Makeup Brush and Sponge Solution recipe 2 parts water 1 part fine fabric cleanser Baking soda
Combine two parts water and one part fine fabric cleanser. Dip makeup brushes into the solution. Rinse in clean water. Submerge brushes again into a baking soda and water mixture to soften the bristles. Rinse again in clean water. Blot excess and allow to dry.
You can also wash them with shampoo and conditioner once a month. Squeeze out excess water, lay them flat overnight and reshape them when dry. --------------- Oopsie" Cleanup recipe To clean pet urine from the carpet, blot up what you can with paper towels.
Mix one teaspoon mild dish-washing detergent in one cup warm water, dip a clean towel in the liquid and, working from outside in, dab at stain. Do not over-wet.
Rinse with fresh water and blot dry.
Mix one-third cup white vinegar with two-thirds cup water and dab on stain. Rinse with water; blot until dry.
Once area is totally dry (after at least 24 hours), sprinkle entire carpet with baking soda (Bicarbonate of soda) or rug deodorizer. Vacuum after a few hours. ------------------ Potpourri Molds recipe 1 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup salt 1 cup potpourri (old or new), cut finely 1/3 to 1/2 cup water Cookie cutters (the open kind, not closed)
Mix all of the ingredients together and refrigerate for 5 minutes.
Flatten the dough either with your hands or a slightly floured rolling pin. Cut the dough with cookie cutters. Or you can use the dough like clay and make a sculpture.
If using as a hanging ornament, punch a hole in each shape. Set on a wire rack to dry thoroughly. --------------- Salty Fish Bait recipe
Bring a pint of sweet milk to a boil. Add 3 tablespoons salt. Heat until milk starts to foam, and add enough cornmeal until the mixture is thick and tough enough to stay on the hook. You can add bits of cotton to hold it together. ------------------- Sweet Fish Bait recipe
Mix 1 cup flour, 1 cup cornmeal and 10 tablespoons of thick molasses. Mix into stiff dough and roll into bait balls. Drop into boiling water. Boil 10 minutes. Remove and drop into cold water. ----------------- Swiffer Refill Cloths recipe This works well for both the wet and dry Swiffers!
Cut up an old receiving blanket or other similar heavy fabric in the size needed for your "Swiffer." Use and toss in the washing machine to be used again --------------- White Sock Soap recipe 1/4 cup liquid chlorine bleach 1 cup powdered dishwasher detergent 1 gallon hot water
Use a plastic, enamel or stainless steel container (not aluminum) or the kitchen sink. If the fabric or material cannot take hot water, let it cool. Let socks soak for 5 to 10 minutes. Check them and, if needed, soak a little longer. Rinse well and then wash as usual. ------------ Windshield Cleaner (extra-strength) recipe 1/2 cup whiting 1 cup fuller's earth 1/4 cup baking soda
Mix, and add enough water to make a paste. Apply with a sponge. Polish with a dry lint-free cloth. ------------------ Windshield Wiper Spray recipe Water 1/4 cup vinegar
Put vinegar in dispenser first, then fill with water.
***This works great for mirrors too I only use this!!*** ----------------- Wonder Spray recipe 1/4 cup white vinegar 2 teaspoons Borax 1/4 cup liquid soap 32 ounces hot water 20 drops essential oil*
Combine all ingredients. Use as you would any other cleaning spray.
* Lavender is an antibiotic, antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial.
thanks for giving all the neat "recipes" for cleaning. I am going to try the sock recipe to see how that works on hubbies socks. I hope to get them white again!
Debbie
Our Journey Into The Country - A Faith Walk