2006-Mar-22 - HOMESTEAD BLOGGER ENEWS is OUT......! Homemade Clean !
So many folks have been asking about Homemade Cleaners....well, if you missed this months issue of the Homestead Blogger ENews--you missed out!!!!! (email me and I'll send a copy to you :)
Anyhow....here is my article...(below).....and just an update....I had a comment on how I hadn't tried Ivory Soap in this piece....for editing's sake....it got deleted....BUT--I have since tried this with Ivory Soap.....and did not like the smell AT ALL. It smelled almost toxic to me, choking....ick. If you LIKE Ivory -- you will probably be OK with it....I just didn't like the smell, personally----it WORKED fine.....but.....anyhew.......
SO FYI--use Fels Naptha! :)
Christine also has some great articles on Cleaning "Green" in this Enews as well.
You can sign up for the Homestead Enews on the main page of Homestead Blogger, or even on my blog! Right hand page side bar......scroll down......you'll see a bunch of them you can sign up for---check only those that apply---and we never sell, rent or otherwise give out your email to ANYONE, at ANYtime :)
Enjoy the newsletter--it's a good one!! :)
HOMEMADE CLEAN!
I enjoy making things myself rather than having to buy what's "out there." I love using homemade cleaners, soaps, and essential oils to clean my home and to add a nice fragrance to my home. Not only are they better for you, your family and your environment, but they just make you feel better! I take great satisfaction in knowing I can do without the latest, greatest cleaning product, because I can make my own and they WORK!
One of my favorites is my homemade laundry soap! This is a very simple recipe, with great results!
Take an old big pot and wooden spoon and mark on the side of the pot and spoon in permanent marker the word "CLEANERS" and keep it stored away from your cooking pots. You will not want to use this pot or utensil for cooking food again.
Add to the pot:
1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda
1 cut up or grated bar of Fels Naptha or Ivory soap
2 quarts water
Place on stove, heat and stir until it's dissolved. This will need to cool down, so I pour it in a big bowl I use for making soaps. Let cool about an hour, and pour half into an old gallon jug, do the same with the other half, and top off with hot water - leaving a couple of inches of headspace.
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Leave the cap off and let it sit overnight to thicken. The next day, put the lid on tightly, shake it up, and it's ready to go! You can then add a little rose water or a favorite essential oil for fragrance. Use about ½ cup per laundry load.
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Here are a few more great cleaning products you can make at home:
For stains and pre-treating:
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water
1 cup homemade laundry soap (above)
1 cup ammonia
Mix this together in a labeled container or spray bottle. Shake well before use.
Dishwasher Soap
2 cups baking soda
1½ cups borax
Put this in a labeled container and mix well. Fill the soap container in your dishwasher with this and your rinse container with white vinegar! How easy is that?
Here are some helpful hints using common household staples:
Lint Remover - To remove lint from dark clothing, try adding ½ cup of vinegar to your rinse cycle.
Grass Stains - To remove grass stains, blot clothing with a mixture of 1/3 cup of vinegar & 2/3 cup water, repeat as needed.
Grease Stains - To remove stubborn grease, make a paste with water and baking soda to pre-treat clothing and toss in the wash.
Mildew in clothing - Dab some vinegar on the area with the mildew, set clothing in the sun for a few hours, and wash separately.
Tub Cleaner - Want a sparkling tub? Use full-strength vinegar on a sponge to clean the tub - clean and shiny! To remove water spots from the shower, do the same - and rinse with plain water.
Unclog Drain - To keep your drains unclogged pour a ¼ to ½ cup of baking soda down the drain and follow up with a thorough rinse of hot water.
Dog Odors - Remove that "wet dog" smell from your best friend by sprinkling some baking soda on your dog and brushing it out.
Microwave Odors - Keep the microwave smelling like new by microwaving ¼ cup of vinegar in 3 cups water to boiling.
Coffee Pot - Keep your coffee pot clean by running a full strength pot of vinegar through it, followed by a few full pots of water to rinse it well.
Frig Fresh - To keep your freezers and refrigerators smell free, always keep a small box of fresh baking soda in them.
Air Freshener - I like to keep an old pot on the stove on low heat with water and a few drops of essential oil. It will fill the house with a lovely aroma!
There are tons of places to find homemade cleaning recipes that you can make. I would suggest going to HomesteadBlogger.com first. It's nice to know if something has worked for someone else and lots of folks are sharing what works for them and what doesn't. You can also find books and websites with very little effort to give you more ideas.
Give it a try! You won't believe how simple and inexpensive it is to create your own "homemade clean"!
Lisa Barthuly resides in Washington with her husband, Marc, daughters Mercy & Cassandra, Cooter the dog, and Whitefoot the kitten. They recently moved to a new homestead, pray to be blessed with more children and critters, and have a cottage business selling all-natural soy and beeswax candles and other creations, Our Little Homestead Originals. You can visit Lisa on her blog at Our Little Homestead.
Comments
2006-Mar-22 - great!
Posted by Snowberryfarm
Now I am inspired! I really do need to make my own cleaners. Thanks for the ideas!
My son is going to be in Colville next week for 3 weeks, at the cabin with my dad. He is so looking forward to being a "mountain man" for awhile!
Michelle
2006-Mar-23 - Great recipes....
Posted by sweetcottage
I have a few different ones and think that I might post some of them on my website....
I love making and trying new cleaning recipes!:)
2006-Apr-8 - Cleaning
Posted by elaine2423
Thanks for the recipes for washing and dishwasher detergent! Also thanks for welcoming me to the site. I am going to email you for those other recipes.
