Household and Cleaning Recipes

60 g Beeswax granules
300 ml Pure turpentine
25 g Pure soap or soap flakes
150 ml Boiling water
6 dr Essential oil of lavender

1. Melt the waxes with the turpentine in a double boiler (warning low flash point)
2. Grate the soap into a bowl and pour on the boiling water and stir briskly to dissolve it.
3. Let the soapy water cool slightly and then pour it into the melted wax stirring well as it makes an emulsion.
4. Put in a small jar or container with a tight fitting lid.

Carpet Freshener Recipes

1. Simply sprinkle on plain old baking soda, allow some time for it to neutralize odors, and then vacuum it up. Not only is it effective, but it's simple and inexpensive too.

2. "I too find Carpet Fresh expensive so in a plastic bag place about 400g Baking Soda and add a few drops of Essential Oil in a fragrance you like. Mix it about with your hands to blend the oil and break up any lumps and when well mixed place in the Carpet Fresh container and sprinkle the carpets with it before vacuuming." (submitted by Dawn)

Use these anytime to hang on a door (in the bathroom would be great!) to scent the air with real cinnamon. (Thanks to the member who sent this in.) 1 cup cinnamon
4 tablespoons glue
3/4 cup water
Mix all together and roll into a ball. Set for 2 hrs in refrigerator. Roll between two pieces of wax paper (about 1/4 thick) and use your cookie cutters to make cinnamon cut-outs. Use straw poked through top of ornament to make a hole to hang. Dry for 12 hrs one side flip over and dry 12 more hrs.

"Select a pot large enough to hold your biggest item of silverware. Fill with sufficient water to cover the largest item to be cleaned. Bring to a boil. Lightly crumple a good sized piece of aluminum foil and place in the pot; add a sprinkling of baking soda. Submerge the silverware into the boiling pot. Be sure to have tongs handy so that you can easily remove the piece when it looks clean. This will only take a minute or so. Remove and place in hot soapy water, rinse well and towel well to remove all water spots. Your silverware should be sparkling clean without the fuss and mess and elbow grease! Hope this is the answer you sought." (Submitted by Avalon)

Fill reservoir with 1 pint (473mL) white vinegar and enough extra water to fill the reservoir. Turn on Coffee Maker. Let it brew 1 cup of water/vinegar solution, then turn off coffee maker. Let it stand for 1/2 hour, then turn coffee maker back on. When finished brewing, rinse pot, then fill reservoir with water and let it brew the hot water. I ususally do this twice. Better than commercial coffee maker cleaners.

1. Rub the copper with Worcestershire Sauce, let set for a minute and rinse off!
2. You can also try rubbing with catsup/ketchup.

Mix 1 cup white vinegar with 2 gallons hot water. For greasy floors, add 1/4 cup washing soda and 1 tablespoon vegetable-oil-based soap to the above mixture.

Dilute floral scented store brand bleach 1 part to 9 parts water and put in a spray bottle to use as a quick mist after showering every couple of days, I also mist the curtain liner. (Be sure to mark the bottle carefully so everyone knows what it is! Keep out of reach of kids.)

Make your own essential oil air freshening sprays with this fun and easy recipe! You can bottle this and give it as gifts, or just enjoy using it in your own house every day!

Ingredients:

1 cup distilled water
8 - 10 drops essential oil of your choice
spray bottle, with a fine mist setting
label

Pour the cup of distilled water into the spray bottle. Add the drops of essential oils and shake very well. Cap the bottle, and allow to sit for a few hours before using. Shake the bottle before each use to evenly distribute the scented oil throughout the water. Use the label to describe what sort of air freshener each bottle is. And be sure to use the fine mist setting on your bottle, so the spray will be distributed nicely in the air.

Here are some interesting ideas for wonderful air freshener sprays, but you can go ahead and create your own favorite blends using scents that you love the most! To use the following recipe, just add the recommended amounts of essential oil to the spray bottle with the distilled water, and follow the instructions as above. Please note that essential oils can vary in potency - for this reason, you can add or reduce the amounts of essential oil recommended in each recipe, if you find that the essential oil you've bought is either stronger or weaker than expected.

DEODORIZING ROOM SPRAY This one is great for the bathroom!
6 drops bergamot essential oil
1 drop eucalyptus essential oil
2 drops lemon essential oil

Add to the distilled water in the spray bottle, shake well and spray as a fine mist.

PET DEODORIZING ROOM SPRAY
If you have pets like I do, this spray is great for around the litter box, or just for freshening up the entire house!

6 drops cedarwood
3 drops tea tree oil

Add to the distilled water in the spray bottle, shake well and spray as a fine mist.

APPLE PIE SPICE ROOM AIR FRESHENER
6 drops Cinnamon essential oil
3 drops clove essential oil

Add to distilled water in the spray bottle, shake well and spray as a fine mist. I love this one sprayed in the kitchen!

ORANGE SPICE ROOM AIR FRESHENER
5 drops orange essential oil
2 drops cinnamon essential oil

Add to distilled water in the spray bottle, shake well and spray as a fine mist. Lovely spicy orange scent!

Now, here are three blends made to change your mood for the better! It's been proven that with the effects of aromatherapy, just the way things smell can altar your mood.

MOOD LIFTER AIR FRESHENER SPRAY

4 drops chamomile essential oil
3 drops orange essential oil
2 drops ylang ylang essential oil

Follow directions as with other recipes above. This recipe will make you feel more light hearted, and less depressed.

STRESS RELIEVER AIR FRESHENER SPRAY
4 drops lavender essential oil
3 drops rose essential oil
2 drops clary sage essential oil, optional

Follow directions as with other recipes above. This air freshener will help relieve stress, and it smells really wonderful!

SLEEPY-HOUR RELAXATION AIR FRESHENER SPRAY
4 drops lavender essential oil
3 drops chamomile essential oil

Both of these essential oils have wonderful, sedative effects. Spray a little in your bedroom a half hour before going to bed, to enjoy the soothing effects of these natural sedatives. Or spray a little on your pillow or bedclothes to enjoy a whole night of wonderful, restorative sleep.

2 cups pure soap flakes
1 1/2 cups Borax
6 cups warm water
1/2 cup glycerin
2 t essential oil either lavender, lemon or eucalyptus

In med pan, stir soap flakes, borax, & water. Heat slowly, stir til mix is clear. Add glycerin, set aside to cool. When cool, add essential oil, stir well. Pour in mason jar or other container, cover til needed.

To use, add 1 cup Gel per load of clothes, making sure soap is dissolved well before adding clothes to water. This gel works best w/warm water, or dissolve it in qt warm water before adding it to the wash.

1 cup soap flakes
1 cup washing soda
1 cup borax

Mix ingredients and store in a lidded, labeled canister in the laundry room. To use: Measure out 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup and wash your clothing in warm or cold water. Use cold water for the rinse cycle.

2 TBS Ammonia
3/4 Cup Dawn Dish Soap
2 Cups warm Water

Mix well. Store in a spray bottle. Let sit 15 minutes on stains; then wash.

To prevent windows or mirrors from steaming: Clean the glass ccasionally with a cloth moistened with glycerin. Wipe it so only a trace of the glycerin is left on the surface. Use on the inside of a window.

Another way...
Clean your bathroom mirror and then apply a mixture of water with a tiny bit of dish soap in it and then wipe dry. Now you won't have to keep wiping down your mirror when getting ready to keep the fog away. Should last till you clean it next... if not you might not have put enough soap in. Works on windows in the winter as well. Especially for when you are doing dishes, go to look outside and try wiping the window with your soaking wet hands making matters worse.

Boil one part vinegar with two parts water in kettle for 15 minutes. Rinse THOROUGHLY (unless you REALLY want to wake up in the morning...), then boil full kettle of water for 15 minutes.

1/2 Cup vinegar
1/2 cup ammonia (sudsy or plain)
1/4 cup wisk
1/2 cup water

Mix it together in a squirt or spray bottle and use as you would regular stain remover.

1 cup Water
1/4 cup Fresh Lemon Balm Or Verbena -- chopped
2 T Lemon Peel -- Grated
2 T Fresh Lemon Juice
1 t Baking Soda

Bring water to boil in a large saucepan. Add lemon balm, lemon peel, lemon juice, and baking soda and stir until baking soda dissolves thoroughly. The mixture will foam up after you add the baking soda so be sure your saucepan is large enough. Let cool and fill a spray bottle. Makes about one cup.

Add 4 tablespoons of lemon juice to 1 cup water in a microwave-safe, 4-cup bowl. Boil 5 minutes in the microwave, allowing the steam to condense on the inside walls of the oven. Then wipe clean.

Marble Cleaner

1/2 C. white vinegar
1/4 C. baking soda
1 C. ammonia
1 gal. hot water

Mix well in a bucket. Wear rubber gloves, and work in well-ventilated area. Use a sponge to wash marble. Rinse with clear water, then dry.

Multi-Purpose Household Cleaner Recipe

1 cup household ammonia
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup baking soda
1 gallon warm water

Mix thoroughly. Store some in clean spray bottles to clean your counters, cupboard doors, walls, doorknobs, etc. and use the rest to mop your floors. This mixture has great grease fighting action!

Natural Toilet Cleaning Paste

For toilets, make a paste of 1/3 cup lemon juice and 2/3 cups borax, spread on stains, let sit two hours, then brush off. For regular toilet cleaning, brush toilet with baking soda.

Odor Absorbing Spray

Why waste money on commercial products when you can make your own air deodorizer? Use a regular pump spray mister with 4 cups of water in it, add 4 teaspoons of baking soda and spray the odours away.

What a great recipe for anyone who lives near pine trees! Put those pine needles to use with this beautifully scented potpourri.

1/2 cup bayberry leaves
1/2 cup snipped balsam needles
1/2 cup miniature pine cones
1/2 cup rose hips
2 tsp orrisroot
2 drops pine fragrance oil

Mix the bayberry, balsam, pine cones and rose hips in a large bowl. Add the orrisroot and fixative and stir gently. Simmer in a potpourri warmer, or display in pretty crystal dishes around the house.

Pre-Wash Spray

1/2 C. household ammonia
1/4 C. baking soda
1/2 C. white vinegar
1/2 gal. water

After mixing this solution, put part of it in a smaller spray bottle to keep handy by the washing machine when doing laundry. Spray liberally onto clothes where needed.

For icy door steps in freezing temperatures: get warm water and put Dawn dishwashing liquid in it. Pour it all over the steps. They won't refreeze.

Spray a mixture of half water, half fabric softener onto a regular clean face cloth and toss it in with your laundry in the washing machine.

Eliminate odors in your humidifier Pour 3-4 teaspoons of lemon juice into the water.

1 cup baking soda
1 cup table salt
1/4 cup cream of tartar
1 cup boiling water
Cold Water.

Mix baking soda, table salt, and cream of tartar. Stir each time before using. Keep in a clean, covered jar.

When ready to use, pour 1/4 cup of mixture into drain. Immediately add the 1 cup boiling water. Wait ten seconds, then flush with cold water for at least 20 seconds.

1/2 cup baking soda
1/3 cup household ammonia
1/4 cup white vinegar
7 cups warm water

Combine in a gallon container.. do yourself a favor .. and put the water in FIRST!

Shake.. and don't get it near anything with BLEACH! To use: fill a spray bottle, spray onto tile/grout- wipe with a damp cloth or sponge, or use a scrub brush.

To remove pencil, crayon or ink marks from upholstery, use dry baking soda. Use a hairbrush or similar brush to rub baking soda and remove the marks.

4 oz. clean spray bottle with a fine mist setting
1 1/2 ounces of distilled water
1 1/2 ounces of vanilla extract

Directions: Fill the spray bottle with 1.5 ounces of vanilla extract and 1.5 ounces of distilled water. (Even though a 4 oz. bottle is suggested, leave about 1 oz. unfilled so you can shake the bottle well between uses.) Shake the bottle prior to each use, and let it sit for about a day before making a conclusion that the aroma is too weak; the aroma can change after the air freshener has had time to sit. Mist lightly in the room. Be especially careful not to allow the air freshener mist fall onto furniture or into open beverages.

1 cup white vinegar
3 cups water

Add to a large spray bottle and shake well before each use. Use to clean your bathroom - allowing the mixture to sit longer on more stubborn stains. The acidity in the vinegar will help remove grout and grime.

2 Packets unflavoured gelatin -- (1/2 ounce)
2 tablespoons cold water
3 tablespoons skim milk
several drops oil of cloves (optional)

1. In a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over cold water. Set aside to soften.
2. Heat milk to boiling point and pour into softened gelatin. Stir until gelatin is dissolved.
3. Add oil of cloves as preservative if glue is to be kept for more than a day.

Makes about 1/3 cup

Store glue in a screw-capped jar. It will gel as it cools, but this will not affect its adhesiveness. Set jar in a pan of hot water to soften glue for reuse.

1 cup baking soda
1 cup vinegar
very hot water

Pour the baking soda into the clogged drain followed by the vinegar. As this foams, flush with very hot water. Done on a weekly basis, this keeps the drain free of hair and clogging grease. Great for kitchen sinks and bathrooms.

Thanks to Karen for this formula!

1 cup ammmonia
1 teaspoon Dawn dish liguid
1 pint (2 cups) alcohol

Place ingredients in a one-gallon jug and fill the remainder of jug with tap water. To use pour some into spray bottle and use on widows and other surfaces.

Wood and Wall Cleaning Solution

1 gallon warm water
1 cup ammonia
1/2 cup vinegar
1/4 cup baking soda

Combine and use to clean walls and woodwork.