NON TOXIC HOME CLEANING!

MONTHLY GIVEAWAY!

I have started a Monthly Giveaway. I will be drawing names from
followers that comment. The drawings will be on the 1st of each month!

Sending a bunch of Prim Dried Carrots with some Dried Grass to a lucky FOLLOWER that has commented during February!
These will be perfect for your Spring Decor. Remember each new posting you comment on, will be another chance for you to win the Prim Dried Carrots & Dried Grass


NON TOXIC HOME CLEANING

Today's modern home is loaded with toxic and polluting substances designed to make domestic life easier Studies have linked chemicals commonly found in household cleaners to health problems like asthma and reproductive abnormalities. We believe that people deserve to know whether the products they use to wash their dishes, launder their clothes, and clean their homes contain these chemicals. That way, they can make informed choices about how to protect their families and – even better – ask companies to leave these harmful chemicals out of their products altogether!

Make sure to keep all home-made formulas well-labeled, and out of the reach of children.

These formulas and substitutions are offered to help minimize the use of toxic substances in your home.
Results may vary and cannot be guaranteed to be 100% safe and effective. Before applying any cleaning formulations, test in small hidden areas if possible. Always use caution with any new product in your home.

All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda (or 2 teaspoons borax) into 1/2 gallon (2 liters) water. Store and keep. Use for removal of water deposit stains on shower stall panels, bathroom chrome fixtures, windows, bathroom mirrors, etc.

Another alternative are microfiber cloths which lift off dirt, grease and dust without the need for cleaning chemicals, because they are formulated to penetrate and trap dirt. There are a number of different brands. A good quality cloth can last for several years.

Air Freshener: Commercial air fresheners mask smells and coat nasal passages to diminish the sense of smell.
Baking soda or vinegar with lemon juice in small dishes absorbs odors around the house.
Having houseplants helps reduce odors in the home.
Prevent cooking odors by simmering vinegar (1 tbsp in 1 cup water) on the stove while cooking. To get such smells as fish and onion off utensils and cutting boards, wipe them with vinegar and wash in soapy water.
Keep fresh coffee grounds on the counter.
Grind up a slice of lemon in the garbage disposal.
Simmer water and cinnamon or other spices on stove.
Place bowls of fragrant dried herbs and flowers in room.
Bathroom mold: Mold in bathroom tile grout is a common problem and can be a health concern. Mix one part hydrogen peroxide (3%) with two parts water in a spray bottle and spray on areas with mold. Wait at least one hour before rinsing or using shower.

Carpet stains: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray directly on stain, let sit for several minutes, and clean with a brush or sponge using warm soapy water.
For fresh grease spots, sprinkle corn starch onto spot and wait 15 - 30 minutes before vacuuming.
For a heavy duty carpet cleaner, mix 1/4 cup each of salt, borax and vinegar. Rub paste into carpet and leave for a few hours. Vacuum.

Chopping block cleaner: Rub a slice of lemon across a chopping block to disinfect the surface. For tougher stains, squeeze some of the lemon juice onto the spot and let sit for 10 minutes, then wipe.

Coffee and tea stains: Stains in cups can be removed by applying vinegar to a sponge and wiping. To clean a teakettle or coffee maker, add 2 cups water and 1/4 cup vinegar; bring to a boil. Let cool, wipe with a clean cloth and rinse thoroughly with water.

Deodorize:
Plastic food storage containers - soak overnight in warm water and baking soda
In-sink garbage disposal units - grind up lemon or orange peel in the unit
Carpets - sprinkle baking soda several hours before vacuuming
Garage, basements - set a sliced onion on a plate in center of room for 12 - 24 hours

Disinfectant: Mix 2 teaspoons borax, 4 tablespoons vinegar and 3 cups hot water. For stronger cleaning power add 1/4 teaspoon liquid castile soap. Wipe on with dampened cloth or use non-aerosol spray bottle. (This is not an antibacterial formula. The average kitchen or bathroom does not require antibacterial cleaners.)
To disinfect kitchen sponges, put them in the dishwasher when running a load.

Drain Cleaner: For light drain cleaning, mix 1/2 cup salt in 4 liters water, heat (but not to a boil) and pour down the drain. For stronger cleaning, pour about 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain, then 1/2 cup vinegar. The resulting chemical reaction can break fatty acids down into soap and glycerine, allowing the clog to wash down the drain. After 15 minutes, pour in boiling water to clear residue. Caution: only use this method with metal plumbing. Plastic pipes can melt if excess boiling water is used. Also, do not use this method after trying a commercial drain opener--the vinegar can react with the drain opener to create dangerous fumes.

Fabric softener: To reduce static cling, dampen your hands, then shake out your clothes as you remove them from the drier. Line-drying clothing is another alternative.

Caution: Improperly diluted vinegar can harm certain surfaces. Always test first in a small area if unsure.

Rambling Thursday's Ordinary Objects, Super Uses!!..I'm The Big Loser In "Take It Off Tuesdays"

That is right....I am the big loser again in our weight loss challenge "Take It Off Tuesdays" and we have a new challenger in the group,Cricket, from "Mama's Work Shop"...Welcome to our group girl and anyone else who wants to be a big loser...Lets all give Janene over at "Primitive Lifestyle" a big pat on the back for all she does!!!

Some ordinary, unassuming household objects have hidden super powers. And most of these items cost less than a couple of bucks. There are cult followings for vinegar and duct tape. Entire tomes have been written about the virtues of baking soda.Like I promised yesterday here are more ordinary objects to use to save you money and go GREEN!!

Baking soda

25. Extinguish a grease or electrical fire. Scatter the powder by the handful to safely put it out.
26. Clean combs and brushes in a soda solution.
27. Wash glass or stainless steel coffee pots (but not aluminum) in a soda solution (3 tablespoons soda to 1 quart water).
28. Clean barbecue grills by sprinkling with soda, soaking and rinsing.
29. Clean a greasy garage floor by sprinkling with soda. Let stand, scrub and rinse.
30. Clean a badly burned pan with a thick layer of burned-on food: Pour a thick layer of soda directly onto the bottom of the pan, then sprinkle just enough water to moisten the soda. Leave the pot overnight, and then scrub it clean the next day.
31. Clean shower curtains in water and soda.
32. Eliminate odor from tennis shoes, socks, boots and slippers by sprinkling with soda.
33. Repel rain and fog from your car windshield. Put gobs of baking soda on a dampened cloth and wipe windows inside and out.
34. Make dried beans more digestible by soaking them in a mixture of soda and water.
35. Freshen carpet and upholstered furniture by sprinkling them with baking soda. Allow them to sit undisturbed for a half-hour or so. Then vacuum.
36. Eliminate water rings on your finished wood with a paste of baking soda and toothpaste. Dip a soft cloth in the paste and rub the water spots away.
37. Get rid of ants in your house by mixing together equal parts baking soda and salt. Sprinkle the mixture wherever you see the intruders coming in.
38. Fill in nail holes in a plastered wall with a paste of white toothpaste and baking soda.

Beer

39. Use beer instead of water in your favorite batter mix, and it will have a delicious flavor.
40. Soften hair and add body with a beer shampoo. Mix a raw egg with half a can of beer and massage it into your hair. Rinse and style as usual. Beer alone also makes an excellent conditioner for hair. Massage a cup of warm beer into your hair and scalp after washing and allow it to set for half an hour or so. Rinse thoroughly.
41. Fertilize plants. Use all of those half-filled bottles and cups of beer after a party to pour on your houseplants and garden vegetables. The plants will love the nourishment that the yeast adds to the soil.
42. Get rid of slugs in your garden. Put a shallow dish of beer into your soil, buried up to the lip. The slugs will be attracted to the beer and become stuck in it. Empty the dish each day and replace with new beer, as they are attracted to the smell.

Cotton balls

43. Fight mildew in hard-to-reach spots in the bathroom. Soak a few cotton balls in bleach and place them in those difficult spots. Leave them to work their magic for a few hours. Finish by rinsing with a warm-water wash.

Dawn Dishwashing Detergent

44. Get a better manicure by soaking fingernails in the soapy solution, rinse and apply polish. The polish will adhere better to the nail and spread more smoothly.
45. Pre-treat oil-based laundry stains, such as lipstick and grease.
46. Clean oily and grimy tools by soaking them in it.
47. Kill fleas by washing pets in a soapy water bath.

Dryer sheets

48. Repel mosquitoes on your patio. Hang a sheet out there during the mosquito season.
49. Freshen the air by placing an individual sheet in a drawer, hang one in the closet, in your locker at the health club, in your locker at work or under the seat of your car or truck.
50. To prevent sewing thread from tangling, run a needle through a sheet before sewing.
51. Prevent musty odors in luggage by leaving a sheet inside baggage.
52. Eliminate static electricity from the television or computer screen.
53. Dissolve soap scum from the shower door and tile walls. Clean the surfaces with a sheet.
54. Repel bees and bugs by tucking some in your picnic basket or under lawn furniture. You also can rub a sheet directly on your bare skin.
55. Combat static on your clothes, stockings and hair by patting them with a sheet.
56. De-stink your pets: Scrub incoming dogs or cats (especially wet ones) with a dryer sheet before they enter the home.
57. Make cleaning cookware with burned or baked-on food easier by soaking them in warm water with a dryer sheet or two. It also works on cook tops and dingy cabinet doors.