Mice Control

MICE CONTROL Mix corn meal and dry Portland cement, half-and-half. Place in shallow containers where mice run.

Mice are said to have an aversion to spearmint, and some people have reported that placing some of the dried herb in areas where mice were a problem has sent them to other areas.

Remember that although the mixtures presented here are homemade and environmentally friendly, they must be properly labelled, kept out of the reach of children and stored safely at all times.

Fire Extingusihing Powder

FIRE-EXTINGUSIHING POWDER Make a low cost, effective fire extinguishing powder by combining 6 pounds of fine silica mason sand (available from building supplies dealer) and 2 pounds of sodium bicarbonate (Baking Soda). Mix them thoroughly, and keep the powder in 1 pound glass or metal containers. Locate them in strategic places. When extinguishing flames, scatter the mixture onto the base of the fire.

Remember that although the cleansers presented here are homemade and environmentally friendly, they must be properly labelled, kept out of the reach of children and stored safely at all times.

Test any cleaner in an inconspicuous place before use.

1 tsp = 5 mL
1-1/2 tsp = 8 mL
2 tsp = 10 mL
1 Tbsp = 15 mL
2 Tbsp = 30 mL
4 Tbsp = 60 mL

1/4 cup = 60 mL
1/2 cup = 120 mL
3/4 cup = 180 mL
1 cup = 240 mL
1-1/2 cups = 360 mL
4 cups = 1 L
6 cups = 1.5 L

4 quarts= 4 L

Floor Cleaner

FLOOR CLEANER

3/4 cup Vinegar
5 drops citrus essential oil (thyme, clary sage, tea tree and grapefruit seed extract also have antibacterial properties.)

4 quarts warm water

For wood, linoleum and vinyl floors.

Remember that although the cleansers presented here are homemade and environmentally friendly, they must be properly labelled, kept out of the reach of children and stored safely at all times.

Test any cleaner in an inconspicuous place before use.

1 tsp = 5 mL
1-1/2 tsp = 8 mL
2 tsp = 10 mL
1 Tbsp = 15 mL
2 Tbsp = 30 mL
4 Tbsp = 60 mL

1/4 cup = 60 mL
1/2 cup = 120 mL
3/4 cup = 180 mL
1 cup = 240 mL
1-1/2 cups = 360 mL
4 cups = 1 L
6 cups = 1.5 L

4 quarts= 4 L

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

TOILET BOWL CLEANER

1 cup Vinegar
Baking soda

Pour the Vinegar directly into the toilet bowl and let stand for 3° minutes. Sprinkle Baking Soda onto toilet brush and scour. From now on, pour 1 cup of Vinegar into the toilet bowl once a month and let stand overnight. This keeps the bowl fresh. Alternatively you can pour 1 cup of Borax into the toilet bowl before going to bed. In the morning, scrub and flush. For extra strength, add 1/4 cup Vinegar to the Borax.

Remember that although the cleansers presented here are homemade and environmentally friendly, they must be properly labelled, kept out of the reach of children and stored safely at all times.

Test any cleaner in an inconspicuous place before use.

1 tsp = 5 mL
1-1/2 tsp = 8 mL
2 tsp = 10 mL
1 Tbsp = 15 mL
2 Tbsp = 30 mL
4 Tbsp = 60 mL

1/4 cup = 60 mL
1/2 cup = 120 mL
3/4 cup = 180 mL
1 cup = 240 mL
1-1/2 cups = 360 mL
4 cups = 1 L
6 cups = 1.5 L

4 quarts= 4 L

Laundry Soap

LAUNDRY SOAP
8 cups Baking Soda
6 cups Borax
1 Tbsp essential oil of lavender, lemon or grapefruit

Mix all four ingredients in a large ice cream pail or similar container and keep in the laundry room. Use only 2 Tbsp (30mL) of powder per load of washing.

Remember that although the cleansers presented here are homemade and environmentally friendly, they must be properly labelled, kept out of the reach of children and stored safely at all times.

Test any cleaner in an inconspicuous place before use.

1 tsp = 5 mL
1-1/2 tsp = 8 mL
2 tsp = 10 mL
1 Tbsp = 15 mL
2 Tbsp = 30 mL
4 Tbsp = 60 mL

1/4 cup = 60 mL
1/2 cup = 120 mL
3/4 cup = 180 mL
1 cup = 240 mL
1-1/2 cups = 360 mL
4 cups = 1 L
6 cups = 1.5 L

4 quarts= 4 L

Drain Opener

DRAIN OPENER
1-1/2 cups Vinegar
2 Tbsp Baking Soda.

Pour the ingredients into the clogged drain. Wait five minutes and pour in hot water. Repeat, if necessary.

I don't pay any attention or believe the commercials that I see on the television or any of the ads in print. No, my world would not fall apart without the latest household cleaning product that promise me (us) whiter-than-white, brighter-than bright and cleaner-than-clean. There are hundreds of them on grocery store shelves available in powders, foams and sprays, Liquids and Gels. Specially formula products for every household surface like toilets, sinks, countertops, floors, woodwork, etc. Even the air that in my home can be treated with spray cleanser that claims to kill germs and yet leave a fresh scent.

The truth is that any number of these products are so much hype. Sure the majority of them work well enough, but at what cost? Some are costly in an economic sense; or we pay an enivironmental price for others. Air refresheners routinely contain formaldehyde; furniture polish might contain Nitrobenzene. Some toilet cleaners have Hydrochloric Acid in them. And there are plenty of other commercial products that contain Phospates, Bleach or Ammonia. Considering the large quantities of these products that are sold, these active ingredients do little for our health or our environment.

It's enough to make anyone with a concern for their environment to reconsider their weekly house cleaning routine. So what is a "environmentally concerned person" (like me)to do?

Fortunately, there are really only six main ingedients needed for most household cleaning task. All of them have been around for years and have proven themselves effective, but they don't get a lot of the advertisng. They are
(1)White Vinegar,
(2)Lemon juice, (
3)Water,
(4)Baking Soda (Sodium bicarbonate), used as a cleanser and to absorb odors. The leavening agent in baking bread.
(5)BoraxSodium borate, a mineral Salt that has been used as an antiseptic since the Middle ages.
(6)Castille bar soap True Castile is a mild, olive oil-based pure soap. In fact, any all-natural, all-vegetable, biodegradable and phosphate-free bar soap makes a good "green" cleanser. For the recipes in which it is called for, simply grate the soap bar with a cheese grater.
Note: Be sure to read the labels carefully to ensure that a product called "Castille" or "all-natural" is genuine and doesn't contain sodium laurel sulphates, synthetic preservatives, artificial coloring or scent or foaming agents.

With these basic ingredients, you can make household cleaners to take care of most everyday cleaning needs.

Add Salt, Club Soda and your favorite essential oils to the list and your are ready for any stubborn stains or cleaning problems. Not only using homemade cleansers are economical, they are relatively environmentally benign and safer for everyone in your house!