The Green House
Here's a collection of natural cleaning formulas and household hints.
Those that I have tried with satisfactory results are highlighted in all upper case. As I try others, those
with unsatisfactory results will be removed or noted. Please let me know what your results are!
Basic Ingredients
You probably already
have most of these ingredients in your cupboard. They are inexpensive and can
be found at your local supermarket, hardware, or drugstore. Most are safe and non-toxic,
but note the cautions.
BAKING
SODA (sodium bicarbonate) A naturally derived mineral. Baking soda can be
substituted for many kitchen and bathroom cleaners. It is mildly abrasive and non-toxic. Cleans, deodorizes, removes
stains, and softens fabrics. Baking soda cleans, polishes and deodorizes most
hard surfaces. Rinsing is required.
BORAX
(sodium borate) A natural mineral that
kills mould and bacteria. An alternative to bleach, it softens water,
deodorizes, removes stains, and boosts the cleaning power of soap. Please note safety precautions below.
CORNSTARCH Use as a
clothes starch, washing windows, freshening carpets. Absorbs oil and grease.
HERBS
and ESSENTIAL OILS For disinfecting and fragrance
LEMON or LIME JUICE An
alternative to bleach; cuts through grease and removes perspiration and other
stains from clothing. For economy, buy the largest bottle of the store brand.
SALT (sodium
chloride) An abrasive
SOAP
– Pure Castile or vegetable-based Cleans most everything. Sold as Murphy’s Oil Soap
among others.
TOOTHPASTE A mild abrasive
VINEGAR (acetic acid) Cuts grease, removes mildew and stains;
an excellent water softener.
WASHING SODA (sodium carbonate) This is sold under the label of
Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda and should not be confused with baking soda
(sodium bicarbonate). It cleans clothes, softens water, cuts grease and
disinfects. Rinsing is required. Sodium carbonate is used to encapsulate and kill mold.
When mixed with water and put in a spray bottle, it is sold for its antimold
cleaning ability.
·
Buy ingredients in bulk
to save money and avoid excess packaging.
·
Store each cleaner in a
reusable airtight plastic containers or spray bottle. A pretty container makes
cleaning days more fun and pleasant.
·
Label all ingredients
and keep cleaners out of the reach of children. Even natural cleaners can be
harmful or even fatal if swallowed by children or pets. See specific safety
precautions below.
·
Add your favourite
essential oils or herbs to any of these formulas for fragrance
1. Use cedar chips, lavender flowers or herbs in drawers
and closets instead of mothballs.
2. Place cloves, cinnamon sticks or allspice in a pot of water,
and simmer for 1-2 hours.
3. Put a few slices of orange or lemon rind in a pot of
water, and simmer for 1-2 hours.
4. Stud an orange with
cloves to scent small areas, such as closets. Be sure the orange is completely
covered or mould will appear.
5. Place baking soda in an open container of your choice.
Good for closets, refrigerators and other small enclosed spaces
6. Carpet deodorizer: Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet,
wait a few minutes, then vacuum thoroughly.
7. 2-3 slices of white bread absorbs refrigerator odours
8. Place lemon slices in an open bowl in the kitchen
9. Dissolve baking soda in 2 cups hot water, add lemon
juice, pour into spray bottle, spray into air as air freshener
10. Vinegar in a cup or bowl rids rooms of odours
11. Simply light a match or burn a candle (scented or
unscented). The flame will burn up the bad smelling gases in the air.
12. Pour vanilla extract into a shallow dish and set in an
out of the way place
13. Add a couple of drops of your favourite essential oil
to the inside of the cardboard toilet tissue roll. With each turn, fragrance is
released into the room.
1. For floors, counters and painted walls, mix 50 ml
baking soda, 125 ml vinegar, and 4 litres water.
2. For a general, all-purpose cleaner, try a paste made
from baking soda and water or mix salt and water with a little vinegar
3. Dissolve 4 tablespoons baking soda in 1-quart warm
water for a general cleaner.
4. Mix ½ cup white
vinegar and ¼ cup baking soda in 2 liters of water.
5. Baking soda on a damp sponge can be used for scouring.
6. Use liquid castile soap and baking soda or Borax in
different ratios. Use a little soap and soda/borax with lots of water on
floors, walls and counters. Use more soap, soda/Borax for tubs sinks, cat
boxes, anything that can be well rinsed.
7. 3 tbsp. vinegar, 1/2 tsp. washing soda, 1/2 tsp.
vegetable oil based liquid soap, 2 cups hot water. Mix ingredients in spray
bottle or bucket. Apply and wipe clean.
1. Borax has long been recognized for its disinfectant
and deodorizing properties. Mix 1/2 cup Borax into 1-gallon hot water for a
cleaning solution.
2. Mix a 1/2-cup of borax with 1-gallon hot water. Add a
few sprigs of fresh thyme, rosemary or lavender. Steep for 10 minutes, strain
and cool. Or add essential fragrant oils instead of fresh herbs. Store in a
plastic spray bottle.
3. 2 tablespoons borax, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 2 cups hot
water. Combine the borax and lemon juice with the water in a spray bottle. Use
as you would any commercial all-purpose cleaner.
4. Isopropyl alcohol is an excellent disinfectant. Sponge
on and allow to dry. Use in a well-ventilated area and wear gloves.
Windows and
Mirrors
1.
1/2
cup lemon juice and 2 cups water in a spray bottle.
2.
Zuni’s
comment: Works well, with a nice fresh scent.
3.
Mix
2 tablespoons of vinegar in 1 quart (litre) of water.
Zuni’s comment: This cleans
fairly well, but I am not keen on the vinegar smell.
4. No-Streak Glass Cleaner: 1/4 cup white vinegar,
1-tablespoon cornstarch, 1-quart warm water. Mix the ingredients and apply with
a sponge or pour into spray bottle and spray on. Wipe dry with crumpled
newspaper, buff to a shine. (Use crumpled newspaper instead of paper towels for
lint-free results.
Zuni’s
comment: Again, works fairly well, but the vinegar scent isn’t the greatest.
4. Mix 1/2-cup cornstarch with 2 quarts warm water. Apply
with sponge then wipe with absorbent cloth or towel. Do not wash windows or
glass when sun is on them or if they are warm. The solution will dry too
quickly creating unwanted streaks.
1. Use a non-chlorine scouring powder such as Bon Ami.
2. Baking soda and dry table salt are mild abrasives and can be used as alternatives to chlorine scouring powders. Simply put either baking soda or salt on a sponge or the surface, scour and rinse.
Non-Abrasive
soft-scrub:
1/4-cup
borax
Vegetable
oil based liquid soap (such as Murphy’s Oil Soap)
1/2
teaspoon lemon oil
In a bowl, mix the
borax with enough soap to form a creamy paste. Add lemon oil and blend well.
Put a small amount of the mixture on a sponge, wash the surface. Rinse well.
Toilet Bowl
Cleaners
1. Baking Soda and Vinegar: Sprinkle baking soda into the
bowl, then squirt with vinegar and scour with a toilet brush. Cleans and
deodorizes.
2. Add 1000 mg of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Allow to set
over night.
3.
For badly stained toilets,
mix enough borax and lemon juice into a paste cover the ring. Flush toilet to wet
the sides, and then rub on the paste. Let sit for 2 hours and scrub thoroughly.
Zuni’s comment: This is a very effective cleaner with
a fresh, pleasant smell.
4. 1-cup borax, 1/2 cup white vinegar. Flush to wet the
sides of the bowl. Sprinkle the borax around the toilet bowl, then spray with
vinegar. Leave for several hours or overnight before scrubbing with a toilet
brush.
5. Denture tablets are an excellent substitute for toilet
cleaner. Drop two tablets into the bowl and clean as you would with toilet
cleaner.
6. Sprinkle baking soda or Borax around the rim and scrub
with a toilet brush.
Tub And Tile Cleaners
1. Vinegar removes most dirt without scrubbing and
doesn't leave a film. Use 1/4-cup (or more) vinegar to 1-gallon water.
2. Use baking soda as you would scouring powder. Rub
lightly with a damp sponge. Rinse thoroughly.
3. Vinegar and baking soda. To remove film build-up on
bathtubs, apply vinegar full-strength to a sponge and wipe. Next, use baking
soda as you would scouring powder. Rub with a damp sponge and rinse thoroughly
with clean water.
4. To clean grout, put 3 cups baking soda into a
medium-sized bowl and add 1-cup warm water. Mix into a smooth paste and gently
scrub into grout with a sponge or toothbrush. Rinse thoroughly.
5. Rub the area to be cleaned with half a lemon dipped in
borax. Rinse well, and dry with soft cloth.
Porcelain
Rub with cream of
tartar sprinkled on a damp cloth.
Drain Cleaner:
Use this drain cleaner once a week to keep drains fresh and clog-free:
1/2-cup
baking soda
1-cup
white vinegar
1-gallon
boiling water
1/2
a used lemon
Pour baking soda down
drain/disposal, followed by vinegar. Allow the mixture to foam for several
minutes before flushing the drain with boiling water.
Plumbing Fixtures
1. To clean stainless steel, chrome, fibreglass, ceramic,
porcelain or enamel fixtures, dissolve 2 tbsp baking soda in 1 qt of water.
Wipe on fixtures then rinse.
2. Vinegar and Paper Towels. Hard lime deposits around
faucets can be softened for easy removal by covering the deposits with
vinegar-soaked paper towels. Leave the paper towels on for about one hour
before cleaning. Leaves chrome clean and shiny.
Metal Shower Heads
To remove deposits
that may be clogging your metal showerhead, combine 1/2 cup white vinegar and
one quart water. Then completely submerge the showerhead and boil 15 minutes.
Plastic Shower Heads
Combine 1 pint
white vinegar and 1 pint hot water. Completely submerge the showerhead and soak
for about one hour.
Rust Stain and Hard Water Deposit Remover
Apply full-strength
vinegar or lemon juice and let stand until spot disappears, rinse. Repeat if
necessary.
Mildew Remover
Dissolve half-cup
vinegar with half-cup borax in warm water.
Lime Deposits
White vinegar
Dishes
Look for
phosphate-free dish soaps.
Automatic
dishwasher detergents often have high amounts. Use low
phosphate detergents.
Oven Cleaners
1. While the oven is still warm, sprinkle salt or baking
soda on the spill. If the spill is completely dry, wet the spill lightly before
sprinkling on salt. When the oven cools, scrape away the spill and wash the
area clean.
2. Sprinkle water on oven bottom. Cover with baking soda.
Let sit overnight. Wipe off and apply liquid soap with scouring pad. Rinse.
3. Retard grease build-up in your oven by dampening your
cleaning rag in vinegar and water before wiping out your oven.
4. Sprinkle/spray water followed by a layer of baking
soda. Rub gently with a very fine steel wool pad for tough spots. Wipe off scum
with dry paper towels or sponge. Rinse well and wipe dry.
5.
2 tablespoons vegetable
oil-based liquid soap, 2 tablespoons borax: Mix the soap and borax in a spray
bottle. Fill the bottle with hot water and shake well. Spray on oven and leave
for 20 minutes. Scrub off.
6. Mix 30 ml of liquid dish soap and 15 ml of borax in a
1-litre spray bottle. Spray soiled area, wait 1 hour and scrub with steel wool.
Refrigerators
1. To clean exterior and interior walls, dissolve 2 tbs.
baking soda in 1 qt warm water and wipe all surfaces. For stubborn spots, rub
with baking soda paste. Be sure to rinse with a clean, wet cloth. (This works
well on other enamel-finished appliances as well.)
2.
To clean interior
fixtures, such as vegetable bins and shelves, wash in hot soapy water, rinse
well and dry.
Fragrant
Kitchen Rinse:
Use any of the following
essential oils, alone or in a combination pleasing to you. Add 4 drops of oil
to each pint of water. Pour into a spray bottle, store away cool dark place.
Use as a final rinse after cleaning kitchen surfaces.
Eucalyptus
Pine
Lavender
Cypress
Lemon
Lemongrass
Lime
Thyme
Grapefruit
Orange
Wintergreen
Rosemary
Sage
Pots and Pans
1. Burned, and crusted on foods; Soak or boil a solution
of 2 tbs. baking soda per qt of water in each pan. Let stand until particles
are loosened, then wash as usual. Use a mild or moderate abrasive if necessary.
2. To clean a greasy pan easily, add 1 or 2 teaspoons of
baking soda to the water in which it is soaking.
Copper
pan cleaner
Sprinkle
surface of pans with coarse salt. Rub salt into stains with the cut half of a
fresh lemon.
No-Stick Cookware
To remove stains
from non-stick surfaces, pour a solution of 1 cup water, 2 tbs. baking soda
into a pan, simmer 5 to 10 minutes. Do not allow mixture to boil or to boil
over the side of the pan. Wash in hot soapy water, rinse and dry. Apply a light
coating of cooking oil.
Baking
Dishes - Enamel, Ceramic or Glass
Soak in hot soapy
water, then scour with salt or baking soda and rinse thoroughly.
Dishes
1. Use liquid or powdered soap instead of detergents -
which are petroleum-based. In dishwashers, use equal parts borax and washing
soda.
2. Use Baking soda and liquid soap
Drinking
Glasses
1. Occasionally soak drinking glasses in a solution of
vinegar and water to really get them clean. Makes them sparkle!
2. When a quick dip for crystal glassware is needed,
prepare a solution of baking soda in tepid-cool water (l level teaspoon to a
quart) and brush with a soft toothbrush. Very good for glass coffee makers and
thermos jugs too.
Spot-free
Dishwasher Rinse
Add 1 cup of white
vinegar to the rinse compartment of your automatic dishwasher. Wash dishes as
usual.
Drains
and Garbage Disposals:
Use this drain
cleaner once a week to keep drains fresh and clog-free.
1/2
to 1 cup baking soda
1-cup
white vinegar
1-gallon
boiling water
Pour baking soda down
drain/disposal, followed by vinegar. Allow the mixture to foam for several
minutes before flushing the drain with boiling water.
Garbage Disposal
To eliminate garbage
disposal odours and clean and sharpen blades, grind ice and used lemon and/or
orange rinds until pulverized.
Fire Safety
1. Emergency fire extinguisher – Keep a large coffee can
filled with baking soda near the stove. If a greasy pan catches on fire, turn
off the heat and try to cover the pan. Sprinkle powdered baking soda over the
fire.
2.
Oven fires – Close the
door and turn off the heat.
1.
Club soda is a great
non-toxic carpet stain remover. Soak the spot immediately with soda and blot
until the stain is gone.
2. For a heavily soiled rug or
carpet: use a mixture of 1 part borax to 2 parts cornmeal. sprinkle it evenly
over the rug, let it stand for one hour and then shake or vacuum.
Zuni’s comment: I used ½ cup borax and 1 cup of
cornmeal for a small kitchen rug. It worked very well and really freshened the
rug.
3. Pet urine on carpets: Dab area with towelling to
absorb as much as possible, wash spot with a drop of liquid dish detergent, and
rinse with 1/2 cup vinegar diluted in 1 qt. warm water. Lay towels or paper towels
over the spot and weight down to absorb excess moisture. Let stand 4 to 6
hours, then remove towelling, brush up nap and allow to dry completely. Use an
electric fan to speed drying.
4. Red wine stains can be removed from carpet by rubbing
in baking soda and vacuuming.
5. Dry cornstarch sprinkled on rug and vacuum.
6. To remove grease spots from carpets, first sop up the
liquid with a sponge, and then rub a liberal amount of baking soda into the
spot. Let it absorb overnight. Next day, remove the excess and vacuum the area.
7. To remove grease spots from carpets, first absorb
excess with a sponge, then rub a liberal amount of cornstarch into the spot.
Let sit overnight, and then vacuum.
8. Carpet deodorizer: Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet,
wait a few minutes, then vacuum thoroughly.
Carpet
Freshener:
4 cups baking soda or
cornstarch
35
drops Eucalyptus essential oil
30
drops Lavender essential oil
25
drops Rosewood essential oil
or any combination of your favourite essential oils
Measure 4 cups of
baking soda into a bowl, add essential oils. Break up any clumps that form,
stir until well mixed. Before vacuuming sprinkle powder from a shaker type can
or jar. Let it sit on the carpet for about 15 minutes then vacuum.
Herbal Carpet Freshener:
1 cup baking soda,
1/2 cup lavender flowers
Crush the lavender flowers to release their scent. Mix well with baking soda
and sprinkle liberally on carpets. Wait 30 minutes and then vacuum.
Furniture Polish
1. Use almond oil.
2. Mix 1 teaspoon lemon oil and 2 cups mineral oil.
3. Mix 2 parts olive oil with 1 part lemon juice. Apply
mixture to furniture with a soft cloth and wipe it dry.
4. Use a little olive or lemon oil and some beeswax.
5. Hide wood scratches by rubbing with the meat of a
walnut.
6. Use a soft cloth and wipe with a bit of mayonnaise.
7. Rub furniture with a cloth dipped in cool tea.
8. 1/8-cup linseed oil, 1/8-cup vinegar, 1/4 cup lemon
juice. Mix ingredients, using soft cloth, rub into wood.
9. Stains – Remove stains on wood furniture by dabbing
white toothpaste onto the stain. Allow the paste to dry and then gently buff
off with a soft cloth.
10. Watermarks – Remove watermarks by rubbing essence of
peppermint into the mark, then polishing with a soft cloth.
1. A pencil eraser removes heel marks from a floor.
2. A little baking soda on a damp sponge will remove
scuffs. Rub gently.
3. For greasy, no-wax floors:
1-cup
vinegar
1/4-cup
washing soda
1-tablespoon
vegetable oil-based liquid soap
2
gallons hot water
Combine
all ingredients, stirring well to dissolve the washing soda. Mop as usual.
CFL light bulb breakage
If a bulb breaks, open the windows in the room. Do
not vacuum the pieces. Carefully sweep up the shards without touching
them, and wipe the area with an old cloth or damp paper towel.
Place the fragments and the rag in a sealed
plastic bag, and dispose of it according to your local waste collection
guidelines. Some municipalities require they be handled like used batteries and
paint.
Silver
1. Use toothpaste instead of toxic silver cleaner to
clean and brighten even your best silver. Use an old soft bristled toothbrush
and warm water.
2. Rub with a paste of baking soda and water.
3. To magnetize tarnish away, soak silver in salted water
in an aluminium container; then wipe clean.
4. Soak in boiling water, baking soda, salt, and a piece
of aluminium foil.
5. When a quick dip for silverware is needed, prepare a
solution of baking soda in tepid-cool water (l level teaspoon to a quart) and
brush with a soft toothbrush.
Brass Polish
1. Rub lemon peel with some salt. Polish brass.
2. Mix equal parts of salt and flour with a little
vinegar to make a paste. Apply a thick coat and let stand for 30 minutes. Rub
off and rinse thoroughly with water. If surface is left dry, rub lightly with
vegetable oil. Do not use salt and vinegar on metals with a lacquer coating.
Chrome
Rub
with undiluted vinegar.
Copper
Rub
with lemon juice and salt, or hot vinegar and salt.
Stainless Steel
Rub
with a paste of baking soda and water.
Windshield Wiper
Frost-Free Fluid
Mix 3 parts vinegar
to 1 part water and coat the car windows with this
solution. This vinegar and water combination will keep windshields ice and
frost-free.
Car Soap
1/4-cup vegetable
oil-based liquid soap, and hot water. Mix in pail. Wash your car on the lawn
instead of your driveway to reduce runoff to the street or storm sewer.
Car Wax
1-cup linseed oil, 4
tbsp. carnauba wax (available at automotive stores), 2 tbsp. beeswax, and
1/2-cup vinegar. Put ingredients in top half of a double boiler or saucepan.
Heat slowly until wax has melted. Stir, and pour into a heat resistant container.
After wax has solidified, rub it on the car with a lint-free cloth. Saturate a
corner of a cotton rag with vinegar and polish the wax to a deep shine.
Adhesive, decal,
label or price tag removal
To remove non-slip
appliqués and strips from bathtubs, saturate a cloth or sponge and squeeze hot
vinegar over decals. Vinegar also removes stick-on hooks from painted walls.
Saturate a cloth or sponge with vinegar and squeeze the liquid behind the hook
so that the vinegar comes in contact with the adhesive. In addition, vinegar
can be used to remove price labels and other decals from glass, wood, and
china. Paint the label or decal with several coats of white vinegar. Give the
vinegar time to soak in and after several minutes the decal can be rubbed off.
(NOTE: Use these methods only on washable surfaces and washable paint)
Candles/Wax
Sponge with a piece
of cotton dipped in rubbing alcohol.
Grease Cutters
1. Use lemon juice, vinegar, or sprinkle with borax and
scrub with scrub brush.
2. 1/2 tsp. washing soda, 1/2 tsp. vegetable oil-based
liquid soap, 3 tbsp. vinegar, and 2 cups hot water. Mix in spray bottle, spray
and scrub, wipe clean.
Paint Brushes
Soften hard paintbrushes
in hot vinegar for a few minutes. Then wash in soap and warm water and let dry.
Rust Remover
1. To remove rust from tin-ware, rub with a peeled potato
dipped in a mild abrasive such as baking soda or salt.
2. Briskly scrub rust spots on car bumpers with a piece
of crumpled aluminium foil, shiny side up.
Shoe
Polish/Care/Deodorizer
1. Cold-pressed nut oil, olive oil, walnut oil, or
beeswax - Apply oil/wax to leather then buff with a chamois cloth to a shine.
2. Lemon juice - Good for black or tan leather shoes.
Follow by buffing with a soft cloth.
3. Vinegar - Remove water stains on leather by rubbing
with a cloth dipped in a vinegar and water solution.
4. A dab of petroleum jelly rubbed into patent leather
gives a glistening shine and prevents cracking in the winter.
Shoe Deodorizer:
6
Tbsp Cornstarch
3
Tbsp Baking Soda
20
drops Rosemary essential oil
20
drops Tea Tree essential oil
5
drops Lemon essential oil
5
drops Clove essential oil
Mix all, then put 1-2
Tablespoon in each shoe/sneaker and rub it in. Allow the powder to sit in the
shoe overnight.
Stain and Spot
Removers
1. Concrete - To remove grease from concrete flooring,
sprinkle dry cement or cat litter over grease. Allow it to absorb the grease,
and then sweep up.
2. Ink - Use a non-aerosol hair spray to remove ink
stains.
3. Fabric - Remove spots with a mix of 2 parts water and
1 part rubbing alcohol.
Suede
Dirt marks on suede
can be rubbed out with an art-gum eraser. Then buff very lightly an emery
board.
Tar Remover
Wet rag with
food-grade linseed oil and rub hard.
Vinyl Cleaner
Dissolve 1 tsp. to
1/4-cup washing soda in 1 cup boiling water. Apply with sponge, wipe off with a
damp cloth.
Wallpaper Cleaner
Roll up a piece of
white bread and use it like an eraser for marks on wallpaper.
Garden
1. Ladybugs and praying mantis are natural bug killers.
Both can be purchased at garden centres.
2. Marigolds (Calendula) are natural bug
deterrents in the garden.
3. Rust flies – Plant onions near carrots.
4. Ants – Place lemon peels, damp coffee grounds, bone
meal, and lines of chalk in their path.
5. Red spider mites – Plant garlic with tomatoes.
6. Borers on fruit trees – Plant garlic around the trunk.
7. Rabbits – Make a spray of garlic.
8.
Ponds – Spray with garlic-based
oil to kill mosquitoes.
Diatomaceous earth insect killer
This is an abrasive
powder made from the fossils of diatoms (tiny sea creatures). It works on a
variety of critters, including slugs, earwigs, millipedes, centipedes,
silverfish, cockroaches and ants. The particles work by cutting open the
exoskeleton of crawling insects. With their exoskeletons damaged, the bugs
dehydrate and die, usually within 48 hours. Since it works mechanically, pests
will not become resistant to it. You can use it safely both indoors and
outdoors. Simply sprinkle the powder where pests are likely to crawl, live, or
hide. It can be purchased at garden centres under a variety of labels, but you
will have to read the active ingredients lists to find it.
General insect spray:
Add four or five
pints of water and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to crushed tomato leaves in your
vegetable juicer. Strain it. Keep the unused spray refrigerated. Works well on
roses.
Organic all-purpose pesticide:
In a jar, combine
1-teaspoon dishwashing liquid and 1-cup vegetable oil. Shake vigorously. In an
empty spray bottle, combine 2 teaspoons of this mixture and 1 cup water. Use at
ten-day intervals (or more often if needed) to rid plants of whiteflies, mites,
aphids, scales, and other pests.
Note: I have not tried this concoction because it seems like the oil would either suffocate the foliage or cause sunburn. If you try it, let me know the results.
Garlic pesticide spray:
Soak 3 to 4 ounces
of chopped garlic bulbs in 2 tablespoons of mineral oil for one day. Dissolve 1
tsp of fish emulsion in a pint of water and add it to your solution. Stir.
Strain liquid and store in a glass container (do not use metal!) Dilute
1 part solution to every 20 parts of water. Kills aphids, mosquitoes, and onion
flies.
Fleas and Ticks
Wash pets with
castile soap and water, dry thoroughly, apply an herbal rinse made by adding
1/2-cup fresh or dried rosemary to a quart of boiling water (steep for 20 minutes,
strain and cool. Spray or sponge onto pets hair, massage into skin. Let air
dry, do NOT towel dry as this removes the residue of the rosemary.
Roaches
1. Mix equal parts boric acid with flour, sprinkle around
cracks and crevices or
2. Mix equal parts boric acid with sugar, sprinkle around
cracks and crevices or
3. Mix equal parts boric acid with corn meal, sprinkle
around cracks and crevices or
4. Diatomaceous earth (pure silica): sprinkle around
flours, cracks and crevices or
5. Cucumber peels: set out on counter tops overnight to
repel roaches or
6. Mix Borax with a little brown sugar and flour and
sprinkle behind appliances, under sink, and in corners. Cockroaches carry the
mixture back to their nests or
Heloise's Famous Roach Recipe:
1/4
cup shortening
1/8
cup sugar
8
oz. boric acid
1/2
cup flour
Ample
water to form a dough
Mix all, form small balls of dough and set out in open plastic sandwich bags (to retain moisture); when dried and hard, replace with new dough.
Moths
Use cedar chips or lavender flowers instead of mothballs.
Mice
They only visit for
something to eat! Don't oblige them. Seal food in glass, plastic or metal. Get
a cat.
SAFETY
PRECAUTIONS:
Borax (sodium
borate) and boric acid can be toxic. Keep well out of the reach of children and
pets. Clearly label all containers.
Ammonia should also
be used with caution. Always refer to safety information and precautions on the
package. Clearly label all containers.
Automatic Dishwasher Detergents
Here
are some common brands of automatic dishwasher detergent and the amount of
phosphorus they contain. Phosphate is the phosphorus- containing compound used
in automatic dishwasher detergents and other household products.
Phosphorus free* |
Bi-O-Kleen, Country Save, Ecover, Seventh
Generation, Wave |
1.6% |
Palmolive Gel |
3.7 - 4.5% |
Electrosol Gel |
4.0% |
Great Value Gel, Safeway Gel, Simply Clean
Gel, |
4.3% |
Sunlight Gel |
4.5% |
Cascade Gel, Electrosol Powder |
5.3% |
IGA Pwd, Sunlight Pwd |
5.5% |
Sun Sations Pwd, Western Family Classic Pwd, |
6.0% |
Home Best Pwd, Simply Clean Pwd, Western
Family Power Formula |
6.3% |
Great Value Pwd |
6.4 - 7.4% |
Cascade Pwd |
6.5% |
Cascade Complete Gel |
7.4% |
Safeway Pwd |
8.0% |
Safeway Tablets |
8.7% |
Cascade Power Tabs, Electrosol Gelpacs,
Electrosol Tabs, Palmolive Triple Action Tabs |
|
|
* Phosphorus free is defined as containing
0.5% phosphorus or less |
Thanks for dropping by Zuni’s page!
Last update by
Zuni: June 9, 2008