TEN TIPS: SIMPLE HOUSEKEEPING TIPS Using Inexpensive Stuff around the House - by Lori Wimbish
Hello Journeyers! In our daily lives of maintaining our homes and yard, as well as our own and our pets’ hygiene; it can sometimes get overwhelming with all of the products on the market today. To help simplify things a little, here’s a few ideas to use. Here’s a list of a few, usually not expensive, and of lesser toxic degree, items to help us out.
1. CLEAN HARD-WATER-ENCRUSTED SHOWER-HEAD by filling a plastic trash bag with White Vinegar – full enough to cover the shower-head so it can soak in it. Tie the bag around the neck of the shower-head. Soak overnight. The next day wipe the rest of hard-water residue off with a sponge or cloth that didn’t already come off into the vinegar.
2. KILL DUST MITES & ALLERGENS on Stuffed Animals or Bedding that can’t be washed in hot water, by putting in the dryer for 15 minutes at a temperature above 130 F Degrees F (54.4C) to kill the mites. Then wash and dry bedding to REMOVE ALLERGENS after the heat kills the mites. Freezing non-washable items for 24 hours can also kill dust mites., but this won’t remove the allergens. Keeping humidity low will help with this. Clean your House regularly with a HEPA filter vacuum. Use a few drops Tea Tree and/or Eucalyptus Oil when washing the bedding.
3. HOMEMADE ALCOHOL ICE PACK for swelling, inflammation, etc..
All you need: TWO (2) Ziplock FREEZER Bags, 1 Cup Rubbing Alcohol, 2 Cups of Water. How to make: 1) Fill one plastic freezer bag with 1 cup of Rubbing Alcohol the 2 Cups of Water. 2) Get as much Air Out of the bag before sealing it shut. 3) Place the filled bag inside the second freezer bag to prevent leakage. 4) Leave the bag in the freezer for at least 1 hour. 5) Apply to affected area with a thin towel between the affected area and the ice pack as it is very cold. 5) Hold on area for approximately 20 mins at a time, 6) Return Ice Pack to Freezer. 7) Can be used over and over.
4. WINDOW CLEANER: Quick INSIDE Windows -no water rinse Recipe: In bucket put: 2 Cups of Warm Water, ½ teaspoon of Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap, and 1 TBS. of Lemon Juice (keeps streaking down). When it is dry, wipe off with a blackboard eraser! Check out www.queenofclean.com for more window cleaning recipes.
5. FLOOR CLEANER THAT KEEPS ANTS AND SPIDERS AT BAY: Put into a 32oz. Spray bottle, 24oz. of white vinegar, 8 oz. of Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Castile Soap. Shake well before using. Spray on doorway thresholds or wherever ants are seen. Works great! Another recipe for floor cleaner that repels ants and spiders and more of is: Mix 1 Gallon of water with one quart of white Vinegar and 20 drops of Lemongrass Essential Oil. Do not Rinse. Apply bi-weekly or according to observed insect activity.
6. NATURAL TEETH WHITENER AND MOUTH HEALTH: Several studies have shown that Baking Soda has a significant effect on whitening teeth and removing plaque. It has a side benefit of alkalizing the body. To use this remedy; Mix 1 teaspoon of Baking Soda with 2 teaspoons of water and brush your teeth with the paste. Applying a 2-3 times a week is good. Hydrogen Peroxide – 3% dilution – can be added to the paste. 1 tsp. which also bleaches and is antiseptic.
7. REPELLENT FOR ELK, DEER, RABBITS FROM EATING BARK OF TREES, YOUNG FLOWERS, CLOVERS, FRUITS, AND VEGETABLES: Place Irish Spring Brand Soap cakes at the base of the trees or in your Garden. Animals find the scent unpleasant.
8. NATURAL INSECT REPELLENT FOR DOGS: Simply using the juice of Citrus Fruits i.e. Lemons and Grapefruits. and rubbing it into the dog’s fur can help REPEL MOSQUITOS. Be careful not to get in the eyes and mouth of the dog. This lasts from 2-3- hours. Or, you may put the juice in a spray bottle mixed with a small amount of water. A drop or two of any of the following listed oils mentioned can be applied on pads of feet, inside of ear or where tail connects to body and/or between shoulder blades and are excellent at repelling and/or killing fleas and ticks: Peppermint Oil (will kill flea larvae), Lemongrass oil, Citronella oil, Orange/ Citrus Oils, Cedarwood oil , Lavender, Geranium, and Clove oils .Be sure to get Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils. See https://care4dogs. These may used on humans and Cats, Also. WARNING: DO NOT USE TEA TREE, ECUALYPTUS, or MELALUCA OILS ON CATS. See also www.AbundantHealth4u.com for more info.
9. RID YOUR YARD OF SNAKES, FLEAS, CHIGGERS AND FERTILIZE YARD AT SAME TIME: Fill your Fertilizer Spreader with SULFUR pellets and simply spread over the yard with it. Or apply in garden beds on the perimeters of the yard. The Sulfur is great for the lawn’s growth and makes the eyes of snakes’ sting, keeps the fleas and chiggers at bay. See: GreenTipGuy on You Tube.
10. HOMEMADE SKUNK SMELL REMOVER FROM PETS OR SURFACES: This recipe was developed by a Chemist who worked on compounds that take away that Sulfur smell. RECIPE: 1 Quart of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide, ¼ Cups. Baking Soda, 2Tbs. Liquid Dish soap like Dawn Brand. Additional to this recipe, Mouthwash like Scope Brand helps with the odor. (Tomato juice is now found to only mask the smell, not actually get it out and is not as highly recommended). Mix in Plastic bucket (NOT in a sprayer in which the ingredients could build up pressure when mixed or shaken). Next Use Rubber or vinyl gloves to rub and massage into fur or skin. Then let this rubbed-in solution set for 5 min. or as long as the skunked- animal tolerates. Rinse and Dry thoroughly. For a while whenever the animal gets wet from rain or water on their face after drinking it, the smell still comes out from deep down in the fur/hair. Several washings and dryings may be needed. Take to a dog groomer and have hair cut or thinned and more washing. The groomer usually has skunk smell remover remedies. A good one is called Nature’s Miracle. ( Even seen at stores like Walmart). See www.petCareRX.com for more info.
Here’s to incorporating more Ease and Simplicity at Less Expense on your daily ….Enjoy the Journey
Lori Wimbish