May 22, 2007
· Filed under dusting spray
Instead of using expensive, propellant driven dusting sprays in throw away cans, try making your own! This recipe is from “Clean House Clean Planet” by Karen Logan (aren’t they all!) I use this all the time instead of Pledge or endust. My furniture drinks it up and it really cleans as well as dusts. You can also use it on wooden floors.
In a 16 oz. bottle (adjust measurments if your bottle is a different size) combine, 2 tsp light olive oil, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 20-30 drops essential lemon oil (make sure it is pure essential oil) and fill the rest of the bottle with purified water. Shake before use. You can spray right on furniture or on a dust cloth. If your furniture has a very formal or shiny finish I would test it out on the inside of a table leg just to be sure.
For that really thirsty furniture that just begs to be oiled or waxed try mixing 3/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup vinegar and 50 drops pure lemon essential oil in a squeeze bottle (try using an old shampoo, conditioner or ketchup bottle) If you don’t have lemon oil you can use vanilla extract to sent the oil. I generously rub this on my wood surfaces and let it sink in and then go back and “buff” any residue. Again, test the finish of your wood to be sure it won’t cloud it. This is great for pine or bare wood.
Let me know how you get on with this dusting stuff. Do you have any other great tips? Let me know!
May 20, 2007
· Filed under Scent your home.
Tired of stinky smells in your house. Scared to death of the chemicals lurking in the “air freshener” aisle of the supermarket? Try a few of these tips and see if they banish the odors from your abode.
First, just to keep the air pure in your home try to incorporate some air cleaning plants into your house. Try English Ivy (beware of spider mites, keep moist soil and give it plenty of light), A Peace lily or the ever funky and macrame loving spider plant. All are very easy to keep alive, or cheap to replace if need be! And they all help to keep the air in your home a little more breather friendly.
Next for smells that are lingering try a room spray made from a cup of (very) cheap vodka and a cup of purified water along with a few drops of the essential oil or oils of your choice. Try lavender, bergamot, clove, peppermint, rose geranium or lemon. You can spray in the air or I even spray on fabric (check first!) also for those of you who have a germ phobia this will disinfect doorknobs etc. after that sniffling house-guest leaves!
You can also set bowls of water and the essential oil of your choice on radiatiors in the winter. Not only will this scent the air it will also add needed humidity to your home.
Just like they did in the hospitals in France during WWII you can burn Rosemary, Sage or Juniper in a glass bowl to help disinfect the air. Both Rosemary and Juniper have disinfectant qualities and help to make the air smell great. Great for that room where you have been lingering with a cold or flu! Just don’t burn your house down!
Try to use soy candles and avoid wicks with lead in them. I have found Method candles to be easy to find but I know there are more out there! Let me know which candles you guys like. Look for real essential oils to provide the scent for candles. Some may say candles add to indoor pollution but I think they give so much pleasure that that outweighs the trace amounts of “burnt stuff” you may inhale. Heck, enjoy your candles and get a few more plants!
May 7, 2007
· Filed under bath salt, essential oil, powdered milk
I am finally here. Yes, I know. If you have been checking this blog as a fan of the just clean green portion of The Snailwell Gazette Podcast you may be shocked to actually find a post! Check out the Snailwell gazette blog for my feeble excuses for my absence. But, better late than never I always say!
This blog will usually have household tips however this tip is just for your personal house (your body!) Find a nice sized jar and fill it about 1/3 full with Epsom salts (available at all stores usually in the medicine section) then put 5-10 drops essential oil of your choice or if you are combining oils put the first one in this layer. Then add a little more salt and about 1/2 as much powdered milk (again, basic powdered milk from the grocery store) and add some more oil 5-10 drops. Repeat until the jar is almost full. You need to leave some space to mix the mash up! Then shake and roll the jar for a few minutes. You should be able to tell when it is well mixed as the milk and salt are different colors.
When you are ready to relax, pour bath salts under running water (about 1 cup) and let it dissolve. Enjoy!
-The powdered milk makes your skin soft and the protein in the milk helps to break down the oil.
-The salt is great for achey muscles and well being.
-Depending on the oils you use the bath can be relaxing or uplifting. Warmer water is more relaxing and cooler water more uplifting.
-My current favorite combos are lavendar and lemon oil together and ylang ylang and patchuli.
February 24, 2007
· Filed under Uncategorized
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