Tuesday, 12 May 2009

• Cleaning Up My Act

  I made some all natural, insect repellant for Lucy last weekend. The mosquitos are awful this time of year (really, just about all year long) and it's been  hard to take Lucy out because I was loath to put chemicals all over her sensitive baby skin. I saw some herbal repellant at my local cloth diaper store last week and thought it was a great idea but I really wanted to make my own so after a quick trip to The Herb Bar to get some essential oils this is what I came up with. 

  • 40 drops Lavender oil
  • 20 drops Peppermint oil
  • 3 oz water
  • 1 oz vodka (the vodka is an odorless alcohol which helps to break up and diffuse the oils)
  • store in an opaque squirt bottle and reapply as scent starts to fade

  We used it over the weekend and not only did it work great but it smelled really nice too! The recipe I had called for lemongrass, eucalyptus, and citronella but the herbalist said those oils where too harsh for babies and that eucalyptus could actually be fatal to infants. Thank goodness I asked! I also picked up some basil oil for cleaning so hopefully I'll be putting it to use soon with equally good results. I've been using vinegar, and borax to clean with for a few years, but recently I've been branching out and making some more "complex" cleaners and I'm thrilled to report they work better than I could have ever expected. Vinegar is an excellent degreaser, prevents mold & mildew growth, neutralizes odors, and can be infused to make citrus or herbal varieties which bring added cleaning power. Here are a few of my favorite recipes:

  Citrus Vinegar:

  Use the peels only of oranges, lemons, limes, or grapefruits. Using a one quart jar, fill halfway with the citrus peels and cover with vinegar. Let stand for 2 weeks and remove peels.

  Orange is a disinfectant, antiseptic, insecticide, and pesticide                                                                             

  Lemon is a disinfectant, antiseptic, fungicide, insecticide and pesticide

  This is a great way to use every bit of the fruit, especially if you're not able to compost. I like to make fresh lemonade or OJ and save the peels for cleaner.

  Furniture Polish

  Mix 3/4 cup olive oil with 1/4 cup citrus vinegar. Shake well before each use.

  All Purpose Kitchen Cleaner

  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup hydrogen peroxide
  • 1 cup white vinegar
  • 10 drops tea tree oil or 20 drops lavender oil
  • store in opaque spray bottle

  Tea Tree Oil is an antibacterial, disinfectant, antiseptic, fungicide and insecticide                                                   

  Lavender is an antibacterial, disinfectant, antiseptic, and insect repellent

  I love using something safe, all natural, inexpensive, effective, and made with own two hands that I don't have to worry about my baby touching or being exposed to. I (of course) still put everything away behind baby proofed cabinets but I don't have to worry about her crawling across the floor after I mop or putting her mouth on edge of the table 2 seconds after I wipe it down. This stuff is great; we're helping the environment, helping our pocketbook, and the house is cleaner than it's ever been. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed. Happy Cleaning!

   

   

  • 12:11 AM
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