Furniture polish

 I have been using this  soft wax formula for a few years now on all my wood furniture and I think it is really amazing.  It shines and protects like nothing else I've used and it is so very simple.  I found the original recipe here  and tweaked it a tiny bit.

In a glass bowl that has a lid combine 3 parts  oil,  (I use an inexpensive olive oil, but any oil will do)   and 1 part grated beeswax.
Warm in 30 second intervals in the microwave just until the wax is melted.

Let it cool for a few minutes and add about 5 drops of lemon essential oil.

Stir a few times while it is cooling and store it in a glass jar at room temperature. I just toss in the cloth so I can reuse it.

See how dull my table is in this before picture.  Just put a bit of the mix on a soft rag, apply to furniture and polish. Don't be afraid to really work it in. This protects the  wood   and has a nice lemony smell.

I deliberately did half of the table top so you could see the difference.

Here is the table top, completely done, with its beautiful soft sheen.  
You only need to use this wax about once a month to keep the wood hydrated and it withstands lots of wiping with a damp cloth.  I do mine a little more often just because I like how it looks and it's so easy.
The bonus to using this wax instead of a store bought version....I never have to worry about the kids putting stuff on the table and in their mouths.  Or just licking the table (we are talking about kids after all).  And it is completely safe if they happen to get into it.

I  never have to buy furniture polish again.

All Purpose liquid cleaner.

Whenever I cleaned my house I used to cough, and my eyes would water and my skin would itch.  For hours after I was done I would feel like I had a cold, and I would have to use my inhalers to catch my breath.  I needed a DIY natural all purpose cleaner that I could use for everything.  Until this I had been trying to purchase as natural as possible but wasn't really happy with the results. The chemicals agents listed in the cleaning products you buy at the store are for the most part unpronouncable. And trying to look up what they are is next to impossible. I don't think they really want us to understand what we're using because if we did, we wouldn't. Besides, every time we use these cleaners, toxins are realeased into the air we are breathing in our homes. These toxins can contribute to a number of different things including -Breathing disorders -Skin irritations -Insomnia -Fatigue and Headaches to name a few. And the Natural cleaning products available are way too pricy and not all that "natural"
 I wanted a cleaner that would disinfect as well as clean. I wanted something that would work on greasy messes. I wanted something that could be diluted for a spray cleaner that would work great and smell nice, and I wanted something I could add full strength to a bucket of hot water and clean my floors with. I was looking for something that really worked with the least amount of elbow grease. Guess what? I think I have it ... something that works for everything. well almost everything, I don't use it on my laundry.

I knew that I could clean with just the vinegar, but I wanted to add an extra kick to it. I used a jug of vinegar that was almost empty  and started stuffing it full with all my other ingredients. Once it was almost full I topped it up with more vinegar. 

I  gave it a good shake and  put it under my kitchen sink. Then I forgot about it for a month.... well actually closer to two, because I really did forget about it. I wanted the vinegar to infuse with as much of the properties from the added ingredients as it possibly could.  When I use this I just strain what I need through a coffee filter and put the rest back under the sink.

To use as a floor cleaner just add about half a cup to a gallon of hot water and mop as usual. So far this has worked great on my vinyl floors and the tile in the entry. 

To use this as an all purpose spray cleaner  pour into a spray bottle til its about 1/3 full and fill the rest of the way with water. Spray directly onto surfaces and wipe with a cloth. It works on all the surfaces in my kitchen and bathroom removing grimy messes and makes everything smell great. The vinegar smell evaporates quickly leaving behind the natural, pleasant scent of the other ingredients.

 I even clean my stove and exhaust fan with it, full strength on a cloth , and if there is a true test for a grease cutter it's your exhaust and the back of your stove. I love this stuff. I've been using it since last fall now, and my only regret is that I didn't make more because I'm going to run out before my thyme and sage are ready in the garden again. Oh well , this summer I'll make extra just to be safe.

Here's what I used and why I used it:

White vinegar.

 


















according to this article at http://www.davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/queen-of-green/faqs/cleaning/does-vinegar-kill-germs/?gclid=Cj0KEQiAgMKmBRDMjo_F9OfUubABEiQAp8Ky11Qr2H3qVi3JIGjM24FYRg1PbmDT-WHmGDu_Tdol3oAaAsoa8P8HAQ

Acetic acid or white vinegar is a great disinfectant. It also acts as a deodorizer and cuts grease.

And you can tackle household bacteria like salmonella, E. coli and other "gram-negative" bacteria with vinegar. Gram-negative bacteria can cause infections including pneumonia, bloodstream infections, wound or surgical site infections, and meningitis.
According to Canada's National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health, the acid in vinegar crosses the cell membrane of bacteria and prompts a release of protons, which causes the cell to die. 

Orange peels.

A study published in the 2013 issue of "International Journal of Biotechnology" found that orange oil inhibited the growth of various pathogens, including the bacteria Escherichia coli and the fungus Candida albicans.

Lemon peels.

 













Lemon peels in vinegar will cut grease and smell really great. Who doesn't love a lemon fresh just cleaned smell. And in several articles I read, lemon essential oil had minor microbial and anti fungal properties. Lemon is also a great whitener and works great removing stains from white counter tops. Try using a fresh cut lemon half on a stain.

Tip: Save lemon and orange peels in a bag in the freezer to use later.

 

Thyme

  Thymol is an oil extracted from Thyme leaves. The label on a cleaning product I saw recently in the store stated that it kills 99.9% of household germs, including cold and flu viruses. I couldn't find anything to corroborate this fact, but I did find that it  inhibits bacterial growth, is a  good antiseptic, helps keep away insects, and is antifungal.

 

Sage

Sage has excellent antibacterial properties, and is an excellent natural disinfectant and deodorizer.

The thyme and sage came out of my garden. Whenever I have a choice I like to use what I can grow myself. This is part of the reason I choose these specific ingredients.

If you wanted to make your own you could use my recipe or you could make your own. I was thinking of adding a few drops of essential oils to my spray during cold and flu season for some extra kick. Maybe some euculyptus or tree tree oil. Try doing a little research of your own and see if the plants you have in your garden can be used to keep your home clean and healthy.  

On a more personal note, I have asthma and fibromyalgia, and since getting rid of the extra chemicals in my home, I have used less medication and had a great improvement in my overall health.  So think about what you are adding to your home when you clean. Are your cleaning supplies harming your air quality? and if so, your family's health?　

My Favorite Powdered Laundry Detergent for ten cents a load

A Few years ago I decided I wanted to make my home chemical free, or as close to it as I possibly could.  I set out to do that by making as many homemade cleaning agents as I could without sacrificing quality.   I didn't want to tell people I make my own laundry detergent while wearing dingy whites or stained T-shirts. 

Like I said it's been a couple of years and I have tried a few different recipes for Laundry Detergent and Stain remover,  All purpose cleaners, Window cleaner,  Furniture Polish and a few others.  Some of them worked OK, and some of them were really great. Much more than what I expected.  

Because laundry is such a huge chore in every household, and because I recently came across this article headlined Discover The Hidden Toxins In Your Laundry Detergent That May Be Wreaking Havoc On Your Health  I'm going to start with my very favorite Laundry Detergents.   I wasn't a big fan of any of the liquid laundry detergent recipes I tried mainly because of the room they took up and the fact that you had to shake and stir it every time you went to use it . I couldn't find a way to keep it from separating. However; I did like the way it cleaned. My clothes came out nice and clean and   all odours were removed.  It was doing the job.  When I made up my liquid laundry detergent the first time I also made a batch of the powdered detergent because the ingredients were almost the same.  I have to say I did love the powdered detergent.  It did the same cleaning job and was just so much easier to use. 

All the recipes I found called for washing soda and for a bar of Fels Naptha soap.  I've never found either one in any of the stores here in central Ontario.  If you know where I can find either of these in this area please leave a message in the comments and let me know. I'd really like to try them. 

I needed to find substitutes to solve this  dilemma. After a short google search I found out I could actually turn regular baking soda into washing soda by baking it in the oven.  Just spread it out on a bar pan and pop it in.  You can read how, and what happens to change it here. How to turn baking soda to washing soda.


I couldn't get Fels Naptha here in Ontario either, so I decided I would use Ivory bar soap.  My reasoning for this was it's gentleness.  I have very sensitive skin and a lot of soaps will make me itch. I knew the Ivory didn't do that.  You could probably try another brand but this worked well for me so I'm sticking with it. I have used this detergent on clothing for baby's and toddlers as well and its fine.



















Another good reason to use the Ivory is that I don't have to grate it all.  I can just pop it in the microwave and let it do its stuff. If you've never done this it's a neat trick.  Show the kids, and they'll love it.  Once your puffed up soap cools just rub the chunks between your palms until you have a nice pile of soap powder, much smoother than a grated soap. 

 




















Now on to making your detergent...... 
First gather all your ingredients plus a measuring cup.

 

Then add all your ingredients to a very large bowl and mix together really well.  Tip: I used a kerchief tied  over my mouth and nose when I did the mixing. I really don't think this stuff should be breathed in, It may be mostly natural but it its still detergent.

Once you have it well mixed put it into your container.  You could use a pretty jar, or an old laundry detergent box. I used a plastic container from  previously used pods.

Besides doing a great job of cleaning our clothes, this detergent will save you a ton of money.
If you do the math you will see how much money you can save by making your own. All told I spent  about $15 and I have enough supplies to make between three and four batches of this powdered detergent.  That's about 150 loads for $15 or only 10cents a load. 
The borax is a natural cleaner and freshner , Baking soda deodorizes the extra tough odours, Washing soda is a wonderful cleaner,  The bar of soap does what soap does... it cleans , and the Epsom salts that I add do a wonderful job of softening the water so it is easier for the other ingredients to do their intended jobs.  It also makes your clothes a little softer in the end.

Here's my Recipe:

 

1 large bar ivory soap - or two small ones. Grate or do the microwave magic.

3 cups Borax

2 cups washing soda

1 cup baking soda

1 cup of epsom salt crystals - use a fine grind or put it in a coffee grinder to make the crystals finer.

-mix all ingredients together

-use 1/4 cup per load

 

You really only need to use the 1/4 cup  because that is enough even for an extra large load. Using more will only lead to a build up on your clothes and in your washer.

 

 

 

I'd love to hear from you.

Please leave a comment and tell me

what you think of todays post.

Nesting? Not just for pregnant women.

I know that ladies purge, clean and nest when they are waiting to have a baby but we tend to do it at different times as well.  I am scheduled for a complete knee replacement in a couple of weeks and I have a real need to clean and purge before I go to hospital so that anyone who comes in after I get home doesn't have to see my mess.

Yesterday I started by working on my kitchen counters and coffee station.


This is what my cluttered counters looked like before.  Ewwww. Please don't judge me. Its a really tiny kitchen and I'm not the best at finding permanent homes for things so they tend to pile up.

First I moved everything from the counters to the island top . I didn't think to take a picture of this but just imagine a pile about two feet high balanced and ready to fall over.

Then I just sprayed and scrubbed everything with my homemade all purpose cleaner.  This stuff busts grease like nobody's business.  I works on everything from the walls to the stainless sink.

Then I started putting things back.   I purged as I went so some things got tossed and others found a new home, but it all got wiped down so it's nice and shiny.  I love how it looks now.

I had to do the coffee station too while I was on a roll. Here is the before.

I moved everything once again to the island and gave the shelves and buffet and good wipe.
then put it all back nice and clean.

I made the tiles freehand because I couldn't find a stencil I liked for here.

And the apothecary jars are just pickle jars and candlesticks. I love how they look and keep the tea bags, sugar and sweetener close at hand.  As you can see I have a thing for old rolling pins. A couple of those were from my grandmother and mom.

The coffee pods are in the drawer right below the coffee maker.  I use these ones and I keep them filled and ready. I like that they come in two colours for dark roast and decaf.  You can find them at Canadian tire at this link.  http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/cafe-cup-0430480p.html#.VKrxWSx0zVI   The cost savings are great and I don't have a ton of pods to throw away,  I just buy some special coffee once in a while.  And besides I need to keep my grounds for the garden.

I feel great now that it's all done.  I just have to keep it this way. Now when my friend comes to stay with me after I get home from hospital she'll have an easy time making a coffee.  Everything is handy and in a great spot.. Loving it

I guess my next job is the Fridge and bottom cupboards.  Don't know if I'm gonna get to that right away though.