Cold Comfort Living: I Asked and Nancy Answered

The lovely Nancy at Away We Go (http://npoj.blogspot.com) posted this yesterday which answered so many of my questions. Funny small world! So here is that post. Check out her site. It is a witty look at motherhood and she is a green mommy! :-)

Clean Green Recipes

You will notice that many of the ingredients for the following products are the same. These products were what people used to clean and disinfect before the industrial revolution. Your own Grandmother may have used some of these methods in her own home. These products are easy to make and use. They are very inexpensive, and harmless to children and pets.

Anti-Bacterial Spray- Add 20 drops of lavender or tea tree oil per every 2 cups water in a spray bottle. Spray areas and allow it to sit for a few minutes before wiping up.

Sink Scrub- Make a paste out of Baking Soda, a squirt of liquid soap, and a couple of drops of lavender or tea tree oil. Scrub and rinse.

Un-clogging a Sink- Pour 1 cup of Baking Soda down the drain, and then follow it with 3 cups of boiling water.

Rust Away for Tin or Aluminum- Use ½ of a potato dipped into salt, and scrub.

Copper and Brass Polish- Ketchup. Allow it to sit on the metal for a few minutes, and then rub with a soft cloth.

Silver Polish-white tooth paste

Oven Cleaner- Make a paste out of equal parts Baking Soda and liquid soap, and a little hot water. Scrub

Oven Clean-up for Fresh Stains- For liquid spills use salt. For greasy spills use baking soda.

Window Cleaner-Combine 3 TBSP. Vinagar to 2 cups Water in a spray bottle. Spray and wipe clean with news paper.

Furniture Polish-Combine 3parts Olive oil to 1 part Vinegar in a jar. Shake well before using. Massage into furniture using a soft cloth.

Carpet Stain Spray-Combine 1 cup Vinegar, 1 cup Water, and ½ cup Baking Soda in a spray bottle. Spray /Dry/Vacuum

Fresh Carpet Stains- Cover the stain with a heavy coating of salt. Allow it to absorb the stain and dry. Vacuum up.

Carpet Freshener- Sprinkle the carpet liberally with Baking Soda, then add a couple of drops of essential oil of choice. Allow it to sit for an hour or so, and then vacuum.

Mold and Mildew Cleaner-Add 2 tsp. Tea tree oil to 2 cups water. Can be used in a spray bottle or in a bucket.

Whitening Method for Laundry-Soak white overnight in a bath made of 1:10 parts white vinegar: water, rinse in clear water and then wash in machine.

Laundry Soap-Combine 2 cups of grated soap (Octagon) to 1 qt. of boiling water and stir until the soap is dissolve completely. Pour into a large bucket and then add 2 cups of Baking Soda and 2 cups of Borax. Stir well then add 2 gal. Of clean water. Stir, and then add to containers. Shake before using. Add ¼ c. to each small load of laundry. ½ c. per larger loads.

Fabric Softener- Add 1/4 c. White Vinegar and 3 drops of Lavendar oil to the final rinse.