We did not inherit the earth from our ancestors - We borrow it from our children
When we heal the earth, we heal ourselves. - David Orr
Make Your Own Earth Friendly Alternatives
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Household Cleaners
1. All purpose glass cleaner 1cup warm water, white vinegar, you can also add 2-3 drops peppermint and/or lemon essential oil.
2. Tea Tree Spray Cleaner 2 tbsp white vinegar, 2 cups hot water, 10 drops tea tree oil. All purpose disinfectant spray cleaner. Lyrae's Essential Oils, More Information on Tea Tree.
3. Esssential Cleaning Oils
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* Lavender disinfectant, calming scent to ease tension and anxiety.
* Lavender disinfectant, calming scent to ease tension and anxiety. ·*Lemon, Orange and grapefruit oils are tough degreasers with refreshing scents.
*Lemon, Orange and grapefruit oils are tough degreasers with refreshing scents. ·* Eucalyptus is a disinfectant and relieves a stuffy nose.
* Eucalyptus is a disinfectant and relieves a stuffy nose. ·* Tea Tree Oil is anti-bacterial, anti viral, and anti fungal. Use as an all purpose disinfectant, esepcially when there is illness in the home, also eases congestion.
* Tea Tree Oil is anti-bacterial, anti viral, and anti fungal. Use as an all purpose disinfectant, esepcially when there is illness in the home, also eases congestion. ·* Pine oil is a degreaser and disinfectant.
* Pine oil is a degreaser and disinfectant. 4. Kitchen Scrub - Lime oil is a good degreaser and general cleanser, add a few drops to 2 tbsp of baking soda as an effective kitchen scrub.
5. Dish soap - natural soap flakes with vinegar for grease. Or melt down some soap flakes into a thick liquid soap, add tea tree oil as a disinfectant.
6. Soft Laundry Soap for Sensitive Skin: 12 cups grated castile soap, 12 cups boiling water, 1 cup baking soda, ¼ cup borax, 1 tsp each lemon and grapefruit essential oil, or try 1 tsp each citronella and lemon. Melt soap, if you use chunks instead of grated soap (this will work) just add the water in 4 portions, allowing it to sit and cool between each addition. Give it a stir every so often. This sounds like more work but it may be less than grating all that soap! Use 1 cup per load or mix 3 tbsp in 4 cups water for household cleaning.
·Version 2: Just melt the soap 1:1 with boiling water, and skip or add any of the other ingredients you choose. Note baking soda helps cleanse and remove odors, as does borax which boosts cleansing, essentials are for scent and disinfecting.
Version 2: Just melt the soap 1:1 with boiling water, and skip or add any of the other ingredients you choose. Note baking soda helps cleanse and remove odors, as does borax which boosts cleansing, essentials are for scent and disinfecting.7. Drain Cleaner - use ½ cup of following mix, pour in drain followed by ½ cup vinegar then flush with boiling water. MIX: 1 cup baking soda , 1 cup salt, and ¼ cup cream of tartar.
8. Oven cleaner - sprinkle oven with water, then cover with baking soda and leave overnight, scrub clean the next morning. For stubborn spots use baking soda and steel wool.
9. Mildew and Lime Remover - Dissolve ½ cup borax in warm water, add some vinegar. Make a fresh batch for each use. Also can just scrub with baking soda.
10. Mold Remover- wipe surfaces with vinegar to keep molds away.
11. Furniture polish - 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp white vinegar, 4 cup water in spray bottle, swipe with cloth.
12. Carnuba Furniture Wax 1/4cup carnuba, 2 tbsp beeswax, 1 ¼ cup olive oil, 1 tsp lavender EO. Melt waxes on low, add olive oil then lavender essential oil.
13. Lavender/Ginger Upholstery Cleaner & Rug Shampoo 4 cups water, 1 cup white vinegar, 2 tbsp baking soda, 1/8 tsp each of lavender and ginger EO. Mix all and fill spray bottle half full. Shake vigorously and spray. Scrub area with a brush, using small circular motions. Wipe off suds with damp sponge. Let dry.
14. Silver cleaner - place Silver in bottom of an Aluminum pan in sink bottom, or line a regular pan with aluminum foil. Add hot water to cover and a few tsp of salt and baking soda. Wait 5 minutes, turn over and wait 5-10 minutes, rinse well and dry.
15. Brass/Copper Cleaner- add enough salt to a mixture of equal parts vinegar and lemon juice to make a paste. Apply with a Soft cloth, rinse and dry. Rub with olive oil to maintain.
16. Scouring Baking Soda! Can be used to scour tile floors, concrete floors, linoleum, sinks, tubs, shower curtains, walls, food containers, chrome fixtures, use on dirty hands, outdoor furniture, BBQ grills and garden tools, bicycle chrome and golf clubs, and is the fastest way to remove crayons.
17. Carpet cleaner/deodorizer sprinkle a blend of baking soda and corn starch, let sit 20 minutes and vacuum. Works especially well on sour smells in carpet from spills. Optional: can add a few drops of your favorite cleansing essential oil to the mix before you sprinkle it on your carpet, add drops, stirring vigorously to disperse the oils. Because baking soda absorbs odours if you have leftovers you will likely need to apply new essential oils before you use it up the next time.
18. Deodorizer Use baking soda in closets, sports bags, shoes, sprinkle on laundry pile before wash or add ½ cup in the rinse cycle to neutralize odors, especially for stale grease and smoke odors, in cat litter box, and pet accident areas for cleaning and deodorizing
19. Air freshener - slow boil lemon, whole spices, herbs or essential oils in a potpourri or aromatherapy burner or in a small pot on lowest heat on the stove. You can also sprinkle ginger/nutmeg/cinnamon spices on a spot on carpet - vacuum that spot first then the rest of carpet, and excellent solution to those smelly vacuum cleaner bags as well.
20. Fridge deodorizer - Use baking soda or charcoal briquettes. Refresh the briquettes periodically by heating gently to release absorbed odors (Note: do not use the quick burn briquettes that ar treated).
21. Toilet freshener Just use a few drops of essential oils of lemon, lavender, or pine.
22. Camping cleaners Use all natural bar soap for cleaning, also baking soda, for dish washing, pot scrubbing, hand washing, teeth brushing, and baking soda can be used as a deodorant, fire extinguisher, and for first aid on insect bites, sunburns and poison ivy. You can also carry Lavender or Tea Tree Essential Oil, or a Herbal Healing Salve for these as well.
23. Fire extinguisher For campfires and minor kitchen fires use baking soda which produces Carbon dioxide when added to heat, the CO2 starves the fire or O2, extinguishing it. Do not use in deep fryer fires however as it can be dangerous, cover these ones with lids.
24. Floor Cleaner - just use some liquid natural soap, a few drops of essential oil, 1 tbsp baking soda and some hot water.
25. Wallpaper removal Use a 10:1 solution of hot water and white vinegar and spray it on while hot, sit a few moments and remove.
26. Household ant repellent - spray counters and surfaces with equal parts vinegar and water.
27. Household Ant and Cockroach killer - Combine equal parts borax and powdered sugar and sprinkle where they crawl.
28. Flies and wasps in house - Spray with water mister to make easier to catch.
29. Clothes stain removal - Work from the wrong side first, don't rub, brush lightly.
I) Blood - dab H2O2(hydrogen peroxide) on bleachable fabrics, or cornstarch or talc on spot, let dry and remove
II) Gum - rub with ice, flake off or loosen by soaking in white vinegar before washing.
III) Coffee - pour boiling water over spot from 1-3 feet above or use a few drops of vinegar.
IV) Fruits and berries - sponge in cold water before it sets. Use boiling water or vinegar or salt.
V) Grass/foliage - use diluted alcohol first, if persists use mild H2O2 solution.
VI) Grease - use BS or cornstarch paste on non washables, use boiling water on washables.
VII) Ink - dab with rubbing alcohol, soak and blot or try H2O2 solution.
Homemade Cosmetics/Body Care
1. Fizzing spa - ½ cup BS, ¼ cup ascorbic or citric acid, essential grapefruit or citrus oil. 5 drops of yellow food color if desired. Mix in blender. AKA bath bomb
2. Massage/body oil Use almond, grapeseed, or even olive oil as a massage base and add your own blend of essential oils. Or try Lyrae's custom Massage Oil blends.
3. Bath skin softener - Add ¼ cup each baking soda and sea salts to your bath water, also great for aching feet.
4. Bad hair day - Add 1 tbsp baking soda to your shampoo, helps remove buildup.
5. Foot bath - Use strong infusion of chamomile or peppermint to soothe sore feet, chamomile is especially good for those with calluses and corns. Add yarrow to soothe itching, and/or you can also add your own custom blend of essential oils.
6. Cellulite Treatment - Juniper oil can be rubbed onto skin, diluted 5 drops to 25ml of grapeseed oil, where cellulite occurs as it is said to speed up the elimination of toxins stored under the skin.
7. Insect repellent - rub fresh basil, feverfew or lemon balm on skin. Make a spray of water with citronella essential oil, or dilute into oil and rub on skin, or try Lyrae's Insect Repellent Balm.
8. Herbal baths Use lavender or chamomile for relaxation, also try any combination of basil, rosemary, lavender, lemon balm, mint, rose petals. Add baking soda and sea salt to soften skin. For an invigorating bath and one that is useful for colds and chest congestion try eucalyptus, peppermint or rosemary. A soak in a chaparral bath cleanses and detoxifies the body. For any rashes try adding calendula, and for itching skin add yarrow in bath.
·To use herbs in the bath: put 2 tbsp of your herb mix of choice in a 4" square piece of cotton, pull up the four corners, tie with a string and drop into bath. Or make a drawstring bath bag out of cotton and tie it over tap, allowing water to pour through it as it fills the bath. You can also make a strong infusion (add a strong mix of herbs to hot water and infuse like tea) and pour some into the bath. Essential oils should be used sparingly if they are citrus, spices, coniferous, etc or any others that may irritate the skin. Oils should be used just as you are getting in as they will disperse quickly.
To use herbs in the bath: put 2 tbsp of your herb mix of choice in a 4" square piece of cotton, pull up the four corners, tie with a string and drop into bath. Or make a drawstring bath bag out of cotton and tie it over tap, allowing water to pour through it as it fills the bath. You can also make a strong infusion (add a strong mix of herbs to hot water and infuse like tea) and pour some into the bath. Essential oils should be used sparingly if they are citrus, spices, coniferous, etc or any others that may irritate the skin. Oils should be used just as you are getting in as they will disperse quickly. ·For a rejuvenating 'bath' just sit in cold water or do a cold water rub over body (sit in empty tub and splash yourself) before bedtime the former method will have a relaxing affect by drawing the blood away from your head towards your lower abdominal organs, stimulating them. The latter method is best done in the morning to wake yourself up by promoting circulation and stimulating systems of elimination, especially if done regularly. (Note you should be warm before you do this, best to go directly from your warm bed.)
For a rejuvenating 'bath' just sit in cold water or do a cold water rub over body (sit in empty tub and splash yourself) before bedtime the former method will have a relaxing affect by drawing the blood away from your head towards your lower abdominal organs, stimulating them. The latter method is best done in the morning to wake yourself up by promoting circulation and stimulating systems of elimination, especially if done regularly. (Note you should be warm before you do this, best to go directly from your warm bed.)9. Herbal facials : Steam face once weekly by placing herbs in a bowl or large pot, add boiling water, cover head with a towel and steam. For oily skin add comfrey, lavender, yarrow, lemon grass, marigold, rosemary or witch hazel to boiling water. For dry skin add juniper, chamomile, peppermint or elder flowers. For combination skin experiment with some combination of the two. Use 2 tbsp herb to one bowl of water. Put towel over head and steam 10 minutes. For deep pore cleansing following facial steam scrub face with paste made of cornmeal and water. Follow with a moisturizer if skin is prone to dryness. Also try Lyrae's Herbal Facial Care Products.
10. Herbal masks - Leave all masks on for 15 minutes unless otherwise stated. I) Oily skin 1)pulp of tomato and/or cucumber, acts as a mild derm-abrasive. 2) Apply buttermilk to face, wash off and splash face with half and half diluted apple cider vinegar. 3)2 tbsp yogurt and 3 mashed strawberries. 4)Very strong infusion of yarrow 1tbsp tea:1 beaten egg. 5)warm honey, helps draw out impurities. 6) strong infusion of lemon grass or witch hazel with yogurt. Leave on 20 minutes. II)Dry Skin - 1)1 ripe banana mashed with ½ tsp. olive oil. 2) 1 tbsp brewer's yeast with ½ tsp. wheat germ oil. 3) Mashed ripe avocado 4) 2 tbsp cottage cheese with 1 tbsp each yogurt and honey. Rinse well 5) 1 beaten yolk with 1 tbsp each honey and chamomile tea. Eczema - Use mask of oatmeal mixed with water to form a paste and applied to the affected areas.
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For Information on Organic Gardening and making your own fertilizers, compost, weed and pest control and more, AND information on making herbal medicines and using herbs click on the banner link below to one of Lyrae's other sites, her Herb and Garden Pages:
