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Herbal Housekeeping Houseflies don't like basil, clover flowers and sweet bays. A bouquet of green and purple basil, sweet bay and red clover not only looks and smells good in the kitchen, but keeps away the flies as well. Mint repels mice - Long stems of it placed along the eaves in the attic will encourage mice to leave. Anise will attract mice, so a little anise oil or a few anise seeds mixed with peanut butter is far more effective than cheese as bait for a mousetrap. Valerian is also good bait for mice, as well as for rats. Bay leaves will keep weevils out of stored flour, cornmeal, and other grains. Just place a whole bay leaf in the container and don't worry - it will not flavor the food at all. The fungus that infects dried beans and grains can be prevented by placing a small, cheesecloth "sachet" filled with broken cinnamon stick, black peppercorns, coarsely ground black mustard seed, and green garlic into each gallon can or jar.
Essential oils can be used to create many effective non-toxic (and wonderfully
fragrant) cleansers and disinfectants.
To freshen room air, dampen cotton balls with oil of wintergreen and place out of sight but where air will touch them.
Combine 3/4 cup baking soda, 2 tbsp. corn starch, and 1/4 cup perfumed talcum powder. Sprinkle on dry carpet, let stand 5 to 15 minutes, then vacuum. For hard to reach spots, slip a sock over the end of a yardstick and secure with a rubber band, then sweep the area. This method works well for cleaning under radiators and refrigerators also. 1 cup water 20 drops pure essential oil of lavender Pour the water into a spray bottle. Add the lavender essential oil and shake to blend. Spray on the surface and let set for at least 15 minutes. Makes: 1 cup spray Shelf Life: Indefinite Fill a spray bottle with water and a squirt of dishwashing soap. Add 3-5 drops each of lavender, lemon, and pine essential oils. Shake well. Combine 1 tsp of tea tree oil and 1 cup of water in a spritzer bottle. Spray the area, but don't wipe it off. In a couple of days the smell should be gone and the tea tree oil will have dissipated. If not . . . repeat for a couple of more days. Mold and mildew thrive in moist, warm areas. To keep these areas under control place out bowls of unscented kitty litter to absorb the moisture. Replace these once a week. Place some cornstarch in a sprinkle container and sprinkle the cornstarch onto the pages lightly. Let it sit for a few hours and then wipe and shake clean. To get rid of strong odors on cutting boards, wipe them with vinegar or baking soda or lemon slices or celery. For countertops, mix a few drops of essential oil of lemon thyme to one cup water. Spray on the surface and then wipe. To kill mold use full-strength vinegar. To keep mold under control spray with diluted vinegar on a regular basis. To keep drains running clear - Once a week pour 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of white vinegar down the drain, then follow with hot water. Sprinkle several drops of lemon oil onto half a tissue or cotton ball and let the vacuum cleaner suck it up. If your vacuum cleaner has a water reservoir, add a few drops of oil into it before cleaning. Eucalyptus oil kills dust mites. 25 drops of eucalyptus essential oil added to each load of laundry or 1/2 ounce to a jug of laundry detergent is all you need. Place the following in a spritzer bottle and shake well. 1/3 tsp liquid Castile or other liquid vegetable based soap 3 tbsp cider vinegar or white vinegar 2 cups water. Mix in a 1 quart spray bottle: 1 cup White Vinegar 10-15 drops of Lemon Essential Oil Water Mix vinegar and water in spray bottle, Add essential oil, Shake and use. The following recipes clean, deodorize, and disinfect, and are great for cleaning cupboards, bathroom fixtures, sinks, tiles, woodwork, carpets, etc... Mix into 1 quart water: 2 drops rosemary 4 drops lemon 3 drops eucalyptus 4 drops lavender Shake well and put into a spray bottle. Shake again before using. Mix into 1 quart water: 3 - 4 drops lavender 5 - 6 drops Purification Shake well and put into a spray bottle. Shake again before using. Water 2 Tablespoons Borax 1 Teaspoon Castile Soap 15-20 drops Essential Oils such as Pine, Lemon, Melaleuca, Citronella, or Lemongrass (or any combination of the above) Add Borax to a 1 quart spray bottle. Fill with warm water. Add Castile soap and Essential Oils. Shake and use. Add 1/4 cup white vinegar to a bucket of water. Add 5-10 drops lemon, pine, spruce, melaleuca or Purification. Use one or two drops of Lemon oil on stain. Let it sit a few minutes then rub off with a clean cloth or throw into the washing machine. Instead of using toxic and irritating softening sheets in the dryer, add 10 drops of lavender, lemon, melaleuca, bergamot, to a dampened washcloth. The oils will not reduce static cling but they will add a lovely fragrance to the clothes. |
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