some basics
- For wiping out mold: steep white vinegar with thyme for 2 weeks then use in spray bottle (concoction above is still steeping; I’ve yet to try it)
- ironing spray: add 15-20 drops of orange oil to approx. 3 cups of water
- to repel pests: steep peppermint sprigs in hot water for 2 hours then use in spray bottle
- clean floors: add lavender oil to castile soap & 1/2 gallon of hot water. Dr.Bronner’s is the only Castile soap I’ve been able to find -at natural food stores or even Super Supplements- and a bonus is the oils are already added. I really like the peppermint pictured above.
- windows & mirrors: Mix water into white vinegar at a ratio of approximately 8:1 (I just pour about an inch of vinegar into the bottom of an empty 32 oz spray bottle and fill the rest up with water) Newspapers & cotton rags work best for a streak-free clean but be sure NOT to use fabric softener when cleaning your rags as the softener in the rag will streak glass.
- scrub tubs, toilets and sinks: dab a damp sponge or an old rag in baking soda and scrub away! I will also follow up with castile soap and hot water for some extra grease-cutting action.
- cleaning crusty burnt insides of pots & pans: start by putting 2 Tbsp of baking soda in pan, then take damp sponge and rub in small circular motions. Sometimes it may help to soak pan in hot water for a few hours beforehand. Some people swear the only way to get out stuck on gunk is to use some sort of steel wool but I am consistently surprised with how well baking soda wipes out all the crud and leaves a shiny pot or pan.
- Freshening mildewy smelling laundry: place washer on rinse cycle and add one glug (or approx. 1 cup) of white vinegar to the water and the clothing. Also, if you have an outdoor clothesline, hang your clothes outside for the freshest smell possible. Sometimes I’ll leave clothes out overnight because they seem to really take in the crisp smell of fresh air that just can’t be replicated in store-bought products.
- polish furniture: use 2 rags- with the first rag, wipe off any dry dust. With the second, pour a silver dollar size amount of pure olive oil onto the rag and rub into wood following the grain, finish up by using the dry section of the rag to wipe up any excess oil and rub dry.
- Hiding scratches in wood furniture: my mom’s trick has always been to rub a walnut (yes, an actual nut) into the scratch and then wipe off the excess with a rag. I can hardly believe this actually works but it does.
