All-Purpose Cleaner/Disinfectant
Tea tree oil and thyme essential oils are antiseptic, antifungal, antiviral and are great for use in the home.
(I just got 4 oz. of tea tree oil off ebay for $8) I actually read that it is 5 times stronger than typical household disinfectants.
I also found when researching this oil on the internet that this would be a very valuable thing to have in your first aid kits. Seriously, read up on this stuff, it sounds quite amazing.
Ingredients
* 2 tablespoons borax
* 1/4 cup lemon juice
* 2 cups hot water
* 20 drops tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) or thyme essential oils (Thymus vulgaris)
Directions
Combine the borax and lemon juice with the water in a spray bottle.
Cap and shake well to dissolve the mineral.
Add the tea tree (or thyme) oil and shake again to disperse the oil.
Use as you would any commercial all-purpose cleaner.
Also, what about making homemade wipes by using a baby wipe container and those select a size paper towels?
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Inexpensive Homemade Cleaning Products
I am trying to lower my grocery bill.....and I think that making my own cleaning supplies might help. Here are some recipes that I have found. Most are the old standby's , baking soda and vinegar. But hey, they've worked for a million years and they still work! ANDY BY THE WAY IF ANY OF YOU HAVE SOME GOOD CLEANING RECIPES...PLEASE SHARE THEM WITH US!!!
SUPPLIES
Baking soda
Washing soda
White distilled vinegar
A good liquid soap or detergent
Tea tree oil
olive oil or jojoba oil
clean spray bottles ( I am just using my old windex bottles that I've rinsed out.
Note: I get all my essential oils off ebay for pretty darn cheap. Just make sure they are 100% pure essential oils. They go a LONG way and can be used for tons of different things. For instance I use the jojoba oil for an inexpensive conditioner for our hair! (You can also add the tea tree oil to your shampoo ...it's good for your scalp.)
CREAMY SOFT SCRUBBER
Simply pour about 1/2 cup of baking soda into a bowl, and add enough liquid detergent to make a texture like frosting. Scoop the mixture onto a sponge, and wash the surface. This is the perfect recipe for cleaning the bathtub because it rinses easily and doesn’t leave grit.
WINDOW CLEANER
1/4-1/2 teaspoon liquid detergent
3 tablespoons vinegar
2 cups water
Spray bottle
Put all the ingredients into a spray bottle, shake it up a bit, and use as you would a commercial brand. The soap in this recipe is important. It cuts the wax residue from the commercial brands you might have used in the past.
OVEN CLEANER
1 cup or more baking soda
Water
A squirt or two of liquid detergent
Sprinkle water generously over the bottom of the oven, then cover the grime with enough baking soda that the surface is totally white. Sprinkle some more water over the top. Let the mixture set overnight. You can easily wipe up the grease the next morning because the grime will have loosened. When you have cleaned up the worst of the mess, dab a bit of liquid detergent or soap on a sponge, and wash the remaining residue from the oven. If this recipe doesn’t work for you it is probably because you didn’t use enough baking soda and/or water.
ALL-PURPOSE SPRAY CLEANER
1/2 teaspoon washing soda
A dab of liquid soap
2 cups hot tap water
Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake until the washing soda has dissolved. Apply and wipe off with a sponge or rag.
FURNITURE POLISH
1/2 teaspoon oil, such as olive (or jojoba, a liquid wax)
1/4 cup vinegar or fresh lemon juice
Mix the ingredients in a glass jar. Dab a soft rag into the solution and wipe onto wood surfaces. Cover the glass jar and store indefinitely.
Mold Killer
Tea Tree Treasure
Nothing natural works for mold and mildew as well as this spray. Tea tree oil is expensive, but a little goes a very long way. Although the smell of tea tree oil is very strong, it will dissipate in a few days.
2 teaspoons tea tree oil
2 cups water
Combine in a spray bottle, shake to blend, and spray on problem areas. Do not rinse. Makes two cups.
Vinegar Spray
Straight vinegar reportedly kills 82 percent of mold. Pour some white distilled vinegar straight into a spray bottle, spray on the moldy area, and let set without rinsing if you can put up with the smell. It will dissipate in a few hours.
SUPPLIES
Baking soda
Washing soda
White distilled vinegar
A good liquid soap or detergent
Tea tree oil
olive oil or jojoba oil
clean spray bottles ( I am just using my old windex bottles that I've rinsed out.
Note: I get all my essential oils off ebay for pretty darn cheap. Just make sure they are 100% pure essential oils. They go a LONG way and can be used for tons of different things. For instance I use the jojoba oil for an inexpensive conditioner for our hair! (You can also add the tea tree oil to your shampoo ...it's good for your scalp.)
CREAMY SOFT SCRUBBER
Simply pour about 1/2 cup of baking soda into a bowl, and add enough liquid detergent to make a texture like frosting. Scoop the mixture onto a sponge, and wash the surface. This is the perfect recipe for cleaning the bathtub because it rinses easily and doesn’t leave grit.
WINDOW CLEANER
1/4-1/2 teaspoon liquid detergent
3 tablespoons vinegar
2 cups water
Spray bottle
Put all the ingredients into a spray bottle, shake it up a bit, and use as you would a commercial brand. The soap in this recipe is important. It cuts the wax residue from the commercial brands you might have used in the past.
OVEN CLEANER
1 cup or more baking soda
Water
A squirt or two of liquid detergent
Sprinkle water generously over the bottom of the oven, then cover the grime with enough baking soda that the surface is totally white. Sprinkle some more water over the top. Let the mixture set overnight. You can easily wipe up the grease the next morning because the grime will have loosened. When you have cleaned up the worst of the mess, dab a bit of liquid detergent or soap on a sponge, and wash the remaining residue from the oven. If this recipe doesn’t work for you it is probably because you didn’t use enough baking soda and/or water.
ALL-PURPOSE SPRAY CLEANER
1/2 teaspoon washing soda
A dab of liquid soap
2 cups hot tap water
Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake until the washing soda has dissolved. Apply and wipe off with a sponge or rag.
FURNITURE POLISH
1/2 teaspoon oil, such as olive (or jojoba, a liquid wax)
1/4 cup vinegar or fresh lemon juice
Mix the ingredients in a glass jar. Dab a soft rag into the solution and wipe onto wood surfaces. Cover the glass jar and store indefinitely.
Mold Killer
Tea Tree Treasure
Nothing natural works for mold and mildew as well as this spray. Tea tree oil is expensive, but a little goes a very long way. Although the smell of tea tree oil is very strong, it will dissipate in a few days.
2 teaspoons tea tree oil
2 cups water
Combine in a spray bottle, shake to blend, and spray on problem areas. Do not rinse. Makes two cups.
Vinegar Spray
Straight vinegar reportedly kills 82 percent of mold. Pour some white distilled vinegar straight into a spray bottle, spray on the moldy area, and let set without rinsing if you can put up with the smell. It will dissipate in a few hours.
Creamy Chicken -n- Broccoli Pasta Bake
This is seriously one of the BEST pasta dishes EVER!!!
1-1/2 cups of your favorite pasta - cooked
1 small bunch broccoli, chopped (about 3 cups)
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup chicken broth
1 cube (8 0z) cream cheese
2 Tbsp. Parmesan Cheese
Cracker Crumbs
Put Chicken breast, and broth in your crockpot. Cook several hours until chicken is cooked through. Cut the chicken into pieces. Add cream cheese for last hour of cooking time. Stir occasionally.
HEAT oven to 375ºF. Cook pasta in large saucepan as directed on package, adding broccoli for the last 3 min.
DRAIN pasta and broccoli. Add to chicken mixture; mix lightly. Sprinkle with bread or cracker crumbs. Spoon into 8-inch sq. casserole dish; cover.
BAKE 15 min. or until heated through. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheeses. Bake, uncovered, 3 min. or until melted.
1-1/2 cups of your favorite pasta - cooked
1 small bunch broccoli, chopped (about 3 cups)
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup chicken broth
1 cube (8 0z) cream cheese
2 Tbsp. Parmesan Cheese
Cracker Crumbs
Put Chicken breast, and broth in your crockpot. Cook several hours until chicken is cooked through. Cut the chicken into pieces. Add cream cheese for last hour of cooking time. Stir occasionally.
HEAT oven to 375ºF. Cook pasta in large saucepan as directed on package, adding broccoli for the last 3 min.
DRAIN pasta and broccoli. Add to chicken mixture; mix lightly. Sprinkle with bread or cracker crumbs. Spoon into 8-inch sq. casserole dish; cover.
BAKE 15 min. or until heated through. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheeses. Bake, uncovered, 3 min. or until melted.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Creamy Grape Salad
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1/3 cup Cane Sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 pounds seedless red grapes
2 pounds seedless green grapes
3 tablespoons Brown Sugar
3 tablespoons chopped pecans
Directions:
In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sour cream, sugar and vanilla until blended. Add grapes and toss to coat. Transfer to a serving bowl. Cover and refrigerate until serving. Sprinkle with brown sugar and pecans just before serving. Yield: 21-24 servings.
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1/3 cup Cane Sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 pounds seedless red grapes
2 pounds seedless green grapes
3 tablespoons Brown Sugar
3 tablespoons chopped pecans
Directions:
In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sour cream, sugar and vanilla until blended. Add grapes and toss to coat. Transfer to a serving bowl. Cover and refrigerate until serving. Sprinkle with brown sugar and pecans just before serving. Yield: 21-24 servings.
Friday, April 10, 2009
San Fransisco Style Pizza Crust
I've been looking long and hard...and I finally found it...the PERFECT pizza crust. All it takes is a little planning ahead. It is as good or better than the pizza we've had at some gourmet pizzerias, and a whole lot cheaper.
2 1/4 C. flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. yeast
2 T. olive oil
1 C. ICE COLD water
2 tsp. sugar
Cornmeal for dusting
Combine these ingredients in mixer and knead until dough follows mixer blade around the bowl. (Usually about 10 min.) Watch the dough, and if it seems too dry add 1 T. more water at a time until a soft, elastic dough forms. Cover, and put in refrigerator OVERNIGHT!!! The next day, take the dough out of fridge 2-4 hours before dinnertime. Punch it down and let it raise again. Roll out onto pizza stone that has been dusted with cornmeal. Let rest for 30 min. Bake at 425 for 10 min. Remove from oven and top with toppings. Return to oven for 10-15 min.
Doubling the recipe would give you enough for a pan of yummy breadsticks too!
Also - try using alfredo sauce instead of marinara for a nice change.
2 1/4 C. flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. yeast
2 T. olive oil
1 C. ICE COLD water
2 tsp. sugar
Cornmeal for dusting
Combine these ingredients in mixer and knead until dough follows mixer blade around the bowl. (Usually about 10 min.) Watch the dough, and if it seems too dry add 1 T. more water at a time until a soft, elastic dough forms. Cover, and put in refrigerator OVERNIGHT!!! The next day, take the dough out of fridge 2-4 hours before dinnertime. Punch it down and let it raise again. Roll out onto pizza stone that has been dusted with cornmeal. Let rest for 30 min. Bake at 425 for 10 min. Remove from oven and top with toppings. Return to oven for 10-15 min.
Doubling the recipe would give you enough for a pan of yummy breadsticks too!
Also - try using alfredo sauce instead of marinara for a nice change.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Butterscotch Cookies with Burnt Butter Icing
1/2 c butter
1 1/2 c brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 c flour
1 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 c sour cream
1 c walnuts if desired
Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Add dry ingredients alternately with sour cream. Chill dough for a couple of hours and bake for 8-10min at 375 degrees. Cool and frost.
Frosting
Melt 6 Tbsp butter over medium heat and cook until golden brown. Cool. Mix in 2 cups powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla. Add 2-3 Tbsp water a little at a time until spreading consistency.
1 1/2 c brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 c flour
1 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 c sour cream
1 c walnuts if desired
Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Add dry ingredients alternately with sour cream. Chill dough for a couple of hours and bake for 8-10min at 375 degrees. Cool and frost.
Frosting
Melt 6 Tbsp butter over medium heat and cook until golden brown. Cool. Mix in 2 cups powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla. Add 2-3 Tbsp water a little at a time until spreading consistency.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Yogurt Fruit Salad
1 (32 oz) vanilla yogurt
1 (8 oz) Cool Whip
1 large pkg instant vanilla pudding
1 pkg frozen mixed berries
1 box vanilla wafers
Add yogurt, whip cream, vanilla pudding, mix well. Add berries. Serve with vanilla wafers.
1 (8 oz) Cool Whip
1 large pkg instant vanilla pudding
1 pkg frozen mixed berries
1 box vanilla wafers
Add yogurt, whip cream, vanilla pudding, mix well. Add berries. Serve with vanilla wafers.
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