Getting Rid Of Ants
Mosquito Repellent
- 1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar
- 1/3 cup witch hazel (or cheap vodka)
- 5 drops of citronella or eucalyptus essential oil
- Using the funnel, pour all the liquid ingredients into the spray bottle.
- Shake the bottle to mix the liquids.
Glass Cleaner
- 4 floz rubbing alcohol
- 4 floz household ammonia
- 3 pints warm water
Pour the alcohol and ammonia into a bucket, add the water and mix well. To use, transfer to a spray bottle and spray the glass with it. Allow it to sit for 30 seconds and then wipe off with newspaper.
Watercolor Paints
- 1 tablespoon white or cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons baking powder
- 1 tablespoon cornflour
- 1 teaspoon glycerin
- 2 drops food coloring
- 1 teaspoon water
Mix the vinegar and baking powder together in a small bowl; add the corn-flour and glycerin when the baking powder stops foaming. Stir in the food coloring and add water if the solution seems too stiff. Store in a tightly covered jam jar or plastic container.
Toilet Cleaner
Mix the ingredients in a bucket, and then pour the solution slowly into the toilet. Leave it to stand for at least 30 minutes, then scrub the inside of the bowl and flush. For stubborn stains, allow the solution to remain in the bowl for several hours.Makes 4 pints.
Snow & Ice Disolver
- 2 lb rock salt
- 21b magnesium sulfate
- 2 tablespoons ammonium sulfate
Mix all the ingredients in a large bucket. To use, sprinkle as required on steps, paths and pavements, or water down some of the mixture, transfer to a spray bottle and use on your car windscreen. Store in a tightly covered canister or jar out of the reach of children.
Salt Garden Project
What you need to is to soak a peice of sponge, brick, clay pots or porous rocks in water until thoroughly wet - which ever you want to use. If you are going to use a sponge you will need to wring out excessive water so the sponge is just wet. Arrange these favorite wet pieces on a glass or ceramic shallow dish, (may ruin metal surfaces when you do this) and then just pour the mixture of water, ammonia and bluing over wet item or rocks until evenly spread out.
You can drop a drop or two of food coloring on the rocks for added coloring that will look great. Sprinkle the salt evenly over the rocks, using lots of salt. Within a few hours your garden will grow and be covered with crystals! Great colored look!
Rose Vinegar Lotion
- 2 large handfuls fresh pink or red rose petals
- 7 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 1 pint/570ml purified water
Place the rose petals in a glass container and add the wine vinegar. Leave in a cool, dark place for 1 week, shaking occasionally. Strain and discard the petals, then dilute the rose vinegar with water to make a refreshing skin lotion.
Refrigerator Air Freshener
- 8 tablespoons crushed charcoal
- 8 tablespoons baking powder
- 2 tablespoons powdered orange or lemon peel
- 1 tablespoon ground cloves or cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons vanilla essence
- Old, clean nylon stockings, cut into 2 in/50mm squares 18in/460mm porous, bright-colored fabric (terry cloth, loose-weave cotton, muslin or toweling), cut into 2in/50mm squares
- String or ribbon, cut into 8in/200mm lengths for tying and hanging
Combine the charcoal, baking powder, citrus peel and cloves in a glass or enamel bowl. Sprinkle on the vanilla essence, stir to mix and leave for 1 hour. Put 2 tablespoons of the mixture in the center of a nylon stocking square and wrap this packet in a fabric square. Tie up the corners with string or ribbon.
To use, tie a packet in an inconspicuous spot in the refrigerator or freezer. For a longer life, add a few more drops of vanilla and 1 teaspoon baking powder after 10-12 weeks.
Potpourri
Cat Food
- 8 oz/225g cooked rice (without added salt)
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon calcium carbonate (crushed antacid tablets)
Combine the ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Store in an airtight bowl in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Perfume
Put the alcohol and cloves in a small jar and then add the orris root. Close the jar securely and shake. Leave the contents to sit for 2 days, stirring occasionally. Strain off the liquid, discarding the solids, and transfer it to a clean jar; cover tightly. To use, dab behind the ears or on your wrists. Store out of the reach of small children.
Air Freshener
Take an old fabreeze bottle (rinse it out well). Dump 1- 1/2 cap fulls of downy fabric softener in the bottle and fill the rest with water.
Spicy Scents
- 4 tablespoons dried sage
- 8 tablespoons crumbled bay leaves
- 8fl oz/225ml witch hazel
Mix all the ingredients together in a jar. Cover and leave to sit in a dark place (but not the fridge) for 3 days. Strain out the herbs and pour the remaining liquid into a spray bottle. Use as necessary.
Eucalyptus Freshener
- 7oz eucalyptus leaves
- 1 3/4 pints of vinegar
Marinade the eucalyptus leaves in the vinegar for 2 weeks, then strain off the leaves and discard them. Store the freshener in a screw-top jar. To use, place a small amount of the liquid in shallow bowls close to central heating radiators
Dandruff Scalp Massage
- 1/2oz sage leaves
- 1 3/4 pints water
Baby Wipes
- 1- roll of good-quality ALL WHITE paper towels, cut in half. (I use Bounty, because they're sturdy and I can buy them in bulk.)
- 2 cups warm water
- 2 tablespoons baby shampoo
- 1 tablespoon baby oil
- 1 teaspoon rubbing alchohol, (optional)
Mix water, shampoo, oil, and alcohol in a sutable container. Add 1/2 roll of paper towels, cut side down. (Save other half for next time.) Put on lid and let soak until all liquid is absorbed. (About 5- 10 minutes.) Turn container upside-down and leave it for about 30 minutes, to make sure liquid is completely absorbed. Turn it back over, wait a few minutes, and they're ready to use!
I like these wipes better than store-bought because they're cheaper, bigger, last longer, and they're made of stuff that you already have on hand if you have a baby.
Laundry Pre-Spotter
Flower Preserver
Method 1
- 1 cup borax
- 2 cups of cornmeal
To dry your flowers, place one or two in airtight container with a layer of borax and cornmeal mixed together in the bottom. Leave the container in a cool, dry place. After 7 to 10 days, remove the flowers and dust them with a soft artist's brush.
Method 2
Preserve fresh flowers by placing them on a bed of clean cat litter in an airtight container for 7 to 10 days.
Sore Throat Remedy
Toothpaste
- 4 tablespoons each of arrowroot, powdered orris root and purified water
- 1 teaspoon each of oil of cinnamon and oil of cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground sage
Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl. If the paste is too thick, add more water until the desired consistency is reached. Transfer the paste into a tightly covered jar. Use it as required.
Fly Trap
Put first 2 ingredients in and put enough water in a jar to make it about 1/2 full and punch a couple holes in the lid. Works great! Good for Patio's or barns.
Drain Cleaner
- 4 tablespoons cream of tartar
Place all the ingredients in a jar with a lid, close it tightly and shake until the ingredients are well mixed. To use, pour 2 oz/60g directly down the drain, followed by a kettleful of boiling water. After 1 minute, rinse with warm or cold tap water. Repeat weekly. Store in a dry place in a tightly sealed labeled container obviously away from children. Makes 5 treatments.
Facial Cleaner
Mix all of the ingredients until smooth. Heat in a small pan placed in a water bath inside another pan. Heat until thick and clear; it will have the consistency of pudding. Do not boil. Cool completely, Use in place of soap to cleanse your skin. (If jelly is too thick, you may thin it by adding a little water, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach the desired consistency.)
Cochroach Insecticide
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cocoa powder
Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl. To use, place a small amount of the mixture in bottle caps or other small, unsealed containers and set them out in areas where the cockroaches are known to congregate.
Caution Keep out of the reach of pets and small children.
Carpet Cleaner
- 10 oz/275g baking powder
- 2 oz/70g cornflour
- 5 dried bay leaves, crumbled
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves or 2oz/6og potpourri
In a covered container, mix all the ingredients thoroughly. Store in a safe place, away from children. To use, shake well and sprinkle generously on the carpet. Leave for several hours (overnight if possible), keeping children and pets off the carpet. Vacuum thoroughly to remove any residue.
Bird Treats
- 12oz/340g lard
- 16 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 16 tablespoons crushed biscuits
- 6 tablespoons raisins
- 4 tablespoons peanut butter
Using a double boiler, melt the lard over a low heat. Leave it to cool down and then transfer to a medium-size bowl. Mix in the sesame and sunflower seeds, biscuit crumbs and raisins, and then add the peanut butter and stir well until combined. Let the mixture harden overnight.
To use, place the mixture in a standard bird feeder or hang it in a piece of coarse netting, which allows the birds to reach it. Makes 2 lbs.
Fertilizer
Combine the Epsom salts and ammonia in a clean jar. To use, mix 2 tablespoons of the mixture with 16 pints/ 9 liters of water in a watering can. Sprinkle over 150-200 sqft/14-18.6 sqm of lawn. For use with a hose attachment, pour into the sprayer container. Makes 32 gallons.
Bath Oil & Salt
- 8 floz/225ml honey
- 16 floz/450ml milk
- 4 tablespoons Baking Soda (bicarbonate of soda)
- 4 floz/115ml baby oil
In a large bowl, combine the honey, milk, sea salt and baking soda; stir well. Pour the mixture into a bath full of warm water and then add the baby oil. Mix well with the water. Recipe makes a single use. Make fresh each time of use.
Bath Salts
- 16 tablespoons sea salt
- 16 tablespoons (Baking Soda) bicarbonate of soda
Fill a bath half full of warm water. Pour the ingredients into the bath, then add more water, swirling it around with your hand to spread out the bubbles. Recipe makes a single use. Lie back and enjoy!
Organic Pesticides
Tobacco Spray:
1 cup of tobacco
1 gallon of water
Put the tobacco into the container of water. Allow the mixture to set for approximately 24 hours. After it has stood for a day, check the color. It should be the shade of weak tea. If it is too dark, just dilute it with water until it looks right.
Effective against caterpillars and aphids. *Warning: Don't use this solution on peppers, eggplants, tomatoes or any other member of the solanaceous family. Tobacco chemicals can kill these types of plants!
Soap Spray:
Stop the slugs is with soapy water. You can even use your old, dirty dishwater! Collect some of the water in a pan and pour it into a watering can or even use a pitcher to pour it over the plants. This works really well on hostas and mums, but also can be used on other hardy plants. To make a stronger solution, mix 3 Tablespoons of liquid detergent into a gallon of water. Use this weekly.
Alcohol Spray:
This spray really is great for houseplants. This especially works on meal bugs.
1/2 cup of alcohol
2-3 tablespoons of dry soap laundry soap
1 quart of warm water
Mix all ingredients and spray immediately. You don't have to let this set, but you can't store it either. This solution must be made fresh for each use.
Salt Spray:
This solution is used for cabbage worms and spider mites.
2 tablespoons of salt
1 gallon of water
Mix and spray!
Garlic Spray:
Here is the recipe for a garlic spray that fights slugs too. Slugs must not like eating Italian. To make this smelly spray, use the following list of ingredients:
1 garlic bulb
1 quart of water
1 medium onion
1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon liquid dish soap
Crush the garlic, mincing it fine. Add finely chopped onion to the mixture, while adding the rest of the ingredients except the soap. Wait an hour before adding the soap to the mixture. The spicy ingredients must sort of stew or steep, almost like tea. After an hour, add the soap and your non-toxic spray is ready to use! This can be stored in the fridge for a week.
Buttermilk and Flour Spray:
Garlic spray is great for getting rid of cutworms, wireworms, whiteflies, and slugs too.
What you need:
1 pint of water
1/4 cup of dish liquid
2 teaspoons of paraffin
6 tablespoons of chopped garlic
Soak the whole garlic in the liquid paraffin for at least 24 hours. After a day, add the dish liquid and water to the mixture. Remember to shake it very well. Strain the solution and store it in a glass jar. This lasts around a week.
Spearmint-Hot Pepper-Horseradish Spray:
This works on many different kinds of bugs- too many to list!
1/2 cup of red peppers (hot)
water (read below)
1/2 cup of fresh spearmint
1/2 cup horseradish (root and leaves)
2 tablespoons of liquid detergent
1/2 cup green onion tops
Mix all of the spearmint leaves, horseradish, onion tops and peppers together with enough water to cover everything. Strain the solution. After mixing all of these, add a half-gallon of water and add the detergent also. To use this solution, mix 1/2 gallon of this solution with 1/2 gallon of water. You can use this to spray almost any plant safely. Store this mixture for a few days in a cool environment.
Crayons
· Food coloring (as many colors as you'd like)
· 2 tablespoons hot water
· 1 small mixing bowl for each color crayon you want to make
· Ice tray or candy mold (for the crayon molds)
· Mixing spoon
In a large mixing bowl, stir the soap flakes and hot water until the mixture thickens.
Spoon an even amount of the mixture into each of the small bowls.
Add a few drops of the food coloring into each of the bowls. Keep mixing in more color until your mixture is a thick paste.
Spoon even amounts of the crayon mixture into the molds. Make sure there are no air bubbles in the paste.
Set your crayon molds aside to dry. Be patient -- it can take up to a week to dry fully.
After the molds are dry, remove your new crayons from the mold. Set them aside somewhere they will not be disturbed. Let your crayons dry for another day or two.
Finger Paints
2 cups white flour
2 cups cold water
food coloring
Put water into a large bowl. Slowly add the flour, while the children are stirring. Once it's all mixed together, divide into smaller bowls and add food coloring.
Dog Treats
3 1/2 cup unbleached flour,
2 cup whole wheat flour,
1 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup skim milk powder
1 tablespoon (or 1 package) dry yeast
3 1/2 cups lukewarm chicken or meat broth
Dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm chicken or meat broth. The richer this broth is, the better your dog will like the biscuits. Let yeast broth mixture set 10 min. Then stir in flour mixture. Roll resulting dough out 1/4" thick. Cut dog biscuit shapes from dough. Brush biscuits with egg wash. Bake on greased cookie sheets at 300* for 45 min. Then turn off oven and leave in overnight to finish hardening. Makes 60 medium-sized biscuits.
Beefy Treats
2 cups whole wheat or all purpose flour
1 cup cornmeal
1/4cup wheat germ
2 teaspoon beef bouillon powder
1/2 teaspoon yeast extract (adds additional meaty flavour)
Mix above ingredients in a medium bowl.
Add: 1 large egg, 1 tablespoon cooking oil and 1 cup hot water.
Stir well. Roll out on a well-floured surface to 1/2 inch thickness. Place on ungreased cooking sheet. Bake on center rack, (275 F. or 140 C) for about 2 hours until dry and very hard. Let stand overnight to dry thoroughly. Makes 10 big bones and 14 puppy bones.Vegan Treats
9 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup nutritional yeast
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon yeast extract
3 cups water
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Prepare cookie sheet lined with parchment/baking paper
Mix first 4 ingredients. Add approximately 3 cups water, 1 cup at a time until dough pulls together. Place on a lightly floured surface and knead into a pliable dough. Roll out to 1/4" thickness. Cut into desired shapes and place on cookie sheets lined with parchment paper. Alternately you can grease the sheets if you wish.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until firm and browned. Leave in oven to cool overnight or for at least 8 hours so the treats become hard and crunchy.
Play-Doh
2 cups warm water
1 cup salt
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 Tablespoon cream of tartar (optional for improved elasticity)
food coloring (liquid, powder, or unflavored drink mix)
scented oils
Mix all of the ingredients together, and stir over low heat. The dough will begin to thicken until it resembles mashed potatoes.
When the dough pulls away from the sides and clumps in the center, as shown below, remove the pan from heat and allow the dough to cool enough to handle.
IMPORTANT NOTE: if your playdough is still sticky, you simply need to cook it longer! Keep stirring and cooking until the dough is dry and feels like playdough.
I've gotten many comments asking about sticky dough, so please just keep cooking a bit longer and it will work!
Turn the dough out onto a clean counter or silicone mat, and knead vigorously until it becomes silky-smooth. Divide the dough into balls for coloring.
Make a divot in the center of the ball, and drop some food coloring1 in. Fold the dough over, working the food color through the body of the playdough, trying to keep the raw dye away from your hands and the counter. You could use gloves or plastic wrap at this stage to keep your hands clean- only the concentrated dye will color your skin, so as soon as it's worked in bare hands are fine.
Work the dye through, adding more as necessary to achieve your chosen color.
1 If you use unsweetened drink mix for color, test on a small ball first- it won't go as far as the "real" food coloring.
Play with your playdough- I really don't need to help you there. It's entirely edible, if a bit salty, so it's kid-safe.
When you're done store it in an air-tight container. If it begins to dry out, you can knead a bit of water in again to soften the dough back to useability. Once it's dried past a certain point, however, you'll just have to start over; thankfully it's not terribly difficult.
All Purpose Household Cleaners
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda or washing soda
- 2 teaspoons borax
- 1/2 teaspoon liquid soap or detergent
- 2 cups hot water
Combine all the ingredients and the water into a spray bottle. Shake well. The washing soda or baking soda makes this formula a great grease cutter.
- 1 qt rubbing alcohol
- 1 cup lemon ammonia
- 1 tsp dish washing liquid
- 21 oz 409
-
Combine the ingredients into a empty one gallon container such as a milk carton. Shake the contents, and then top off the gallon container with water to make 1 full gallon of cleaning solution. Pour the cleaner into a spray bottle. (Never mix ammonia with bleach)