sam's notebook

homemade liquid handsoap

1 bar (85g) castille soap, grated
3 - 4 cups water
Few drops of essential oil

Boil the water then add the soap, simmer and mix until completely blended, or the soap will clog the pump.

Leave the soap out overnight. If it is too thick, heat and add more water.

Add a few drops of essential oil (tea tree oil has great antibacterial properties), mix and pour into containers.

 

drain cleaner

3/4 cup baking soda
1/2 cup vinegar

Put the dry baking soda down the drain. Pour the vinegar down the drain and cover the drain immediately with the plug.

Leave in the drain for about 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, boil a kettle full of water and pour the boiling water down the drain.

 

microwave cleaning

1/4 cup lemon juice
1 3/4 cup water

Mix lemon juice and water in microwave safe container. Microwave for 5 - 10 minutes, or until steam has filled the microwave. Don't open the microwave for 5-10 minutes, or until steam has dissipated.

Remove mixture from microwave. Wipe inside the microwave with a clean cloth.
 

dusting

Damp dusting is best!

Soak dusting cloth in the following mix:

2 tbsp water
2 tbsp vinegar
1 - 2 drops of lemon oil

Wring out the cloth and store in a sealed glass jar until needed.
 

fabric softener

1/4 - 3/4 cup white vinegar
Few drops of essential oil (eg. eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil)

The vinegar softens the clothes and breaks down the laundry detergent residue in the clothes. Once the clothes are dry they will not smell of vinegar.
 

wood polish

1/2 cup olive oil
1/4  - 1/2 cup lemon juice

Mix olive oil and lemon juice. Use spray bottle to apply to kitchen benches, furniture or floors, then polish with a dry cloth.
 

crochet a dishcloth

Really.

Use worsted weight 100% cotton.

Ch 40 (or any even number).

Rnd 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Ch 1, turn.

Rnd 2: Sc in first sc (ch 1, sk next st, sc in next st) across row. Ch 1 and turn.

Rnd 3: Sc in first sc (dc in next ch space, sc in next sc) across row. Ch 1 and turn.

Rnd 4: Sc in first sc (ch 1, sk next dc, sc in next sc) across row. Ch 1 and turn.

Repeat rows 3 - 4 four times.

To finish: Sc in each st across. Finish off and sc around the edge with 3 sc at each corner. Weave in all the ends.

Another pattern to try.

 
ch = chain
dc = double crochet
sc = single crochet
sk = skip
st = stitch
 

spray cleaner / floor cleaner

1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp finely grated castille soap (unscented)
2 cups hot water
1 tbsp white vinegar
10 drops lavender or eucalyptus essential oil

Combine all ingredients and mix well.

homemade dish liquid

 

Lavender-scented dish liquid

This dish liquid is thinner than regular dish liquid and does not make many suds. Lavender essential oil smells great and it is also antibacterial. The vegetable glycerin can be omitted from the recipe.

3 tbsp liquid lavender Castile soap
2 tsp vegetable glycerin
10 drops lavender essential oil
2 cups warm water
2 tbsp white vinegar

Mix all ingredients in a jar, cover, and shake well to blend. Use about 1 tbsp for dishwashing.

Recipe from Backwoods Home Magazine.