Some organic cleaning recipes

I'm sick of choking chemicals every time I clean anything.  So I'm determined to start using organic cleaners again.  Thought I'd share some recipes for any of you who are interested.  They're super easy, still completely disinfect, and are way cheaper than buying cleaning supplies, and so much better for you and your kids!

Basic Multi-purpose cleaner
Ingredients
Distilled White Vinegar
Water
Essential Oil of your choice (optional)

Directions
Get an empty spray bottle (I just re-used an old one)
Fill it half way with vinegar
Top off with water
Add several drops of your favorite essential oil, if desired.
Strong aromas like peppermint or trea tree oil work well.


The Basics of How to Make Organic House Cleaning Products

If you are looking for ways to bring more natural products into your cleaning routine, there are a few basics you will want to have on hand at all times. All of the following items should be available at your local organic grocery store:

Baking soda: This baking basic is a powerhouse of cleaning and deodorizing. It can be used in homemade cleaning solutions, as a paste or sprinkled directly on a surface.
Borax: A naturally occurring compound made of boron, sodium, oxygen and water, borax is a great cleaner, especially for laundry. 

Cornstarch: Great for cleaning carpets and rugs, cornstarch can also be used in place of baby powder.
Lemon juice: A natural whitener, lemon juice can also remove grease and other stains, especially on aluminum and porcelain.
Salt: Abrasive but gentle, salt is great for scouring.
Washing soda: This is different from baking soda and is a good choice for general cleaning, cutting grease and disinfecting. You can find it on the laundry aisle, but it may not be an organic product.
White vinegar: Another great general-purpose cleaner, white vinegar is good for removing mildew, grease and other stains. It is also a great choice for washing windows and making metal surfaces shiny.

Essential Oils: A natural way to add a wonderful smell to your products.

Some more recipes:
Bathroom disinfectant (need a lot of it with 4 kids): 2 cups water, 2 tsp borax, 8-10 drops of any essential oil.  Mix into a spray bottle, shake before use!

Sink cleansers: 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup vinegar, oil of choice. Scrub with cloth and rinse.

Toilet Bowl: This is my favorite - an overnight bomb! 1 cup borax, 1 cup vinegar, 10 drops pine, 5 drops lemon. Let sit overnight and flush in the morning.
Another: 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup vinegar, tea tree oil - place all into toilet bowl, swish and done!

Glass cleaner: using a mixture of a couple of tablespoons of white vinegar and about a quart of water in a spray bottle. For sticky spots on glass caused by hairspray, dab with rubbing alcohol. 

Kitchen: using the same glass cleaner from the bathroom where needed. For greasy spots near the oven and on cabinet doors, dilute 1/4 cup of lemon juice in a quart of hot water.

For fresh carpet:  1/4 cup of baking soda and 1/4 to 1/2 cup of salt or cornstarch. Sprinkle the mixture on the carpet and let it sit for about 30 minutes before vacuuming. Also, leave a sprinkle of cinnamon or allspice for 15 minutes to scent a freshened rug.

Laundry:  Wash whites in a combination of 1/4 cup of sodium carbonate and 1/4 cup white vinegar. The vinegar smell disappears when the clothes are dry and it freshens your laundry. For darks, use 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1/4 cup of salt. The salt brightens the colors.

I don't make all of these- but I like having options!  :)

DIVA

The other day this lady wanted me to bust out the camera- I don't do that enough with my babies (remember how I promised myself I do a shoot of my own kids a month ago?  Ya, I didn't.)  and this is what she did- oh believe you me, there any MANY more, but these 2 crack me up!

Thank you Jay

My very UNmischeivious man went into his room last week and chopped away at his hair- right in the very front, middle of his head.  TO THE SCALP.  I tried my best to buzz it and blend it in...but it's pretty much impossible.   All I know is thank goodness he's a boy.  

Oh, and don't worry, T is still his same old self, for instance:

He thinks it's hilarious to wear this dress up, and look closely at the top of his head, notice the tuft of hair sticking straight up like Alfalfa, and of course the outfit wouldn't be complete without an unnecessary band-aid on his face (one of 6 on his body). Yes, he chopped away a good 6 weeks ago...

Mothers Who Know

This is a post from one of my dear friends Ali...she said everything in her post that I had thought, but couldn't get into words.  I was actually so surprised at the amount of controversy her talk created.

"In November 2007 Julie B. Beck, general president of the Relief Society for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, gave an address to the women of the church. Her address centered on the important roles of women and mothers. She entitled it Mothers Who Know and outlined how mothers who know "who they are and who God is and have made covenants with Him" should live. I found her talk to be inspiring and uplifting. Her seven points were: 

1. Mothers Who Know Bear Children
2. Mothers Who Know Honor Sacred Ordinances and Covenants
3. Mothers Who Know Are Nurturers
4. Mothers Who Know are Leaders 
5. Mothers Who Know are Teachers
6. Mothers Who Know Do Less
7. Mothers Who Know Stand Strong and Immovable 

These seven simple statements of truth seem to have sparked a bit of controversy. In the Deseret News, there was an interesting article about some negative reactions to Sister Beck's talk. The article was a bit surprising to me especially since I loved her talk so much. It seems that some women feel that Sister Beck's advice was archaic and typical of a patriarchal institution. Other women found her talk to be exclusive, failing to recognize that many women can't have children or are single and don't yet have the opportunity.Reading this article has reminded me yet again of how important it is to listen to the leaders of the church with the Spirit. When I do this, I will hear not only the words they say, but the meaning of what they say. I don't for a second believe that Sister Beck was excluding anyone. We are all mothers, whether or not we have children of our own, and we have a divine responsibility to nurture, teach, and love all children that we come in contact with. Her counsel to mothers is absolutely directed to all women. I also don't believe that she was forgetting that there is more to a woman than a womb and more to what we do as women than homemaking. To suggest that these were her main points is crazy. If I have the Spirit, I will not misunderstand.

 
I fear it will become more and more commonplace for good members of the church to fall away because of their inability to follow the Spirit and listen to the prophet. The distance between the world and the church is widening every day. I am not suggesting that we lose our individuality or that we turn our brains off and blindly follow every directive that we hear from our prophet. I believe that we have a responsibility to listen and then seek to know the Lord's will. Once you do that often enough you will find that the prophet truly is the Lord's mouthpiece."

I would love to know what some of you think. For a link to Sister Beck's talk click here. For a link to the article in the Deseret News click here. Feel free to share. 

I am not dead

Just running wildly busy...waiting for white space.  I am not good at creating free time.  At all.  We just got back from Idaho, and Calf Creek.  It was such a great vay-cay.  That was very good free time!  One day I will post about the 2 awesome fam reunions we had this summer, more about Trek and the 2 brill places we just got back from...one day...  

Loves!