All-Natural Homemade Floor Cleaner That Works!

Reblogged from: Natures Nurture Blog

When we moved into our new house a couple months ago, I was so excited to not see one single inch of carpet in the whole place! Not the living room, not the bedrooms, nothing – woohoo!

I hate carpet. It stains easily, it holds on to dust and hair, and it’s just a pain to clean. So the new laminate wood floors at the new place made me very happy. 


But with my new-found excitement, came some new-found stress as well, since our dark-colored floors now showed EVERYTHING. From the dust, to the hair, to the little areas of smeared, dried up baby drool (yes, nasty…I know), to the fingerprints…ughh, I was going crazy!

I initially tried my all-purpose cleaner, which is just a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water with some essential oils – seriously, it’s a great all-purpose spray for everyday, quick clean-ups and wipe-downs. But unfortunately, it didn’t give me the results I wanted; although it did clean the floors, it left a lot of streaks, which wasn’t so pretty.

Then, in my search for a homemade floor cleaner, which mixes equal parts water, vinegar, and alcohol, with a few drops of dish soap. Ahh, Eureka! The alcohol helps create that streak-free shine because it evaporates so quickly, and the dish soap gives it some extra grime-fighting oomph!

After testing out a small area, I was in love. I proceeded to clean the ENTIRE house in one go – yep, that’s how happy I was. I was so proud of my gleaming laminate floors, I literally couldn’t stop smiling. Even the hubby noticed how clean and shiny they were – and he never notices that stuff, so I took that as a huge compliment!

Where can I buy the cleaning equipment?

I use my old Swiffer mop, which works just fine. You could also use something like the Libman mop or the Rubbermaid Reveal mop, which come with a refillable compartment for your own homemade cleaner, and reusable microfiber pads! Whatever you choose, just make sure to use microfiber cloths (instead of the pads that come with it) so you get a nice, streak-free shine. Lots of readers have also tried this cleaner in their Shark steam mop with great results!

This is a low-traffic area of the house (only part with nice light for pictures), hence the shine. 

This cleaner will NOT shine your floors like this.

This cleaner worked so well on my laminate floors, I also started using it on the tile floor in my kitchen, and the windows and mirrors… Then I tackled all the stainless steel appliances. Seriously, this stuff is awesome! It’s like All-Purpose Cleaner 2.0!

The only thing I didn’t like about the recipe was that the vinegar smell was overpowering (although it disappears eventually). So for the next batch, I added about 10-15 drops of lavender essential oil and it did help a little. Bonus: Lavender has anti-bacterial properties! 

After a few years of tweaking this recipe, I’ve now settled on 1 cup water, 3/4 cup vinegar, 3/4 cup alcohol, a few drops of dish soap, and 5 drops each of lavender, tea tree, orange, and peppermint essential oils. This combination of oils not only smells fantastic, it also provides a level of antibacterial, antiseptic, antiviral, and antimicrobial protection.

Will this work for real hardwood floors?

I have only used this on laminate and tile floors. I wouldn’t recommend this on hardwoods as the vinegar may be too harsh on the finish.

Can the recipe be adapted for a mop and bucket?

Several people have asked this question, and although I haven’t tried it myself, I did find a recipe online that seems like it would be comparable to this one. So if you want to use a mop and bucket, try this recipe: For a gallon of water, you could try 1/2 cup of vinegar, and 1/3 cup of alcohol, plus a few drops of dish soap.

Is this safe for use around pets?

The base of the recipe (water, alcohol, vinegar) is perfectly fine for use around pets, but there is concern that essential oils may be harmful if ingested by pets, especially cats. Although essential oils, when used properly, have been used to treat many ailments in pets and humans alike, you should take precaution when using them around your pets especially if they have compromised immune systems or other health issues. As always, please do your own research and consult with your pet’s veterinarian or a licensed aromatherapist, if you have any concerns.

A note on fabric softeners and microfiber:

Never use fabric softeners or dryer sheets when washing your microfiber cloths because they’ll affect their ability to absorb liquids properly. I don’t use either of these products on any of our laundry anyways; instead, I just use some vinegar in the rinse cycle to keep our laundry fresh and soft.

Just make sure that whatever you buy is labeled as essential oils, and NOT fragrance oils.  *NOTE: Essential oils are very potent and should be used with caution. If you are pregnant, nursing, or have any health issues, please consult your health care provider prior to using essential oils. If possible, seek the professional help of a licensed aromatherapist.

Natural Homemade Floor Cleaner

A natural, non-toxic homemade floor cleaner that cleans more than just floors! Just 4 simple ingredients is all it takes to clean almost any surface in your home.

Ingredients

1. 1 cup water
2. 3/4 cup vinegar
3. 3/4 cup alcohol
4. 2-3 drops dish soap (Castile, Dawn, etc.)
5. 5 drops each of lavender, orange, tea tree, and peppermint essential oils, optional
6. Fine-mist spray bottle - 24oz

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to spray bottle and shake to combine.
2. Sweep/vacuum the floor.
3. Spray cleaner on the floor (or other surface).
4. Wipe up with a microfiber cloth.

Notes

1. As with all cleaners, please do a spot test to make sure this will work on your floors!
2. For a mop and bucket version, try this: For a gallon of water, you could try 1/2 cup of vinegar, and 1/3 cup of alcohol, plus a few drops of dish soap.

 By Sarah UmmYusuf

How to Wean a Cosleeping Baby from Your Bed

Reblogged from: eHow

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, cosleeping in the same bed puts a baby at risk of suffocation or strangulation. Still, parents and health care professionals who advocate the practice say children can benefit from this type of sleeping arrangement. Despite the differing opinions surrounding both the potential risks and benefits associated with cosleeping, the time eventually comes to wean a child to his own bed or room.

Instructions

1. Place a crib or bassinet in your bedroom. As your baby becomes more comfortable sleeping on his own, you can try moving the crib into the nursery. If you want your baby close without the dangers of cosleeping, you can buy a bassinet that attaches to your bed; your baby would still have the security of being with you without sharing the same bed.
   
   
2. Put your baby in her crib while she is still awake, recommends the National Sleep Foundation. Once you are ready for your child to make the transition out of your bed, you can still bring her in bed with you when you nurse her. But return her to her crib before she is fully asleep.
   
   
3. Give your child something he can sleep with at night (if he is old enough enough to sleep with it safely) to help make the transition easier, suggests Cleveland Clinic. Babies often develop an attachment to a special blanket or favorite stuffed toy that gives them a sense of security. Include the lovey in your child’s regular bedtime routine, even if he isn’t sleeping in a crib or his own room yet.
   
   
4. Sleep on the floor or on a cot in your baby’s room for a few days while she gets used to her new sleep environment. Keep her bedtime routine the same as it has always been. The only difference should be that you are tucking her into her own bed instead of into your bed. Try to be consistent in your baby’s bedtime routine, even when activities out of the ordinary interfere with her normal sleep schedule.
   
   
5. Use the "chair shuffle" sleep-training method. Sit in a chair next to your baby’s crib while he goes to sleep. Work on moving the chair farther away from the crib until you no longer have to be in the room while he falls asleep. Kim West, a licensed family therapist and founder of SleepLady.com, suggests moving the chair every three days. Avoid rushing the process to give your baby time to adjust to falling asleep without you.
   
   
6. Include your toddler -- if your baby is bit older -- in the planning as you get ready to move him to his own bed or room. If your child is transitioning to a toddler bed, take him with you when you select a bed. Allowing him to help in getting his room ready may get him excited about sleeping there.

Natural Homemade Detergent for Dishwasher

Re-blogged from: Bren Did

I wanted to formulate my own natural homemade detergent for my dishwasher to see if I could produce a dishwasher powder that eliminated dangerous chemicals and additives, scored well on the EWG scale, and was cost-effective. I already make my own natural laundry detergent and natural laundry stain treater. I have definitely jumped on the DIY cleaning product bandwagon because I love knowing exactly what goes into my household cleaners and I like the cost savings.

I’m also interested in making sure our home care products are as natural and non-toxic as possible. To make sure they’re safe, I’ve been looking up all the cleaning/household products we use on the Environmental Working Group’s Consumer Guide.  I learned that my old dishwasher detergent had scored a C for problems such as cancer and respiratory effects. However, it is cost-effective at $0.20 a load.

I looked up online DIY recipes for dishwasher powder, but all the recipes I found contained Borax and/or LemiShine. I wanted to make homemade dishwasher detergent without Borax and LemiShine because:

•  I do not use Borax in DIY recipes because it scores an F for respiratory effects and developmental toxicity. Borax use is pretty controversial in “green” circles — it is a naturally occurring mineral but it is toxic. Since it has been banned as a food additive by the FDA, I decided that I personally do not want to use it on my dishes. 
•  LemiShine can be found at many retailers, but the EWG does not have any data on it and the company does not list its ingredients. Since companies in the US are not required to disclose all toxic chemicals, a product without an ingredient list sets off alarm bells in my mind!

Recipe for Homemade Detergent

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Recipe	Cost per batch	EWG Rating
1 cup Super Washing Soda	$0.46	A
1 cup Baking Soda	$0.30	A
1 cup Citric Acid	$1.00	A
1/2 cup Table Salt	$0.75	A
Total Cost	$2.51
Cost Per Load (56 loads at 1 Tbsp per load)	$0.04

 
This homemade dishwasher detergent is significantly cheaper than my commercially purchased dishwasher detergent AND my recipe rates an “A” on the EWG scale! My version makes 28 oz. for $2.51 or 56 loads at $0.04 per load! The best part — it works great! It dissolves well (unlike some powdered dishwasher detergents). The dishes come out sparkly and clean with no spots or gritty residue!!If you would like a rinse agent, place a small dish of white vinegar (1/8 to 1/4 of a cup) on the top rack of your dishwasher. It is a cheap, non-toxic rinse aid.

Natural Homemade Detergent for Dishwasher Ingredients

• 1 cup Super Washing Soda
• 1 cup baking soda
• 1 cup citric acid
• ½ cup table salt

Natural Homemade Detergent for Dishwasher Directions

• Place all ingredients in an air tight container or jar, stir well or cover and shake to combine.
• Use one tablespoon per load in your main dishwasher detergent compartment (if your compartment does not open well or the detergent doesn’t full dissolve in your machine place the detergent in the bottom of your dishwasher before starting it).
• For EXTRA dirty dishes or very heavy loads I boost my detergent by placing it in the bottom of the machine, adding 1/3 of a tsp of liquid castile soap in the dishwashing detergent compartment (I love Dr Bronner’s Unscented) and filling the rinse compartment with white vinegar. Spotless dishes…. even on Thanksgiving!

 

I hope you try making your own Natural Homemade Detergent for Dishwasher! Here’s a snazzy printable label for a Mason jar to store your “Pure” Dishwashing Powder. I made my pour spout dispenser by cutting off the top of an old salt container.

September 25th Dumpster Dive

So we went out like we usually do, every Friday night. It looked like someone was beating us to all the GameStops so we also decided to check out a few Walgreen's & CVS dumpsters. We found a few Halloween decorations that were broken but could still be used for our annual Halloween party that our family throws! Most of the stuff we found that night were usable by us just not something that would bring a profit by selling on eBay.

Part one of the stuff we found:

 Part 2 of the stuff we found that night!

So you see, there is stuff to be found while dumpster diving... you just have to go and look!

More next week!

A little update

Hi my fellow followers! I know it's been a long time since I have posted any DIY posts, it's been a busy time for me & my family! My husband & I were blessed with a happy & healthy baby boy that we're still in the process of getting the adoption papers taken care of. He's now 2 1/2 months old and is a smart little guy! Also my sister's house caught on fire one day while they were away from home. It's about a 90% total loss so her & her kids are staying with me & my husband until they can pick up the pieces. The sad thing is the fire was a freak happening. It started because of the bathroom window (which was one of the textured privacy glass) acted as a magnifying glass & caught the bathroom vanity on fire & super heated an air freshener can that was under the cabinet & caused it to spread the fire. The worst part was one of her 3 dogs perished in the fire from heat exhaustion.

Side bar, me & my husband have also been dumpster diving behind Game Stops & other department stores & I can't even begin to tell you how much stuff we have found! It's unbelievable what these stores throw away, especially things that have no business being in the trash. So far with all the things we have sold on eBay that we've found, we've made a total of $1200+/-   in just 60 days. I will also be adding pictures of things we find on here to show you guys how awesome (even though it's gross) dumpster diving is! My husband is too chicken to climb in the dumpsters so I'm the who jumps on in... which is funny because I'm short & chubby (or as jerks would say, fat!) Who knows, I might upload a picture of me in the dumpster! I will resume posting DIYs very soon! Talk to ya'll later.