Homemade Household Recipes

Homemade Automatic Dishwasher Soap

Mix together in a small plastic tub with a snap on lid:
1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax

Use about 2 tablespoons in the dishwasher compartment.
If your silverware seems a bit dull, add Citric Acid (from either canning products or tang). Try adding 1 to 2 tsp. to the above mixture to start with.

Natural Cleaner Recipe

Fill your spray bottle almost full with HOT water, then add:

• 1 teaspoon borax
• 1 teaspoon washing soda
• 1 tablespoon liquid Castile soap (Dr. Bronners)
• 1/2 cup vinegar (kills mold/mildew)

Shake well before using.

Note: If you put the other ingredients in before the water it will foam up a lot when you add the water.

Washing Soda

- (sodium carbonate) Cuts grease and disinfects. It will also increase the cleaning power of soap.

Borax

- (sodium borate) It deodorizes, removes stains and boosts the cleaning power of soap. It also prevents mold and odors. Great alternative for those who do not want to use bleach.

All Purpose Window and Glass Cleaner

Vinegar cuts grease and leaves windows sparkling clean. Best of all, this mixture is absolutely safe. It's the best choice if you have young children in the house.

1/4 cup white vinegar
1 quart of water

Pour vinegar and water into a bowl or container, or mix the ingredients in a spray bottle. Clean windows directly with a sponge dipped in the bowl of cleaner or spray on and wipe clean. I have heard that you can use newspaper to clean windows quite well, I have always used old cloth diapers.

Liquid Shampoo

This is a homemade version of a herbal shampoo for all hair types---it leaves hair shiny and soft, and it makes a good baby shampoo as it is very mild and gentle.

Ingredients:

2 cups distilled water
1 tablespoon calendula (pot marigold)
2 teaspoons rosemary
1 tablespoon nettle
2 teaspoons orange peel
2 teaspoons comfrey
2 tablespoons chamomile
1/2 teaspoon essential oil of lavender
1 teaspoon jojoba oil (omit if hair is oily)
1/2 cup all-natural, gentle baby shampoo

Bring water to a boil and remove from heat. Add the herbs, cover, and allow to steep for 30 minutes.

Strain mixture into a medium-sized bowl, add the oils and stir vigorously.

Add the shampoo and gently stir until thoroughly mixed.

Pour into a labeled bottle and keep refrigerated to preserve the freshness, or add 3 drops of Grapefruit seed extract (GSE) to act as a preservative. You may keep a small bottle in the shower with enough shampoo for about one week, if you wish.

Use approximately 1 tablespoon (15 ml) per application. This shampoo will not produce mountains of billowy suds as it does not contain strong foaming agents. It cleans gently with minimal sudsing.

Note: Before use, lightly shake shampoo to mix the oil that may separate from the rest of the ingredients.

SEPTIC TANK TREATMENT

This is an effective cleaner for your septic tank, and it will not harm the system.

2 C. brown sugar
5 C. warm water
1 T. baker's yeast

Stir sugar and yeast into the warm water until dissolved. Pour the solution into the toilet and flush. Wait 30 minutes before flushing again to allow the yeast time to work.

You can find other homemade household recipes at the following link:

http://www.recipegoldmine.com/house/house.html