Natural Cleansers and Insecticides
		by Lee Thompson Once upon a time, we couldn't just hop in our gas-guzzling cars and drive down to the local supermarket to buy hazardous chemicals to do everyday household tasks. We were forced to rely on what Mother Nature, in her infinite wisdom, provided us. But along came what we thought at the time was the answer--science. Science has made many wondrous and useful discoveries, to be sure. However, in our headlong rush toward the nebulous goal we call progress, we have often concluded--wrongly--that science and technology hold the most effective answers to all our needs. Left behind in the wake of modern advancements were the practical uses of common, everyday items that had served us so well. We are beginning to realize that the natural alternatives that were the mainstays of our grandparents' lives can serve us as well or better than their poisonous chemical counterparts--and have a far lesser impact on our precious Earth. The following recipes, while safer and more Earth-friendly than their chemical counterparts, still require caution. Use common sense. Kitchen & Living Area Cleansers General Cleaners Window & Glass Cleaner 1 gallon water 1 cup white vinegar Apply with cloth or spray bottle; dry with clean cloth. (For heavily soiled windows, add 2 tablespoons corn starch to mixture; mix well) All -Purpose Cleaner 1 gallon hot water 1/2 cup borax Extra-Strength All-Purpose Cleaner 1/4 cup baking soda 1/2 cup white vinegar 3/4 household ammonia 1 gallon warm water Tea Kettle Lime Remover 1 cup apple cider vinegar 2 Tablespoons salt 1 cup water Mix ingredients together; add to tea kettle; boil for 15 minutes; let stand overnight; rinse with cold water. Polishing compounds Scouring Powder 1/4 cup baking soda 1/4 cup borax 11/2 cups hot water Aluminum Pot Cleaner 2 pints water 3 tablespoons white vinegar Bring ingredients to a boil; continue boiling until stains are gone. Note:  If stains cover more area than the mixture, increase levels of ingredients proportionately. Copper cleaner Rub with vinegar and salt. Silver polish 2 tablespoons baking soda 1 tablespoon salt Small piece of aluminum foil Mix above ingredients; soak silver for 1 hour; wash normally. Burned- or Baked-on food 2 tablespoons liquid dishwashing detergent 3 teaspoons baking soda Add ingredients to enough water to cover the burned on food; boil for 15-20 minutes; wash normally. Furniture Polish 3 tablespoons lemon juice 1 quart vegetable or mineral oil Combine lemon juice with vegetable or mineral oil; wipe on with a cloth; remove with a clean cloth. Wood Furniture/Floor Polish 1/2 cup white vinegar 1/2 cup vegetable or mineral oil 1 Tablespoon lemon juice Mix well; rub on surface; buff with clean, dry cloth. Linoleum and No-Wax Floor Cleaners Mix 1/2 cup white vinegar with 1 gallon water Linoleum wax and cleaner 1 cup white vinegar 2 gallons water Oil soap Club soda 1/4 cup skim milk Damp mop with the oil soap; combine the white vinegar with the water to remove grease film; polish with club soda; add skim milk to rinse water for shine. Drain Cleaners Regular Maintenance Pour 4 tablespoons of borax, followed by a slow pour of boiling water down kitchen drain once every two weeks. Drain Cleaner 1/2 cup baking soda 1/2 cup vinegar Pour baking soda and vinegar down the drain; let sit for 10 minutes; flush drain with 1/2 gallon of boiling water. Extra-Strength Drain Cleaner 1 cup baking soda 1 cup salt 3/4 cup white vinegar Pour ingredients into clogged drain; let stand for 20 minutes; then flush with 1 gallon boiling water. Bathroom Cleansers Toilet Cleaner 1/3 cup lemon juice 2/3 cup borax For stains: flush toilet to wet sides; combine the lemon juice and borax to make a paste. Coat the stains; let sit for 1-2 hours; scrub toilet with brush. For regular cleaning: sprinkle baking soda in toilet bowl and brush. Mildew Remover 1 cup hydrogen peroxide Spray bottle Lemon juice Borax Spray mildew with hydrogen peroxide; scrub with a thin paste of lemon juice and borax to inhibit new mildew formation. Natural Insecticides House and Garden Natural Insecticide 2 tablespoons liquid soap 1 quart water Spray bottle Mix soap and water; add to spray bottle; spray plants evenly, aiming directly at pests whenever possible. All-Purpose Insecticide 1 bulb of garlic 1 small onion 1 tablespoon cayenne (red) pepper 2 tablespoons liquid soap 1 quart water Spray bottle Finely chop onion and garlic; mix with tap water; add cayenne pepper; let sit for one hour, then add soap. Mix well. When foam subsides, strain into spray bottle. Keep refrigerated. Good for 1-2 weeks. Special Pest Treatments Ants Use boric acid, talcum powder, or chalk as a barrier along the line of entry. Snails and Slugs Fill a shallow pan with flat beer and place in the infested area. Roaches Set out a dish containing equal parts sugar and baking soda. Roaches are attracted to sugar, and baking soda is deadly to them. Fleas Orange peels Grapefruit peels 3 cloves garlic 1 tablespoon rosemary, (optional) 1 pint water Combine ingredients in blender; blend until liquified. Heat mixture on low heat for 15 minutes. Strain liquid into spray bottle. Spray on pet, and massage thoroughly into your pet's coat, avoiding their eyes. Note: Feed your pet brewers yeast and garlic, as a diet supplement. Vacuum furniture and carpet frequently (store vacuum outside of home--in shed or garage--during problem periods); clean your pet's favorite sleeping spots regularly and sprinkle with fennel, rue or rosemary. Kitchen & Living Area Cleansers General Cleaners Polishing Compounds Furniture and Floor Polish Floor Cleaners Drain Cleaners Bathroom Cleansers Toilet cleaner Mildew remover Natural Insecticides House and Garden Natural Plant Insecticide All-Purpose Insecticide Special Pest Treatments Discuss it! What do you think about this article? This is important, I want more I found it interesting Ehh, it was OK It's not that significant I don't care Subscribe Now!
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