Recipes for a healthy home

Summer 2012
If we work so hard to keep our bodies healthy, why not work just as hard to keep our homes healthy as well? You can keep your home clean and healthy with simple ingredients found in your kitchen. You don’t need to purchase toxic chemicals to disinfect and clean. Instead, enjoy the many benefits of using natural products that are safe, inexpensive and extremely effective. Take a look at what you can do with white vinegar, baking soda, cornstarch, lemon juice, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, olive oil, club soda, cream of tartar and a walnut!

For the Kitchen:

• White vinegar is a natural deodorizer and absorbs rather than covers up odors. Clean countertops, exterior surfaces, and floors by mixing 1 cup water and 1 cup white vinegar in a spray bottle.

• Adding white vinegar to your dishwasher gets rid of water spots on your glassware. Fill the reservoir for a rinsing agent with it.

• To remove grease and grime from pots and pans mix 2 ½ cups baking soda, 1 ½ c salt and 2 T cream of tartar.

• To clean stainless steel sinks use this inexpensive paste. Mix 3 tsp cream of tartar with 1 tsp hydrogen peroxide and rub on with a cloth.

• Pouring baking soda and white vinegar into the kitchen sink drain keeps it clear and smelling fresh.

For the Bathroom:

• White vinegar can be used to scrub the inside of the toilet bowl. It helps to remove hard water deposits and soap scum. It is a great sanitizer.

• Sprinkle baking soda on a wet sponge to clean bathtub rings.

For the Living Room:

• For furniture polish use 1 cup of olive oil which shines and protects the wood and ½ cup lemon juice which dissolves dirt and smudges. Mix the two ingredients in a spray bottle or in a bowl and rub them into the furniture with a cloth. Use another cloth to wipe dry.

• Use club soda to remove carpet stains.

Simply pour a small amount on the stain, rub in with a cloth and then wipe away the stain.

• Rub half a walnut on wood furniture to cover a scratch. The natural oil will blend with the finish.

For the Laundry:

• Add 1 cup of white vinegar to your washing machine’s rinse cycle to soften clothes. This is especially great for those with sensitive skin.

• Add a cup of lemon juice to the wash cycle to whiten clothes.

For Windows and Mirrors:

• Mix 1 cup rubbing alcohol, 1 cup water and 1 T white vinegar. Use on mirrors, chrome fixtures and windows.

Or another recipe is to use ¼ cup white vinegar, 1 T cornstarch and 2 cups warm water.

For Odors:

• Place a cup of vinegar in a room to get rid of odors.

• Sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of the kitchen trash can.

• Boil lemon juice or lemon slices to get rid of the smell of burnt food.

You’ll discover the healthful and safe ways to maintain a clean environment for a fraction of the cost. Protect your health and eliminate toxic chemicals from your life. You’ll avoid allergic reactions, illnesses that toxins can present and allow your body to heal if you already have a chemical sensitivity.

Best of all, when you’re done, you can return your natural products to your kitchen shelves to use them in your favorite recipes. HK

Why Baking Soda and Beauty go together...

It’s been around for over 160 years and costs about $1. Baking soda has proven itself to be the best bang for your buck. Yes, we stock boxes in the fridge and rely on it for baking, but this pure and natural substance does a whole lot more than that. Here’s six ways you can take baking soda out of the kitchen and into your beauty routine.

Smooth Your Skin

Mix three parts baking soda with one part water and rub in a circular motion to exfoliate and remove dead skin cells. Turn the mixture into a nourishing treatment by adding one part ground oatmeal. Cleanse Your Hair Banish product buildup by sprinkling a quarter-size dose of baking soda into your shampoo, mix it in your palm and cleanse as usual.

Brighten Your Smile

Wet your toothbrush, sprinkle a little baking soda (instead of toothpaste) and brush. Or use as a refreshing mouthwash by adding one tablespoon of baking soda to half a glass of water. Just mix, swish and rinse.

Deodorize Yourself

Substitute baking soda for your underarm deodorant. Trust us, it absorbs the odors instead of masking them.

Soften Your Cuticles

Scrub your nails or toenails with a nailbrush (or old toothbrush) dipped in baking soda. This will soften and gently exfoliate cuticles.

Soak

Add half a cup of baking soda to a hot bath for a relaxing soak. The baking soda will neutralize body odor, clear away perspiration and soften your skin. Soaking in baking soda is particularly good for skin with rashes, sores or itchy dry patches.