Natural Cleaning Solutions

From: Busy Mom Recipes

Vinegar is a great all-purpose cleaner, disinfectant and deodorizer. Mix one part vinegar with one part water in a spray bottle and use to clean countertops, appliances, glass, fixtures, mirrors and tile. You can also use 1/2 cup of vinegar as fabric softener (great for sensitive skin). For more vinegar uses go to: http://www.vinegartips.com/

Baking soda makes an excellent deodorizer. Sprinkle it on the carpet and let it sit for at least 20 minutes before vacuuming. Place an opened box in the refrigerator and freezer to absorb odors. Baking soda can also be used as a scouring powder and laundry booster. Keep a box near the stove to help put out a grease or electrical fire. For more ideas, check out Jill’s Secret Solutions at the Arm & Hammer site: http://www.armhammer.com/

Lemon juice is another good deodorizer and disinfectant. Add 3-4 teaspoons to the humidifier to get rid of unwelcome odors. Add a whole lemon peel to the garbage disposal to freshen up the drain and make the kitchen smell nice. Lemon juice can also be used to dissolve hard water deposits and soap scum. Combine lemon juice with vinegar or baking soda to form a cleaning paste for fixtures.

To polish furniture, mix two parts olive oil with one part lemon juice. Apply with a soft cloth and wipe dry. To remove water spots from wood furniture dab white toothpaste on the stain. Wipe and buff with a soft cloth after paste has dried.

To clean porcelain surfaces, sprinkle Cream of Tartar on a damp cloth and gently rub clean.

Use coarse salt to clean copper pots and pans. For tough stains rub in the salt with the cut half of a lemon.

Home Remedies

From: Busy Mom Recipes

• Drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately -- without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional "pain relievers."

• Did you know that Colgate toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns?

• Before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled with mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong Altoids peppermints. They'll clear up your stuffed nose.

• Achy muscles from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 tablespoon of horseradish in a cup of olive oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as a massage oil for instant relief for aching muscles.

• Sore throat? Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey. Take 1 tablespoon of this concoction six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria.

• Cure urinary tract infections with Alka-Seltzer. Just dissolve two tablets in a glass of water and drink it at the onset of the symptoms. Alka-Seltzer begins eliminating urinary tract infections almost instantly -- even though the product was never been advertised for this use.

• Eliminate puffiness under your eyes..... All you need is a dab of preparation H, carefully rubbed into the skin, avoiding the eyes. The hemorrhoid ointment acts as a vasoconstrictor, relieving the swelling instantly.

• Honey remedy for skin blemishes: Cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a band-aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin, sterile, and speeds healing. Works overnight.

• Listerine therapy for toenail fungus: Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again.

• Easy eyeglass protection: To prevent the screws in eyeglasses from loosening, apply a small drop of Maybelline Crystal Clear nail polish to the threads of the screws before tightening them.

• Coca-Cola cure for rust: Forget those expensive rust removers. Just saturate an abrasive sponge with Coca Cola and scrub the rust stain. The phosphoric acid in the coke is what gets the job done.

• Cleaning liquid that doubles as bug killer: If menacing bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets get in your home and you can't find the insecticide, try a spray of Formula 409. Insects drop to the ground instantly.

• Smart splinter remover: Pour a drop of Elmers Glue all over the splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue.

• Hunt's tomato paste boil cure: Cover the boil with Hunt's tomato paste as a compress. The acids from the tomatoes soothes the pain and brings the boil to a head.

• Balm for broken blisters: To disinfect a broken blister, dab on a few drops of Listerine... a powerful antiseptic.

• Heinz vinegar to heal bruises: Soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the bruise for 1 hour. The vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process.

• Kills fleas instantly. Dawn dish washing liquid does the trick. Add a few drops to your dog's bath and shampoo the animal thoroughly. Rinse well to avoid skin irritations. Good-bye fleas.

• Rainy day cure for dog odor: Next time your dog comes in from the rain, simply wipe down the animal with Bounce or any dryer sheet, instantly making your dog smell springtime fresh.

• Eliminate ear mites: All it takes is a few drops of Wesson corn oil in your cat's ear. Massage it in, then clean with a cotton ball. Repeat daily for 3 days. The oil soothes the cat's skin, smothers the mites, and accelerates healing.

• Vaseline cure for hair balls: To prevent troublesome hair balls, apply a dollop of Vaseline petroleum jelly to your cat's nose. The cat will lick off the jelly, lubricating any hair in its stomach so it can pass easily through the digestive system.

• Quaker Oats for fast pain relief: It's not just for breakfast anymore! Mix 2 cups of Quaker Oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the microwave for 1 minute, cool slightly, and apply the mixture to your hands for soothing relief from arthritis pain.