Desperate Gardener: Grandma's Secret Weapons Composting is great, we can all agree on that. But turning your compost and aerating it can be a pain. Especially if you are 86 years old! Wait until you see this secret weapon. My Grandma purchased some PVC pipe at the local hardware store and had my Uncle drill holes throughout it: Next, they placed the pipe through the compost cage, so that it sticks out on each side. Why do you need to aerate your compost?
15 Surprising Uses For Eggshells A couple of weeks ago I bought a composter for my garden. It’s a pretty fancy contraption. It’s actually TWO composters in one. The idea being that you can have one batch “brewing” while another batch is being utilized. As you can probably tell, I don’t know a whole lot about composting….YET. Ironically, since I’ve started saving my eggshells for the composter, I’ve also been learning about many OTHER uses of eggshells. A few fun FACTS about egg shells: An egg shell is made of calcium carbonate, which is also the main ingredient in some antacids. A few SURPRISING uses of egg shells: Nourishing Face Mask Pulverize dried egg shells with a mortar and pestle, then whisk the powder in with an egg white and use for a healthful, skin-tightening facial. Treat Skin Irritations Drop an eggshell into a small container of apple cider vinegar and let it soak for a couple of days. Powerful Cleaner Ground eggshells make a wonderful (and nontoxic!) Make Your Own Sidewalk Chalk What you need:
How to Make Homemade Laundry Detergent In the spirit of Laura Ingalls, with wash day being Monday, here's a little recipe for homemade laundry detergent you can use tomorrow, Monday! wash on Mondayiron on Tuesdaymend on Wednesday churn on Thursday clean on Friday bake on Saturday rest on Sunday from Little House in the Big Woods * I use these utensils for detergent making only. They all stay in the pot until I make a new batch. You will need: 1 bar of soap (any kind you want)1 cup of Borax1 cup of washing sodaa big pot ( that holds more than 2 gallons)a gratera funnela long spoon2 empty gallon jugs/containers Grate your bar of soap into your pot. Fill one gallon jug and pour water into pot with grated soap. Add the Borax and washing soda. Bring to a boil. Turn off the heat. Pour 1 gallon of your detergent into each container. A funnel helps tremendously. Now you have 2 gallons of homemade laundry detergent. This won't make many, if any, suds. Let me know if you make any or if you have any questions. Happy washing!
WD-40 Uses - Amazing Ways to Use WD-40 WD-40 has far more uses than just on squeaky hinges. Find out the amazing ways this garage staple can make your life easier. from Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things Loading 1. To keep squirrels from taking over a bird feeder, spray a generous amount of WD-40 on top of the feeder. To keep squirrels from taking over a bird feeder, spray a generous amount of WD-40 on top of the feeder. 2. What can you do when you reach for a drinking glass and get two locked together, one stuck tightly inside the other? What can you do when you reach for a drinking glass and get two locked together, one stuck tightly inside the other? 3. When pulling and tugging can’t get that ring off your finger, reach for the WD-40. When pulling and tugging can’t get that ring off your finger, reach for the WD-40. 4. Don’t let cockroaches, insects, or spiders get the upper hand in your home. • Keep a can of WD-40 handy, and when you see a… 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Uh-oh, now you’ve stepped in it! 14. 15. 16. 17.
12 Great Ways To Use Castile Soap Make sure you like Herbs & Oils World on Facebook to be updated every time we find a fantastic tutorial for exciting and innovative ways you can use herbs and essential oils. Castile soap is a fantastic natural product that can be used in so many different DIY beauty recipes and DIY cleaning products. Castile soap is a “true soap” and not merely a chemical detergent so it is biodegradable and earth friendly! Want to try castile soap? You can buy all sorts of different scents from this page on Amazon. It can be used to make all sorts of products, including: shampoo, laundry detergent, tub scrub, body wash, dog shampoo and much more. To see recipes for 12 homemade products using castile soap, read the full blog post…
How To Remove Grease Stains With One Natural Ingredient DIY Home World Creative Ideas For A Beautiful Home & Garden How To Remove Grease Stains With One Natural Ingredient July 2, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment This is a brilliant all natural solution for removing grease stains from clothing using just a few drops of an incredibly cheap natural ingredient you may even have in your home already. What is that ingredient? Eucalyptus essential oil! To find out how to use this wonderful ingredient to remove grease stains, visit CreativeChristianMama.com here… How To Remove Grease Stains by Taboolaby Taboola Sponsored LinksSponsored Links Promoted LinksPromoted Links You May LikeFrom The Web SlimLife Garcinia Cambogia Supplement Canadian Mom Loses 24kg in 2 Months using This Natural Pill...SlimLife Garcinia Cambogia Supplement Undo Stuff You Should Know How Investing Online Helped Me to Get My Dream Car? theCHIVE Best Wardrobe Malfunctions EvertheCHIVE Yellow Pages 4 Reasons Why Going to a Car Wash is Worth Your MoneyYellow Pages Caliser MadameNoire Ancestry Pages
How to Grow Stevia and Make Homemade Stevia Extract Have you ever wondered if it was possible to learn how to grow stevia and make homemade stevia extract – that “miracle” plant that is sweeter than sugar – for sweetener instead of paying through the nose for those little packets in the store? You can grow stevia at home, in pots or in your garden, and harvest it for dried leaves or extract. Starting Stevia Plants from Seed I purchased my stevia seeds from Pinetree Garden Seeds (currently priced at $2.50 for 15 seeds). Seeds are started much the same as any other garden seeds. Place 1-3 seeds in each cell and lightly cover with fine potting soil or vermiculite 1/8 inch thick. Seedlings should emerge in 7-14 days. The book suggests only watering from below every 3-5 days so the soil stays moist but not soggy. How to Transplant Stevia Seedlings When seedlings reach around 5 inches tall, trim 1-2 inches off the man shoot to promote branching. In fall, bring the plant inside if desired. Harvesting and Drying Stevia Cover, label and date.
Make Your Own Reusable Peppermint Kitchen Wipes In case you haven’t noticed, I really LOVE making my own homemade cleaning products. ;-) It’s just so comforting to know EXACTLY what is in the products I’m spreading around my home, and I get a thrill knowing how much time and money I’m saving as well! The Environmental Protection Agency cites artificial fragrances in cleaning products as an indoor irritant and pollutant. A single fragrance can include as many as 600 petrochemicals—all within the word “fragrance” on the label. The more I learn about, and experiment with, natural cleaning products (such as baking soda, castile soap, vinegar, etc.) the more I am convinced there really is no need to buy any of the expensive brand names that line the shelves of the cleaning aisle at your grocery store. The good old fashioned stuff our grandmothers and great grandmothers used is EFFECTIVE! Pairing these natural cleaners with essential oils only enhances their cleaning value and leaves behind a pleasant, natural scent.
Homemade Wipes for Cleaning! WELCOME to “Save My Sanity Saturday” at One Good Thing By Jillee….where I attempt to avoid having a nervous breakdown by actually giving myself a day off from blogging once a week!Here is an oldie but a goodie from all the way back on September 10, 2011…….. If you’ve read my blog lately…you’ll know I’m kind of on a “homemade” kick. Not necessarily homemade cookies, cakes and buns….but more along the lines of cleaning supplies, beauty products, etc. I haven’t gone off the deep end and started making my own dishes or shoes or anything like that (of course, never say never!) One thing I still buy and use are those disposable make-up remover cleansing cloths. Problem is…those makeup remover cloths are EXPEN$IVE! Tonight I saw an idea at WhiteHouseBlackShutters.com for making your own wipes with all-natural ingredients you probably already have on hand. The main ingredient (besides water) being coconut oil. Directions: Recipe for baby wipes: Recipe for makeup remover wipes:
Homemade Bleach Alternative There are other cleaners you can make with essential oils and you are helping the environment and your families in doing so. Below are some of my favorite recipes. SHOPPING LIST FOR RECIPES: To make the cleaners below, you’ll need the following: • Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate), a sodium salt • Washing Soda (Sodium Carbonate), related to baking soda • White Distilled Vinegar, an acid • Liquid Castille Soap, (Olive, Coconut, and other vegetable oils) • Organic Soap Flakes (Organic Coconut and Soy or Palm) • Organic Food Grade Vegetable Gylcerin, natural component of fats and oils. • Borax (Sodium Borate Decahydrate), sodium and boron- a natural mineral • Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2), naturally occuring water like liquid • Vodka • Citric Acid, bitter acid found in fruits • Essential Oils (yeah, doTERRA!) • Kosher Salt • Glass Spray Bottles, Containers, Mixing Bowls Most of these ingredients can be found in your grocery store. Combine ingredients, mix with a wire wisk.
9 Natural Ways To Keep Spiders Out Of Your Home Want to be notified each time we publish a new blog post? Then make sure you like Natural Living Ideas on Facebook here where we share not only our blog posts, but the best natural living ideas from around the web. Image Credit: cheetah100 @ Flickr Let’s be completely honest. But, how do you repel them naturally without hurting them, and without exposing your family to any potentially harmful chemicals? Read on for the answers you are looking for! Mint Them Out Did you know that spiders HATE peppermint? For more info on repelling spiders using peppermint oil, check out this great article: Clean It Up The cheapest and most organic way to repel spiders naturally is probably not the easiest! Use Vinegar White vinegar has about five trillion uses around the house (look it up!) Enlist The Help Of A Furry Friend Cats are a great spider deterrent! Don’t Let Them In Citrus Does The Trick Let Cedar Do The Work
Uses for Coffee Filters There are so many uses for coffee filters besides making coffee. They are great for cleaning, crafts, and organizing items just to name a few. This is a guide about uses for coffee filters. Solutions Read and rate the best solutions below by giving them a "thumbs up". Tip: Other Uses for Coffee Filters Use for coffee filters, other than making coffee. Party Bowls I used coffee filters at my daughters sleepover birthday party. By Tawnda Splatter Shield Use coffee filters as a splatter shield over dishes in the microwave. By imaqt1962 For Cleaning I ran out of paper towels and needed to finish the task I was doing. By ME More Ideas If you've ever purchased the wrong size coffee filters and wondered what on earth you could do with them, try this: Use a coffee filter or two to wash windows. By Bobbie G from Rockwall, TX Tip: Uses for Coffee Filters Coffee filters are a very thrifty product to have in your kitchen. By notwrong Tip: Coffee Filters for Taco Holders By melody_yesterday from Sedalia, Missouri
How to Make Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner and Spray Bottles That Won’t Leach | The Mommypotamus | organic SAHM sharing her family stories and recipes Yesterday, My Son Ate Some Laundry Detergent Being the kind, thoughtful mother than I am, I handed him a glass of water to wash it down. That, folks, is the beauty of making your own non-toxic cleaning supplies. The best part? They WORK. Yep, you can clear out 90% of your toxic cleaning supplies with some baking soda, vinegar, castile soap and a few essential oils! Unfortunately, Essential Oils Tend To . . . Increase the likelihood that plastic bottles will leach the kind of nasties you’re trying to avoid by making your own cleaners in the first place. Simply take an old screw top bottle (I use an apple cider vinegar bottle) and fit the nozzle from your old spray bottle on top. Need something to put inside your little container of absolute genius? Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner Ingredients ½ cup water½ cup apple cider vinegar or white (non-GMO) vinegar20 drops essential oil (see below for options) 1 cup water2 teaspoons castile soap20 drops essential oil (see below for options) Instructions