The Homesteading Cottage: Natural Cleaning

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

How to Get Rid of Pests Naturally with Mint Tea

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Bugs. Yuck. I'm a girl when it comes to pesky critters that are arthropodic in nature. I love the outdoors and don't mind getting my hands dirty, but I LOVE to come inside where it's critter free (; Don't get me wrong...I'm not one of those squealers who gets woozy at the sight of bugs, I just do an icky dance for a second and then take care of business.

Our previous apartment had roaches twice a year, only during the times when our complex would put down new mulch in the beddings. These weren't the little creepy, scurrying kind you see on those bug extermination commercials...these were the big kahunas resembling something created by the Syfy channel. Well...maybe not THAT bad, but they were big!

Only one roach would infiltrate our compound each fall and spring season, but one was enough for me! Other than those two times, we would be bug free for the rest of the year. The good thing is that we knew when and where to expect them. Our deck was on the first floor and surrounded by mulch...no doubt why we had a visitor twice a year. Each time we saw the gardening crew putting down new mulch, we knew to be on the lookout. I was tired of lying in wait and decided to take a proactive approach.

After studying aromatherapy for several years, I knew that mint essential oil could be used as a roach deterrent and that it's a primary ingredient in several non-toxic roach sprays. The roaches avoid it and when coated with it, they suffocate. I also knew that ants stay away from the stuff too which is why we never had ants in our pantry (we always had a large paper bag filled with dried mint that we used in recipes, to make teas and bath soaks).

I didn't have any mint essential oil, but decided to get creative with the dried mint on hand.

Here are the steps I took...

1. I filled several cotton muslin bags with the dried mint - using one bag to make a strong mint tea and setting the others aside.

2. A tea was brewed by steeping one of the stuffed muslin bags for 30 minutes.

3. After the tea was made, it was cooled and then poured into a spray bottle full strength.

4. Dry mint leaves were generously sprinkled all over the cement deck floor and the mint tea spray was used to liberally coat the door frame (I even sprayed the outside of the door for good measure).

5. Once that was done, the remaining muslin bags were placed along the threshold for added mint fragrance inside the home. Curtains covered this area, so it wasn't noticeable at all.

I thought this might work, but wasn't totally convinced. And wouldn't you know it...we never had roaches again! Yes!!! So, if you're having roach or ant issues, turn to a natural option instead of a chemical one. The solution could be as close as brewing a cup of tea (;

Do you have any natural solutions for controlling pests that have worked for you?

{This post shared at The Chicken Chick}

With Gratitude,

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Friday, July 30, 2010

Frugal Friday - Make Your Own Cleaning Supplies

I posted this article back in January, but had to repost because it's one the of my favorite frugal tips! Making your own natural cleaning products can be one of the easiest steps to create a healthier home and save a ton of cash in the process. Think about all the cleaning products you buy, and if going green is important, these products can cost even more. Usually there's a different cleaner for every task, but if you stock just a few items you'll be able to tackle any job that pops up, and in a natural way!

There are so many books out now offering recipes and concoctions, but I suggest trying several simple recipes to get your feet wet. Below are a few essentials, many you might already have on hand.

Baking soda
Borax
Distilled white vinegar
Essential oils (lemon, lavender or tea tree)
Hydrogen peroxide
Liquid castile soap
Washing soda

Liquid dish detergent – Ratio of ½ liquid castile soap, ½ water, and 10-15 drops of lemon, lavender or tea tree essential oil.

Dishwasher detergent – 1 cup borax, 1 cup baking soda, 10-20 drops of lemon, lavender or tea tree essential oil. Use 1 tablespoon per load. Click here for photos in the step-by-step process...

Dishwasher rinse – White vinegar. Use this instead of products like Jet Dry and pour into the rinse compartment of your dishwasher.

Laundry detergent – ¼ cup liquid castile soap, 1 cup borax, 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup washing soda. 1 tablespoon does an entire load! If you have a really large load or one that’s extra grungy, use 2 tablespoons.

I’ve found it’s best to blend the liquid castile soap with one of the dry ingredients first, using a fork. Then add the rest of the dry ingredients and mix. A hand pastry blender works really well if you have one. Click here for photos in the step-by-step process...

I prefer not to use essential oils in the laundry detergent because the castile soap has such a beautiful scent all on its own. But feel free to add oils if you like. Just make sure they are clear oils, as those with any color will end up coloring your clothes. Or just add several drops of your favorite oil on a cotton rag and toss it in the dryer with the clothes. Instant dryer sheet!

Fabric Softener – ½ cup of distilled white vinegar. This is the best fabric softener and so easy! Yes, that’s it, just plain ol’ vinegar. Simply add it to the rinse cycle.

Vinegar also gets rid of urine odors – perfect for those who have little ones that wet the bed or pets who aren’t quite housetrained yet. Simply wash the load with ½ cup of vinegar and hot water. Then wash again with the laundry detergent and items come out fresh and clean!

Basic Cleaner – 16 oz of hot water and 1 oz of liquid castile soap. I use this to clean everything and always have some in a spray bottle! It also works as a floor cleaner. I use a steamer mop to clean our floors, but when I don’t want to drag it out, simply spray the Basic Cleaner on the floor and use a towel to wipe it up!

Another Multi-Purpose Cleaner – 16 oz of hot water, 3 tablespoons of vinegar and 10-15 drops of essential oils.

Window Cleaner – 16 oz of water, 2 oz of vinegar, ½ teaspoon of liquid castile soap and 10-15 drops of lemon, lavender or tea tree essential oil.

This also works as a great bathroom cleaner for the toilet, tub & shower since vinegar and tea tree essential oil kill mildew.

Vinegar can also be used on its own as a wonderful window cleaner.

Tub & Tile Scrub - Ratio of ½ water and ½ baking soda. Use a sponge or brush and scrub away! If you feel you need more “power” in the scrub, add a little liquid castile soap.

Bleach Alternative – Hydrogen peroxide makes a great bleach alternative.

Here are a few book recommendations to begin your natural cleaning journey:

In Gratitude,

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