Natural Solutions for Cleaning & Wellness: Health Remedies and Green Cleaning Solutions Without Toxins or Chemicals
192
Natural Solutions for Cleaning & Wellness: Health Remedies and Green Cleaning Solutions Without Toxins or Chemicals
192Paperback
-
PICK UP IN STORECheck Availability at Nearby Stores
Available within 2 business hours
Related collections and offers
Overview
Transform your house into a toxin-free home with this valuable and practical guide. Halle Cottis goes beyond using vinegar and baking soda and provides powerful recipes to clean your entire house from the inside out. With ingredients such as salt, rubbing alcohol and castile soap, you can create indoor cleaners like the All-Purpose Disinfectant Cleaner, Powder and Liquid Laundry Detergent and Streak-Free Window Cleaner; and outdoor solutions, like Natural Garden Pesticide, Heavy-Duty Grill Cleaner and Screen Cleaner.
Halle uses turmeric, coconut oil and epsom salt to create concoctions that alleviate common ailments such as headaches and migraines, swimmer’s ear, cough and sore throat, and ease even the more difficult-to-treat health conditions such as eczema, poison ivy and poison oak, digestive system troubles and emotional issues like PMS, anxiety and seasonal depression.
Aside from reducing the amount of harsh and toxic cleaners and medicines in your home, you can rest easier knowing you’re saving both time and money with this wide range of 140 natural solutions.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781624143236 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Page Street Publishing |
| Publication date: | 02/07/2017 |
| Pages: | 192 |
| Sales rank: | 681,366 |
| Product dimensions: | 7.99(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.57(d) |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
Natural Solutions for Cleaning & Wellness
By Halle Cottis
Page Street Publishing Co.
Copyright © 2017 Halle CottisAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-62414-335-9
CHAPTER 1
BATHROOM
Cleaning a bathroom can be a dirty job. Many of the commercial products used today are full of chemicals and can be harmful to your health. With a couple of easy changes, you can quickly make your bathroom non-toxic.
Baking soda goes a long way in the bathroom. Use it to clean the toilets and scour the bathtub or shower. Baking soda can also be used to eliminate odor. We all know bathrooms can get stinky fast!
Hydrogen peroxide is another great ingredient for the bathroom. It disinfects surfaces and cleans windows like nothing else. It can clean tile and grout better than any commercial products.
Vinegar is the holy grail of natural cleaners! I use it in almost every chapter of this book. It is great for cleaning toilets, removing mold and mildew and breaking down soap scum. It easily gets rid of hard water buildup in a matter of minutes.
Essential oils can also be helpful for cleaning bathrooms. They provide antibacterial and anti-fungal protection. Some oils, especially lemon oil, help cut through grease and soap scum and can even help eliminate strong odors that are often present in bathrooms.
Gear yourself up with these ingredients and you will have your bathroom sparking in no time. The best part might be that your bathroom will have no traces of chemicals in it, so you'll be assured that you have a safe room where you can retreat.
TOILET CLEANER
Cleaning the toilet doesn't have to be a gross job. This solution creates its own fizzy bubbles, which clean the toilet for you. It's that easy!
Yield: 1 cup (237 ml)
¼ cup (52 g) baking soda
¾ cup (177 ml) distilled white vinegar
3% hydrogen peroxide
Sprinkle all of the baking soda into the toilet bowl and add the vinegar. This will create fizzy bubbles. Shut the lid and allow the bubbles to do their magic for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, scrub the toilet bowl well. Flush.
For the outside of the toilet bowl, use undiluted hydrogen peroxide. Spray hydrogen peroxide onto the outside of the surface, including the seat and the base of the toilet, and wipe clean. You can also add a tablespoon (15 ml) of hydrogen peroxide to a small damp towel and wipe the surface clean.
SOFT SCRUB BATHTUB, SHOWER AND SINK CLEANER
Sometimes you need a cleaner that can easily be made with a few quality ingredients and still has the incredible cleaning capabilities of a commercial cleaning product. This is that cleaner.
Yield: about 1½ cups (355 ml)
1 cup (206 g) baking soda
½ cup (118 ml) boiling water
2 tbsp (30 ml) lavender liquid castile soap (unscented liquid castile soap can also
be used)
In a small bowl, add the baking soda. Pour the boiling water over the baking soda and mix with a wire whisk until the solution is dissolved and well blended, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the liquid castile soap. Pour the mixture into a squeezable container.
To clean the shower and/or bathtub, squeeze the soft scrub onto the surface or directly onto the sponge. Scrub and clean the surface. Rinse. If the soft scrub thickens as it sits, just add water to thin and shake gently to combine.
This soft scrub cleaner can also be used to clean sinks and toilets.
MOLD AND MILDEW CLEANER
Several formulas can help you get rid of mold and mildew. I am providing two. Both are effective, but do not use a vinegar or acidic base solution on any stone surface (such as granite). Vinegar can also break down grout over time, so use the vinegar solution sparingly if you have grout. Be sure to test these formulas on a small section of the surface to make sure they're safe for your particular surface.
Yield: 1 cup (237 ml) each
SOLUTION #1
1 cup (237 ml) 3% hydrogen peroxide
SOLUTION #2
1 cup (237 ml) distilled white vinegar
10 drops melaleuca (tea tree) oil
SOLUTION #1:
Pour the hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle. Spray the entire surface from which you want to eliminate mold and mildew. Allow the solution to sit for 15 minutes and then rinse off.
SOLUTION #2
Pour the distilled white vinegar into a spray bottle. Add the melaleuca oil and shake well. Spray the solution onto the entire surface and allow to dry fully. Do not rinse. This method has a strong odor, but the odor will dissipate after a few hours.
SOAP SCUM CLEANER
Soap scum can be very difficult to remove. Here is a way to get rid of it once and for all! For tougher soap scum buildup, you may need to repeat this procedure several times.
Yield: about 2 ¾ cups (650 ml)
1½ cups (355 ml) warm distilled water (not regular tap water)
2 tsp (10 g) kosher salt
¾ cup (177 ml) Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds (not castile soap)
½ cup (118 ml) distilled white vinegar
Lemon essential oil (optional)
In a medium bowl, add the warm distilled water and dissolve the kosher salt. Do not leave out the salt: it thickens the solution. Stir in the Sal Suds and the distilled white vinegar. Pour into a spray bottle.
Turn on the shower as hot as it will go and run it for 5 minutes. The steam from the shower will help loosen the soap scum.
Liberally spray this solution directly onto the soap scum. Let sit for 15 minutes. For tough soap scum, allow the solution to sit for up to an hour. Completely rinse off the solution and watch the soap scum disappear.
For glass surfaces, once your soap scum is completely removed, add a few drops of lemon oil to a cloth and wipe it on the glass. This will help prevent future soap scum buildup.
As a daily shower routine to prevent any further soap scum, squeegee the shower dry or dry it completely with a towel.
SCOURING POWDER
Sometimes you need a strong scouring powder that can get just about anything clean. These three ingredients mixed together creates one of the best scouring powders available.
Yield: 1 cup (180 g)
½ cup (90 g) diatomaceous earth
½ cup (103 g) baking soda
6–8 drops lemon essential oil (optional)
Mix together the diatomaceous earth and baking soda and stir well. Add 6-8 drops of lemon essential oil if desired and shake well.
Transfer to a shaker bottle (I like to reuse glass spice jars), and shake a small amount onto the surface that needs cleaning. Scour the surface with a sponge, adding a little water if needed until surface comes clean.
This scouring powder is useful for toilets, bathtubs, showers, stainless steel and glass surfaces. Avoid using this on stone surfaces and copper.
GROUT CLEANER
Cleaning grout can be quite a challenge. My two solutions are incredibly effective. Both solutions require a little scrubbing, but the results are well worth it. When cleaning grout, always use a heavy-duty nylon brush.
Yield: varies
SOLUTION 1:
3% hydrogen peroxide
Baking soda
SOLUTION 2:
Distilled white vinegar
SOLUTION #1
If you have colored grout, be sure to test this solution in a small spot before cleaning all of it.
Liberally pour hydrogen peroxide on the grout and generously sprinkle baking soda on top of it. Let sit for 15 minutes.
After 15 minutes, scrub the grout solution with a nylon brush. Finish with a final rinse.
SOLUTION #2
Put vinegar into a spray bottle and spray the grout. Let sit for 5 minutes. With a nylon brush, scrub the grout clean. Finish with a rinse.
Vinegar can be harsh on grout, so be sure to use this method sparingly.
HARD WATER DEPOSIT REMOVER
Hard water deposits can be nasty to look at and even nastier to clean. These deposits can show up in the shower or even in the kitchen on items such as ice and water trays. Here is a simple solution that will allow you to wipe away those deposits.
Yield: 1¼ cups (225 ml)
1 cup (237 ml) distilled white vinegar
¼ cup (60 ml) lemon juice
Combine the vinegar and lemon juice in a bowl. If the item is removable (such as an ice or water tray), remove it and place it in a bucket. Cover the item with the vinegar and lemon solution and allow it to soak for 5 minutes, or longer for really thick buildup. After it has soaked, scrub with a nylon brush until it comes clean. Deposits will come right off.
If the hard water deposit is on a showerhead, soak a towel (large enough to cover the shower head) in a bucket of the vinegar and lemon juice solution. Take the towel and wrap it around the showerhead and secure it with a rubber band. Place a plastic bag over the towel and allow it to sit for 5 minutes, or longer for really thick buildup. Remove the towel and bag and wipe the hard water deposits off with a clean towel.
MIRROR CLEANER
Cleaning a mirror isn't hard, but getting it streak-free does require a few key techniques.
Yield: 1½ cups (355 ml)
1 cup (237 ml) water
½ cup (118 ml) distilled white vinegar
Rubbing alcohol
Cotton pad
Microfiber cloth or newspaper
In a spray bottle, mix together the water and vinegar. Place a little rubbing alcohol on a cotton pad and remove any dirt, smudges, toothpaste or anything else that might be on the mirror. Be sure to do this before you use the water and vinegar mix.
Spray the mirror with the vinegar and water mixture. With a microfiber cloth, start at the top of the mirror and wipe from left to right, working your way all the way down the mirror.
If you do not have a microfiber cloth, use an old newspaper.
CHAPTER 2KITCHEN
If there was ever a room to clean naturally, it would have to be the kitchen. So much of our food touches the surfaces of the kitchen. If you are using chemicals to clean your kitchen, you are most likely absorbing some of the chemicals in the cleaners.
Many people think that strong cleaning supplies are needed to prevent food-borne illnesses. This is not true. You can completely clean your kitchen with natural ingredients by following simple steps to keep bacteria and viruses away from food — and more importantly, away from you!
Some common ingredients used to clean the kitchen are vinegar and baking soda, but some simple food items can help as well.
We often use salt to season our food. Did you know that it can also help clean a cast iron skillet? It's true! It removes all those dried-on, stubborn tidbits in no time. Salt also helps thicken certain soaps. My lemon dish soap has salt in it for this very reason. Salt also helps soften water, which helps your dishes get cleaner.
Lemon is another good kitchen-cleaning ingredient. Lemon helps cut through grease and can get a microwave oven clean in a matter of minutes. It can also be used to clean cutting boards or other wood surfaces, and it is the single best ingredient for cleaning solid copper.
It doesn't take much to transform your kitchen into a natural kitchen. Follow these solutions, practice safe handling procedures and always wash your produce before eating. Wipe up immediately and clean your refrigerator often. With these simple steps, you will be on your way to a safe and clean kitchen.
LEMON DISH SOAP
When making homemade dish soap, you want suds! This solution has suds, cuts through grease and softens your hands. It is important to note that it is best not to use essential oils in this recipe, as they can alter the effectiveness. Plus, it already has a great natural pine and lemon scent.
Yield: about 3¼ cups (770 ml)
2 cups (473 ml) filtered water
1 tbsp (15 g) + 1 tsp (5 g) kosher salt
1 cup (237 ml) Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds
1 whole lemon, juiced
2 tbsp (28 g) pure aloe vera
In a large bowl, warm up the filtered water. Add the salt and stir until it is fully dissolved. Next, add in the Sal Suds, lemon juice and aloe vera and stir until well blended. The dish soap will thicken immediately. Pour into an old dish soap container and use as you would any dish soap.
POWDERED DISHWASHER DETERGENT AND RINSE AID
No more expensive products; this one will cost you only pennies per load! It can be hard to create an all-natural dishwasher solution that actually works. After many attempts, I found it crucial to add a few drops of dish soap. Please do not leave it out, but use ONLY three drops. If you do leave it out, your dishes will still come clean, but the glassware and plastic might end up with a cloudy film.
Yield: 1¼ cups (225 g) powdered dishwasher detergent, 1½ cups (118 ml) rinse aide
1 cup (206 g) washing soda
¼ cup (60 g) kosher salt
3 drops Lemon Dish Soap
½ cup (118 ml) distilled white vinegar
Mix together the washing soda and kosher salt. Store in an airtight container.
For each load, add 1 tablespoon (13 g) of the mixture and 3 drops of Lemon Dish Soap (no more) to the detergent compartment. Add the vinegar to the bottom of the dishwasher and wash as usual.
ALL-PURPOSE DISINFECTANT CLEANER
You may think that an all-natural disinfectant requires a complicated recipe with complicated ingredients. The truth is that you need only two or three ingredients for an incredibly effective disinfectant.
Yield: 2 cups (474 ml)
1 cup (237 ml) water
1 cup (237 ml) hydrogen peroxide
Essential oils (optional)
Add all the ingredients to a dark spray bottle. It is important that hydrogen peroxide stay in a dark container so that it does not lose its effectiveness. Shake the solution, spray on the surface and wipe clean.
A few essential oils that help with disinfection are melaleuca, lemon and eucalyptus. Do not use lemon on stone surfaces, such as granite.
STAINLESS STEEL CLEANER
Have you ever used olive oil to clean your stainless steel? I struggled with this method because olive oil does nothing to disinfect the surface, and over time it can leave a buildup on the stainless steel. Using hydrogen peroxide to clean stainless steel will disinfect the surface and leave it streak-free. A win-win!
Yield: varies
70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol
3% food-grade hydrogen peroxide
Microfiber cloth
Put a little rubbing alcohol onto a cotton pad and gently rub off any surface dirt. Be sure to remove all food particles and grease spots before wiping with hydrogen peroxide.
After spot cleaning, spray some hydrogen peroxide onto the surface and let it sit for about a minute. It is best to use a fine mist spray bottle so that the solution doesn't run off.
Wipe off the solution by starting at the top of the surface and moving downward and in a left-to-right motion. Always follow the grain of the stainless steel when cleaning it. This will prevent scratching or damaging the surface.
Finish with a microfiber cloth, starting from the top and moving downward, from left to right. This final step with help polish the surface and ensure that there are no streaks.
GRANITE COUNTERTOP CLEANER
Granite is a popular countertop surface in kitchens today. It is a great surface because it is hard and heat-resistant as well as easy to maintain. Here is a solution that will safely clean and disinfect stone.
Yield: 3? cups (788 ml)
Warm water
1/3 cup (78 ml) 70% rubbing alcohol
3 cups (710 ml) distilled water
Wipe the entire surface clean with warm water. Allow to dry. Pour the rubbing alcohol and the distilled water into a spray bottle and shake.
Spray the solution onto the granite and wipe clean with a paper towel. This single process safely disinfects the counters and cleans them, too.
DEGREASER
Sometimes you need more than hot water to clean up a stain. Grease can be incredibly stubborn to clean, so it requires a few more ingredients. This solution works well on stovetops. For bigger jobs, such as the entire oven, check out the Oven Cleaner solution.
Yield: 2¾ cups (650 ml)
1½ cups (355 ml) warm distilled water
2 tsp (10 g) kosher salt
¾ cup (177 ml) Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds
½ cup (118 ml) distilled white vinegar
Add the warm distilled water to a medium-sized bowl and dissolve the kosher salt. Do not leave the salt out of this solution, as this thickens the degreaser. Add the Sal Suds and vinegar and stir lightly. Pour into a spray bottle. To use, spray directly on grease. A little of this solution goes a long way, so don't overspray. Wipe clean with a warm, damp sponge.
ELIMINATE SPONGE ODOR
It seems like every few days you have to replace a sponge because it smells. Bacteria can quickly grow on sponges, so it is important to clean them regularly with a simple solution. You can dramatically extend the life of your sponge by following these simple steps.
Yield: about 1 cup (237 ml)
1 cup (237 ml) warm water
1 tbsp (13 g) washing soda
Add the warm water and washing soda to a medium-sized bowl. Stir to dissolve. Place the sponge into the solution and let soak for a few hours. Remove the sponge and squeeze out any remaining water. Allow to dry fully before using. Repeat this once a week to keep your sponges smelling fresh.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Natural Solutions for Cleaning & Wellness by Halle Cottis. Copyright © 2017 Halle Cottis. Excerpted by permission of Page Street Publishing Co..
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Introduction 9
Get to Know Your Natural Ingredients-The Basics 11
Natural Solutions for the Home 21
Bathroom 23
Toilet Cleaner 24
Soft Scrub Bathtub, Shower and Sink Cleaner 25
Mold and Mildew Cleaner 26
Soap Scum Cleaner 27
Scouring Powder 28
Grout Cleaner 29
Hard Water Deposit Remover 30
Mirror Cleaner 31
Kitchen 33
Lemon Dish Soap 34
Powdered Dishwasher Detergent and Rinse Aid 35
All-Purpose Disinfectant Cleaner 36
Stainless Steel Cleaner 37
Granite Countertop Cleaner 38
Degreaser 39
Eliminate Sponge Odor 39
Microwave Oven Cleaner 40
Oven Cleaner 41
Garbage Disposal Cleaner 41
Drain Clog Remover 42
Coffee Pot and Coffee Machine Cleaner 43
Cast Iron Skillet Cleaner 44
Silver and Tarnish Cleaner 45
Solid Copper Cleaner 46
Cutting Board Cleaner 47
Laundry 49
Powder Laundry Detergent 50
Liquid Laundry Detergent 51
Lemon Bleach Alternative 51
Scented Fabric Softener 52
Washing Machine Deodorizer 53
Sour Towel Relief 54
Blood Stain Remover 55
Laundry Stain Remover 55
Household Cleaning 57
Streak-Free Window Cleaner (Indoor and Outdoor) 58
General Floor Cleaner 59
Wood Floor Cleaner 60
Label and Sticky Residue Remover 60
Carpet Stain Remover (Wet and Dry) 61
Cigarette Smoke Odor Remover 62
Fabric Upholstery Freshener 63
Fresh-Cut Flower Food 64
Crayon and Pencil Mark Remover for Walls 65
Leather Furniture Cleaner and Conditioner 66
Electronic and Television Screen Cleaner 67
Fresheners and Deodorizers 69
Carpet Deodorizer 70
Air Freshener Spray 71
Bathroom Air Freshener 72
No-Wax Candles 73
Simmering Potpourri 74
Refrigerator Deodorizer 75
Trash Can Deodorizer 76
Car Deodorizer 77
Fish and Bacon Odor Remover 78
Odor Remover (for Garlic and Onion on Hands) 79
Pest Control 81
Asian Lady Beetles 82
Asian Lady Beetles: Eliminate Their Scent 83
Cockroaches 84
Fleas 85
Fruit Flies 86
Ant Control 87
Bed Bugs 88
Hornets and Wasps 89
Centipedes and Millipedes 90
Mice 91
Outdoors 93
Bug Spray and Patio Diffuser Repellent 94
Weed Killer 95
Natural Garden Pesticide 96
Heavy-Duty Grill Cleaner 97
Screen Cleaner 97
Car Wash Soap 98
Wax for Cars 98
Car De-Icer 99
Natural Solution for Common Health Problem 101
Head, Ears, Face and Mouth 103
Headaches and Migraines 104
Healing and Nourishing Customizable Dry Shampoo 105
All-Natural Head Lice Treatment 106
Nourishing Hair Mask 107
Lighten Hair Naturally 108
Darken Hair Naturally 109
Dandruff Control 110
Stye 111
Pinkeye 112
Excess Wax Removal from Ears 113
Swimmer's Ear 114
Gingivitis 115
Toothache Relief 116
Whitening Teeth 117
Remineralizing Peppermint or Cinnamon Toothpaste 118
Bad Breath Control and Mouthwash 119
Canker Sores 120
Cold Sores 121
Healing Lip Balm 122
Allergies 123
Foaming Face Wash and Toner 124
Acne Control Mask 125
Chest Throat and Immune System 127
Nasal Decongestant Rinse 128
Cough and Sore Throat Syrup 129
Vapor Rub 130
Flu 132
Heartburn, Acid Reflux and GERD 133
Stomachache 134
Restoring Electrolytes 135
Hands, Legs, Arms and Feet 137
Foaming Hand Wash 138
Sensitive Skin Body Wash 138
Hand Sanitizer 139
Easy Deodorant Spray 140
Sensitive Skin Deodorant Cream 141
Creamy Lotion 142
Sunscreen 143
Foot Odor 144
Athlete's Foot 145
Jock Itch 146
Healing Balm (for Sore Muscles and Joint Pain) 147
Skin Irritations and Health Conditions 149
Eczema Treatment 150
Plaque Psoriasis Treatment 151
Rosacea Treatment 152
Soothing Rosacea Gel 153
Minor Skin Burns 154
Minor Cut Disinfectant and Healing Ointment 155
Bruises 156
Razor Bumps 157
Warts 158
Splinters 159
Chafing Powder 160
Poison Ivy and Poison Oak 161
Bee and Wasp Stings 162
Anti-Itch Bug Bite Lotion 163
Flexible, Reusable Ice Packs 164
Reusable Heating Pads 165
Do-it-Yourself Adhesive Bandages 166
Butterfly Adhesive Bandages (to help close a wound) 167
Digestive System 169
Constipation 170
Diarrhea 171
Healing Drink for Diarrhea 171
Hemorrhoids 172
Gas, Bloating and Belching 173
Hiccups 175
Emotional and Pain Support 177
PMS and Menstrual Cramps 178
Nature's Pain Relief 180
Detox Bath 181
Seasonal Depression 182
Insomnia 183
Anxiety 185
References 186
Acknowledgments 188
About the Author 188
Index 189