Baking Soda Soother - Bath Blend of the Month

Soaking in a warm tub with baking soda can do wonders for the body, especially in gardening season.  This recipe has soothing ingredients to assist with all the summer ailments.

Summer Baking Soda Soother

• 1 cup baking soda
• 10 to 20 drops of lavender essential oil, for stress
• 1/2 cup coconut oil for dry skin
• 1/4 cup lavender flowers or leaves (for sunburn)
• 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats (for itching)

Combine items and add 1/2 cup of mixture to a cloth bag or tied closed in a washcloth and fill the tub.  Rub ball or bag over skin while soaking.

Natural Control of Ants

We are still getting used to our new house.  My last house had a seasonal ant infestation that I took care of with natural means and was able with a few modifications to keep them out of the house for the most part.

Here I had to start over.  We had the usual spring infestation when the ground warmed and they came in looking for food.  With a bit of work. I was able to end that in quick order.

Generally, I sprayed a vinegar mix in the areas they entered and sprinkled baking soda in the pathways to keep them from coming back.

Recently I have a new one, in my office by the window.  This is weird because the window is in a bumpout that does not reach the ground on the exterior of the house, so I am trying to figure out where they are getting in, so I can stop the invasion, but until I do I am using a number of different applications to keep them under control.

Controlling Ants Naturally

1. Distilled White Vinegar

A white vinegar and water solution is a common method to wipe out ants for good. Ants don't like the smell of vinegar. It not only repels them; it can also kill them. Depending on how much you can bear the smell, mix at least one part vinegar and three parts water. Some people use 100% vinegar in a spray bottle or a 50/50 mix of water and vinegar. You can stop with just plain white distilled, but since it is my office I opted for a thyme and lemon scented vinegar.  I can kill germs and the scent is more nose friendly as it is my office.

Ants search for food using pheromones, leaving a trail for other ants to follow. To get rid of the trail, spray this mixture anywhere you spot ants. Don't forget any entry points, like window sills, backdoors, or baseboards. Use the solution to wipe down and sanitize surfaces. If used once a week or so, you should see a marked improvement.

2. Citrus Fruits

Ants hate the smell of citrus fruits, such as lemons, limes, and oranges, so they're an excellent natural repellant. Save your lemon or grapefruit peels and scatter them around entryways. They act as natural deterrents without causing ants any harm.

3. Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil is one of the best household remedies for creeping critters in your home or garden. The odor of peppermint is strong enough to ward off insects—ants, flies, and mosquitoes—without being pungent enough to cause headaches or nausea.  I created a spray using peppermint essential oil using it to wipe down the windowsills, wall areas and baseboards.  The scent is very relaxing.

Another option is to use an oil incense burner near the ant infestation source to keep them from coming back. 

4. Cinnamon

Studies show that cinnamon has a compound known as trans-cinnamaldehyde that effectively repels and kills ants. Place ground cinnamon around common entryways and its strong smell will act as a natural repellent. You can also coat cotton balls with cinnamon powder or cinnamon oil and place them near ant-prone areas. I sprinkle cinnamon on ant hills that are too close to the house or along the foundation so they relocate away from the house.

5. Salt

Spread table salt near nooks and corners to keep ants away. A line of salt or baking soda creates a barrier that repels ants. A spray of salt water solution can also help kill ants by dehydrating them. I use this once I figure out where they are coming in then I spray them as they enter and leave and take care of them.

6. Cayenne or Black Pepper

Like many people, ants find the smell of raw pepper to be irritating. Sprinkle pepper around the areas where ants access the house. A Texas A&M study found that a water and pepper solution was effective at killing ants.

7. Borax (sodium tetraborate)

Borax and boric acid are not the same chemical compound despite their similar-sounding name. But both may be equally as effective at killing ants in the home.  However, it is imperative to keep borax away from pets and children as it may be harmful.

To use borax, follow these steps:

• Put on safety gloves.
• Make a solution of 1/2 teaspoon borax, 8 teaspoons sugar, and 1 cup warm water.
• Stir until the sugar and borax are dissolved.
• Saturate cotton balls and place them around your home in areas where you commonly see ants.
• After use, wash containers thoroughly or discard.

Find borax in the laundry section of Walmart or the grocery store or at your local hardware store.

So once I kill them at the entry point.  I will need to take care of the entry point.

How to Keep Ants Out of Your House

1. Seal all entry points. Caulk and seal any cracks or exposed crevices where ants can access the house.

2. Keep sweets in airtight containers, tightly wrapped with foil or plastic, or in the fridge. And stop throwing food items out in the office trash that may not be picked up as often as the kitchen trash.

3. Regularly clean countertops, floors, cabinets, and pantries. Also, keep pet food properly stored between meals and regularly clean pet bowls.

4. Take out the trash and make sure that the trash cans are covered. Inspect the cans for residue that might linger after taking the garbage out and clean them regularly.

We know they came into my office due to a tossed out frosty cup in my office trash.  The sweet was a magnet for the ants. I took out the trash, treated the wall so they lost the scent track to the trash can and then went looking for where they came in.  My office is nowhere near the kitchen or the pantry or anywhere else that food is kept so the fact I still have the ants after removing the Frosty cup means there is another source that requires investigation.

Spring Green Cleaning 2017

A few years ago I started being serious about removing chemicals from our cleaning materials.  Chas had some asthma symptoms and we always knew he was allergic to preservatives so I began to realize that the chemicals in the cleaning products probably contributed to indoor air pollution.  I started with the easiest things like the dishwasher detergent, and laundry detergent, then moved  to floor and window cleaning, now I have moved to specialty cleaning in the bathroom and kitchen.

I wanted an all purpose cleaner that we could spray on the counters.  My husband cleans up every little spill while cooking and i wipe down the island regularly so we keep the spray bottle on the counter for quick use.

I love the spray bottles that come with our commercial shower solution (I make a shower solution but my hubby goes through it faster than I can make more, so he buys it at the grocery when I am not looking.) The bottles have a built in tube so you can get every last drop from the bottom so I wash out the bottles and save them to use for kitchen and bathroom cleaner.

All-purpose Essential Cleaner
This simple solution will smell good, clean and disinfect.
     1/4 cup vinegar
     1/2 tsp washing soda
     15 drops of eucalyptus essential oil *
     15 drops of lemon balm essential oil *

Place all of these in a spray bottle then add enough warm water to fill the bottle and shake well.  You now have an all-purpose cleaner. You can substitute tea tree essential oil and/or lavender essential oil to replace one or both of the other oils.


To scour the sink you may need something a bit stronger, so make an abrasive cleaner with grapefruit  that smells good and inhibits microorganisms.  To give it more punch you can also add bergamot and lemon oil too.

Do not use this on a fiberglass tub or sink.

Abrasive Grapefruit and Lemon Scrub

1 cup fine grade pumice
1/2 cup clay powder
2 Tablespoons grapefruit essential oil
1/4 cup baking soda
1/2 cup boiling water

Mix all ingredients together and stir.  Store in a labeled airtight container.

To Use: Apply gently with a damp sponge or cloth and scrub.

Creamy non-Abrasive Scrub
Use this on any fiberglass surfaces and anyplace else you do want scratches but need some serious cleaning.

1/4 cup borax
castile soap
1/2 teaspoon lemon grass essential oil

In a small bowl, combine borax and just enough castile to create a thick paste.  Add essential oil and bend well.

To Use: Scoop a small amount of cleaner onto a damp sponge.  Scrub surface and rinse well.

Monthly Bath Blend - Fizzy Beer Salts

Beer baths have been popular in Europe for years, costing up to $60 a bath.  They claim the beer will soften the skin, make it more elastic, and promote tissue metabolism.  It is touted as great for psoriasis, eczema, and itchiness. Personally, I think it’s fun and definitely a novel & unique way to enjoy an intoxicating soak!  In our house beer is for making Belgian waffles so there is often an extra bottle or two from the last batch of waffles for me to use for this bath recipe.

There are many good aspects to this blend.  The ingredients are filled with minerals, vitamins and nutrients your skin and body need.  Always remember that the skin is your largest organ and can absorb many health nutrients. 

Citrus essential is chocked full of vitamins, enzymes, and nutrients that promote vibrant, clear skin. It’s exfoliating properties leave your skin brighter and silky smooth.  The Sea salts and Epsom salts in a bath can replenish the body’s minerals and soak away minor aches and pains.

“Fizzing” in this recipe comes not just from the beer, but from the combination of Baking Soda and powdered Citric Acid. When dry, they can be stored together with no reaction. Put them together in bath water and you have an effervescent delight, especially with some lime essential oil added to delight the senses!

Epsom salts and Sea salts can be obtained from a drug store, grocery store, or health food store. Look in the pharmacy section, or the baking section. Lime essential oil can be found in a health food store.  Powdered citric acid can be found in the “canning” section of grocery stores or hardware stores, or you can get some from Mountain Rose Herbs.

Your final product can be stored in canning jars but you can use empty, dry beer bottles for a great theme.

Fizzy Beer Bath Salts

1 cup Epsom slats

1 cup sea salts

1 cup baking soda

1/2 cup powdered citric acid (optional, delete if you don’t need the “fizz”)

10-20 drops lime essential oil

Mix the above ingredients and place in dry, waterproof container.

To Use:

Slice a lime in half and set on tub edge.  Add one can or bottle of beer to hot bath. Add 1 cup “Fizzing Beer Bath Salts” to bath, slip in.  Rub lime halves all over your face, arms, hands, anywhere you want to exfoliate your skin. Let sit on your skin a few minutes then slip under the water to rinse off and feel the fizz.

Stinky Shoes - Spring Cleaning Occasionally Series #5

I am not one for wearing shoes.  If it were not for the snow and cold, I might never wear them at all.  As it is I still wear clogs in the winter if there is no snow and if the temps are higher than 20 degrees.  Now just because I where clogs rather than tennis shoes does not mean that I do not have to deal with perspiration odor.  So these three recipes have all worked for me.  The Sage & Citrus one that I share first came from the book "The Naturally Clean Home" by Karyn Siegel-Maier.  She gives lots of recipes for crafting chemical free cleaning solutions, so check it out.  

This recipe gives my shoes an herby smell that most people assume is from the garden and I rarely admit to anything else.

Sage Citrus Sneaker Tamer

If your sneakers advertise the fact that you've been working hard, this recipe will help you keep the news to yourself.

2 cups dried sage

1 1/2 cups dried lemon balm

2 cups cedar chips

1/2 cup baking soda

2 tablespoons grated orange rind

10 drops rosemary essential oil

5 drops lemon essential oil

Combine the dried herbs, cedar chips, baking soda, and orange rind in a glass or ceramic bowl. Stir with a wooden spoon. Add the essential oils and stir to blend. Place half of the mixture in a clean sock and tie the open end shut. Stuff another sock with the remaining mixture and tie off. Place a stuffed sock in each sneaker overnight or when not in use.

I use baking soda and clay kitty litter (the cheapest kind you can get with no fillers or odor reducers is fine) to craft shoe deodorizers.  They impart the herbal scents and work great at absorbing the odors present.  I get mine at the dollar store.

Mint Shoe Odor Remover

With this recipe you get the germ fighting aspects of thyme and lemon grass.

2 cups natural clay cat litter

1 cup baking soda

1 cup calendula flowers

1 cup lemon grass

1 cup peppermint or spearmint leaves

½  cup thyme leaves

10 drops peppermint essential oil

10 drops wintergreen essential oil

10 drops eucalyptus essential oil

Combine the cat litter and baking soda in a glass or ceramic bowl and mix with a wooden spoon. Add the herbs and mix again. Add the essential oils and blend. Place half of the mixture in each of two clean socks and tie the open ends shut. Place a stuffed sock in each sneaker overnight or when not in use.

Stinky Shoe Sachet Blend

Makes 4 sachets

2 teaspoons essential oil of sandalwood

1 teaspoon essential oil of tea tree

1/2 teaspoon each essential oils of lemon and grapefruit
1/4 teaspoon each essential oils of spruce and lavender
4 cups natural clay cat litter
4 clean socks
4 rubber bands

Stir the oils into the cat litter in a glass jar with tight fitting lid.  Cover and let the mixture age for a week. Divide the mixture evenly between 4 socks and close them each with a rubber band. Place a sachet in each shoe and leave overnight. You may reuse the sachets for as long as the scent lasts.

Bath Blend of the Month - Ginger Root Bath

This is the third month of sharing Bath Recipes from the Vault. As I sort through my files of saved recipes, I am sharing those that are seasonally perfect for your bath.

If you enjoy making your own blends for the bath, I suggest taking a look at Natural Beauty at Home or Natural Beauty from the Garden by Janice Cox.  There are also many good bath blends in Phyllis Schaudy's The Pleasure of Herbs.

The scent of ginger, especially when you grate it fresh, is spicy yet sweet and mildly stimulating.  It is wonderful for improving circulation and as a stimulant to keep you fresh and wake you up.  In those just before Spring days when the weather can still be too cold this bath will warm you right up.  Go ahead and get a ginger root from the grocery store.  You can even take that root and plant it and grow your own for future uses.

GINGER ROOT BATH

Yield: 8 ounces, enough for one bath

1/2 cup baking soda

2 tablespoons grated ginger root

1/2 cup water

Grate the ginger using a fine grater or microplane.  Mix together all ingredients and pour into a clean container. 

To use: Pour entire mixture into the bath as you fill the tub, stir well.  Soak for 15 to 20 minutes. After bathing, dress warmly, as this bath is super cleansing and really opens up all your pores.

Bath Blend of the Month - Comforting Lavender Bath

I thought I would rummage through my recipes and find a great seasonal bath blend to share each month.  I am starting this recipe share with a recipe I think I obtained through the now gone Herb Companion Magazine.

If you like Bath recipes I suggest taking a look at Natural Beauty at Home or Natural Beauty from the Garden by Janice Cox.  In fact I found this slightly older YouTube video of her making colored bath salts.  Kinda fun, please check it out!

This month's blend is perfect for the winter months which can be very drying, the bath Blend has no salt.  The combination of oatmeal and lavender make it soothing to the skin and relaxing to the mind.  You can also use it in the summer months to calm the irritation of sunburn and insect bites.  It is pretty so you can also display it in a decorative container and it makes a nice gift.

COMFORTING LAVENDER BATH

Yield: 28 ounces, enough for seven baths

1 cup dried lavender flowers

2 cups oatmeal

1/2 cup baking soda

Place all the ingredients inside a food processor or blender. Grind until you have a smooth, fine

powder. The powder should have the consistency of whole-grain flour. Pour into a clean, airtight

container or resealable plastic bag. 

To use: Pour 1/2 cup into your bath as you fill the tub.