Spring Cleaning with Herbs: Natural Solutions for Your Home

That time of year again, weather is warming and you want to open up the house and refresh after being closed up for the winter.  I love using herbs to wake up my senses and  make my home feel extra clean for the new season.  I wanted to share a few recipes to help you do the same.

The natural ingredients used in these recipes are:

Baking Soda – A gentle abrasive that helps scrub surfaces, deodorizes odors, and neutralizes acids. Great for removing stains and freshening fabrics.

Vinegar – A natural disinfectant that cuts through grease, dissolves mineral buildup, and neutralizes odors. Works well for glass, countertops, and descaling. Herbal vinegar ups this ability and I have several posts on making vinegar.

Castile Soap – A plant-based soap that lifts dirt, grease, and grime without harsh chemicals. Safe for most surfaces and great for all-purpose cleaning.

Essential Oils – Provide antibacterial, antifungal, and deodorizing properties while adding a natural, pleasant scent. Common choices include lemon, tea tree, and lavender. I love Now Brands for my oils because they are local and Illinois, like I am.

Hydrosols – Milder than essential oils, hydrosols have antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, making them great for gentle cleaning, refreshing fabrics, and surface sprays. I get my hydrosols from individual suppiers if I don't make it myself. Check out Mountain Rose Herbs

Now to the recipes:

Herby Soft Scrub

• 12-ounce glass jar with lid
• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1/2 cup castile soap
• 15 drops of antimicrobial essential oils, like rosemary, thyme and sage

Mix well until you have a nice consistency like cake frosting. If you have leftovers, add 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin to keep the blend nice and moist.

Super Surface Spray

• 16 ounces spray bottle
• 14 ounce - 1:1 solution of distilled white vinegar and water
• 7 drops tea tree essential oil
• 7 drops lavender essential oil
• 7 drops lemon essential oil

Use this aromatic and disinfecting solution for cleaning kitchen counters, cabinets, refrigerator shelves, blinds, painted wood surfaces, painted walls, molding, fan blades, and more.

Antibacterial Soap Spray

• 16-ounce spray bottle
• 14 ounces water or rosemary hydrosol
• 3 tablespoon castile soap
• 15 drops tea tree essential oil
• 15 drops oregano essential oil

Use this cleaning spray to disinfect your bathroom surfaces. You can use the Super Surface Spray to rinse away any residue left behind by the castile soap.

Natural Lemony Furniture Polish

• 16-ounce spray bottle
• 1 cup olive oil
• 25 drops pure lemon essential oil
• 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
• Fill remainder of the bottle with purified water

Shake well and spray onto your rag or directly onto furniture. Buff dry immediately.

Lavender Dryer Sachet

•          1 3 x 3 inch muslin draw string bag
•          ½ cup lavender buds
•          Cotton balls

Place lavender buds in muslin bag, place 2 to 5 cotton balls in top of bag.  Pull draw string closed and tie in a knot.  The cotton balls keep the buds from slipping out of the tied bag during the tumbling.  Use multiple drier loads.  Spritz with a bit of water after three loads to rehydrate the lavender.  Stop using it when smell is gone.

Do you have favorite scents or cleaning agents that get you ready for the Spring season?  Share them with us.

Scented Cleansing Bath Salts - Bath Blend of the Month

This combination of salts and essential oils makes a blend that is uplifting in scent and cleansing in nature.  It is a perfect blend to take the edge off your day and give you a pick-me-up as the days get shorter.

Scented Bath Salts – a cleansing formula 

• 1/3 cup Epsom salts
• 1/3 cup sea salt
• 1/3 cup baking soda
• 15 to 20 drops of essential oils (total)
•   6 drops lavender essential oil
•   6 drops grapefruit essential oil
•   6 drops juniper essential oil

Combine the salts together in a bowl and mix thoroughly, working out any lumps.  Add the essential oils by drop, mixing after each addition to make sure they are thoroughly spread throughout the salts.  Place in a tightly lidded jar for storage.

To Use: add 1 to 2 Tbls to running bath water. Soak and Enjoy!

House Cleansing Simmer

To link with my scented herb bundles of a few days ago, here is a simmer you can do on the stove to cleans the air and freshens the house.


It is raining here again and just chilly enough we can't open the doors, so I pulled together this scented simmer to clean the air and brighten and freshen the house.

I am making dried lemon peel, a task I ususally have trouble finding time to accomplish, but not right now!  As a result I purchased a couple dozen organic lemons and am zesting them.  Then I took several lemons and made this simmer.

House Cleansing Simmer

2 lemons, sliced
1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
2 sprigs Rosemary

Place all items in a pot with water and simmer together.  Remember to continue to add water as it boils away.

Use some simple ingredients to clean your air and continue to stay safe indoors!

Herbs and Disinfection in the time of Coronavirus (COVID-19) weekend recipes

I have begun to feel some intense pressure as a result of the CoVid-19 situation.  I worry that I stay healthy as I work directly with members of the public.  I am concerned that the places that I teach are clean and that people will feel comfortable enough in them to actually put aside their worries and learn.  I have had programs cancelled as events, organizations and institutions do hard and soft shutdowns.

Disinfecting herbs rosemary, oregano, sage (clockwise from top)

This Chicago Flower and Garden Show has been cancelled, so my book launch will not be happening quite as I envisioned it.  I am working on what I can do instead.

Community Education in District 128 and District 214 has been cancelled/postponed until at least April 2020.  That is a shame as I had a nice sized class for Mocktails that would have happened last night, had the district not shut down all extra activities effective Thursday at 1:00 pm. The Garden Club has to cancel the March meeting at the request of the library where we meet.

So I can sit around and worry, or I can share some of the things I have been doing to make sure I stay healthy and that the areas I function in stay clean and sanitary.

Since disinfectants, hand sanitizer and other items are selling out in stores, my main weapon is an herbal vinegar I made myself specifically to clean with.  We have been using it on our kitchen counter since last summer and we love it.  The herbs were chosen for their disinfecting qualities.  You should be able to get fresh herbs and distilled white vinegar in the store as other things sell out.


Vinegar is a great germ fighter

Vinegar can be used as a safer bleach alternative for some applications, such as cleaning, and research has shown it can be affective against some bacteria and viruses, including the flu. It is also biodegradable. Vinegar is not a registered disinfectant, however, and does not kill dangerous bacteria like staphylococcus. We do not know how it works against CoVid-19, but its effectiveness against flu makes it a good choice as a disinfectant.

Cleaning Vinegar

Thyme or lemon thyme
Rosemary
Sage
Lemon Balm
Distilled white vinegar (5% acidity)

Use one or all of these herbs and add 1 cup of fresh leaves or branches to 2 cups of vinegar in a glass jar.  Bruise the herbs in the jar and then allow the vinegar and herbs to steep for 1 to 2 weeks before straining to use. To speed the steep, warm the vinegar after you place in the herbs.  Pop in the microwave for 2 minutes on high, then let steep. When warmed the vinegar will be ready in a week.




Kitchen Disinfectant

Create a 50/50 blend of cleaning vinegar and filtered water in a spray bottle.  More than 50% and the room smells like vinegar.


Counter and Appliance Cleaner

3 cups water
1 cup herb vinegar (cleaning vinegar or any single disinfecting herb vinegar)
2 tsp lemon juice
10 drop lemon essential oil


This is an all-purpose cleaner, much more diluted than a disinfectant.  You can use it to wipe down counters, walls, tables, toys, appliance surfaces and shelves.


Floor Cleaner

½ cup vinegar
½ gallon warm water

Combine in a large bucket and soak a mop or sponge, wring out the excess and wipe the floor.  Allow to air dry.


Alcohol is a great disinfectant

Alcohol has long been used as an antiseptic. Ethyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) in particular is effective against a wide range of bacteria, and also some viruses, namely those known as "enveloped viruses." These viruses — including influenza and coronaviruses — are enveloped in a lipid membrane that can be disrupted by alcohol and other disinfectants, thus inactivating the virus. Alcohol may not be helpful, however, against viruses that lack this envelope, such as norovirus.

For disinfecting surfaces, the CDC advises using an alcohol solution with at least 70% alcohol. For hand sanitizers, it suggests using one with at least 60% alcohol, although it notes washing your hands with soap and water is preferable. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned the makers of some hand sanitizers against claiming their products can prevent infections like the flu, citing inadequate evidence. If you buy hand sanitizer, avoid products that contain triclosan. As an alternative to buying it, you could also make your own hand sanitizer at home.

Here is the recipe to make your own hand sanitizer, however I have not had to go to the store to buy these ingredients as I have them on hand.  I have heard that getting Aloe Vera Gel might prove to be a challenge.

Handmade Hand Sanitizer

6 Tablespoons rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol), at least 60% alcohol by volume 
2 Tablespoons aloe vera gel 
3 to 4 drops essential oil (optional) 

Simply mix the alcohol and aloe vera together well and pour it into a bottle using a funnel. You can double, triple or quadruple the recipe as needed.  You can use a squeeze bottle or a spray bottle.  Then carry in your purse or pocket.

Note that you shouldn't use fresh aloe vera but should use a commercial gel because fresh won't remain stable for long-term use.  Essential oils should be tested for irritation before being used. So they can be an optional in this mixture.  If you want more germ fighting, try rosemary, tea tree or thyme oil.  If you want something to soothe your worry, try lavender or lemon balm or geranium.

I used thyme and lemon grass oil in my hand sanitizer, because they smell good and will add to the germ fighting.

Bleach can disinfect the best, but...
Bleach is a relatively cheap and highly effective disinfectant. It kills some of the most dangerous bacteria, including staphylococcus, streptococcus, E. coli and salmonella — as well as many viruses, including the flu and the common cold. It should also work on the novel coronavirus, according to the CDC, which notes that "unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted."

In its guidance for COVID-19, the CDC advises using a bleach solution with 5 tablespoons (1/3 cup) bleach per gallon of water, or 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water, and following manufacturer's instructions for application and ventilation.

While bleach can be an important disinfectant in some situations, though, it's also a potential hazard to human health, capable of not only irritating sensitive tissue in the eyes, skin, mouth and throat, but also contributing to long-term respiratory problems like asthma. Bleach can also be hazardous to pets, wildlife and ecological health. There are some safer alternatives in disinfecting wipes and cleaning sprays, although these eco-friendly choices may not be as effective in killing bacteria and viruses.

So I hope that you are keeping yourself well. And that these recipes can help you lower the amount of worry in your circle so that we keep panic at bay and enjoy the upcoming growing season.

Spring Cleaning the Green way

Previously I mentioned a few naturally available cleaning agents that you can employ to make your own cleaning materials.  Now I will expand on that list to include a few more items you can use and how to use them.

In the first post I talked about baking soda, vinegar, borax and castile soap along with herb essential oils.  This time we will add a few more.

Baking soda. It's the grit. When you're scrubbing, you sometimes need to be like Mike--mildly abrasive, but in a good way. Baking soda also fizzes when you mix it with water, vinegar or lemon, and that can speed up cleaning.

Borax. Even without the twenty mules, this helpful cleaner disinfects, bleaches and deodorizes.

Distilled white vinegar. This natural disinfectant also breaks up dirt. Apple cider and red vinegars work, too, but they can stain. All three do windows. Vegetable based (liquid castile) soap This is a non-petroleum cleaner you can use for all kinds of jobs. 

Hydrogen Peroxide. Put the 3% solution you get at the drugstore into a spray bottle and use it instead of your usual kitchen and bath cleaner. It cleans, disinfects, and bleaches.

Lemons Lemon juice is a good grease cutter. Bottled works almost as well as fresh squeezed.

Olive oil It's a furniture polish. No need to use extra virgin.

Washing soda It removes stains and helps unblock pipes, but it is caustic. You need to use care and gloves.

RECIPES

Fruit & Veggie Wash 

Wash vegetables and fruits with hydrogen peroxide to remove dirt and pesticides. Add 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide to a sink of cold water. After washing, rinse thoroughly with cool water.

 

Food Stain Dissolver 

Remove baked-on crud from pots and pans. Combine hydrogen peroxide with enough baking soda to make a paste, then rub onto the dirty pan and let it sit for a while. Come back later with a scrubby sponge and some warm water, and the baked-on stains will lift right off. 

All-Purpose Cleaner with Lavender

You can bump up the intensity of the lavender scent, use a castile soap that is already imbued with lavender.  This spray is perfect in a spray mop.

2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar

1 teaspoon borax
Distilled or purified water

1/4 cup lavender liquid castile soap

10 drops lavender essential oil 
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Mix vinegar and borax in a 16-ounce bottle. Fill the bottle 3/4 full with hot water. Shake until borax is dissolved. Add the soap, essential oil and lemon juice. Shake well.

Antibacterial Soap Spray 

16 oz. spray bottle
14 oz. water or rosemary hydrosol
3 Tbls castile soap
15 drops of tea tree essential oil
15 drops of oregano essential oil

Use this cleaning spray to disinfect your bathroom surfaces. You can use the Super Surface Spray to rinse away any residue left behind by the castile soap.

Thyme Counter Cleaner

This recipe makes cleaning your counters a breeze! Castile soap lifts dirt and grime, while the water helps rinse it away. Germ-busting thyme is infused into common isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, which helps the spray dry to a non-streak shine. If you’re sensitive to the scent of rubbing alcohol, try using clear vodka instead.

 3 tablespoons (45 ml) isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol

 2 teaspoons (10 ml) liquid castile soap

 2 tablespoons (1 g) dried thyme

1 cup (250 ml) water

Thyme Infused Alcohol - place the thyme leaves in a small cup or jar and pour the alcohol over them. Cover, and infuse overnight. Visual bonus: the alcohol will turn a pretty shade of green.

To mix counter cleaner - Fill a spray bottle or jar with the water, then gently stir in the castile soap. Pour the infused alcohol into the mixture and stir once more. Be sure to label your counter cleaner, so no one mistakenly thinks it’s an herbal mixture that can be ingested, and keep it out of the reach of small children.

To Use: Shake gently before each use. Spritz over your counters, paying extra attention to especially dirty spots. Use a rag or paper towel to wipe and buff dry.

Cleaning with Natural Products - Starting out

The pleasure of working with herbs, not only in the garden but in my home, everyday give me tremendous fulfillment.  From cooking with herbs, to herbal teas, to bath items I can use without worry, they are everywhere in my life.  

This time I year I really enjoy the fact that I can create herbal recipes to sweeten, freshen and disinfect my home.  Herbs, along with essential oils, have been part of my cleaning ritual for so long I cannot imagine not using them.  I’ve added herbs to bath and shower disinfectants, floor cleaners, and carpet fresheners.  

I have done a number of different herb programs, but one of my most popular is a “Green Cleaning” program that details ways to clean, disinfect and freshen your home using herbs.

I recommend starting your natural cleaning supply shelf for your herbal natural cleaning recipes with... a bottle of Castile Soap, some straight borax, baking soda, vinegar, ammonia, and the following essential oils: thyme, pine, lavender, tea tree, and a citrus oil like lemon or orange.  With these and a few other ingredients you can craft simple and effective cleaning supplies for little money and with little effort.

At the bottom of this post and several other times this moth, I will share a few items you can craft at home.  This starter article with give you the details for what supplies you need and where to find them. 

Where to get your Supplies

Borax is available in the cleaning aisle of the grocery store as well as at the drug store and sometimes the hardware store.

Baking soda is most commonly used in cooking so look for it not only in the laundry aisle at the grocery store but also with the baking supplies like flour and baking powder.

Vinegar is in the salad dressing aisle of the grocery store.

Castile Soap which is a vegetable-based liquid soap is made by many companies the most common is Mrs. Meyers and Dr. Bonners.  I some areas you will find these only in specialty health food and whole food stores, but in other more urban areas, you will find it in the soap aisle, laundry aisle or the beauty aisle of your local hardware or Walmart.

Herbs and Essential Oils to Use

The herbs and essential oils that you’ll find most useful for various household tasks include those that inhibit the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. Others are also good for cutting grease and removing stains. You must obtain your essential oils from a reputable source and there are many,  If you want them reasonably priced and of good quality, I recommend NOW brand, founded in 1968 they are one of the only companies to be doing this for more than 50 years.  Located here in Illinois with me, I can find now in the local Fruitful Yield chain, but they are also available in health food stores nationwide and online.  The following lists of herbs is a guide to making your own formulas.

Herbs that inhibit microorganisms: basil, bay, benzoin, bergamot, camphor, cardamom, chamomile, cinnamon, clary sage, clove, eucalyptus, fir, ginger, grapefruit, juniper, lavender, lemon, lemon balm, meadowsweet, myrrh, myrtle, nutmeg, orange, oregano, patchouli, peppermint, Peru balsam, pine, rose-scented geranium, rosemary sage, sandalwood, savory, spearmint, spruce, tea tree, and thyme.

Herbs that work on dirt and stains: balsam. cedar, cedarwood, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, orange, pine, rosemary, spruce, thyme

RECIPES

Essential Oil Scouring Powder

This scouring powder works wonders on tile grout stains, bathroom & kitchen sinks, and showers.  A soft sponge will work on mild stains and a nylon scrubber used with this will lift tough stains. Adding essential oils gives it the power to cut greasy dirt, battle microbes, while adding an appealing scent.

1/2 cup borax 

1/2 cup baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons each essential oils of lemon, orange, and grapefruit

Pour the borax and baking soda into a glass bowl. Stir in the lemon, orange, and grapefruit oils, mashing any lumps with a fork. Store in a glass or metal jar with a lid. Wear gloves when you use this cleanser.

Herbal Rug Fragrance

When our living-room rug smells musty, I hear about it right away from my husband, who does his morning exercises on it. Here’s a simple herbal solution. (If fleas are a problem in your house, add 2 cups of chopped, dried orange peel or pennyroyal leaf to the recipe.)

3 cups dried lavender flowers or leaves
2 cups dried rosemary leaves
3 pounds baking soda

In a large glass, earthenware, or stainless-steel bowl, blend the lavender flowers, rosemary leaves, and baking soda. Sprinkle the mix over a freshly vacuumed rug and leave overnight. Then vacuum again. Makes enough for an 8- by 11-foot rug/room. 

Herby Soft Scrub
12 oz glass jar with lid
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup castile soap
15 drops of antimicrobial essential oils like rosemary and sage

Mix well until you have a nice consistency like cake frosting. If you have leftovers, add 1 tsp vegetable glycerin to keep the blend nice and moist.

Mop-It-Up Formula
1/4 cup castile soap
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
20 drops of tea tree essential oil
20 drops of sweet orange essential oil


This is the perfect liquid cleaner for tile floors, vinyl, or linoleum.  Mix the ingredients together in a glass jar, then add the entire solution with 2 gallons of hot water and use it to mop away dirt and grime on all types of floor surfaces.

WORD TO THE WISE (DANGER)

When making your own cleaning supplies you must still remember the rule NEVER mix cleaning products.  Mixing anything that contains chlorine bleach with cleaners having vinegar or ammonia will create toxic chlorine gas 

I will be giving a few more tips on herbs and oils to use, a couple specialty recipes and several other cleaning recommendations in the coming weeks.

Cleaning Your Kitchen and Bathroom

To make many of your own cleaning products you need simple ingredients, Hot water and these three items:

• Vinegar
• Castile Soap
• Washing Soda

These items, which you can generally get at the grocery store.  Washing soda is like baking soda and can be found in the laundry aisle at most WalMart Stores, look on the very top or very bottom shelves by the Fels Naptha soap.

Vinegar: It will cut grease, eat away lime, and destroy odors.  Because of  its neutralizing properties white vinegar is good for washing windows, sanitizing kitchen counters, and shining bathroom fixtures.  To improve the disinfecting qualities you can make an herbal vinegar with sage, thyme, mint or lemon balm.

Vegetable Oil Soap (Castile) Soap: This natural soap is great for floors and all-purpose cleaning when combined with vinegar or warm water. To wash floors (not wood) add 2 teaspoons of castile soap to 3 gallons of water, but you must rinse well with water afterwards.

Washing Soda: this is an old-fashioned laundry booster that cuts through tough grease on grills, broiler pans, and ovens.  It is strongly alkaline so it is also perfect to tackling dirty linoleum floors. It's strong enough to strip paint and wax so you need to wear gloves when using it and use sparingly, only 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon per 32 ounces of hot water to tackle tough grease.

All-purpose Cleaner
Make this general cleaner and add 1/2 tsp of  castile soap to 2 cups of the cleaner to make something you can use to clean almost anything.

2 cups hot water
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/2 tsp. washing soda
15 drops tea tree essential oil
15 drop lavender essential oil

Combine all ingredients in a reusable spray bottle and shake well.

To Use: spray on surfaces, especially cutting boards, counter tops and toilets.  Wipe with a dry cloth.

For more cleaning recipes just search our blog under the keyword: green cleaning

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.

Natural Cleaning with Herbs

In a quest for a life with less chemicals and more natural scents and ingredients around me, I started growing herbs to cook with.  I made teas and cooking blends and introduced my family to the joy of herbs in the diet.  My favorite scent is lemon.  I grow lemon verbena, lemon balm, lemon grass, lemon scented geraniums, lemon thyme and lemon basil.  I found in researching these wonderfully scented plants, that not only were they tasty in cooking and tea, but that they enjoy many germ fighting properties as well.  And when I combined them with other natural disinfectants like vinegar, herbal essential oils and lemon juice I could create cleaning solutions for my household that were effective and non-toxic.

Vinegar is a natural disinfectant because of its acid content.  Plain white vinegar is 99% effective against most bacteria.  Lemon Juice, which is basically citric acid, breaks down the cell membranes of bacteria much like sterilization by heat does.  The pleasant scent can also cut the harshness of straight vinegar.  Add to that the natural disinfecting power of herbs and herbal essentials oils and you have a perfect combination for cleaning and disinfecting without harsh chemicals.

Cleaning and Disinfecting Herbs:

Thyme -The essential oil of thyme contains thymol, a natural phenol with powerful and proven antibiotic and disinfectant properties that kill common household germs. Thymol is at least 18 times as effective as phenol (used in commercial germicides), but much less toxic. Tests have shown its effective against Salmonella, Staphylococcus and Ecoli.

Sage, like thyme, contains natural phenol so is effective on germs and has many anti-fungal properties making it a perfect partner in the bathroom.

Rosemary contains camphor, a powerful anti-microbial.

Lavender – often seen only as a pleasing scent is a perfect partner for cleaning as it has a gentle germ-fighting power.   It can also be used as a disinfectant and insect repellent and Lavender is an antiseptic, natural antibiotic, sedative, detoxifier.

Lemon Grass -  with a very long history of use in traditional Indian medicine to help reduce fevers and fight infectious illness. Lemongrass essential oil is an antimicrobial and it resists contagion. It is a good sanitary disinfectant as well.

Lemongrass Cleaning Cloths

You can use micro fiber cloths, old cloth diapers or torn-up t-shirts.  These do-it-yourself duster cloths offer convenience of disposable furniture wipes without the guilt of contributing to the landfill.  Make several at one time.  I use cloths about 10 to 12-inches square which fit well in the hand.  This recipe will make about 40 cloths this size.  I find 10 to 12 cloths fit nicely in a 1 pint wide mouth mason jar.

3/4 cup water

1 cup white vinegar or lemon thyme herbal vinegar

¼ cup lemon juice

¼ teaspoon lemon grass essential oil

10 to 12 drops of lemon essential oil

Dust cloths or rags

1 or 2 wide mouth pint-size mason jars and lids

Combine water, vinegar, lemon juice and essential oils in large bowl.  Soak dust cloths in the solution for 30 minutes.  Squeeze out cloths, leaving them slightly damp.  Lay the cloths out flat, then fold each cloth in half or thirds and roll up.  Place rolled cloths in a glass jar.  Cap tightly with a screw lid.  To use, unfold the cloth and wipe down surfaces as usual.  Launder dust cloths when dirty and infuse again with the mixture.  Because of the lemon grass oil and vinegar these will not get moldy even though you keep them damp and they smell terrific, giving your home a fresh clean scent.

These wonderful smelling cloths can dust woodwork, scrub shower walls and doors, disinfect sinks, tubs and tile and are even good on porcelain toilets and toilet seats.  And if you do not want to make your own we do have these wonderful cleaning cloths for sale. 

Herbal Vinegar Spray

The spray is perfectly safe and very effective to use at full strength, but can be diluted 50/50 for lighter jobs.

Fresh or dried herbs

Distilled white vinegar

Roughly chop 1 to 2 large handfuls of fresh or dried herbs and place in a glass jar with a wide mouth and a plastic lid (good choices are lemon verbena, peppermint, rosemary, lemon balm or lavender.)  Add vinegar to fill the jar.  Replace the lid and leave for a few days or weeks (I generally like to wait 2 weeks) to infuse, then strain out the herbs.  Pour into a plastic stray bottle. 

   

Ways to Use your Vinegar Spray:

1. Clean your coffee maker.  Fill the reservoir with a full strength, undiluted thyme vinegar.  Run the vinegar through one cycle.  Run two cycles of water to rinse.
2. Remove pesticides from fruits and vegetables.  Wash them in a mixture of 2 or 3 tablespoons of sage and/or thyme vinegar per quart of water.  The antifungal qualities of sage will also help with natural borne fungus and the antiviral qualities of thyme will help against bacteria.
3. To cut grease and absorb odors on your wood cutting board, wipe down with a lemon, thyme or basil vinegar.
4. Clean and freshen the microwave mix ¼ cup herb-based vinegar and 1 cup water in a small bowl and heat for 5 minutes.  This will remove lingering odors and soften baked-on food spills.
5. Mildew removal.  Full strength vinegar, especially thyme vinegar will remove mildew from a shower curtain.  You can add a couple drops of lemon essential oil for a sweeter smell.
6. Floor cleaner.  To clean floors and kill germs try this recipe: 1/8 cup liquid soap, ½ cup thyme vinegar, ½ cup herbal tea (peppermint smells great, lemon cuts grease, thyme and sage will kill germs.)
7. Keep your dishwasher clean and fresh.  Add ½ cup herb vinegar to the rinse cycle.

Finally here is something simple and quick you can make to use all around the house for general cleaning.  Washing soda, also known as Soda Ash is sodium carbonate.  I obtain mine (made by Arm & Hammer) at the WalMart, but many grocery stores and health related stores also stock it.

I have heard that some people have trouble getting washing soda so I found this post that explains how to turn baking soda into washing soda

All-purpose Cleaner and Disinfectant

2 cups hot water

¼ cup white vinegar

½ tsp. washing soda

15 drops tea tree essential oil

15 drops lavender essential oil

Combine all ingredients in a reusable spray bottle and shake well.  To use, spray on surfaces, especially cutting boards, counter tops and toilets.  Wipe with dry cloth.

 Variation: add ½ teaspoon of liquid castile soap to 2 cups of this cleaner for a great all-purpose cleaner.

Enjoy the scents of Spring and Spring cleaning without masking them with chemicals and have a wonderful March!