Brittany Cole

Why Homesteading? Doomsday Prepers What happens when technology fails us? Penny Pinchers Cost for both long and short term Safety First Reduce our waste and be aware of what we are putting in our homes and bodies

So What is Homesteading? It's about using less energy, eating wholesome local food, involving your family in the life of the community and making wiser choices that will improve the quality of life for your family, your community and the environment around you. - Mother Earth News

Your cleaning arsenal… Baking Soda Vinegar Liquid Soap Borax Washing Soda Lemon Juice Water Hydrogen Peroxide

Baking Soda Science Sodium Bicarbonate or Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate (NaHCO3) Leavening agent and exfoliator Use – read the box, there are so many uses for simple powder.

Vinegar A mild acid Uses – Much like baking soda, far too many to list here.

Liquid Soap Castile Soap Made from vegetable fat, primarily olive oil, not tallow (animal fat) Good Brands Seventh Generation Meyer Method Ecover Ingredients: Aqua (water), sodium lauryl sulfate and caprylyl/myristyl glucoside (plant-derived cleaning agents), lauramine oxide (plant-based cleaning agent), glycerin (plant- derived foam stabilizer), citric acid (plant-derived water softener), magnesium chloride and sodium chloride (mineral viscosity modifiers), essential oils and botanical extracts* for scented varieties only (see below for details), methylisothiazolin one and benzisothiazolinone (synthetic preservatives).

Borax and Washing Soda Borax Similar to baking soda it has many uses listed right on the box Washing Soda Science Sodium Carbonate (Na2CO3) Strong Base, lowers pH Use in mostly laundry but it too has many uses listed on the box

Lemon Juice and Hydrogen Peroxide Both of these are natural bleaches. Hydrogen Peroxide very good at sterilizing cutting boards, tooth brushes. Lemon Juice has a strong acid that is a bit more nice smelling, not as strong as Hydrogen Peroxide but good for disinfecting

So why do we like these natural cleaning products? Cheap – Most of these can be purchased in bulk and have many uses. Big bang for a little buck. Safe – While Little Johnny should never be eating your general cleaner, no poison control needed if he does. Feel good – This is a big one, too often do we find ourselves reading labels for everything. We feel better about homemade cookies, lets feel better about what we clean with.

Do It Yourself Cleaning Recipes All purpose spray Laundry Detergent Toilet Scrub Deodorizing Disks Glass cleaner Drain-O Tile & Tub

All Purpose Spray 1 c vinegar 1 Tbs lemon juice 3 c water 1 Tbs castile or liquid soap

Laundry Detergent 1 bar fels-naptha or plain soap ½ c borax ½ c washing soda Grate soap, mix together. Use 1 -2 Tbs per load, warm-water wash

Toilet scrub ¼ c Borax ¼ c Baking Soda Shake in toilet bowl, spray with all purpose spray; let sit 5 mins. Scrub with toilet brush, then rinse.

Deodorizing Disks 2 cups baking soda 2 cups distilled water (or boil water for 10 mins) Essential oil (lavender or citrus) Silicone mold or muffin pan

Glass Cleaner ¼ cup vinegar 4 cups warm water Put in a spray bottle, spray and wipe with a newspaper or microfiber towel. There are a few other versions, but I like this one best.

Drain-O ½ cup baking soda 1 cup vinegar Hot water Keep flushing till the fizzing stops

Tile & Tub 2/3 c baking soda 1/3 c borax Mix well, put in shaker container Use in moldy or damp areas. Let sit before wiping away.

Citations Alyssa. "Cupcake Apothecary." : 165 Uses for Vinegar. N.p., Feb Web. 05 Mar Cole, Brittany. "Keep It Clean, Keep It Home." Pinterest. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar "Difference Between." Difference Between RSS. N.p., 21 Mar Web. 05 Mar "Green Cleaning Products - NaturalCleaning Products|Ecover." Green Cleaning Products - NaturalCleaning Products|Ecover. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar "GreenerChoices.org." GreenerChoices.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar Hunt, Heidi. "Homesteading and Livestock." Mother Earth News. N.p., 13 July Web. 04 Mar "Natural Dish Liquid." Seventh Generation. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar Noyes, Amy Kolb. Nontoxic Housecleaning. White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Pub., Print. "The Ocean." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Mar "One Good Thing by Jillee | Sorting through the Beautiful Clutter of Life to Find That "One Good Thing" Every Day and Sharing It with You!" One Good Thing by Jillee. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar Seymour, John. "Start a 1-Acre, Self-Sufficient Homestead." Mother Earth News. N.p., Aug.-Sept Web. 04 Mar