Friday, August 7, 2009

Something You May Be Able To Use...!


I wanted to share this list with you because we are always looking for natural ways to accomplish daily task.

Some of these might already be known to you, some of them may not. Either way, I hope they can be of some use. OK? OK!

WARNING: Never mix cleaning products containing bleach and ammonia as dangerous fumes will result.


OVEN CLEANER
2 tablespoons dishwashing liquid
2 teaspoons borax
1/4 cup ammonia
1-1/2 cups warm water

Mix the ingredients together, apply to oven spills, and let sit for 20 to 30 minutes. Scrub with an abrasive nylon-backed sponge and rinse well.
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GENERAL-PURPOSE CLEANER
1 teaspoon borax
1/2 teaspoon washing soda
2 teaspoons vinegar
1/4 teaspoon dishwashing liquid
2 cups hot water
Combine all the ingredients. If you don't have washing soda (generally found in the laundry section of supermarkets), use 1 teaspoon baking soda instead. For a more pleasant smell, use lemon juice instead of vinegar. Be sure to label the bottle accordingly.

Polishing Cloths
You can make your own polish-impregnated cloths to dust furniture. Pour some furniture polish into a large glass jar and shake it until the sides are coated. Pour the remainder of the polish back into the polish container. Place terry or other absorbent cloths in the jar and cover tightly. Leave overnight or until the cloths have absorbed all the polish. Store the cloths in the jar.

Here's another method for making polishing cloths. Add 1/4 cup polish (such as lemon oil) to 2 cups hot water. Mix well. Soak dust cloths in the mixture, then let them dry before using. Save the mixture in a glass jar. When the cloths become soiled, wash them, re-treat them, and use again.
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EASY SCRUB
3/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup borax
dishwashing liquid
Combine the baking soda and borax. Mix in enough dishwashing liquid to make a smooth paste. If you prefer a pleasant smell, add 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice to the paste.
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JEWELRY CLEANER
1/4 cup ammonia
1/4 cup dishwashing liquid
3/4 cup water
Mix all the ingredients well, then soak your jewelry in the solution for a few minutes. Clean around the stones and designs with a soft-bristle toothbrush. Buff dry. (Caution: Don't use this with gold-plated jewelry; with soft stones such as pearls, opals, or jade; or with costume jewelry, because it could ruin the plastics or loosen the glue.)
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HEAVY-DUTY DISINFECTANT CLEANER
1/4 cup powdered laundry detergent
1 tablespoon borax
3/4 cup hot water
1/4 cup pine oil, or pine-based cleaner
Slowly stir the detergent and borax into the water to dissolve. Add the pine oil (available at hardware stores and supermarkets) and mix well. For bathroom cleaning, use the mixture full strength. In the kitchen, dilute it with water.
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WOOD FLOOR POLISH
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable oil Mix the ingredients well, rub on the floor, and buff with a clean, dry cloth.
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RUG CLEANER
1/4 teaspoon dishwashing liquid
1 cup lukewarm water
Combine the ingredients. Use a spray bottle to apply the solution over a large area, or use the solution to spot-clean nongreasy stains. (Don't use laundry detergent or dishwasher detergent in place of dishwashing liquid, as they may contain additives that can affect the rug's color.)
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TOILET CLEANER
1 cup borax
1/4 cup vinegar or lemon juice
Combine the ingredients to make a paste. Apply it to the inside of the toilet bowl, let sit for 1 to 2 hours, and scrub.
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MILDEW REMOVER
1 tablespoon powdered laundry detergent
1 quart chlorine bleach
2 quarts water
Combine all the ingredients in a pail. Wearing rubber gloves, wash off the mildew.
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FLOOR WAX REMOVER
1 cup laundry detergent
3/4 cup ammonia
1 gallon warm water
Mix all the ingredients together and apply to a small area of the floor. Let the solution sit long enough for it to loosen the old wax, at least 5 to 10 minutes. Mop up the old wax (or scrape it up, if there's a lot of it, using a squeegee and a dustpan). Rinse thoroughly with 1 cup vinegar in 1 gallon water and let dry before applying a new finish.
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FURNITURE POLISH
1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice
1 tablespoon boiled linseed oil
1 tablespoon turpentine
Combine the ingredients in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake until blended. Dampen a cloth with cold water and wring it out until it's as dry as you can get it. Saturate the cloth with the mixture and apply sparingly to a small area at a time. Let dry for about 30 minutes, then polish with a soft cloth. Note that this mixture gets gummy as it sits, so make just enough for one day's work.
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GLASS CLEANER
2 tablespoons ammonia
1/2 cup alcohol
1/4 teaspoon dishwashing liquid
a few drops blue food coloring
water
Combine the ammonia, alcohol, dishwashing liquid, and food coloring, then add enough water to make 1 quart. If you prefer a nonammoniated cleaner, substitute 3 tablespoons vinegar or lemon juice for the ammonia.
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CARPET FRESHENER
1 cup crushed dried herbs (such as rosemary, southernwood, or lavender)
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
Combine all the ingredients in a large jar or other container with a tight-fitting lid. Shake well to blend. Sprinkle some of the mixture on your carpet, let it sit for an hour or so, and then vacuum it up. It will give the room a pleasant smell and neutralize carpet odors.

Excerpted from Clean & Simple by Christine Halvorson and Kenneth M. Sheldon. Copyright 1999 by Yankee Publishing, Inc. From "The Old Farmer's Almanac Home Library" series published by Time-Life Books; call 800-277-8844, or check your local bookstore.

You Just have to love the Almanac... I know I do!

Now, let's get some coffee, go outside, and hope for some cooler weather today! OK,my friend?

19 comments:

Felinae said...

Good Day to you Uncle Hermit,

Thanks for sharing this info. I will be copying it and adding it to the binder. :D

If I may, I have another for you. To remove pet stains and odors use 1 part white vinegar to 1 part warm water, put in a spray bottle and spray/saturate area then blot up with a clean towel/rag.

I am sorry you're still having hot weather, we are having record lows right now. The temps were in the mid to high 70's today. There were even some reports of snow and ice in the higher elevations. It is August right? :D

Can I offer you some almond scones to go with your coffee this morning?

Hugs~Felinae~

HermitJim said...

Hey Felinae...
I can't imagine weather that cool! Over 100 here today...98 inside my apartment! And that's with the a/c runningalong with a fan!

I'll take the scones, thanks...and may I have a helping of that cooler weather on the side?

Thanks for coming by the patio this morning...

Rod said...

We are having the same weather as Falinae 73 was our high and supposed to get to the low 40's tonight.
I would be happy to send a little your way..maybe we can do an exchange!

HermitJim said...

Hey Rod...
Man, I'll trade with yoy for sure! It's 12:40 am here and the weather is now at 82 degrees! I can't stand much more of this!

Hey, sure am glad you could drop by today, buddy!

Anonymous said...

Wow, some excellent DIY recipes there, much thanks for posting them. Try and stay cool - I know, its hard living in Texas in summer time.

TEAM HALL said...

Morning Jim!! Thanks for the "recipes". Oh and don't fill yourself right up on Felinae's scones...my challah bread is rising. lol We'll have a cup of coffee on my porch...make sure to bring long-sleeves...it's a little cool AGAIN!
Have a great weekend - going to check on those taters!

Anonymous said...

The farmer's almanac is on my list to purchase. Timeless treasure. Thanks for all these tips. I need to print this out b/c I have most of the ingredients on hand.

Have a good day.

JoJo said...

Good Morning my Special One, great tips now if I can find someone to do the work I am all set.
So where do these people with these beautiful temps live. I'll pick you up and we are on our way.
This is more than I can put up with now also.

Anonymous said...

Morning HermitJim,
These are good tips. Gonna print them out for the binder. Thanks and I sure pray it gets cooler soon.
YeOldFurt

HermitJim said...

Hey Anon 6:14...
Nothing like Summer time in Texas! Wouldn't be so bad if it would only rain a bit!

Glad you could use the recipes for the cleaning products...and I'm glad you could drop by today!


Hey Cath...
Oven fresh bread and cooler weather! Sounds like a winning combo to me!

Hey, I appreciate the visit today!


Hey Kris...
You know what I mean about this heat here in the big H...!

Are there any public pools open around your neighborhood? Some of the ones in this area are closing! Crazy...!

Thanks for coming by...


Hey JoJo...
A road trip in search of cooler temps sounds like a winner to me! Just an excuse to spend some time together in your new class B...when you get it!

Thanks, Pretty Lady, for coming by!


Hey Jesse...
Guess your neck of the woods is pretty dry right now as well! Hope we all catch a break soon!

Hey, buddy, thanks so much for coming by and sharing a cup...!

Kyddryn said...

Cool recipes, Mister Hermit, sir...

But...um...these are for cleaning. Which presumes one cleans. Hmm...

Hey, did you know a slice of lemon it terrific for getting stains off the counter? Yep...I've gotten Kool Aid stains off white counters with a lemon slice. Not that I drink Kool Aid. I was at someone else's house...yeah...

Shade and Sweetwater,
K

HermitJim said...

Hey K...
I should have put these lemon tips on the post...but I forgot ( too lazy!). Anyway, since you brought it up...!

• Lemon juice cleans piano keys and copper pots, brightens porcelain, absorbs odors, and removes lipstick and wine stains.

• Half a lemon, from which most of the juice has been squeezed, makes a fresh cleaning pad for faucets and sinks. Use it with a little salt as an abrasive.

• Equal parts lemon juice and beaten egg can be boiled briefly and scented with rose water to make a natural face lotion.

• Undiluted fresh lemon juice is just the thing to clean water spots and stains from your automobile chrome.

Thanks for coming by today, K...

Catman said...

Hey,

Thanks Jim! Don't forget how well saw dust and peanut shells work to soak up spilled beer. :-)

Just in case we're still around in January to have another Stupor Bowl Party.

HermitJim said...

Hey Catman...
The saw dust and peanut shells can make doing the Texas Two-step a lot easier, cause it helps the old boots slide real well!

Thanks for the tip and the visit, buddy!

Ken said...

...see Jim,me savin' all my good jars really was a blessing,get a good Sharpie too folks,identify it all...

...figure the $$$ savings,from just one grocery store trip ?!?!save a ton of it...

HermitJim said...

Hey Ken...
I know what you mean about not being able to throw anything like jars away! Sooner or later, they will come in handy!

Good tip on tagging everything for sure!

Thanks for coming by today, buddy!

Lydia said...

Great stuff Jim, I also copied it to save.

If I can add one more which also works great... Orange Tang (if you can still find it in your stores..) will make the inside of your dishwasher look like it's brand new!

Works great.

Thanks for so many informative posts.
:)
lydia

skylady said...

The Hermit,

Your 'home cleaners' were wonderful and I put them in our Forum: http://topgoldforum.com/coffee-hermit-t882.html

If you'd rather this not be posted let me know and I'll take it out... k ?

skylady ;)

HermitJim said...

Hey Skylady...
I don't mind a bit if these get spred around. After all, we are here to share anything that may be useful with our friends, right?

Good thing about these, we can make them ourselves, maybe save a little money in the process...!

Thanks for coming by!