Natural Household Cleaning Recipes

Well, I have been trying to sleep for the past hour or two, but between the hiccups in my stomach (the baby) and my brain going one hundred miles per minute, I can't sleep! I keep thinking about all of the things that I want to get done tomorrow.

This afternoon a neighbor brought over a few cucumbers, so I may try pickling. Just after he left, another neighbor brought over a TON of tomatoes. I will have to cook them down tomorrow and can them. He left me with a lot of roma tomatoes. These make great thick paste and thick sauces. I think pizza sauce is the way to go for these. I know we will use all of it. I will make some fresh bread and bring that over to each neighbor (with homemade jam).

I also have some eggplant to use. I dont know if I should make eggplant parmsean and freeze it or if I should make something else. I need to do that tomorrow.

Oh, I am attempting to get enough food storage for the winter. Wow - I have all of the basics for a family of 6 for 6 months(wheat, oats, dried beans, salt, etc). However, I am also attempting to get fruits and veggies canned. Am I nesting?

On top of that, I really got behind on laundry and know that I need to get cleaned and then hung outside to dry. I will also move and stack the last of the kindling. I would really like to have that done before J comes home on Friday. I know, I know, I am 8+ months pregnant. I should really take it easy, but I hae sucha hard time doing so. I should make a list. That usually helps!

Yes, I think I am nesting!
-------------

I was asked for some good cleaning recipes. You can find some great recipes at http://www.care2.com/healthyliving/.

What I like to use are a combination of vinegar, castille soap, borax, baking soda, and essential oils. These 5 items make up the majority of my cleaning supplies. I relaly like to use essential oils - as they hide the vinegar smell, they smell great, they also have some antibacterial/antimicrobial properties. I like to switch scents for seasons. Right now lemon and orange and favorites. I know that once the season changes a little more, I will want to use more cypress, cedar, pine, rosemary, etc.

I have found that vinegar and a few drops of oil of choice is great in the laundry rinse. It works as a softener!

Bathroom disinfectent (need a lot of it with 4 kids): 2 cups water, 2 tsp borax, 8 drops pine essential oil, 4 drops cedar essential oil. Mix into a spray bottle, shake before use!

Sink cleansers: 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup vinegar, oil of choice. Scrub with cloth and rinse.

Toilet Bowl: This is my favorite - an overnight bomb! 1 cup borax, 1 cup vinegar, 10 drops pine, 5 drops lemon. Let sit overnight and flush in the morning.

Another: 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup vinegar, tea tree oil - place all into toilet bowl, swish and done!