The Natural Home ~ Part 1

The Natural Home ~ Part 1
Home Remedies -Using Essential Oils in the Home

Sage Mint Toothpaste Recipe

• 1/4 teaspoon peppermint essential oil
• 1/4 teaspoon spearmint essential oil
• 1/4 cup arrowroot
• 1/4 cup powdered orrisroot
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 teaspoon ground sage

Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl. Add water until paste is desired thickness and consistency. Store at room temperature in a tightly covered jar. Variation: Substitute 1/2 teaspoon each of cinnamon essential oil and cloves essential oil for peppermint and spearmint essential oils, if desired. Recipe by: Make Stuff

Orange Glass Shiner

Use Orange Glass Shiner to polish any glass or mirror to a lovely finish and shine Enjoy the pleasant aroma too -- which makes it seem like you're not cleaning at all. (Well almost!) Yield: 8 ounces Shelf Life: Indefinite Ingredients:

• 
  4 ounces water
• 4 ounces apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon borax
• 1 tablespoon orange essential oil
• 1 teaspoon lemon essential oil

Blending Procedure: Combine all ingredients in a heavy duty plastic spray bottle and shake well before each use. Spray on glass or mirror and wipe immediately with a clean cloth. Watch the shiny surface emerge. Note that stubborn stains like old toothpaste glop and chewing gum come off with ease, plus the aroma is pleasant and uplifting. It's best to use gloves with this cleaner and remember to shake before using the evenly incorporate the essential oils. As with all household cleaners, keep this one out of the reach of children. Enjoy!

Homemade Surface & Glass Cleaner

• 
  1 cup white vinegar 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
• 10 drops lemon eo
• 10 drops rosemary eo
• 5 drops peppermint eo

Mx all ingredients together in a spray bottle, shake well, and spritz! From: April 2006 issue of Alternative Medicine -- The Art & Science of Healthy Living, page 95

Essential Oils and Pet Care
New information is emerging on pets and aromatherapy massage. One must heed more caution with animals than when using essential oils than with humans. For one thing animals skin absorbs oils at a different rate than human skin. Essential Oils that have been found helpful when working with animals to confront everything from flea control to depression includes: Lavender, Tea Tree, Chamomile, Bergamot, Cedarwood, Juniper, Geranium, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Sweet Orange and Eucalyptus.
The Essential Oil to AVOID ON PET IS: PENNYROYAL. This is too strong in undiluted form.

FLEA and TICK CONTROL:
Dried herbs and essential oils can be very effective in shielding your animal from fleas and ticks. I have seen a full blown tick drop off of a dog onto the floor with just a single drop of undiluted tea tree oil, when applied directly to tick. Also cleaning pet bedding with pure essential oils help repel varmints.

PET POWDER
2 drops Juniper Oil
2 drops Lavender Oil
1/2 cup arrowroot OR cornstarch OR clay OR baking soda OR any equal parts of these Directions: Combine the arrowroot and essential oils. Crushing the clumps of oils between your fingers to evenly distribute them. Be sure to wash your hands after handling the pure essential oils to avoid any contact with eyes or delicate mucous membranes. Sprinkle on pet as a preventive powder.

HERBAL BUG REPELLENT PILLOW

You can make a bug repellent pillow for a cat or dog by adding equals amounts of Lavender flowers, Cedarwood chips and Pennyroyal herb (NOT THE OIL), to the stuffing of a pillow or small homemade pet mattress. If you are substituting essential oils for the dried herbs, us ONLY 5 drops TOTAL to pillow or mattress and again AVOID PENNYROYAL OIL. I know that Penny royal oil is used in many animals recipes but I feel that it is too strong to be used directly on an animal. Also AVOID using Citrus Oils. While they are an ingredient in many flea repellents, they are used highly diluted. I once witnessed a small kitten go into convulsions after an unsuspecting owner applied orange oil to its fur. I would not use pure essential oils on young kittens and dogs. I tend to use homeopathy with my cats and seldom have the need to use essential oils on them.

PETS BATH WATER: Pure essential oils may be added in small amounts to a pet's bath water. About 8 drops of essential oils to 2 gallons of water. These oils work well: Lavender, Juniper, Eucalyptus, Cedarwood, Peppermint or Tea Tree. **CAUTION: ALWAYS CONSULT A VETERINARIAN BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO TREAT A PET'S POTENTIALLY SERIOUS CONDITION ON YOUR OWN*** Source: The Essential Oils Book by Colleen Dodt 1996


Mold Buster

2 teaspoons Tea Tree essential oil
2 Cups WaterAdd to a spray bottle, shake before using. Apply to mold and mildew, do not rinse off. Nothing works as well for mold and mildew as Tea Tree. Lemon Mint Window Wash
For the shiniest windows ever! Ingredients: Juice from one fresh Lemon 2 Cups water or Club Soda 1/2 teaspoon Peppermint essential oil 1 teaspooon Cornstarch Mix all ingredients and pour into a plastic spray bottle. Shake before using. Try using sheets of black and white newspaper, it shines without steaking.An old home remedy.

Cleaning out drawers and closets...rearranging them to match the new season, and storing winter clothes is a spring ritual at most homes. First, I empty the drawers, vacuum out any debris, wipe them with a damp cloth, then spritz them with the following Drawer Spray; two ounces isopropy alcohol one half teaspoon sandalwood e.o.(essential oil) one teaspoon tangerine e.o. one half teaspoon Peru balsam e.o. One eighth spruce e.o. one eighth lavender e.o.(or more if you prefer) two ounces distilled water.Pour the isopropyl alcohol into a glass spray bottle and add the oils. Add the water and shake to mix. Before using, first test the spray on a small section of a drawer before using as alcohol can dissolve a shellac finish. If the finish is unharmed, spray the empty drawer and allow it to dry before replacing the clothes.