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Homemade Cleaning Recipes & Tips

How can you help the Amazon rainforest right now as fires burn

| Chemical Free Cleaning Services | Homemade Cleaning Recipes & Tips

“YOU CAN SEE THE SMOKE FROM SPACE!”

The Amazon provides 20% of oxygen for earth and it’s burning at a record rate right now and for the past 3 weeks. This is a WORLD emergency and affects all of us.

While the rainforest is typically wet and humid, July and August, the onset of the dry season, are the area’s driest months, with “activity” peaking by early September and stopping by mid-November, according to NASA.

You can learn more about the crisis from official sources and educate friends and family on all the details. The more people know about how serious the crisis is, the more can be done. #PrayforAmazonas #AmazonRainforest

Check the following charities for donations:

Amazon Conservation Association

Amazon Conservation Team

Amazon Watch

Rainforest Foundation US

Rainforest Trust

Rainforest Action Network 

“If you don’t know what is in it, then bin it!” – How to read product labels and eliminate poisonous or injurious chemicals!

| Chemical Free Cleaning Services | Homemade Cleaning Recipes & Tips

DANGER, HARMFUL, POISON, CORROSIVE, CAUSTIC, CAUTION, WARNING, TOXIC, BEWARE, FIRST AID.

These are warning signs and they generally indicate that a product contains poisonous or injurious chemicals. Consequently, place all items with these words on the label into the container to dispose of later. To truly begin a life less tox-sick, you should always err on the side of caution. “If you don’t know what is in it, then bin it!” Any natural, harmless product will clearly display a full and precise list of ingredients on the label.

Use the pen and paper to list each product to be replaced with a chemical free alternative.

Only items 100% safe may be returned to their rightful place in your home.

Responsible disposal

While disposing of toxic products quickly is important, it is imperative that you do not place these volatile formulas in the dustbin or pour them down the drain or toilet bowl as they may seep toxins and heavy metals into our soils and waterways, resulting in contamination.

Here are a few ways to safely dispose of these potential dangers without harming the environment:

1 Hazardous Waste Business Drop-Off Locations:

Many waste businesses now accept hazardous waste materials and toxic chemical products, so you can drop off your unwanted solutions knowing that they will be safely disposed of.

2 Community Collection and Drop off Days:

Local councils are increasingly offering hazardous waste and chemical collection days; collecting numerous types of chemical-based formulas and materials at one designated location.

3 Community Hazardous Waste Centres:

Investigate whether your local community council has a permanent, dedicated drop-off area where hazardous waste and toxic products may be safely disposed of.

4 Hazardous Waste Pickup:

It is not only dangerous to dispose of hazardous waste and toxic chemicals in bins and down drains, but it is also illegal. Many waste management companies, local environmental agencies or councils offer kerb-side pick-ups on designated dates throughout the year.

Note: Check online or with your local council as to the options available to you in your community and surrounding area.

Paint the town – with natural and non-VOC alternatives

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Paint is one of the primary sources of indoor air pollution and given most houses are re-painted about every 5 years, this is extremely worrying. Conventional paints and varnishes contain VOC’s, heavy metals, lead and a plethora of toxic compounds, linked to allergies, respiratory disorders and may even be responsible for certain cancers. So choose wisely. There is a wide variety of paints and varnishes on the market derived from natural products and non-VOC alternatives; ideally, use these natural substitutes wherever possible. Always open all windows and doors when painting and varnishing to ensure there is sufficient ventilation.

Ensure new purchases of soft furnishings are not treated with stain-resistant chemicals

| Chemical Free Cleaning Services | Homemade Cleaning Recipes & Tips


A multitude of soft furnishings, for instance, sofas, rugs, curtains, cushions, wrinkle-free and permanent press clothing items and bedding are treated with stain guards, to keep them crease-free and eliminate them from being damaged or soiled easily. However, the chemicals employed in the manufacture of these formulas often contain per-fluorinated compounds (PFC), believed to cause cancer and birth defects. Ensure new purchases of soft furnishings are not treated with stain-resistant chemicals or spray-on fabric protectors.

Instead, opt for natural materials, fibres and fabrics, such as natural wood, recycled timbers, cork, coir, wool, organic cotton, hemp, flax, jute, cashmere, mohair, alpaca and silk, especially for flooring, mattresses, bedding and baby clothes.

Have you checked your house for carbon monoxide leaks?

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If your home is powered by natural gas, make sure all gas cookers, fires, water heaters and boilers are inspected, maintained regularly and always functioning correctly. These appliances work through a form of combustion, and once they are fired up release toxic by-products into the air, proving dangerous in poorly ventilated areas. Always be vigilant and monitor the colour of the burning flames when in use as a blue flame signals a correct mix of air and fuel, indicating the appliance is burning safely and efficiently. In contrast, a yellow flame indicates an incomplete mix of air and fuel and is a signal that the appliance is emitting carbon monoxide, a highly toxic, odourless gas responsible for health problems from headaches to fatigue and even death. Safeguard your family from this invisible poison by ensuring all appliances are kept clean and always in optimum working order.

Have your house checked regularly for carbon monoxide leaks. Better still, install carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms throughout your home.

Animal instincts – what to consider when buying meat

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The Human population has been devouring meat since time began, when animals roamed freely, grazing on the land, eating grasses and plants. Today, however, sees a completely different story. Nearly all meat and poultry sold in conventional supermarkets hail from concentrated feeding operations, where animals and birds are born and raised in factory farms. Besides the mounting ethical issues of this way of farming, there are also countless reasons why the products of these farms pose a risk to our health:

1. Certain farms have poor safety records, with some even experiencing outbreaks of E. Coli and other diseases.

2. Livestock are injected with antibiotics and growth hormones to make them grow larger and faster, and their diets are high calorie and grain-based, with an added diverse range of unappetising ingredients, such as waste products, including meat unfit for human consumption, excrement and even plastic.

3. Certain meats (e.g. sausages, bacon, burgers, salami) and various poultry products are subjected to further processing after slaughter, for example, smoking and curing, which entails them being treated with harmful chemicals, including nitrates, sulphates and preservatives.

To keep costs to a minimum, try to avoid eating meat at all or buy the best quality you can afford but buy less; try cooking one chicken breast instead of two and adding more vegetables or legumes to your recipes to pack out the meal.

The History of Essential Oils – Which one is your favourite?

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For centuries, essential oils have played an important role in healing and aromatherapy. Thought to be among the oldest and most powerful restorative applications known, these oils have been widely admired for centuries throughout the ancient world for their magical, mood enhancing properties.

Oils such as myrrh, frankincense, lotus and sandalwood were popular in ancient Egypt for purifying and embalming bodies as a part of their mummification rituals. The Egyptians were one of the first civilisations to understand the restorative effects of these truly powerful potions. Indeed, when Tutankhamun’s tomb was opened, there among the artefacts were numerous jars of essential oil residue.

Remedies and prescriptions for essential oils dating to 1500 BC have been found, revealing the diverse properties of over 800 different herbs and flowers studied by our ancient ancestors, demonstrating they had successfully developed a distillation process.

During the Middle Ages when the famous epidemic of The Bubonic Plague struck killing millions of people, a band of four thieves took advantage of the situation by proceeding to steal and pillage from the sick and dying. When the thieves were eventually captured and tried, they were offered leniency if they would divulge the secret formula that had rendered them immune to the fatal Black Death, and enabled them to come into contact with hundreds of infected corpses. The thieves revealed they were originally spice merchants by trade but during the epidemic, international shipping had been brought to a halt, and the spice traders had to find  other ways to support themselves and their families. They discovered, quite by chance, that by covering themselves with a home-made concoction of highly anti-bacterial aromatics, they effectively immunised themselves from the disease. You will find (one of the versions of) The Four Thieves recipe below. Through the centuries, the distillation of plants and herbs has been harnessed to develop perfumes, cosmetics and eventually pharmaceuticals.

Aromatherapy and essential oils began to grow in the twentieth century after the French cosmetic chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé stumbled on their benefits. During an experiment, Gattefossé accidentally set his arm on fire and, in his panic, he plunged his arm into what he believed to be water, only to find out it was pure lavender oil. Remarkably, the oil began to quickly sooth the burn and after repeated applications the wound healed with little scarring. This intrigued the chemist and he began to investigate the healing properties and benefits of this soothing oil. It was not long before he was studying the healing affects and properties of other essential oils. Thanks to his extensive research, this soon saw the beginning of essential oils being developed for clinical use. For example, they were used extensively throughout World War Two to treat wounded soldiers and to heal gangrene.

Studies were later extended, not only into the healing benefits of these oils, but the many antibacterial antifungal and antiseptic properties they naturally harbour. These highly concentrated oils demonstrate particularly effective antimicrobial properties, which makes them an essential addition to your home-made cleaning kit. Not only do they make your products smell extraordinary, they disinfect, purify, de-grease, cleanse and remove sticky residue and stains, without the addition of one toxic chemical.

Tea tree, eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender and lemon oil are particularly functional, cost-effective and easy to obtain. Don’t be afraid to combine essential oils to create your own aromatic blends. Peppermint mixes especially well with other essential oils popular for cleaning, including lavender, eucalyptus, lemon and rosemary.

Distilled from various elements of fruits, plants, including flowers, leaves, bark and rind, these powerful oils contain the true essence of the plant or fruit from which they are derived. Essential oils are amazingly potent and highly concentrated. Their intoxicating aromas can elevate or enhance our moods.  They have been used widely for thousands of years to create feelings of emotional calm and spiritual wellbeing.

It is possible to obtain almost any plant, herb or fruit in essential oil form, which makes them invaluable for producing effective home-made cleaning formulas. Not only does a few drops of your favourite oil transform a bland solution into a delicious fragrant potion, but the correct oils can add extra strength by increasing their cleansing properties.

Remove rust stains from fabric

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Got rust stains on fabric? When metals such as iron and steel are exposed to oxygen and moisture, you get rust. If ignored, corrosive orange spots will appear. Here is how to tackle them on fabric:

1 lemon juiced
cream of tartar

Pour the lemon juice into a bowl and add enough cream of tartar to form a paste.

Directions. Gently rub the paste into the stain. Leave for 30 minutes, before washing as normal. The stain should have vanished. If not, repeat the process. Some stains are more stubborn than others and may need a few applications.

Zingy lemon disinfectant

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A worthy all-purpose disinfectant, highly effective at killing germs on all ceramic surfaces. Spray on tiles and ceramic surfaces, and leave for a few minutes before wiping with a clean damp cloth.

6 tablespoons lemon juice

2 teaspoons borax substitute

½ teaspoon washing soda/soda crystals

6 tablespoons white vinegar

3 cups filtered/distilled hot water

Mix together all ingredients in a glass spray bottle.

Carefully add the hot water, and shake the bottle until all of the ingredients have dissolved. Always shake bottle before use.

How to clean your drains and keep them smelling fresh

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drain cleaning
For sweet smelling drains, and to prevent grease and unpleasant odours in sink or bathroom drains, pour a handful of salt or a 1/4 cup of baking soda down the kitchen or bathroom plughole, and wait 5 minutes before flushing with warm water.

This will ensure your drains remain residue-free and smelling fresh. Do this weekly to keep drains clear and deodorised. To instantly freshen up smelly drains you could also pour 2 cups of white vinegar down the drain and leave for 30 to 45 minutes before flushing with a bucket of hot water.

Bathroom sinks, showers and bathtub drains have to cope with the daily bombardment of hair, skin, soap, shampoo and body wash residues so it’s not surprising they often become blocked and clogged up. To clear and dissolve the problem, mix 1 cup of salt, 1 cup of baking soda and ½ a cup of white vinegar together in a bowl. Pour the mixture down the drain and leave to work for 30 minutes before flushing thoroughly with hot water.