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Homemade Cleaning Recipes & Tips

Natural Cat Deterrent

| Homemade Cleaning Recipes & Tips


You may choose not to own a cat, but your neighbour’s cats keep coming into your garden or around your home to dig and spray. Cats spray to mark their territory and your carefully mulched, loamy garden soil is an attractive toilet for a cat. So how can you keep their cats out without harming the lovely animals?

Ingredients:
Orange peelings
Hot chilli powder
Place the peel of several oranges in a bowl, sprinkle liberally with hot chilli powder.

Directions:
Randomly place the peels around the garden to ward off feline predators. My mum is an avid gardener and is always searching for new methods to deter the neighbour’s cat from taking up root in her favourite pots and plants. She swears by orange and chilli powder and my goodness it seems to have done the trick.

It’s Time to Shine 2019

| Homemade Cleaning Recipes & Tips

Everyone loves the look and feel of a clean home, but very few of us enjoy the process of getting there. There is not a lot of fun to be had in scrubbing toilets and mopping floors. We have put together three cleaning shortcuts that are guaranteed to shave some time off the never-ending task of keeping the house clean.

Set a timer for a 15-minute power clean. One of the easiest ways to save time cleaning is to do a little de-cluttering every day. Spending just 10 to 15 minutes a day really can save you a lot of time and grief on big cleaning days. Also, having a designated location for everything can increase the productivity of the time you spend tidying up. Start from the top and work your way down.

Gravity affects everything, even household dust. Save the floors for last to keep from having to clean them twice.

Clean as you go. This is an easy way to save time when cleaning, especially when it comes to your kitchen and bathroom. While cooking, be sure to wipe surfaces as you go and place utensils and bowls used during prep in the sink. Cleaning spills on your stovetop as they happen will help prevent crusted-on stains to deal with after dinner. Similarly, make sure to wipe away any soap scum or toothpaste on your bathroom sink daily. Keep natural cleaning supplies throughout your home to help build this habit and for easy access.

We can also take care of your everyday cleaning needs while you sit back, relax and enjoy your free time! A routine or standard house cleaning is a thorough list of cleaning services and is highly recommended after the initial Deep Cleaning is done. We clean your home from top to bottom, including bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchen, and main rooms. Vacuum, clean, shine, dust, disinfect, and straighten the appearance in all rooms. Spend your free time doing something other than cleaning your house and get back some of your quality time. Submit a web request for a free quote, or give us a call today.

Have you tried a healthy layered lunch yet?

| Healthy Snacks | Homemade Cleaning Recipes & Tips


Healthy Layered Lunches are mason jar salads that are strategically layered in order to keep your greens + dressing or muesli + yogurt separated – ensuring a crisp (not soggy!) healthy lunch! Here are two recipes of our favourites:

SWEET: BERRY BOMB
Ingredients: 
6oz Greek yogurt
1/3 cup certified gluten-free old fashioned oats (raw)
1 teaspoon chia seeds
2 Tablespoons milk, any kind
1 cup frozen mixed fruit and berries

Directions:
Stir together yogurt, oats, chia seeds, and milk in a bowl. Layer half inside a wide-mouth mason jar or tall container then add half the frozen fruit and berries. Layer in remaining yogurt and berries then refrigerate at least overnight and up to 3 days.

SAVOURY: SALAD BOMB
Ingredients: 
A few teaspoons of your dressing of choice
2 Tablespoons chopped avocado
8 grape tomatoes
1 Tablespoon red onion, chopped
2 Tablespoons chopped cucumber
A few handfuls of romaine lettuce and baby spinach
2 Tablespoons of chopped feta
6-8 cooked shrimp
1 boiled egg, chopped

Directions:
Layer all items in order starting with the dressing, seal with the lid, grab a fork, napkin and off you go!

Natural Lemon Glass Cleaner

| Homemade Cleaning Recipes & Tips


Windows get dirty, but you don’t need to reach for chemical cleaners to return them to a sparkling shine. Use natural, nontoxic ingredients such as lemon juice and distilled water to clean and polish windows.

Ingredients
½ lemon, juiced
1 cup filtered/distilled water

Method
Pour the ingredients into a glass spray bottle and shake to combine.

Uses
Spray on mirrors, windows and glass surfaces and buff clean with a microfibre cloth.

Natural Mould and Mildew Remover

| Homemade Cleaning Recipes & Tips


Mould & Mildew is not something we want in our homes. The thought of discovering a build-up of fungi growth in your bathtub is probably enough to send shivers down your spine. It’s important to know that mould requires water to grow. That’s why mould and mildew primarily exists within the home in locations like damp and cold basements, cellars, bathrooms, and garages. This natural recipe will help you remove mould and mildew from these places. 

Ingredients
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 tablespoon white vinegar

Method
Combine the lemon juice and vinegar together in a small bowl.

Uses
Taking an old toothbrush, gently brush the mixture into the grout and leave for 30 minutes before rinsing with hot water. The addition of the vinegar adds extra antifungal and antibacterial action to the lemon juice.

3 DIY Christmas Air Fresheners For The Holidays

| Homemade Cleaning Recipes & Tips


Don’t you just love the smell of Christmas? Fresh cut pine trees and oranges, cookies, sweet cinnamon…so many wonderful things to smell. Bring some natural holiday aromatherapy into your home with our Christmas Air Fresheners. Perfect to infuse your home or office with festive scents!

Orange Fresheners
Ingredients
1 medium organic/chemical-free orange
Sea salt

Method
Cut the orange in half and remove the orange segments and pith.

Uses
Place the empty orange halves in small bowls and fill with sea salt. Pop one of the halves in the back of the fridge as a freshener and odour-neutraliser, and place the second half in the bathroom, behind the toilet.

Cinnamon & Vanilla Fresheners
Ingredients
3 tablespoons of vanilla extract
some cinnamon sticks

Method
This is a brilliant trick if you are in need of a quick DIY for a festive scent. Put three tablespoons of vanilla extract into a coffee cup with a little water, place in the oven at a low temperature for around an hour, within minutes your home will smell delicious. Add some cinnamon sticks to the cooled down mixture.

Uses
A simple but ingenious trick that will have your home smelling incredible.

Orange & Cloves Fresheners
Ingredients 1-2 Oranges
Handful of cloves

Method
Pick an orange from your fruit bowl and a handful of cloves and stud the orange.

Uses
Makes a sweet and festive scented centre piece, perfect for any table.

Make your own Eucalyptus Wreath & natural Christmas Decorations

| Homemade Cleaning Recipes & Tips

Eucalyptus is a fast-growing evergreen tree native to Australia and is a popular ingredient in many products, it can be used to reduce symptoms of coughs, colds, and congestion and also features in creams and ointments aimed at relieving muscle and joint pain. However here at Natures Army we use Eucalyptus Oil for our Cleaning Recipes and home decorations. especially for the Christmas season.

Why do we do this?

– It smells great!
– It looks amazing
– It is a neutral item and can be combined with many different flowers, greens or twigs
– It dries really well and can be kept as a decoration
– It can fit into any decorating style
– It has powerful antibacterial properties

If you would like to create your own wreath, you will need to begin by preparing your eucalyptus. Firstly separate out the branches using scissors to cut the stems down into smaller pieces. Then start placing the eucalyptus sprigs into a wreath form. The idea is to have all the eucalyptus leaves and stems flowing in the same direction around the wreath. You can create a thick or very thin version of a wreath to decorate front doors or dining tables. Keep adding eucalyptus until the entire wreath is filled up and looks like it has an even density of leaves. Once the wreath is finished, you can either place it vertically at your front door or alternatively as a table decoration. If you are using candles, make sure you never leave them unattended, as dried Eucalyptus can catch fire very easily.

 

Love Lavender & Eucalyptus? Here are 5 Ways To Use Both

| Health & Beauty | Homemade Cleaning Recipes & Tips


We may not sprinkle lavender buds between our sheets as was common in the 16th century, but this fresh, sweet-smelling herb is still used for bathing, laundry, natural remedies and more – and for good reason. There are many Lavender Oil benefits you may not know of, making it a wonderful kitchen remedy.

The origin of Lavender is believed to be from the Mediterranean, Middle East and India. The ancient Greeks called Lavender nardus, after the Syrian city of Naarda and was commonly called Nard. Lavender derives its name from the Latin ‘lavare’ meaning ‘to wash”. The Romans used Lavender to scent their baths, beds, clothes and even hair. They also discovered its medicinal properties.

The name “eucalyptus” on the other hand originated from the Greek word ‘eu’ meaning “well” and ‘kalyptos’ which means “cover”. This was originally derived from the “well-covered” bud caps that bloom and eventually fall off the tree when they are mature. Native here in Australia, eucalyptus trees comprise of around 90% of the forests. Below we look at lavender and eucalyptus oil uses and how they may benefit you.

Eucalyptus Coconut Scrub
Rejuvenate tired, dry skin with a blend of
1 cup sea salt
1/2 cup coconut oil
5-7 drops eucalyptus essential oil
5-7 drops spearmint essential oil
1-3 spearmint leaves, optional

Scoop a tablespoon of the scrub into damp hands and rub them together. Apply to body and scrub in a circular motion until most of the crystals dissolve, focusing on rough areas such as elbows, knees, and heels. Rinse and repeat if desired. Follow with moisturiser.

Treat Sunburn
For minor sunburns, add 5-10 drops of lavender essential oil to 2 tablespoons of carrier oil and apply to area.

Linen Spray
Make drifting off to sleep so much sweeter with a relaxing linen spray. Mix 30 drops lavender oil with 3 tablespoons vodka and stir. Add 3 tablespoons water and pour mixture into a spray bottle.

Massage Oil
Apricot Kernel Oil or Jojoba Oil absorbs quickly, making it perfect for this use.
Ingredients
1/2 cup massage oil of your choice
20 drops lavender essential oil
Combine ingredients in a container.

All-Purpose Cleaner With Lemon & Lavender
Ingredients 1 cup vinegar
1 cup distilled water
30 drops lemon essential oil
10 drops lavender essential oil
Add essential oils and vinegar to a glass spray bottle and shake well. Add water and shake again. Shake before using, then spray on surface and wipe clean with a soft cloth.

Natural Vodka Soda Sanitising Cleaner

| Homemade Cleaning Recipes & Tips


Think outside the martini glass with this practical recipe for using vodka as a cleaning agent.Vodka is often hailed as a miracle cleaning solution and can be used to clean a surprising number of household items. 

Ingredients
1 cup of vodka
1 cup of filtered/distilled water
1 tablespoon white vinegar

Method
Combine all ingredients and transfer to a glass spray bottle.

Uses
Spray directly onto mirrors, windows, shower doors, chrome taps, fittings and glass surfaces. Its strong deodorising and disinfecting properties mean this formula can also be used neat on kitchen and bathroom work surfaces for powerful sanitising results.

What exactly Is Green Cleaning?

| Homemade Cleaning Recipes & Tips


For some homes, green cleaning means that they only use substances like baking soda, ​vinegar, and lemons to clean the home surfaces. Those are natural green cleaners. Some households may seek out manufactured green cleaning products that are healthy for the environment (some are green brands). When you use a green cleaning product, you may want to avoid phosphates, chlorine, artificial fragrances, and artificial colours. Many cleaners on the market now are also marketed as being biodegradable. Other cleaners have ingredients that are grown organically or produced using sustainable farming practices.

Some green cleaning products may certify that their items are fair trade, meaning that the product meets certain environmental and labor standards by those who produced it. Green cleaning products may not be free of additives or harmful chemicals–perhaps they use recycled packaging or donate a portion of their profits to environmental causes.

All of our products are lovingly handcrafted by Natures Army, or by one of our trusted local artisans. Each formula contains only safe ingredients you can trust such as; filtered water, organic essential oils and natural plant based components, and are all free from dangerous toxins, ammonia, chlorine, bleach and sodium laurel sulphate. Our products are also 100% cruelty free, vegan, eco friendly and biodegradable. Don’t be fooled though, although they may seem gentle, all of our products are extremely effective.