Household Cleaners

Homemade Gel Air Freshener

2 cups of distilled water

Essential oil/fragrance of your choice.

4 packages of knox gelatin

Food coloring (optional)

Heat 1 cup of water almost to a boil. Add the gelatin and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat add another cup of distilled water, 10-20 drops of oil/fragrance, and food coloring if desired. You can replace food coloring and oil/fragrance with premade liquid potpourri (available at most craft stores, candle shops, etc.). Just make sure it's the concentrated kind or it won't retain its smell. The procedure would be the same.

Heat 1 cup of the liquid potpourri, almost to a boil. Stir in 4 packets of Knox gelatin, until dissolved. Then stir in 1 cup cool liquid potpourri. Pour the mixture into clean baby food jars and set at room temperature overnight until "set". You can place the jars in the refrigerator if you need them to set more quickly, but be aware that the smell will permeate the fridge.

For gift giving, you can decorate the baby food jars by wrapping with material, or glueing on wallpaper, stickers, wrapping paper, etc. To use, place the jar on the stovetop (not directly on the burner!) while cooking, heat in a potpourri burner, or simply set out on a table and enjoy the aroma. Instead of putting the lid on it you can take a piece of lace cut in a circle. Put it over the top with a rubberband to hold it on. To cover the rubberband you can tie a ribbon around it or some twine.

Homemade Laundry Detergent

one or two bars bath soap (clear glycerin soap works best)

1 cup Borax (20 mule team is what I use)

1 cup Arm and Hammer Washing Soda (I use one cup of whatever, but the soda works best...it's in the laundry powder section of most grocery stores)

Five Gallon bucket

Five gallons water

Fragrance oil

Toss soap bars in a crock pot, fill halfway w/ water. "Cook" on low until thoroughly, completely and totally melted. . Mix it all in a five gallon bucket with five gallons hot water (I use very hot tap water). Stir well, let sit 24 hours. This will NOT look pretty, but it works very well. I add one ounce of Fresh Linen Fragrance Oil and call it real. You can also add one package of pectin to keep it from being so gelid. I use this on colors and save the storebought stuff for our white clothes. Soap buildup does eventually make the whites a bit dingy. Peroxide is a good bleach alternative. Add one large bottle of peroxide to a load of white clothes in full tub of water. Let soak overnight, wash as usual.

Homemade Dust and Furniture Polish

1 cup vegetable oil

½ cup lemon juice

Pour oil and lemon juice into a squirt bottle or jar. Stir to combine. To use, dip dust cloth or rag into oil, blot the oil by folding the cloth together, and then dust your furniture. Leaves a beautiful finish!

All purpose quick shiner

1 ¼ cups white vinegar

1 ¼ cups water

22 ounce spray bottle

Pour vinegar and water into the spray bottle. Shake gently to combine. To use, spray on and wipe off

All Purpose Cleaner

1 cup pinesol

1 cup ammonia

1 cup water

mix together and mark your bottle. Use for counter tops, rug stains, showers, etc. Works better than any other rug cleaner I own.