Think of the 3 Rs for your New Year’s Resolution

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It’s that time of year when we need to start thinking about the bugs…and how we can safely avoid them. It’s quite easy to whip up a homemade batch of repellent with the right ingredients. You can even pick which bugs you’d like to fight!

Combine 10-25 drops of essential oils. For black flies choose peppermint; for mosquitoes use citronella, thyme and lavender; for fleas try orange oil; and for lice use tea tree, eucalyptus, ylang ylang and lemongrass. Next, add 2 tbsp. of grapeseed oil and 1 tbsp of aloe vera gel. It’s that easy! This recipe will keep the bugs at bay and keep you smelling wonderful on those long camping trips!

Here’s how to get your whites really white without using chlorine bleach. Add ½ cup of lemon juice to your whites during the rinse cycle; it will act as a mild bleaching agent. If you hang your laundry to dry, it will work even better.

Baking Soda and Laundry:

Here’s a way to soften and deodorize your clothes AND save on your laundry detergent. Add ½ cup of baking soda to your laundry load and only use ½ the amount of laundry detergent that you would normally use. Use less baking soda for smaller loads to ensure that you don’t end up with a chalky residue.

Grass Stains:

Combine the powder from digestive enzyme pills with water to make a paste. Apply a thick paste over grass stain and let sit. Rinse and repeat if necessary.

Linen spray can be such a soothing addition to your bedroom sheets and it’s easy to make at home! Fill a spray bottle with distilled water and add your favourite essential oil. Most choose the popular lavender oil, as it is promotes a deep and restful sleep.

Green Tea is not only good for your health…it is also a helpful, non-toxic deodorizer. Place teabags or leaves in garbage cans and refrigerators. Damp teabags are also helpful in ridding hands of cooking odors such as garlic and onion. Sprinkle tea leaves in pet litter to diffuse odors and to keep fleas at bay.

Cleaning Your Toothbrush

Cleaning your toothbrush is an essential activity, if you want to keep those germs away from your mouth! Let your toothbrush fully dry and then let it sit in a cup of vinegar for 24 hours, rinse and let dry before using.

All Natural Brass Cleaner

Combine lemon juice and baking soda until it becomes a thick paste. Rub paste onto brass, rinse and dry with a soft cloth.

All Natural Sterling Silver Polish

Boil 1 liter of water with 1tbsp salt, 1tbsp baking soda and a strip of aluminum foil. Place sterling silver in solution for 3-4 minutes, then polish with a soft cloth.

2. Choose non-toxic, chemical free cleaning products. Many products such as Nature Clean and Seventh Generation are among the safe and effective alternatives and can be found at your local health food store.

3. Use reusable supplies whenever possible such as sponges, mops, dusters and cloths. Bagless vacuums containing a washable filter are both environmentally friendly and incur less cost in the long run. Remember to make decisions that save trees, money and your environment.

4. Open windows and let the fresh air in! Fresh air is the best way to rid your house of harmful, stale air. Add plants to neutralize the air and provide fresh oxygen. Burn beeswax candles to purify the air of pollutants, dust and other impurities. They also contain no harmful lead!

5. Get creative with your household supplies. Mix vinegar with water, lavender, tea tree and eucalyptus oils to create a homemade all-purpose cleaner. Use baking soda and vinegar to get out tough stains in your bathtub or sink; and use club soda on your windows and glass to get a streak-free shine.