Clean Green! Simple Cleaning Recipes........

Housekeeping Recipes Basic Ingredients One Needs To Get Started

To Create Your Natural Cleaners At Home
Liquid Castile Soap or Castile Bar Soap (to grate for laundry)
Baking Soda
Borax
White Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar
That is all you NEED!

*Why Use Vinegar to clean? The answer is here... http://vitalearthtraditions.blogspot.com/2010/01/why-use-gross-stinky-vinegar.html *

To clean hard surfaces use equal parts of White & Apple Cider Vinegar to wipe down hard surfaces, you can put the mix in a spray bottle or a bowl.  To make an abrasive cleaner add borax to make a paste to your desired thickness. Add borax slowly in case it fizzes a bit.

To use in laundry, use a 1/4 C. Baking Soda, 1/4 C. Borax add 1/4 Castile Liquid Soap or 1/2 grated Castile Soap and then to get things extra clean while killing bacteria add a 1/4 C Apple Cider Vinegar.
***

If you would like to add to that mix you could add...

Lemon Essential Oil
Orange Essential Oil
Lemongrass Essential Oil
Lavender Essential Oil
Pine Essential Oil
Vegetable Glycerine
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If you are looking for a natural cleaning source to kill bacteria on hard surfaces this is the Recipe for you!!

Lemongrass & Lavender Household blend, 16 oz. Recipe

7.0 oz. Distilled Water
7.0 oz. White Vinegar
1.6 oz. Apple Cider Vinegar
0.4 oz. Vegetable Glycerine
Lavender Essential Oil - 40 Drops
Lemongrass Essential Oil – 20 Drops
Orange Essential Oil – 20 Drops
Lemon Essential Oil – 18 Drops
Eucalyptus Essential Oil – 12 Drops
Thyme Essential Oil – 10 Drops

Mix all ingredients together in a new clean 16 oz. household cleaner type spray bottle (this can be purchased most at any Grocery Store or Co-Op). Once all of the ingredients are added into the bottle shake very, very thoroughly several times before using. Avoid eye contact with this recipe. These ingredients are readily available at most any local Food Co-Op or local Herb Store!
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More Options

1) This mix can also be put in a spray bottle to use as a room spray. It will kill odor verses adding to the stench!

2) This mix can be used to make a paste for the dishwasher. I use equal parts of Borax and Baking Soda, then add liquid cleaner until I get the desired consistency I want.

3) Washing Machine. I take 1 Cup Borax, 1 Cup Baking Soda, grate approximately 1/2 crated castile soap, mix together and use 1/2 Cup in my Washing Machine. I then pour about 1/8 Cup of the above liquid cleaning mixture in with the Baking Soda mixture. Depending on how dirty the clothes are I might fill the spot for bleach with the liquid cleaner also.

Natural Household Cleaners Can Be Purchased at Vital Earth Traditions !
http://shop.vitalearthtraditions.com/
http://www.vitalearthtraditions.com/

However, household cleaners are so simple and cheep to make that I encourage you to make them yourselves! Once you have made a few different cleaners, you can tailor make them to your specific likes and needs. This process empowers you as a consumer to know exactly what you want in a cleaner and what you don't like. The cost difference in your monthly cleaning supply bill will simply be huge and you will be helping the environment at the same time!

Happy Green Cleaning!
Cheers, Kelly Lynch Ring
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There are many books available about Natural Green Housekeeping and full of fantastic recipes for you to use.

Here are a few books to consider...

The Naturally Clean Home, By: Karyn Siegel-Maier
Organic Housekeeping, By: Ellen Sandbeck
Baking Soda, By: Vicki Lansky
Natural Cleanin For Your Home, 95 Pure and Simple Recipes, By: Casey Kellar
Honey Garlic and Vinegar Home Remedies, By: Dr. Quillen


*THE INFORMATION ON THIS SITE/BLOG IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.  Make sure to keep all these ingredients away from small children and animals. AVOID EYE CONTACT WITH ALL RECIPES AND INGREDIENTS.*  The information on this site may be incomplete or up to date with current research.  Always research several reliable sources when using herbs & essential oils for anything!

Why Use Gross Stinky Vinegar?

Why Vinegar???
Have you ever wondered why anyone would want anything to do with that gross stinky stuff called “Vinegar” and what could it possibly be used for?

~Well, let me tell Ya!~

Here are just some of the things that I found that Vinegar has been historically used for...

To treat insect stings & bites, Blood Glucose Regulation, Antiseptic Action, Indigestion, To treat infections, Itching, Acne, Arthritis, Age spots, Nausea, Headache Helper, Athletes Foot, Birth Control, Baths, Disinfectant, Douche, Congestion Relief, Lighten Freckles, To Remove Corns On Feet, Tired Muscles, Mouth Healer, Sore Throat Gargle, Burn & Sunburn Relief, Dandruff, Digestive Problems, Ear Infections, Leg Cramps, Liniment, Morning Sickness, Hiccups, Hair Rinse, Hair Color Enhancer, Heart Health, To Keep Camping & Hiking Water Fresh, Incontinence, For Repelling Ants, Fleas & Tics, To Clean Paint Brushes, Cleans Aluminum, Brightens & Removes Odors From Carpets, Fabric Color Set & Dye Set, To Remove Stains From Fabrics, Carpets etc., Removes Odors From Fabrics, Carpets & Hard Surfaces, To Clean Chrome & Stainless Steel, Insect Control & De-Worming, To Remove Chewing Gum, Removes Underarm Odor & Stains, Repelling Cats From Gardens, Dusting & Furniture Polish, Easter Eggs, To Whiten Clothes, Crayon Stain Remover, To Unclog Drains, To Clean Glass, Removes Cement From Hands, Keeps Cut Flowers Fresher Longer, Glue Removal, To Clean Electric Irons, To Clean Garbage Disposal, Removes Rust & Ink Stains, Clean & Season Iron Skillets, Pots & Pans, To Extend Lingerie Life, A Silk & Laundry Rinse, Kills Weeds, To Disinfect Kitchen Counters, Loosens Corroded Screws & Hinges, Dissolves Scorch Marks, Oven Cleaner, Ant-Static For Plastic, Cleans Floors, Toys & Vinyl, Air Freshener, Sinusitis, Facial Neuralgia, Common Warts, Bed Wetting, Seed Starting, Germination, To Improve Light From Propane Lamps, Helps Knives Sharpen Better, Cleans & Polishes Leather, Pet Health, Removes Paint From Glass, Produce Rinse, Cleans Lime Deposits, Keeps Linens From Yellowing, Removes Mildew & Mold, Toothache, Removes Water Rings In Wood Furniture, Keeps Windows Frost Free, Can Remove Catsup & Wines Stains, Weight Loss, Wood Scratches, Woodworm Deterrent For Wood Furniture, Cleans Windows & Mirrors, Rectal Itching, Yeast Infections, Hives, Oily Skin, Cold Sores, Poison Ivy & Oak, Minor Cuts & Abrasions, Varicose Veins, Diaper Rash, Jock Itch, Eczema, Bladder Infections, Detoxifier, Muscle & Joint Stiffness.
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Scientific Research Results Regarding Vinegar…

Currently, there is research that strongly suggests that Vinegar can prevent the accumulation of fat cells and prevent weight gain (my favorite research!). The acetic acid levels have shown promising research that Vinegar may help to control blood sugar levels and blood pressure. On average Vinegar has been known to kill up to 82% of molds, 99% of Bacteria and up to 80% of virus causing germs. Your cleaning solution containing Vinegar should contain 5% or more of Vinegar that contains no additives or preservatives for it to have the bacteria, mold & germ fighting & killing properties! How is Vinegar Made???

It’s a process where sugars turn into alcohol and then turns into vinegar.

Here is a very simple outline of the process…

Only fresh juices with no additives or preservatives are used to make vinegar. The 1st step is to use a gallon glass jug to put the juice in and use an air lock lid for this part of the fermentation process. This is stored at room temperature for 4 to 6 weeks until the sugars have changed into alcohol. When the bubbling process has stopped is when the liquid is ready for the next step. The next step in the fermentation process is to divide liquid into 2 jugs and add the “Mother of Vinegar” (Vinegar already made) 1 part to 4 parts. This step converts the alcohol into acetic acid and requires air exposure. Cover jug openings with a fabric and tie it down to ensure opening is completely covered to keep out dust and insects. This fermentation step takes 3 to 9 months depending on the surface to volume ratio.

Here are several sites I found with great instruction on the…”How To” of making Vinegars!

http://www.beer-wine.com/
http://www.vinegarman.com/VinegarMaking.shtml
http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/how-vinegar-works2.htm
http://howtomakevinegar.com/
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Own-Vinegar
http://www.naturemoms.com/homemade-vinegar.html


There are many fantastic books about Vinegar but too many to list! Here are a few of my favorites…

Apple Cider Vinegar, BRAGG, By: Paul and Patricia C Bragg
Honey Garlic and Vinegar Home Remedies and Recipes, By: Dr. Quillen
The Great Uses For Vinegar, By: TipKing
Amazing Apple Cider Vinegar, By: Earl Mindell
“Vinegar” By: Lawrence J. Diggs, aka: “The Vinegar Man”
Natural Cleaning Books...
The Naturally Clean Home, By: Karyn Siegel-Maier
Organic Housekeeping, By: Ellen Sandbeck
Baking Soda, By: Vicki Lansky
Natural Cleanin For Your Home, 95 Pure and Simple Recipes, By: Casey Kellar
Some Great Homemade & Easy To Make Cleaning Recipes Using Vinegar From Vital Earth Traditions & Kelly Lynch Ring can be found here !

http://www.vitalearthtraditions.com/Housekeeping_Recipes.html

Natural Household Cleaners Can Be Purchased at Vital Earth Traditions !

However, household cleaners are so simple and cheep to make that I encourage you to make them yourselves! Once you have made a few different cleaners, you can tailor make them to your specific likes and needs. This process empowers you as a consumer to know exactly what you want in a cleaner and what you don't like. The cost difference in your monthly cleaning supply bill will simply be huge and you will be helping the environment at the same time!

To shop now go to http://shop.vitalearthtraditions.com/

Vinegar History

Here is just some of the history on Vinegar that I found........

For thousands of years around the world, Apple Cider Vinegar and White Vinegar have been used to improve health, for cleaning, killing bacteria, removing orders, stains and spot removal.

The Babylonians were 1st to mention the medicinal value of Apple Cider Vinegar around 7000 years ago. History shows them frequently using ACV as a preservative and a condiment.

Throughout the Bible Apple Cider Vinegar is mentioned being used as antiseptic and for all kinds of healing purposes. From the time of Old Testament, laborers then and now sportsmen would use a combination of vinegar, salt and water creating a version of Gatorade. This was used for keeping and maintaining energy levels that had been depleted by sweating under heat of the sun and extreme body exertion.

The Romans and Greek were found to have used ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) for healing purposes and flavoring. The early Romans, Greeks and Asian Physicians are historically known for using ACV to treat such conditions as Bile Reduction, Scurvy, and Digestive Ailments.

History shows that the ancient Persian used a drink of vinegar, lime juice and sour fruit for preventing fatty accumulations in the body.

Hippocrates the Father of Medicine treated and prescribed his patients un-distilled Apple Cider Vinegar as a healing elixir.

Egyptian Urns dating back to 3000BC have traces of ACV. Cleopatra won a bet by dissolving a pearl in Vinegar and drank it to prove she could consume a fortune for a meal.

During the Middle Ages in Paris barrels were sold of ACV on the streets that were used for tonics, deodorants, to keep the body healthy, to make Vinegar drinks, and were also thought to have anti-aging properties. During the Black Plague it is reported that those who breathed through a cloth of soaked with ACV were spared from the Black Plague. Apple Cider Vinegar was also used to cover up the stench of sewage during that time era.

Christopher Columbus along with the majority of Ship Captains used barrels of Vinegars on board their ships for cleaning purposes, tonics and for antiseptic treatments.

Soldiers throughout history have used ACV as a disinfectant for wound healing and scurvy prevention. History shows that Roman soldiers used ACV and fire alternately to break through the Alp Mountains. This process would cause the rocks to heat and then contract making the “Break Through” possible. Before refrigeration was available other means were used to preserve foods. Using Vinegar in the canning process was one way. The other ways were to “Salt” meats and Smoking was the other option.

Japanese history shows that warriors in Japan would consume/drink Apple Cider Vinegar for strength and power.

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Resources
Apple Cider Vinegar, BRAGG, By: Paul and Patricia C Bragg
Honey Garlic and Vinegar Home Remedies and Recipes, By: Dr. Quillen
The Great Uses For Vinegar, By: TipKing
Amazing Apple Cider Vinegar, By: Earl Mindell
“Vinegar” By: Lawrence J. Diggs, aka: “The Vinegar Man”
http://www.beer-wine.com/
http://www.vinegarman.com/VinegarMaking.shtml
http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/how-vinegar-works2.htm
http://howtomakevinegar.com/
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Own-Vinegar
http://www.naturemoms.com/homemade-vinegar.html
The Naturally Clean Home, By: Karyn Siegel-Maier
Organic Housekeeping, By: Ellen Sandbeck
Baking Soda, By: Vicki Lansky
Natural Cleanin For Your Home, 95 Pure and Simple Recipes, By: Casey