Easy Homemade Spray Cleaner

Stop buying expensive chemical cleaners! We are not the first to use this type of cleaner but it is simple and effective and costs almost nothing! This is the process we use to  mix up a cheap and simple cleaner that can be used on counters, windows, bathrooms, etc. 

The first step is to grab a cheap dollar store spray bottle or use an empty spray bottle of your choice just be sure to wash out whatever was in it thoroughly.

There are many ways to make your own cleaners depending on what you have access to. We like to start with vinegar in ours and mix with some warm water as a base. I general fill the bottle up about 1/4 with warm water and then the rest of the way with vinegar. This is not an exact science so you can adjust it as you need.

 At this point you have just created a very effective and cheap cleaner. You can stop right here and use it for counters and anywhere you would normally use Fantastic or similar cleaners. But if you want something with a bit more cleaning power, a better scent, and antibacterial properties essentials oils will be needed. The SSLFamily Mom as a post on essentials oils here and links to where you can buy them if you want.

There are infinite combinations and concoctions that you can make with essentials oils but I love to add lemon to just about anything, cleaners included. I normally add between 15-20 drops of the lemon oil, it is cheap and adds a great fragrance to the cleaner as well as helps the cleaning power. I have also recently started adding oregano oil as well. Just a couple of drops; this stuff is more expensive and potent! The oregano oil acts as an anti-fungal and anti-bacterial in the cleaner. Added bonus - smells like a pizza while you clean:)

We have not purchased any cleaners in quite some time here on the Simple Suburban Homestead and I don't see any reason for us to go back. Using these homemade and chemical free options is cheaper, safer, and as an added bonus the kids can use them too! No need to open windows when you clean the bathroom or worry about the kids getting things in their eyes or on their skin. Although I am not sure I would spray this directly in your eye (it would probably not feel  good) lemon in the eyes, ouch!

As an added feature you can sprinkle some baking soda on countertops, floors, etc and then use the spray cleaner. The vinegar and baking soda react and the foaming can help lift and wash away dirt as well.

Check out the full video here

Lemon oil -  http://amzn.to/1HRg80d
Oregano oil - http://amzn.to/1HRgmo2

Spray bottles - http://amzn.to/1PqW2H9

All of these products and more recommended items from the SSL Family are available at the

Simple Suburban Living General Store

You can follow us on....

http://www.pinterest.com/simplesuburban/
http://www.facebook.com/simplesuburbanliving
http://www.twitter.com/simplesuburban5
http://www.instagram.com/simplesuburbanliving

Read More

Buying Essential Oils for Our Very First Time

A week and a half ago, I received the first bottles of essential oils I have ever owned in my entire life.  Never used them, never tried them, ever.  A very good friend of mine from high school uses doTERRA oils and had been contacting me to attend one of her classes where she teaches people how to use them.  I had been meaning to pick some up ever since the summer when I started making homemade laundry soap.  If you recall, I picked up a pickle bucket from a local pizzeria.  I thought it might be nice to scent the soap with some lavender or citrus to help combat the dill that still lingers in my bucket. 

Well, I never made it to one of my friend's classes.  I seem to have a really hard time with stuff like Mary Kay, jewelry parties, candle parties, you know places where you feel obligated to buy something even if you don't want to?  I always end up buying something and then regretting it because it was either too expensive or something I never really needed or ended up using.  I honestly thought essential oils would turn out the same way.  I wanted to try them, but didn't really NEED them, and was doing just fine without them. 

So, to be a good friend to my friend, I decided to buy some oils from her.  But I didn't know what to buy because I really didn't know anything about them.  And I don't like to waste money so I did my homework on what oils to spend my money on.  A couple days, LOTS of articles, and several YouTube videos later, I made my decision on what to purchase.  Before I tell you what I ended up buying, let me tell you a little about what I learned.

First of all, I learned that I really didn't know ANYTHING about essential oils!  I thought they were something to make things like soaps and lotions smell good.  And that's about all I knew.  But what I learned was they are actually capable of doing so much more. 

Essential oils are the aromatic compounds found in roots, plants, trees, flowers and fruits.  Yes, they do smell good but these aromatic compounds actually protect and are vital to the plant, and they each have their own unique qualities that can benefit our own health as well.  The best part is, they're pure and 100% natural.  Getting our home and the foods we eat as chemical-free as possible is something we have been passionate about, so this seemed right up our alley.  The more I learned about essential oils, the more excited I got!  When I read a clinical trial study on essential oils, I was SOLD.  Essential oils actually have the ability no antibiotic or medicine has.  They have the ability to pass through a cell's membrane and fight off viruses! 

So before I ever even put an oil on my body or smelled one with my nose, I knew this was something my family needed.  Do you ever JUST KNOW something is right for you, that deep down inside you know you're making the right decision?  Essential oils just fit our family, they embody everything we're about......and God made them, not a chemist.  That alone was more than enough for me.

With confidence, I texted my friend and told her we wanted the Home Essentials Kit.  It came with ten bottles of oils, a free bottle of Frankincense, a wholesale membership, and a diffuser. 

We know there isn't a magic pill or oil that can heal years and years of a poor diet, lack of exercise and loads of chemicals our bodies were never designed to handle.  I promise to be completely honest about our experiences with these oils, and hopefully our stories will help you on your own wellness journey as well. 

Here are a few of the resources I reviewed before making my first purchase.  I have others, so please just ask if you want more.  I found it's not easy finding good, credible information on them.

 

 

And here is a website that serves as a great resource on how best to use your oils.  I found it very helpful and informative: 

http://www.everythingessential.me/

 

 

Please let me know what you think.  Do you use oils?  Which are your favorites?  I'd love to hear your stories. 



This post has been shared at:  Homestead Barn Hop, Homestead Blog Hop, The Backyard Farming Connection Hop, Simple Lives Thursday, The HomeAcre Christmas Hop, Front Porch Friday


 

Read More