by Jan Berry
YIELD: 5 OUNCES (150 ML)
¼ cup (60 ml) witch hazel
¼ cup (60 ml) aloe vera gel
¼ cup (4 g) fresh rose petals
1 tbsp (15 ml) apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp (15 ml) water
Using a small food processor, blend all of the ingredients together until the mixture is light pink and frothy, with specks of rose petals visible. Strain.
Pour into a spray bottle and store in the refrigerator. Spritz on your neck, arms, legs and back as needed. You may also use this on your face; just make sure to close your eyes before spraying. If the spray does get into your eyes, simply flush with water.
This recipe utilizes the trick of blending flower petals with bottled aloe vera gel to extract their color and benefits, without the risk of early spoilage a simple rose water infusion would carry. It should keep well in your refrigerator for 1 month, or longer.
Chamomile Calming Syrup
This tasty syrup contains chamomile, a gentle herb that calms, relaxes and helps you unwind from a busy day. A touch of lemon balm is added, for its ability to smooth frayed nerves and quiet the mind. Raw honey is a sweet-tasting product that acts as a preservative in this syrup.
YIELD: 4 OUNCES (120 ML)
3 to 4 fresh or dried lemon balm leaves
1 tbsp (1 g) dried chamomile flowers or tea
¼ cup (60 ml) simmering hot water
¼ cup (60 ml) raw honey
Few drops of peppermint extract (optional)
Tear or crumble the lemon balm leaves into small pieces, then add them to a heatproof mug or jar along with the chamomile flowers. Pour the hot water over them and allow to steep for 45 minutes.
Strain and stir in the raw honey until dissolved. Add a few drops of peppermint extract for flavor, if you’d like.
Take 1 to 2 teaspoons (5 to 10 ml) several times a day, or as needed. You can also add it to a cup of hot tea. This syrup is especially good to take in the evening to promote a more restful sleep.
Store the finished syrup in your refrigerator. Shelf life is around 4 weeks. You can also freeze small amounts in ice cube trays for up to 6 months and thaw at room temperature, when needed.
While both herbs are generally safe for most people, if you have health conditions, severe allergies or are pregnant or nursing, check with a health care provider before taking medicinal amounts of any herbs. Honey-containing products should not be given to children under the age of 1.
Tip: If you’re allergic to chamomile, try making this syrup with more lemon balm. Peppermint extract can be found in the baking and spice section of your local grocery store and is not to be confused with the much more potent peppermint essential oil.
Nontoxic Solutions for the Home
In this chapter, you’ll learn how to ditch the store-bought toxins and their health-damaging side effects and make your own simple but effective household cleaners, using just a few inexpensive ingredients from the grocery store, along with flowers and herbs from the garden.
These are great projects for using your more aromatic and antibacterial herbs, such as rosemary, sage, thyme and oregano. Roses and lavender add a soft and subtle scent to some of the recipes, but if you’re not a fan of floral, try using citrus-scented herbs or zest in their place.
Make chore time safe for your kids by mixing together an all-natural lemon-scented dusting spray that contains no endocrine disruptors or persistent chemicals that will damage their long-term health, unlike the canned dusting sprays that line store shelves.
Skip the commercial disinfectant wipes, which are linked to respiratory and immune issues, and brew up an herbal vinegar spray that has legendary disinfecting properties and is perfect for cleaning your home during cold and flu season.
Instead of spraying your windows with strongly scented blue sprays that can cause respiratory problems and skin irritation, try my pretty rose window cleaner for a streak-free shine that won’t harm you, your family or the environment.
I also share recipes to naturally clean your laundry, counters, floors and more!
Thyme Counter Cleaner
This recipe makes cleaning your counters a breeze! Castile soap lifts dirt and grime, while the water helps rinse it away. Germ-busting thyme is infused into common isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, which helps the spray dry to a non-streak shine. If you’re sensitive to the scent of rubbing alcohol, try using clear vodka instead.
YIELD: 1 CUP (250 ML)
1 tbsp (1 g) dried thyme
3 tbsp (45 ml) isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol
1 cup (250 ml) water
2 tsp (10 ml) liquid castile soap
FOR THE THYME-INFUSED ALCOHOL
Place the thyme leaves in a small cup or jar and pour the alcohol over them. Cover, and infuse overnight. The alcohol will turn a pretty shade of green. Strain.
FOR THE COUNTER CLEANER
Fill a spray bottle or jar with the water, then gently stir in the castile soap. Pour the infused alcohol into the mixture and stir once more.
Be sure to label your counter cleaner, so no one mistakenly thinks it’s an herbal mixture that can be ingested, and keep it out of the reach of small children.
Shake gently before each use. Spritz over your counters, paying extra attention to especially dirty spots. Use a rag or paper towel to wipe and buff dry.
Lemon Thyme Dusting Spray
Those lemon-scented dusting sprays found in your local store’s cleaning section may smell nice, but a quick glance at their labels shows products that are far from natural. Instead, try this simple and inexpensive recipe that’s healthier for you and your furniture. The vinegar’s purpose is to clean and cut through built-up grime, while the olive oil helps protect wood and leaves a nice shine behind. This spray can even help restore and improve the appearance of worn wooden surfaces! I chose lemon thyme for this recipe because it adds a disinfecting boost as it cleans, but you can mix and match whatever variety of lemon-scented herbs you like, such as lemon balm, lemon verbena, lemon thyme and lemongrass.
YIELD: 3 OUNCES (90 ML) DUSTING SPRAY
1 lemon
1 cup (10 g) chopped fresh lemon thyme or other lemon-scented herbs
1 ½ cups (375 ml) white vinegar
2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil
FOR THE LEMON THYME VINEGAR
Remove the peel from the lemon and cut it into several pieces, or use a grater or zester. Try to get mostly colored zest, avoiding as much white pith as possible.
Place the lemon-scented herbs, pieces of lemon peel and white vinegar in a pint (500-ml) canning jar. Cover with a plastic lid. If you don’t have a nonmetallic lid, place a few layers of wax paper or plastic wrap between the lid and jar, to keep the vinegar from corroding the metal.
Set the jar aside in a cupboard or other dark place for 1 to 2 weeks or until the vinegar smells distinctly of lemon. If needed, add more lemon peels and infuse a few weeks longer for a stronger scent. After sufficient time has passed, strain the vinegar into a clean jar. Label, cap and store out of sunlight.
The infused vinegar should stay fresh for around a year and can be used to make around 6 batches of dusting spray.
FOR THE DUSTING SPRAY
Combine 4 tablespoons (60 ml) lemon herb vinegar with the olive oil in a small glass spray bottle. Shake well before and during each use, as the mixture tends to separate easily.
Spritz a small amount on a dusting rag and rub over dusty or worn wooden surfaces until they shine and the oil is evenly worked in. This spray can be used on furniture, tables, cabinet doors and other wooden surfaces, but isn’t designed for hardwood floors.
Tip: If fresh herbs aren’t available, you can use ½ cup dried instead.
Basic Toilet Bowl Cleaner
This simple recipe is effective for routine toilet cleaning. For tougher jobs, try adding ¼ cup (65 g) super washing soda with the baking soda and use a pumice stone to scrub away persistent hard-water stains.
YIELD: ENOUGH TO CLEAN 1 TOILET
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p; ½ cup (112 g) baking soda
½ cup (125 ml) Four Thieves Vinegar
Sprinkle the baking soda onto the sides and in the bowl of your toilet. Next, pour in the vinegar. It should immediately start bubbling up and fizzing. If not, try using ¾ to 1 cup each of baking soda and vinegar next time.
Using a toilet brush, scrub the bowl thoroughly, then flush.
Tip: Use a cotton ball moistened with hydrogen peroxide for lightening stains on and around the toilet lid.
Lemon Balm Furniture Polish
While you can rub your furniture directly with lemon balm leaves for a fresh scent and shine, it takes a lot of leaves, time and patience to do so. Instead, try drying your lemon balm leaves and infusing them into an oil that has a long shelf life, such as jojoba, coconut or olive, then turn that into a homemade polish that makes your wooden surfaces gleam!
YIELD: 1 OUNCE (28 G)
1 tbsp (1 g) dried lemon balm leaves, crumbled
1 oz (30 ml) jojoba oil
0.15 oz (4 g) beeswax
Lemon essential oil, optional
Place the dried lemon balm leaves and jojoba oil in a half-pint (250-ml) canning jar. Set the jar down into a saucepan containing 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) of water. Heat over a burner set to low for 1 hour, then strain oil into a 4-ounce (125-ml) canning jar. You can save a little bit of cleanup time by using this small jar for both mixing together and storing the furniture polish.
Weigh out the beeswax directly into the jar with the strained oil, then set it in the saucepan you used to infuse the jojoba oil. Turn the heat to medium-low and heat until the beeswax is completely melted. Remove from heat. If desired, stir in a few drops of lemon essential oil, for scent and added cleaning power.
Using scraps of old T-shirts or other soft rags, rub a small amount into your wooden furniture, rolling pins and cutting boards as needed. Follow with a buffing by a clean rag.
Rose Window Cleaner
Brighten up chore time with this pretty pink window cleaner made from fresh roses. It utilizes the natural grease- and grime-cutting abilities of white vinegar. Cornstarch may sound like an odd ingredient, but its specific purpose in the recipe is to help prevent streaking. For the most beautiful, streak-free shine, try using this spray in conjunction with crumpled newspaper or birdseye cotton (the material that diaper flats are made of).
YIELD: ENOUGH TO FILL A 2-OUNCE (60-ML) SPRAY BOTTLE
1 cup (10 g) fresh pink or red rose petals
1½ cups (375 ml) white vinegar
2 tbsp (30 ml) water
Pinch of cornstarch
FOR THE ROSE-INFUSED VINEGAR
Place the rose petals and vinegar in a pint (500-ml) canning jar. Cover with a plastic or nonmetallic lid. If you don’t have one, place a few layers of plastic wrap or wax paper over the jar before putting the lid on, to keep the vinegar from corroding the metal.
Set the jar aside in a cool, dark place for 1 to 2 weeks or until the vinegar turns pink and takes on a light rose scent. If you’d like a stronger smell, add more rose petals and infuse for another week. Strain the finished vinegar into a clean jar. Label, cap and store out of direct sunlight. The color will fade over time, but the vinegar will remain usable for at least 1 year, or longer.
FOR THE ROSE WINDOW CLEANER
Pour 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of rose-infused vinegar into a small spray bottle. Add the water and cornstarch and shake well.
Spritz on windows, mirrors and other glass surfaces, then wipe off with crumpled newspaper or birdseye cotton. Vinegar can damage or cause etching on granite, stone or marble, so avoid using on those types of surfaces.
Tip: It’s easy to scale this recipe up to make larger quantities. Just combine equal parts of water and vinegar, plus a pinch of cornstarch.
Four Thieves Vinegar Spray
There is an old legend of four thieves who went around robbing the homes and graves of those who had been stricken by the plague during medieval times. The mystery of why they never got sick themselves was solved when they were finally captured and gave up their secret in exchange for pardons of their crimes. They claimed to have steeped a special blend of herbs in vinegar, then soaked rags in it to cover their faces and to wash with during and after their nefarious acts. Whether such a band of thieves actually existed or not may never be known, but scientific research today tells us that many aromatic herbs do indeed have strong disinfecting and antimicrobial properties. I like to make up a large batch of this vinegar each year to keep on hand for use during cold and flu season. It’s great for cleaning surfaces such as sinks, light switches, toilet seats, refrigerator handles and other places germs might lurk. While there may have been only four thieves in the legend, you’re not limited to using just four herbs in this recipe. The original formulas that sprang up around that time were thought to contain many herbs, for the widest array of benefits possible.
YIELD: l½ CUPS (375 ML)
¼ cup (3 to 4 g) each of chopped fresh rosemary, mint, lavender leaves, sage, thyme and oregano
Few whole cloves (optional)
1½ cups (375 ml) vinegar
Water, for diluting
Place the herbs in a pint (500-ml) canning jar. Some variations of the recipe contain cloves, for their potent germ-fighting properties. If you like their scent, try adding a few to the jar. Pour the vinegar over the herbs. Add extra vinegar, if needed, to ensure that the herbs are fully covered.
Cover with a nonmetallic lid or place a few layers of wax paper or plastic wrap between the jar and metal lid, to prevent corrosion from the vinegar.
Set the vinegar in a dark place to infuse for 1 to 2 weeks. Strain and store in a glass jar. Shelf life is at least one year.
To use, dilute with equal parts of water, and spray on soiled or germy areas, then wipe off with old rags or paper towels. Vinegar can damage or cause etching on granite, stone or marble, so avoid using on those types of surfaces.
Tip: If you don’t have fresh herbs, try using half as much dried herb instead.
Orange Pine Floor Cleaner
The grime-fighting powers of citrus combine with the disinfecting woodsy scent of pine in this basic floor cleaner recipe for no-wax and ceramic tile flooring. Avoid using on hardwood floors, since the acid in vinegar may damage finishes over time.
YIELD: 1½ CUPS (375 ML) FLOOR CLEANER
½ cup (12 g) chopped pine needles
Zest or peelings from 1 orange
1½ (375 ml) cups white vinegar
Place the pine needles and orange zest in a pint (500-ml) jar. It doesn’t matter if you have a large or small orange; there’s no precise amount needed for this recipe.
Pour the vinegar into the jar. Add extra, if needed, to cover all of the plant material. Cap with a nonmetallic lid. If one isn’t available, place a few layers of plastic wrap or wax paper between the jar and lid, to prevent corrosion from the vinegar.
Tuck the vinegar away in a dark cupboard for 1 to 2 weeks, then strain.
If you’d like a stronger scent, fill a new jar with a fresh supply of pine needles and orange peel and pour the freshly strained vinegar on top. Repeat the 1- to 2-week waiting time to create a double-strength infusion.
To use, mix ¼ to ½ cup (60 to 120 ml) orange pine floor cleaner into a gallon (3.8 L) of hot water and mop as usual.
Herbal Hand Soap
Sometimes, it’s more convenient to use a liquid soap, rather than a bar, for washing hands. Some people, too, prefer the feel of liquid soap to solid bars. For those situations, it’s a breeze to mix up a natural solution that doesn’t contain all of the synthetic detergents and heavy fragrances that store-bought hand soaps tend to have. For best results with this recipe, use a handmade or real soap, such as castile, since many store-bought bars are actually detergent based and won’t work as well. This project is also a great way to use up odd-size ends and scraps of the handmade soaps found in the Simple Homemade Soaps chapter. Since you only need a small amount, just use a bit of matching or complementary
herbal-infused oil from another project, or plain oil that has not been infused.
YIELD: 1½ TO 2 CUPS (375 TO 500 ML)
1 (4- to 5-oz [115- to 145-g]) bar of handmade or other real soap
1 tsp herbal infused oil
1½ to 2 cups (375 to 500 ml) water
Natural preservative (optional)
Using an inexpensive box grater, grate the bar of soap. You should end up with around 1½ to 2 cups (375 to 500 ml) of soap flakes. It’s okay if you have a little more or a little less; you can adjust the water to compensate. Place the soap flakes in a medium saucepan, then add the oil and around 1 cup (250 ml) of the water.
Set the pan over a low burner and heat the mixture, occasionally stirring, until the soap flakes dissolve into the water. This will take some time, so don’t despair if it doesn’t happen quickly.
Add another ½ cup (125 ml) of water and stir. Depending on your initial bar of soap’s size and how old it is, you may not need all of the water, or you may need more. As you stir every so often, a layer of foamy bubbles may appear on the surface. You can skim those off carefully with a large spoon or ladle.
Once it’s fully dissolved, remove the pan from heat and let the liquid soap cool slightly. Pour into a soap dispenser or bottle. The soap will thicken more as it cools, but should remain in a liquid state. If it doesn’t, return it to the saucepan and stir in more water.
Anytime you introduce water into a product, there’s an opportunity for bacteria and mold to grow. The alkalinity of soap preserves it in many ways, but if you don’t plan on using all of the hand soap within a few weeks, you should consider adding a natural preservative.