Clean Deep, Clean Sweet with Herbs

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Spell for Psychic Housecleaning

By: Barrie Dolnick

 

This spell is preferably performed during a waning moon but can be cast as needed for cleansing during any moon phase.

 

Any evening after sunset,light the end of a sagebrush stick.Have a glass of water and a bowlcontaining a shallow pool of water nearby.Blow out the flame and blow on the ambersof the stick to increase the smoke.In each room of your house, blow smoke in each of the four directions.Blow gently upon the burning stickas you face each wall of the room.

 

Say Aloud:I clear this space of all negativityand of the energy of people or thingsthat have no purpose in our household.I ask that this clearing be gentleand that all of this energy be returned to its source.

 

When you are done with your whole house,return to the room your started in.Take the stick and dip it into the shallow bowl of water to douse the embers.Take a sip of water from your glass.

 

Say Aloud: This home is a gentle and supportive environment.I offer gratitude to the universe that this is done.

 

So be it.And it is so.

..

 

 

Tamara McGee <gypsy wrote:

 

Clean Deep, Clean Sweet with Herbs

By Sandy Maine

March 2006, The Herb Companion (magazine)

 

Here are some of the bad reasons why I wrote this: ammonia, bleach, butylcellosolve, cresol, dye, ethanol, formaldehyde, glycol, hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, napthalene, paradichlorobenzenes, perchloroethylene, petroleum distillates, phenol, phosphoric acid, propellants, sulfuric acid, and trichloroethylene.

I found these chemicals listed on the labels of popular cleaning formulas. Each is dangerous and most considered hazardous waste. Are they fun to use? No! Effective? You bet--but they cost plenty, both in dollars and risk to the environment.

Here are the good reasons for this article, along with descriptions of the ways each benefits home-keeping.

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a mild alkali useful in a variety of cleaning applications. (Don't confuse this with washing soda, also called sal soda, which is not the same substance.)

White vinegar, a slightly acidic liquid, is useful in many cleaning formulas. (Heinz is one brand I often choose because I know it's made from grains.)

Sodium lauryl sulfate powder (SLS) and sodium lauryl sulfoacetate are simple and effective detergents derived from coconut oil. You can order by mail from suppliers listed in the Resources, Page 30. There are concerns about using SLS on the skin, as it can be an irritant. It is nontoxic as a detergent; however, if you prefer, substitute bulk castile soap as a surfectant.

Unscented bulk castile soap, like SLS, serves as a surfactant by helping to loosen and wash away dirt. It's handy to have a several-pound bar that can be grated into formulas when needed. It's available by mail order; see Resources, Page 30.

Lemon, lime and grapefruit juices, fresh or in concentrate, do more than smell great--they're acidic and antibacterial and make a lively addition to any cleaning formula.

Borax (sodium bromate) is a mildly alkaline, water-soluble salt. It loosens dirt and stains while removing odors. Borax is usually available in super-markets, but it's available by mail, too.

Carnauba and olive oils are excellent additions to wood cleaners because they recondition and polish the surfaces.

Beeswax turns formulas into pastes for waxing and shining.

Lanolin, a natural oil extracted from wool, restores some of the fiber's natural sheen and water repellence when added to wool-washing soaps.

Clay powder is a mild abrasive that absorbs essential oils and disperses them easily in powdered cleaning formulas.

Pumice is finely ground volcanic rock; add it as an abrasive to scrubbing compounds for big jobs.

 

More Good Reasons: Essential Oils

Essential oils offer important cleaning and disinfecting benefits for home-keeping. Distilled from plant roots, rinds, flowers, seeds and resins, essential oils are highly concentrated and intensely scented. Essential oils are not the same as the synthetic scent oils that you can find at crafts stores. Such chemically contrived oils don't originate from plants, and they cannot offer the cleaning and therapeutic benefits of essential oils (pure essential oils can be ordered from SunFeather and other sources; see Resources, Page 30.

Essential oils are highly concentrated, and as a rule should not be applied directly to the skin or to household surfaces. Never ingest essential oils; should this happen by accident, do not induce vomiting--seek immediate medical help.

These are my favorite essential oils or cleaning. They are effective, easy to obtain and not too expensive. A little goes a long way, so be conservative.

Lavender is a disinfectant. Aromatherapists often use its calming scent to ease tension, anxiety and depression.

Lemon, orange and grapefruit are tough degreasers with refreshing, clean scents that can alleviate depression and fatigue.

Eucalyptus disinfects while helping relieve stuffy noses. It's an excellent cleaning choice if you are fighting off a cold.

Tea tree is distilled from the Australian melaleuca alternifolia tree, is effective against bacteria, fungus and some viruses; it's terrific for cleaning when there's illness in the home.

White cedar disinfects and provides an uplifting scent. It's another good choice when illness is present.

Lime has a lighthearted citrus scent so delicious that it's easy to forget how well it performs as a degreaser and general cleanser. Mix a few drops of this oil with a couple of tablespoons of baking soda for a slightly abrasive kitchen scrub.

Pine is a fine old standby for home keepers. This plentiful and inexpensive essential oil is a degreaser and a bit of a disinfectant. Its clean, outdoor scent stimulates alertness--sometime helpful during cleaning.

 

Equipment To Get You Started

To make your herbal cleaning formulas, you'll need measuring cups and spoons, and wide-mouth and narrow funnels. Use large stainless steel or glass bowls rather than ceramic or plastic ones that might absorb essential oil scents.

Gather up an assortment of spray bottles, squirt bottles and shakers with flip tops (one of my favorites is a recycled Parmesan cheese container). Assorted jars or plastic storage tubs are handy too. You can use all of these to store your products. For labeling the containers, you'll need labels, markers and tape.

 

Hot Housekeeping Tips

Place a drop of your favorite essential oils on a scrap of fabric or a handkerchief. Toss it into the dryer with your clothes or sheets.

Use a drop or two of orange oil on a paper coffee filter to remove glue or masking tape residue from windows.

Scent the filter bag of your vacuum cleaner with a drop or two of a fresh-smelling essential oil.

For a great fragrance whenever you sit down, scatter dried lavender rose petals, rosemary or other favorite herbs under the cushions of the couch and upholstered chairs.

Make sachets from fabric scraps or old handkerchiefs; embellish with lace or ribbon. If you don't sew, try using muslin tea bags or even coin envelopes from an office supply store.

 

Carnauba and Lavender Furniture Wax

1/4 cup carnauba was

2 tablespoons beeswax

1 1/4 cup olive oil

1 teaspoon lavender essential oil

Melt waxes over low heat in small saucepan. Stir in olive oil, then lavender oil. Pour mixture into a tin, plastic or glass container and allow to harden.

 

Eucalyptus, Lavender and Tea Tree Spray

This spray cleaner is great for general cleaning duties to disinfect surfaces, wipe out mold and discourage its return. Eucalyptus, lavender and tea tree all are known for their antimicrobial properties. Together, they smell exquisitely clean, and they know how to get the job done.

1 teaspoon sodium lauryl sulfoacetate

1 teaspoon borax

2 tablespoons white vinegar

2 cups hot water

1/4 teaspoon eucalyptus essential oil

1/4 teaspoon lavender essential oil

3 drops tea tree essential oil

Mix all ingredients together and stir until dry ingredients dissolve. Pour into spray bottle for use and long-term storage. To use, spray as needed on any surface except glass. Scrub and rinse with a clean, damp cloth.

 

Lemon-Mint Window Wash

If you live where flies routinely cause problems in the summer, you'll love this recipe. Your windows will be sparkling clean, and the fresh lemon juice and peppermint oil in the formula discourages the pesky critters from perching on your windows again.

Before you was the windows, whisk away dust and dead bugs from the casing using a small, hand-held broom. For shinny windows, use sheets of newspaper (black and white only) to scrub and shine. The newspaper ink may darken your hands, but it shines the windows without streaking.

Juice from one fresh lemon

2 cups water or club soda

1/2 teaspoon peppermint essential oil

1 teaspoon cornstarch

Mix all ingredients and pour into plastic spray bottle. Shake well before using.

 

Spritz-and-Spray Toilet Bowl Cleaner

The baking soda and vinegar in this formula dissolve mineral buildup, while the oils loosen grime and give a fresh, clean scent.

1/4 teaspoon sodium lauryl sulfoacetate

2 tablespoons baking soda

2 tablespoons vinegar

1 teaspoon orange essential oil

1 teaspoon grapefruit essential oil

2 cups water

Mix all ingredients in a 4-cup measuring cup or a bowl. When you mix the vinegar and baking soda, it will foam. Let this mixture stand for 10 minutes before pouring into a spray bottle.

 

Eucalyptus-Mint All-Purpose Disinfecting Soap for Kitchen and Bath

This soap can be used for washing dishes, floors, stoves, refrigerators, sinks, and hands. It's mild to the skin but effective enough to get cleaning jobs done. The eucalyptus and mint provide a disinfecting quality as well as a fresh scent. Any areas washed with this soap will be undesirable to crawling insects and flies--they'll stay away for quite a while.

5 cups grated castile soap

1/2 cup baking soda

1 teaspoon borax

6 cups hot peppermint tea

1 teaspoon eucalyptus essential oil

Put grated soap into a 3-quart stainless steel saucepan and add hot mint tea. Simmer for 15 minutes on low heat. Add baking soda, borax and eucalyptus oil. Store in a labeled plastic jug or squirt bottle. Shake before using.

 

Grapefruit Abrasive Cleanser

This cleanser gets its punch from finely ground pumice, a volcanic rock dust. It's comparable to soft scrub and can be used for tubs, sinks, tiles and even hard-working hands that have been stained with grease. The lingering scent is pungent and fresh.

1 cup fine-grade pumice

1/2 cup clay powder

2 tablespoons grapefruit essential oil

1/4 cup baking soda

1/4 cup sodium lauryl sulfoacetate

1/2 cup boiling water (or enough to make a thick paste)

Mix all ingredients together and stir. Store in a labeled airtight container. To use, apply gently with a damp sponge or cloth and scrub. Use a light touch on fiberglass fixtures.

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Sandy Maine, founder of SunFeather Handcrafted Herbal Soap Company, its the author of three books on soap-making and lives with her husband and four children on a spotlessly clean farm in the Adirondack Mountains.