Self Sufficiency
7 DIY Natural Cleaning Products | Simple Home Solutions

Home Projects Homemade Products Home and Cleaning 7 DIY Natural Cleaning Products | Simple Home Solutions
Most people use chemical-laden products to clean their house. Apart from being more expensive than natural cleaning agents, they are bad for your skin and your health. Yet, with some ingredients from your kitchen pantry, anyone can make natural cleaning products in just a few minutes!
The products are also more pet- and eco-friendly than chemical-based substances. There’s no toxic run-off into the sewerage and waterways and oceans, so environmental impacts will be minimal with these natural cleaning products.
Some staples include lemon juice, white vinegar, bicarbonate soda, salt, hydrogen peroxide, castille soap and olive oil. The combinations of these ingredients cause chemical reactions between acidic and basic elements to create powerful yet harmless compounds for cleaning.
The textures are also important – baking soda powder mixed with water creates a paste, plus smooth soft soap and rough grains of salt creates a scrub. While most of these substances are commonly known for cooking, they can also be used for several beauty products.
Here we show you quick, easy and inexpensive ways to make your own cleaning products for everyday use in the house. If you prefer different scents than lemon or the strong, tart vinegar smell, add a dash of essential oil – mint, bergamot, jasmine or lavender – just to name some favorites.
Mildew and Mold Remover
Combine baking soda, tea tree oil and water together in a spray-bottle and use it directly on the surface with an old toothbrush to get rid of grime, mold and mildew. The baking soda’s texture creates a paste to help scrub in between difficult crooks and crannies.
This is extremely effective for cleaning corners in your shower. It also did a pretty good job cleaning the caulking in my shower, which I’ve found to be extremely difficult.
Recipe: Real Simple
Deodorizer
Simply place a small jar or plastic container of baking soda in the fridge and freezer to absorb bad odors, or in your garbage disposal, or bathroom, or even in kitty litter.
General Cleaning Scouring scrub:
All you’ll need is castille soap, kitchen salt, baking soda and white vinegar for rinsing. This hard-core scrub will rid stains, rust, and grease from your oven, benchtops, and stoves.
Combine the soap, baking soda and salt with a little water to create a paste. Smother it inside your oven and leave it for a few hours, then use a scrubbing brush and water to wash it clean. Rinse with vinegar afterwards to remove the residue.
Make sure you don’t combine the vinegar to the scouring scrub, it’ll turn it a messy paste that is no good for cleaning.
Star ingredient: Baking soda
More commonly known as a leavening agent to make cakes and bread rise (hence its name), baking soda is an enormously versatile cleaning ingredient. It generally keeps a pH level of around 8, with 7 being neutral, even when combined with acidic substances.
Therefore, it neutralizes bad smells rather than masking them, and is used in commercial bath salt and deodorant powder products. Baking soda is used for cleaning as its alkaline nature mixes with fats in dirt and grease to form a soap-like substance that can then be dissolved with water and washed away. Apart from being non-toxic, it is readily available in any supermarket, cheap and needs no extra preparation to use. It is a must have for many natural cleaning products!
Glass cleaner:
Mix lemon juice and water together and put it in a spray bottle. You can add white vinegar and rubbing alcohol if you want a stronger solution. Use newspaper to scrub the glass without leaving streaks once the cleaner has been applied.
Glass Cleaner from Earth 911
Star ingredient: Lemon juice
High in citric acid, lemon juice makes a great cleaner for removing dirt, making surfaces shine, with an added bonus of fresh lemon scent. Acidic elements like lemon juice and vinegar react with alkaline and dissipate them, making them very effective at eliminating scum but heavier substances are required to get rid of grease.
Alkaline products are needed for that instead. Lemon juice does work very well on oxidized metal surfaces however, although repeated use may corrode them. Keep in mind that while lemon juice can clean dirt, and is a natural bleach, it is not a proven disinfectant.
Shower and Toilet Cleaner
It’s simply a matter of mixing vinegar and water – that’s it! The vinegar’s acidity removes the stains and grime, leaving it shiny and without the chalky residue from chemical cream cleansers.
Coffee machine cleaner
Run the same ratio of vinegar and water through your coffee machine to get rid of limescale. Let it sit for an hour midway through the cycle and then let it finish.
Drain Declogger
If you’re having issues flushing water down the toilet, or water isn’t draining well, use a mix of baking soda and vinegar to rinse out the residue. Pour in the baking soda first, then the vinegar. It will bubble a little – that’s the sound of it doing its job! – and after it stops, rinse through with warm water.
Original recipe: Crunch Betty
Star ingredient: White vinegar
Vinegar can be made from any fruit, or in fact, any food or substance that contains sugar. Yeast causes fermentation, catalyzing the sugars (carbohydrates) to be processed into alcohol.
Acetobacter, a microorganism, then turns the alcohol into acetic acid. Added with Vitamin B-1, mineral salts and riboflavin, the substance becomes vinegar. There are various flavours – balsamic, apple cider and rice vinegar – but for cleaning purposes, your standard white vinegar will be fine.
The acidity in vinegar erodes grease and grime, and limits the production of new bacteria and mold. While not a disinfectant, it can kill salmonella and E. coli bacteria.
That’s it!I hope you enjoyed learning about 7 DIY natural cleaning products!
Thanks for reading our post on 7 DIY Natural Cleaning Products! Let us know which one you plan to try!
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Self Sufficiency
NYC Adds Nearly 4,000 People Who Never Tested Positive To Coronavirus Death Tolls

New York City added nearly 4,000 people who never tested positive for the coronavirus to its death toll Tuesday, bringing coronavirus-related deaths in the city to around 10,000 people.
The city decided to add 3,700 people to its death tolls, who they “presumed” to have died from the virus, according to a report from The New York Times. The additions increased the death toll in the U.S. by 17%, according to the Times report, and included people who were suffering from symptoms of the virus, such as intense coughing and a fever.
The report stated that Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio decided over the weekend to change the way the city is counting deaths.
“In the heat of battle, our primary focus has been on saving lives,” de Blasio press secretary Freddi Goldstein told the Times.“As soon as the issue was raised, the mayor immediately moved to release the data.”
The post New York City added nearly 4,000 people who never tested positive for the coronavirus to its death toll appeared first on Daily Caller
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Self Sufficiency
How To Make Lacto-Fermented Sauerkraut In A Mason Jar
The thing about homesteading is you get to create your own ingredient right from scratch! Cheese, yogurt, butter and now sauerkraut, a delightfully sour and crunchy ingredient you can use on your meals — or consume by itself — while on a homestead, or while facing this health crisis!
This homemade sauerkraut is a great meal because it has a long shelf life. You can either make plain sauerkraut or mix it with herbs and spices. In this tutorial let us make Lacto-fermented sauerkraut that preserves all the good probiotics in a jar, good for your guts.
So how to make sauerkraut in a mason jar?
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Delicious Sauerkraut Recipe Every Homesteader Should Know
Why Make Sauerkraut?
Not only does sauerkraut spoil a long time, but it is also a meal in itself, and it is also easy to make! You don’t need to be an expert cook, all you need to do is follow these simple steps.
So let us get started. Here are the steps in making sauerkraut in a mason jar.
Ingredients:
- 1 head of cabbage or 2 1/2 lbs cabbage
- 1 tablespoon of salt
Tools Needed:
- knife
- bowl
- mason jar
- smaller jar
- rubber band
Step 1: Wash & Clean the Tools & Ingredients
Wash all the equipment and utensils you need. Wash your hands too.
You don’t want to mix your sauerkraut with bad bacteria, anything that is going to make you sick.
Next, remove the faded leaves from your cabbage. Cut off the roots and the parts that don’t seem fresh.
Step 2: Cut the Cabbage Into Quarters & Slice Into Strips
Cut your cabbage into quarters and remove the core. Then, slice it into strips.
Step 3: Place in a Bowl & Sprinkle With Salt
Put the stripped cabbage into a bowl. Sprinkle the cabbage with 1 tablespoon of salt.
TIP: Use canning salt or sea salt. Iodized salt will make it taste different and may not ferment the cabbage.
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Step 4: Massage the Cabbage
Massage the cabbage for five minutes or more to get the juice out.
TIP: You’ll know it’s ready when you see a bit of juice at the bottom of the bowl and will look similar to coleslaw.
Step 5: Press Cabbage Into the Mason Jar
Add the cabbage to the mason jar gradually. Press it in hard to allow the juice to come out. Do this every time you add about a handful of cabbage.
IMPORTANT: Food should be covered by the liquid to promote fermentation. Add any excess liquid from the bowl to the jar.
Step 6: Press a Smaller Jar Into the Mason Jar
You want to squeeze every ounce of that juice from the cabbage. To do this place the mason jar in a bowl and get a smaller jar.
Fill it with water or marble to make it heavy. Press it into the bigger mason jar. Allow any juices to rise to the surface.
Step 7: Cover the Jars With Cloth & Tie With Rubber Band
Leave the small jar on. To keep your jars clean from annoying insects and irritating debris, cover your jars with a clean cloth. Then, use a rubber band to tie the cloth and the jars together, putting them in place.
Step 8: Set Aside & Check Daily
Set it aside in a cool dry place, away from direct sunlight. Check the water level daily. It should always be above the cabbage.
Step 9: Taste Your Sauerkraut & Keep at Cool Temperatures
After about five days, you can taste your sauerkraut. If the taste is to your liking, tightly cover it with the lid and store in the fridge or cellar.
NOTE: If after five days it’s still not your desired taste, leave it for a few more days. This will allow the fermentation process to continue.
You can now enjoy your sauerkraut in a mason jar. Enjoy its goodness! You can use it as a side dish or mix it with your favorite sandwich.
Things to Remember in Making Sauerkraut
- Store away from direct sunlight and drafts.
- Colder weather will make the process longer. Spring is the best time to make them since the warmth helps activate the fermentation.
- Always make sure that the cabbage is below the water level during the entire fermentation process.
- If the water level decreases during the fermentation process, you can make a brine and add it.
Let us watch this video from Kristina Seleshanko on how to make delicious Lacto-fermented sauerkraut in a mason jar!
So there you have it! Making Lacto-fermented sauerkraut in a mason jar is as easy as slicing the cabbage into strips. Remember that as long it remains unopened, your sauerkraut can last for months. Best of all, you can partner this sauerkraut in many recipes.
What do you think of this homemade recipe? Share your best sauerkraut recipe in the comments section below!
Fellow homesteaders, do you want to help others learn from your journey by becoming one of our original contributors? Write for us!
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Self Sufficiency
9 SPRING VEGETABLES FOR YOUR GARDEN
Having plants in the house will bring peace to people. Having a little garden with vegetables is even better! You can grow these vegetables in your backyard garden easily as well!
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In this article:
Growing veggies in your garden will give you an opportunity to understand what you eat and value it more. Early spring is when most vegetables are being planted. Keep reading to learn about 9 spring vegetables that anyone can grow in their garden!
Tomato
Tomato is the most popular garden vegetable in the States! There are different varieties to choose from. Tomatoes need to be planted in early spring because they won’t survive a frost.
Because tomatoes are consumed daily, try adding them to your garden! They’re not difficult to grow either.
Eggplant
Eggplants are known to have low-calorie, vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Plus, they are delicious! So why not plant them in your garden?
Eggplants shouldn’t be planted too early because they won’t be able to survive a frost. So you could consult an expert in your area before you plant your eggplants.
Beets
Beets are known to be a superfood for its various health benefits. They’re easier to grow in the garden, usually around late March or early April.
If the weather is always cool, beets will keep getting bigger and bigger. Once the weather starts to warm up, you’ll need to harvest them, or they’ll go to waste.
Spinach
Spinach is a delicious early spring veggie, and it’s also very beneficial for health. And it’s not difficult to grow spinach in your garden!
Spinach needs cold weather to grow. Getting spinach to grow is easy, but keeping it growing will require some extra care.
Pea
Peas are usually planted in late April. Peas will die in freezing temperatures, but they also won’t survive the heat either. So make sure you plant your peas in early spring.
Peas are widely used in many different ways, and there are different types of peas. The soil you’ll be planting your peas should be suitable for them, so make sure you ask while buying seeds.
Carrot
There are different types of carrots, but regardless of their size and color, it’s a fact that carrots are both delicious and rich in vitamins.
They’re root vegetables, so with proper sun and watering, they can be picked up as baby carrots as well.
Radish
A radish is an excellent option for beginners because it doesn’t require too much care. Radish is easy to harvest.
Radish grows fast, so it’s better to keep an eye on it after a few weeks. Radish usually is grown pest-free, but there’s always the chance of unwanted guests, so watch out for worms. Radish can be eaten raw or can be added to garnish recipes.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower isn’t the easiest vegetable to grow at home, but it is very popular.
Cauliflower grows better in colder weather, so before you plant it, consider the climate of your garden. Cauliflower can be eaten raw or cooked, and it is known to be very beneficial for health.
Asparagus
Freshly picked, tender asparagus is very delicious!
Asparagus plants get more productive with each harvest, and mature asparagus harvest can last for months! Make sure you plant them at the correct time, or else they might go to waste.
All the vegetables listed above are great for your healthy diet, and it’s fun to watch them grow. So don’t miss out on the opportunity to grow your own veggies and eat healthy this spring!
So tell us which veggies will you be growing this spring? Tell us in the comments section!
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