ANNA: HOME MADE CLEANING ITEMS

Someone requested ways they could make things at home like we do.  Jean will have how to make certain food items, I will will have cleaning items and Marilyn will put in here and there.  What I put on are items I make in my own home.  Please use these at your own risk.

WINDOW CLEANER

1/3 cup cider vinegar
2 pints of water

Mix. Put in spray bottle and spray on windows.  I use a piece of cloth or paper towels to wash the window and dry it with newspaper.

MARILYN: I worked for a school office one summer and wondered why the school smelled like vinegar.  I asked the maintenance supervisor and she told me they were washing the windows.  When I asked what they used she said vinegar and water.

HOUSEHOLD CLEANSER

1 cup ammonia
1/2 cup vinegar
1/4 cup baking soda

Mix and dissolve in pail of warm soft water.  Wash walls, varnished wood work, and furniture.

ANNA and JEAN'S LYE SOAP RECIPE

ALWAYS use SCRAP FATS (bacon, etc.). NO OILS.   I have a coffee can that I put the fats in.  Don't throw them out.

Use only enamel pans or glass pans NO ALUMINUM pans.  STIR with wooden spoon.

CLARIFY waste fat by melting slowly and straining thru double cheese cloth, then add an equal amount of hot water, stir well and bring to a boil.  Remove from stove, add 1 quart cold water, stirring constantly.  Set aside to cool.  When firm, the clean fat will be a solid cake on top of water, read to make soap.

5 1/2 cups strained melted fat (no oils)
2 1/2 cups soft or rainwater
1/2 cup lye
1/4 cup liquid ammonia
1/4 cup borax
1/6 cup sugar
2 teaspoons of lemon (or other scent)

Add lye to soft water in quite large enamel or glass kettle, allow to cool to lukewarm.  POUR slowly into lukewarm melted fat, with slow even stirring.  ADD ammonia, borax, and sugar and continue stirring evenly.  Add scent and pure food color if desired.  CONTINUE stirring until like cake batter (about 20 minutes)

POUR into clean GLASS oblong containers.  COVER and keep at room temperature for 24 hours.  Then cut into bars.

The recipe makes 20 - 4 oz bars.  ALLOW soap to age two weeks before using.

Jean and I use this same recipe in making soap.  It has been passed down in our families for several generations.

MARILYN: Jean had the above soap on before.  I can't remember if it was on Amish Stories or here.

FURNITURE POLISH

1 qt. warm water (rain water preferred)
2 tbsp vinegar
2 tbsp good cooking oil or cedar oil

Put in jar and shake well.  Soak soft cloth with polish and wipe furniture well.  Then polish with dry cloth.

ANTIQUE FURNITURE POLISH

1 cup linseed oil
5 cups turpentine
1 cup vinegar

Mix and shake well.  Bottle.  First wipe furniture with warm water and then with a tablespoon or two of polish.  When dry, polish with soft cloth.  This is good for keeping antique furniture from drying out.

ANTS

If you get ants in your house Bay Leaves or Garlic will take care of them.  I prefer Bay Leaves as I can put them in my kitchen drawers, cupboards.  Also can place them on the counter and floor.

COCKROACHES

Elderberry leaves placed on the floor or in cupboards will cause cockroaches to leave.

MARILYN: I have even used Bay Leaves on the bathroom floor where I found ants as well as in my kitchen.  Bay Leaves worked faster than a store purchased spray.

ANNA:  If I don't have on here what you were looking for or you think of something else you would like, please leave it on messages and I will see what I can do.

Trust God's Wisdom,
Anna
Jean
Marilyn