How to Make Homemade Peppermint Extract Part of the reason that I decided to grow mint this year was so that I could try making my own peppermint extract. Jesse and I are pretty much obsessed with mint (especially mint plus chocolate) so we go through a lot of mint extract. Even though I buy my extracts through Azure Standard, they’re not exactly cheap, so making my own seemed like a great way to save some money. I finally got down to it last weekend. How to Make Peppermint Extract I did a quick Google search and found a multitude of recipes, all of which followed the same basic outline. Harvest a bunch of mint leaves from your mint plant. Harvested mint leaves Remove mint leaves from stalks (if applicable) and pack leaves into a measuring cup to determine how much mint you have. Mint leaves ready to be rinsed Rinse mint leaves with water, then squeeze leaves in your hands to bruise the leaves before placing them into a clean glass jar. Cover your jar with a lid and allow to steep for about a month in a cool, dark place.
9 Natural Ways To Keep Spiders Out Of Your Home Want to be notified each time we publish a new blog post? Then make sure you like Natural Living Ideas on Facebook here where we share not only our blog posts, but the best natural living ideas from around the web. Image Credit: cheetah100 @ Flickr Let’s be completely honest. Nobody REALLY likes spiders. But, how do you repel them naturally without hurting them, and without exposing your family to any potentially harmful chemicals? Read on for the answers you are looking for! Mint Them Out Did you know that spiders HATE peppermint? For more info on repelling spiders using peppermint oil, check out this great article: Clean It Up The cheapest and most organic way to repel spiders naturally is probably not the easiest! Use Vinegar White vinegar has about five trillion uses around the house (look it up!) Enlist The Help Of A Furry Friend Cats are a great spider deterrent! Don’t Let Them In Chestnuts Tobacco
The Burlap Bag - High Quality Handmade Goods Shop - Austin Texas December 20, 2011 by Lauren (Check out our new ONLINE SHOP for The Burlap Bag!!) We have two cats. They get stanky. And I refused to buy air fresheners. It turns out I already had everything I needed for a homemade and EASY air freshener! What you need: A container (we used these) Baking sodaEssential oil Foil (or a lid you want to ruin and poke holes in) This gets really complicated so pay attention…. 1. Oh. Well, add a lid if you want. Seriously the easiest thing I’ve ever done. Done. Follow us for instagram for updates! (p.s. we’ve had a lot of people email us asking where to get those jars! Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
* Maria's Self *: DIY Toilet Bombs - Deodorize & Kill Bacteria! Just Drop One in the Bowl;-))) Remember I told you in my previous post that the next product in my store will be an "outside the box" one? Well, you've been warned;-))) I came up with the idea of Toilet Bombs a few months ago. At first I thought it would be embarrassing to make a post about them but I fell so much in love with these toilet bombs that I just HAD to share the idea with you - I'm seriously addicted! When I drop them in the toilet bowl they start fizzing (= exploding;-) and not only do they smell amazing they also deodorize, kill the bacteria (including the odor-causing ones!) and keep the bowl clean. WHAT I USE: (for approx. 24 bombs) --1 1/3 cup Baking Soda - amazing for all-natural cleaning AND deodorizing! --1/2 cup Citric Acid - (low-strength acid that exists naturally in fruits like lemons & oranges) - used in many kitchen & bathroom cleaners for its cleaning, whitening & deodorizing properties About me: Find this post helpful?
Natural Insect Pest Control: Safe, Non-Toxic Methods & Solutions Wasps Eartheasy has a separate page about natural wasp control. See Natural Wasp Control Moths Cedar chips in a cheesecloth square, or cedar oil in an absorbant cloth will repel moths. Homemade moth-repelling sachets can also be made using any of the following: bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, cloves, eucalyptus leaves, lavender, pepper corns or wormwood. Dried lemon peels are also a natural moth deterrent - simply toss into clothes chest, or tie in cheesecloth and hang in the closet. Natural attractant pheromones have been developed for controlling moths, and are now available as clothes moth traps and pantry moth traps. Earwigs Diatomaceous earth is a safe and effective way to control earwigs in the home. To trap earwigs, spray a newspaper lightly with water, roll it up loosely and secure with a string or rubber band. Another method to trap earwigs is to take a shallow, straight-sided container and fill it half full with vegetable oil.
13 Natural Ways To Keep Mosquitoes Away Want to be notified each time we publish a new blog post? Then make sure you like Natural Living Ideas on Facebook here where we share not only our blog posts, but the best natural living ideas from around the web. I’m sure everyone reading this right now has experienced the redness, the swelling and the uncontrollable itching that comes with a mosquito bite. It’s enough to ruin any barbecue or picnic! Many people turn to store bought insect repellents to keep mosquitoes away, but these insect repellents often contain a toxic pesticide that is dangerous to human health. Heavy exposure to DEET has been linked to memory loss, headache, weakness, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, tremors and shortness of breath in humans and is particularly toxic to children. Needless to say, this is a pesticide we do NOT want to be using – especially when there are so many more effective ways to keep mosquitoes away using natural remedies and ingredients. Homemade Citronella Candles A Few Drops Of Lavender
Top 10 Healthy Vegan Products at Expo West Amidst the ice cream, cookies, chips, and cheese, VegNews' co-founder Colleen Holland shares her top 10 healthy vegan products at the world’s largest natural food event. It’s called Natural Products Expo West, and it’s become a tradition for the VegNews staff. It’s our job to keep our finger on the pulse of new products and trends, and there is no better place to do it than Anaheim, CA’s annual love fest for the natural food industry. And this is no small event—with more than 63,000 attendees and 2,500 exhibitors, it’s a must-attend show for anyone who works in the world of natural foods. But just how natural is today’s Natural Products show? Don’t get me wrong—I love piping hot cheese pizza, coconut ice cream, and dairy-free cookies in every flavor. Kale Krunch Superfood by Alive & RadiantKale chips are all the rage these days, and for good reason. Alt Energy Bars by LärabarEnergy bars are big business, but they can be as calorie-dense and sugar-filled as their candy bar counterparts.