15 Surprising Uses For Eggshells A couple of weeks ago I bought a composter for my garden. It’s a pretty fancy contraption. It’s actually TWO composters in one. The idea being that you can have one batch “brewing” while another batch is being utilized. As you can probably tell, I don’t know a whole lot about composting….YET. Ironically, since I’ve started saving my eggshells for the composter, I’ve also been learning about many OTHER uses of eggshells. A few fun FACTS about egg shells: An egg shell is made of calcium carbonate, which is also the main ingredient in some antacids. A few SURPRISING uses of egg shells: Nourishing Face Mask Pulverize dried egg shells with a mortar and pestle, then whisk the powder in with an egg white and use for a healthful, skin-tightening facial. Treat Skin Irritations Drop an eggshell into a small container of apple cider vinegar and let it soak for a couple of days. Powerful Cleaner Ground eggshells make a wonderful (and nontoxic!) Make Your Own Sidewalk Chalk What you need:
Freeze & Preserve Fresh Herbs in Olive Oil I found a great method to freeze & preserve fresh herbs in olive oil. Preserving herbs in oil reduces some of the browning and freezer burn that herbs can get in the freezer. It’s also a great way to have herbs ready immediately for winter stews, roasts, soups, and potato dishes. 8 Steps for Freezing Herbs in Oil Choose firm, fresh herbs, ideally from the market or your own garden.If you wish, you can chop them fine. Or leave them in larger sprigs and leaves. Source: Thekitchn
Make Your Own Reusable Peppermint Kitchen Wipes In case you haven’t noticed, I really LOVE making my own homemade cleaning products. ;-) It’s just so comforting to know EXACTLY what is in the products I’m spreading around my home, and I get a thrill knowing how much time and money I’m saving as well! The Environmental Protection Agency cites artificial fragrances in cleaning products as an indoor irritant and pollutant. A single fragrance can include as many as 600 petrochemicals—all within the word “fragrance” on the label. The more I learn about, and experiment with, natural cleaning products (such as baking soda, castile soap, vinegar, etc.) the more I am convinced there really is no need to buy any of the expensive brand names that line the shelves of the cleaning aisle at your grocery store. The good old fashioned stuff our grandmothers and great grandmothers used is EFFECTIVE! Pairing these natural cleaners with essential oils only enhances their cleaning value and leaves behind a pleasant, natural scent.
What can you do with an old pallet? So many things! If you ever come across the opportunity to pick up a few pallets take a look at some of the ideas I have come across for recycling old pallets into furniture and other practical and decorative pieces. I would like to mention that the designs below were found at various sources on the Internet. Where possible I have mentioned the original source, but unfortunately too many do not. Make furniture for your home ABOVE: Mobius Living take pallets to a new level, offering clients the opportunity to buy ready-made coffee tables. ABOVE and BELOW: Who would have thought that a humble pallet could be transformed into so many practical pieces. ABOVE: All it takes is a few reclaimed timber pallets to make up your own living room furniture In the kitchen ABOVE and BELOW: Don't stop there... ABOVE: ReadyMade magazine transforms an ugly timber pallet into contemporary furniture for a dining room. In the bedroom In the garden ABOVE and BELOW: Rustic pallets are perfect for in the garden.
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. 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 Citrus Does The Trick Let Cedar Do The Work
How to Forecast Weather | Ever wondered how to forecast the weather without actually using instruments? Check the Clouds: Clouds can tell us a lot about the weather. For example, they can tell us if it’s going to be warmer on a particular night by simply being there. That’s because they prevent heat radiation from escaping. Check the Humidity: If you’re one of those people whose hair gets all curly when it gets really humid out, you know exactly what this is about. Check the Animals: Birds only fly in the sky when they expect fair weather ahead. Look at the Rainbow (but only in the west) and look for a Red Sky: If you see one in the west, it means a major storm front is coming. Check the Air: If it smells like a compost heap, expect some rain soon. Check the Moon: Seen any red moons lately? Check the Wind: If you can tell which way the wind is blowing, you can tell if there is a storm approaching. A Few More Ideas: Make a campfire – If the smoke goes straight up, clear skies ahead.
How to Make Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner and Spray Bottles That Won’t Leach | The Mommypotamus | organic SAHM sharing her family stories and recipes Yesterday, My Son Ate Some Laundry Detergent Being the kind, thoughtful mother than I am, I handed him a glass of water to wash it down. That, folks, is the beauty of making your own non-toxic cleaning supplies. The best part? They WORK. Yep, you can clear out 90% of your toxic cleaning supplies with some baking soda, vinegar, castile soap and a few essential oils! Unfortunately, Essential Oils Tend To . . . Increase the likelihood that plastic bottles will leach the kind of nasties you’re trying to avoid by making your own cleaners in the first place. Simply take an old screw top bottle (I use an apple cider vinegar bottle) and fit the nozzle from your old spray bottle on top. Need something to put inside your little container of absolute genius? Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner Ingredients ½ cup water½ cup apple cider vinegar or white (non-GMO) vinegar20 drops essential oil (see below for options) 1 cup water2 teaspoons castile soap20 drops essential oil (see below for options) Instructions
unusual uses for baking soda