Air Freshner Spray
Mix 1/2 cup fresh lavender buds
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
1 tbsp whole cloves
STEEP 1/2 cup vodka (enough to cover)
Let stand 2 weeks, shaking daily
Decaint and strain.

ADD 5 drops lavender
8 drops tea tree oil
5 drops peppermint oil

Stir until oils have dissolved.
Mix with 1 cup distilled water. Use: Place in spray bottle.
Don't spray in someones face or on fine furniture.



Carpet Freshner Recipe
MIX 3 cup lavender bud
2 cup rosemary leaves
2 cup baking soda

Sprinkle on carpet. Leave on carpet for a few hours, then vacuum.
Fragrance deodorizes, deters moths, fleas, pet smells.


carpet freshener
baking soda
cloves
lavender
peppermint or sage

Grind in coffee grinder or blender until very fine (powder). Then mix with the baling soda
you can add a few drops of lavender or peppermint oil if you want a stronger smell. This is also great for musty or moldy smells.


Liquid Laundry Detergent Booster : Baking Soda helps your liquid laundry detergent work harder for you, because it helps maintain the optimal pH balance necessary for detergents to work well. Add 1/2 cup of Baking Soda to your wash with the usual amount of liquid detergent. For the power and freshness of ARM & HAMMER Powder and Liquid Laundry Detergents!!

Deodorizing Your Wash : To remove the stubborn smells in your clothes while you wash, add 1/2 cup Baking Soda to the rinse cycle. It neutralizes the odors, leaving your clothes smelling fresh and clean, not perfumey! Baking Soda is especially effective on sour smells and perspiration odors. Also try it on sour towels in the summer and clothes that smell musty from storage.

Chlorine Bleach Booster : Use Baking Soda to help your liquid chlorine bleach work harder. Add 1/2 cup of Baking Soda (1/4 cup for front-loading machines) with your usual amount of liquid bleach. Your whites will be whiter and your clothes will be cleaner and fresher.

Deodorizing Drains : Keep your sink and tub drains smelling fresh by sprinkling Baking Soda down the drain, while running warm water. Baking Soda neutralizes any stale drain odors safely--it is safe for you and your drains!

Deodorize Wastebasket : Sprinkle Baking Soda liberally in your wastebaskets to help keep them fresh-smelling between emptying!

Toothpaste : Baking Soda is a gentle dentifrice that helps keep teeth clean and white. Dip a damp toothbrush in some Baking Soda sprinkled into your palm. Brush as usual and rinse. If you would like the benefits of Baking Soda with Fluoride and a refreshing mint flavor, try ARM & HAMMER DENTAL CAREŽ Dentrifrices for that Fresh from the Dentist Feeling of Clean!

Shower Curtains : Clean and deodorize your shower curtain by sprinkling Baking Soda directly on a damp sponge or brush. Scrub the shower curtain and rinse clean. Hang it up to dry.

Soothing Poison Ivy and Rashes : Soothe the itchy skin of poison ivy, oak or sumac or prickly heat in a comforting Baking Soda bath. Add 1/2 cup of Baking Soda to a bath of water or make a paste( 3 parts Baking Soda to 1 part water) for more localized rashes and irritations.

Refreshing Bath Additive : Just add 1/2 cup of Baking Soda to your bathtub of water to make your bath even fresher. Relax!...while the Baking Soda neutralizes acids on the skin and washes away oil and perspiration. It also makes your skin feel silky smooth.

Soothing Foot Soak : Soak your tired feet in a solution of 3 tablespoons of Baking Soda in a basin of warm water. Your feet will smell fresher and be re-freshed too!

Soothing Irritated Skin : Baking Soda can soothe the sting of sunburn, windburn and other minor burns. Just saturate a washcloth in a Baking Soda solution (4 tablespoons in 1 quart of water) and apply to the affected area. Or make a Baking Soda paste with 3 parts Baking Soda and 1 part water and apply to the area.

Insect Bite Care : Relieve the itching and pain of an insect bite with a Baking Soda paste. After you have removed the stinger, make a Baking Soda paste by combining 3 parts Baking Soda to 1 part water. Apply it to the affected area and let it dry. Wash it off and repeat if needed.

Deodorant : Dust Baking Soda underarms as needed to feel fresh all day. For additional wetness and deodorization protection, try ARM & HAMMER Deodorant Antiperspirant, the only one with genuine ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda to eliminate odors, not just cover them up!
Refreshing Mouthwash : One teaspoon of Baking Soda in half a glass of water is the recipe for a fresh mouth and fresh breath. Swish the solution through your teeth and rinse. The Baking Soda neutralizes the odors on contact, without leaving a tell-tale cover-up scent! Good-bye morning breath (or garlic breath or onion breath or...you get the idea!)

Relief for Acid Indigestion : Baking Soda is safe and effective as an antacid to alleviate heartburn, sour stomach and/or acid indigestion, when used as directed. Refer to the ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda package for instructions.

Hair Care : For squeaky clean hair, use a teaspoon of Baking Soda mixed in your palm with your favorite shampoo. Shampoo as usual and rinse thoroughly. The Baking Soda helps remove the build-up from conditioners, mousses and sprays to give you naturally clean hair.

Cleaning Brushes and Combs : Clean natural oil build-up and hair product residue from combs and brushes by soaking them in a solution of 1 teaspoon of Baking Soda in a small basin of warm water. Rinse and allow to dry.

Freshen Ashtrays : Got a smoker in the family? Place 1/2 inch of Baking Soda in the bottom of the ashtray to eliminate stale tobacco odors. Replace the Baking Soda when you empty the ashtray. As an added bonus, the Baking Soda helps extinguish cigarettes and cigars!

Cleaning Grills : To clean up your grill for your next barbecue, try sprinkling dry baking soda on a damp brush. Scrub and rinse clean. The Baking Soda works well for the light duty clean-up associated with exterior surfaces, such as knobs and trays, and it will not scratch shiny surfaces. For tough stains and burned-on foods, try using ARM & HAMMER Super Washing Soda in the same fashion.


Beeswax Polish
Beeswax furniture polish with its soft, satin shine is considered the ultimate in wood care.
4 ounces (weight) beeswax
2 tablespoons camauba wax
2 1/2 cups odorless turpentine
Melt the waxes on high in a microwave or in a double boiler. Remove the waxes from the heat and stir in the turpentine. Apply the polish with a clean cloth and rub in small circles. Turn the cloth as it becomes dirty. Allow the polish to dry, then buff with a clean cloth. If more than one coat is desired, wait 2 days between applications.


Dishwashing Liquid
Lift your spirits while washing the dishes. Not suited for automatic dishwashers.
10 drops Lemon essential oil
10 drops Lavender essential oil
10 drops Orange essential oil
Liquid castille soap or other mildly scented dishwashing liquid. Fill a 32oz squirt bottle with liquid soap and add the oils. Shake well.

Kitchen Sink Scrub
1/2 Cup Baking Soda
1/8 Cup Vinegar
5 drops Lemon essential oil
5 drops Orange essential oil
Combine all ingredients. Try Lime or Bergamot also.


Lemon Lime Cleaning Powder
10 drops Lime essential oil
10 drops Lemon essential oil
1/4 cup baking soda
Add essential oils to baking soda and mix.
Cuts grease, acts as a mild abrasive cleaner.



Squeaky Clean Windows
Add 30 drops of Eucalyptus essential oil to 8oz. of distilled water in a spray bottle.


Disinfect

A couple of drops of Eucalyptus essential oil simmering in a pot of water purifies and disinfects the air in your home.


All Purpose House Cleaner

Take a handful of lavender, rosemary, sage and thyme and stuff into a widemouth jar 3/4 full. Fill the jar to the top with white vinegar and let infuse in the sun for 2 to 3 weeks. Strain through cheesecloth. Put the scented vinegar into a spray bottle for easy use. You can also add baking soda for scrubbing action.

To scent floors add 2 drops of essential oils to the water before mopping.
Try Lemon, Rosemary or Orange for a clean, crisp, fresh smell.



Ants hate peppermint essential oil. Place a few drops where they enter the house or 2 drops on the ant nest.

Insect Repellent - Put Cedarwood sachets in the closets, drawers and attics.

In the Laundry: Add several drops of Lavender oil to the washer's final rinse cycle and then toss a little bag of Lavender Buds into the dryer for heavenly smelling clothes.

Eliminate Airborne Bacteria: 5 drops of Eucalyptus oil in a diffuser will kill germs in the air and reduce the number of airborne bacteria. This really helps keep germs from spreading.


ALL-PURPOSE CLEANSER
˝ cup borax
1-cup baking soda
1 gal. Water
Essential oil blend
Stir borax, baking soda and water together until borax and soda are dissolved. Add 1 of these essential oil blends:20 drops of lavender, 10 drops of pine and 2 drops of thyme OR 10 drop's each of grapefruit, lemon and basil oils.
Use in spray bottles or with a sponge to clean floors, walls, sinks and counters. Store unused portions in labeled dark-glass bottles.

THERAPEUTIC EFFECT:
When you are finished cleaning, the fragrance of the essential oil lingers and can even alter your mood and help keep you health. Use calming oils, including lavender and chamomile, to ease a stressful environment; energizing scents, such as rosemary and peppermint, to enhance vitality; or use citrus or cinnamon oil to dispel melancholy.

ALL PURPOSE CARPET CLEANER:
Dust your carpet with this simple formula to disinfect and deodorize and to repel fleas, nits and worm eggs. In a stainless-steel bowl, mix 4 cups of borax, 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 25 drops each of lavender, eucalyptus and rosemary essential oils, using the back of a spoon to dissolve clumps. Sprinkle the blend on your carpet in a thin layer. This recipe makes enough cleaner to cover about 1,000 square feet. Let it stand for about 20 minutes and then vacuum the carpet.

Extra Tip:
Clean up essential oil spills with whole milk. The fat content of the milk binds with the essential oil, making cleanup a snap.

CUTTING-BOARD DISINFECTANT:
Blend 2 tablespoons of table salt with 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Add water until a paste forms Thoroughly mix in 2 drops of thyme essential oil. Rub all of the mixture into your board and let sit for about 12 hour. Rinse the board well with warm water before using. Repeat the process as necessary.

AIR FRESHENER:
Add 15 drops of your favorite essential oil to 2 ounces of distilled water and 1 ounce of rubbing alcohol. Place the mixture in 4-ounce spray bottle. Shake before each use. The following oils are ideal for this recipe: lavender, geranium, lemon, grapefruit, peppermint, pine, juniper or bergamot.

TAKE CARE!
A few basic guidelines can help you avoid any unwanted chemical reactions when you use essential oils. Whenever adding oils to a soap or detergent, make sure it is unscented and contains no chlorine. Cleaning gloves can help prevent skin irritations; thyme essential oil is especially caustic, so be sure to mix it well. Avoid using citrus oils on anything exposed to bright sunlight: An interaction can darken fabrics, furniture and even your own skin.

APPLICATIONS:
ˇ Make your own fabric softener by blending 1 cup of baking soda with 1 cup of white vinegar, 2 cups of water and 10 drops of lavender, lemon or peppermint essential oil. Add 1 cup of this mixture to your rinse cycle to soften, deodorize and sanitize your laundry.
ˇ For cleaning floors, combine basic unscented oil soap and 2 gal of water with 20 drops of eucalyptus or rosemary oil.
ˇ Polish and disinfect porcelain, chrome and mirrors with this blend: 1 cup of water, 1 cup of white vinegar, 1 tbsp. of rubbing alcohol and 20 drops of clove, tea-tree or lavender essential oil. Apply with a damp cloth, and then wipe dry.
ˇ To restore luster and protect your furniture from moisture, combine 1 tbsp. of grapeseed or linseed oil, 1 tbsp. of white vinegar and ˝ tsp. of lemon or lavender oil. Apply a small amount of a soft cloth and rub it into wood surfaces until they are shiny.
ˇ Add a few drops of tea-tree oil to an unscented dishwashing soap to make it antiseptic.
ˇ To help repel flies, dribble a damp cloth with ˝ tsp. of lavender essential oil, and wipe around doorframes, screens and windowsills with the cloth.


Your Daily Aroma Notes [Unable to display image] Air Freshener
4 oz. clean spray bottle with a fine mist setting (do not use a bottle that previously contained cleaning products or hair products such as hair spray). 30-40 drops of your favorite essential oil or essential oil blend keeping the safety data of the chosen essential oil(s) in mind 1.5 ounces of distilled water and 1.5 ounces of high-proof alcohol (vodka is suitable, rubbing alcohol is not) or 3 ounces of distilled water.
Example blends of essential oils that may be used:

20 drops lime
14 drops bergamot
4 drops ylang ylang
2 drops rose
~
20 drops rosemary
8 drops grapefruit
4 drops peppermint
2 drops spearmint (optional)
~
15 drops clary sage
9 drops lemon
6 drops lavender
5 drops bergamot
5 drops spearmint

Directions: Fill the spray bottle with the choice of either 1.5 ounces of distilled water and 1.5 ounces of alcohol or 4 ounces of distilled water. (Even though a 4 oz. bottle is suggested, leave about 1 oz. unfilled so you can shake the bottle well between uses.) Then, add 30-40 drops of essential oil. Essential oils can very in strength. You may want to try 20 drops at first especially if you live in a household with someone who is sensitive to strong aromas.

Shake the bottle prior to each use, and let it sit for about a day before making a conclusion that the aroma is too weak; the aroma can change after the air freshener has had time to sit. Mist lightly in the room. Be especially careful not to allow the air freshener mist fall onto furniture or into open beverages.
March 19, 2003