My mission is to inspire women and girls of all ages to engage in and enjoy the traditional feminine arts of the women before us. And to be womanly and feminine, if you so desire, and stand out in a world so opposed to this. Enjoying our femininity with no apologies.**
PRODUCTS I USE: Brillo Steel Wool Soap Pads Ammonia Household Cleaner All Purpose Distilled White Vinegar Arm & Hammer Baking Soda Laundry Soaps & OTHER STUFF: Fels Naptha Borax & Washing Soda Zote Laundry Soap Bar Mrs. Stewart's Liquid Bluing Fels Naptha Laundry Bar and Stain Remover 20 MULE TEAM Borax Multi-Purpose Laundry Boost
Applying a little elbow grease.
SIMPLE WAYS TO CLEAN
Fill sink, bucket or big bowl with hot water, a squirt of dishwashing liquid, and a few drops of your favorite essential oil.
Use a microfiber cloth to clean all non-wood surfaces.
For finished wood I use a few drops of lemon or sweet orange essential oil on a dust cloth.
PINEOLENE can be used for many different applications in cleaning, home remedies, and much more.I personally knew an elderly woman from New Augusta, Mississippi that had the original recipe. I wish I had known at the time what a treasure it was, and wrote it down. It can be purchased in some feed stores, farm supply stores, etc. The website is no longer available, but here is the address for anyone interested: PINEOLENE, L.L.C. of P.O. BOX 47, HURLEY MS 39555-0047
I’m not above using bleach, ammonia, and other things some people would consider too toxic for use, as long as it is used sparingly, and with proper handling.
There are many things I consider very useful, that might seem a bit old fashioned, but they are tried and true. (Always read directions for cleaning products on bottle first):
Rubbing Alcoholor Witch Hazel - Great for disinfecting, cleaning mirrors, cutting grease, shining up a surface.
Lemons - Lemons are antibacterial and antiseptic, and is a natural bleach.
Baking Soda - Cleans, refreshes, mild abrasive that's safe on most surfaces.
White Vinegar - Mixed with baking soda, it can refresh, (and some say unclog) drains. Add a few tablespoons to a drain, pour in a splash of white vinegar, let sit for a few minutes, and pour boiling hot water down the drain to flush it out.
Ammonia - Raise the windows before using, and turn on a fan...Use only with proper ventilation. For spots on rugs, add a tablespoon to a small bowl of water, whisk until frothy, with gloves on scoop up the bubbles and rub into the spot going clockwise, use a dry towel and press to absorb the bubbles and stains should be gone. It is very good for surfaces that have grease on them such as the hood over the stove. Use with caution on painted surfaces, as it can remove paint.
Pine Oil - Pine oil is a natural disinfectant, air freshener, can be used to clean most surfaces, including floors, bath fixtures, toilets, and cabinets. Some of the brand name products contain toxins, so I’ve shifted away from those…but I’m talking about the pure stuff. (More about pine and Pineolene in left column)
Murphy's Oil Soap - Non-toxic, biodegradable, cleans natural and finished wood surfaces. Use 1/4 cup to a gallon of warm water, stir, place mop in solution and wring out well to mop floors. Rinse if desired. Can also be used to clean wood kitchen cabinets, with a microfiber cloth. I love the scent! Just dip a cloth into clean bucket of water and MOS as mentioned above and use as an all-purpose cleaner on wood surfaces. Of course, follow the directions on the bottle!
Many household dry goods, spices, and other things can be used for deodorizing, sanitizing, cleaning.
¹Bulk *Medicine Cabinet: I'm learning more and more to depend on food, herbs, spices and other natural sources for cleaning, deodorizing and . ~Octagon Soap...Yes, it is still available. ~White toothpaste for cleaning white shoes (mostly patent leather) the sole of white tennis shoes for scuff marks on tile or linoleum. ~There is something to be said for using a little elbow grease as well...Very therapeutic! ~Just so everyone won't think I'm too "old fogey"... I do love using essential oils and natural homemade products as well!! My favorite is Sweet Orange! There are tons of resources online for homemade cleaning recipes using EO's. But I'll add a few of my own as time allows! ~Some stains are resistant to the harsh chemical cleaners as well...We have an old claw-foot tub that has mineral stains, and "nothing" has cut through those stains! We tried lemon juice, baking soda, salt, Brillo pads, bleach, even rust remover (which did leave white streaks, but I only used one small bottle) The dangers listed were just too harsh, so I figured I'd just live with the stains rather than take the risk ...And also my husband took an electric sander to it!! Nothing has worked!! Short of sandblasting, I guess I'll just have to live with it, as it is too expensive to get it refinished. ~Another stain that is tough, is mildew on fabric and clothing...I've read where lemon juice and salt gets rid of it, but I beg to differ! Very rarely will it come out, so be very careful about letting clothes, sheets, or other fabric get damp and staying damp for very long! Mold and mildew will set up and you might as well throw it away. I do occasionally use spray bleach and it works very well, but I use it very sparingly.
Note: Through glitches on the website, some information, articles, and recipes disappeared. Thankfully, I had a copy of everything and have been trying to replace the content as I can.
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**My focus is on writing content for women. I'm a woman, my ideas are mainly useful and geared toward women, but of course, anyone can read, peruse my content. I don't care to be gender-neutral, because I come from a background of mostly gender-specific lifestyle, with a few exceptions. I write from life-long experience. I had women role models, and men role models, not neutral. I write from where I have been all of my life. I will not change my wording to appease or pacify any specific group of people. If this offends you, I apologize. If this doesn't suit you - go find tips, recipes, and feminine/womanly lifestyle content elsewhere. From what I understand, fried chicken isn't gender-specific. A woman wearing a dress or skirt and an apron holding a platter of fried chicken is just a woman being herself. Isn't that what we all want is a choice to be ourselves? It's called freedom.
*Otherwise, please enjoy your visit, and come back often to view updates and the maze of links and goodies throughout this website! It is always a "Works in Progress", of which I truly enjoy creating.