Freshen Indoor Air Naturally

Commercial air freshener sprays are not healthy; they contain toxic chemicals that can be harmful to your health. Moreover, the versions that require electricity to power them are also a wasteful source of energy usage that is simply unnecessary. Here are some ways to freshen your inside air without resorting to the chemicals.

1. Open the windows. Whenever it is possible, keep windows open to allow stale air out and fresh new air to circulate through your home.
2. Use vinegar to soak up unpleasant odours. Place dishes of vinegar in the kitchen to remove cooking odours. Place vinegar in areas where people have been smoking.
   
3. Scent the air using boiling fragrances. A mixture of spices or coffee can be used to imbue the air with pleasant scents. Try a mixture of cinnamon and cloves or just plain coffee. Baking bread also sends an excellent odour through a home if you have the time and inclination.
   
4. Remove the stink of a garbage can with a sprinkling of 1/2 cup borax at the base. This will prevent bad odours caused by bacterial and mould growth.
5. Place potpourri around the house. Make your own or purchase good quality potpourri. Place in bowls in cupboards, on mantelpieces, in windowsills and on coffee tables.
   

Clean Dirty Windows with Methylated Spirits

Dirty windows need a little extra oomph to remove the ground-on dirt. Before heading off to buy a commercially produced product, check the cupboard for a little methylated spirits. Add some water and elbow grease and your windows will be as good as new in no time! Here's how.

1. Make up a solution of methylated spirits with a little warm water.
2. Apply the solution using a chamois. Using the chamois, rub strongly across the dirty areas of the window.
3. Rinse off with scrunched up newspaper dipped in warm water. The newspaper will remove smears.
4. Discard any of the solution leftover and the newspaper pieces. Wash your hands well.

Items needed

• Methylated spirits
• Warm water
• Bucket to combine mixture in
• Chamois cloth
• Newspaper
• Soap for cleaning your hands afterwards
  

Make Your Own Lavender Toilet Water

Lavender toilet water has a multitude of uses in the home. It is easy to make your own and save a little money at the same time.

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups lavender flowers
• 700ml (24 fl oz) boiling water
• 2 tablespoons gin or vodka

1. Pour the boiling water over the lavender flowers in a large ceramic bowl. Set aside for 24 hours at room temperature. This will permit the fragrance to infuse through the water.
2. Place the infusing mixture into the refrigerator to continue infusing for another 2 days.
3. Remove after 2 days. Strain the water through a sieve to remove the lavender flowers.
4. Add the alcohol and mix through.
5. Pour into a glass bottle and add an airtight lid. Homemade toilet water should be kept in the refrigerator.

Items needed

• Kettle or saucepan for boiling water
• Large ceramic bowl
• Refrigerator
• Sieve or colander for straining
• Sterilised, clean glass bottle
  

Rose Petal Jam

Rose petal jam is synonymous with dainty afternoon tea parties and is a delightful for jam for breakfast too. If you are lucky enough to have access to rose petals from the garden, this jam is a very special way to make use of them. Make sure to use petals that haven't been sprayed with anything toxic before using them.


Ingredients

• 3 cups water
• 2 cups sugar
• 250g rose petals, organic (unsprayed) and clean
  
• 2 lemons, juiced

1. Check that the petals are clean. Wash and dry any petals that are not.
2. Put the petals into a bowl. Add 1.5 cups of the sugar and stir. As you stir, crush the sugar into the rose petals.
3. Leave the crushed petal mixture to stand overnight. The rose essence will imbue the sugar, leaving a dainty rose flavour. Cover with a clean teatowel or similar cover to prevent dust etc. from settling on the petal mixture.
   
4. Combine the remaining sugar, water and lemon juice with the petal mixture the following day. Stir together until the new ingredients are dissolved.
5. In a heavy-based saucepan, bring the mixture to a boil gradually. This must be a very slow process, in order to release the aroma of the rose and soften the petals.
6. Simmer until setting point is reached.
7. Store in a clean, sterilised glass container and keep in the fridge. Use within one month of making.
   

Items Needed

• Bowl
• Mixing implement
• Teatowel, clean for cover
• Heavy-based saucepan
  

Stop Itching from Insect Bites Naturally

Have you been bitten by itchy insects - fleas, gnats or no see'ums? A quick and effective method that is totally natural is lavender oil. Rub it on the bites/bite area for instant relief and a relaxing scent as well to calm the nerves and help you to stop feeling irritable.

Improve Squeaking Furniture

Does your furniture squeak when you sit on it? Here's an easy fix.

1. Melt some paraffin wax.
2. Pour a few drops of paraffin wax into the squeaky joints of the furniture.
3. Smooth out any pieces of wax outside of the joints (remove with vinegar oil if set).
4. Allow to set.
5. Test by sitting. Top up if needed.

Items Needed

• Saucepan to melt paraffin wax
• Paraffin wax
• Cloth to wipe
  

Delightful Apricot Fruit Logs

Apricots make wonderful additions to sweets; their delicious flavour and enjoyable texture can tempt many a person to take extra nibbles. This recipe is an ideal hiking food, snack food and school lunchbox addition.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup dried apricots, chopped (prefer the sulphur-free version if you have allergies)
• 12 dates, chopped
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup sultanas
• 2/3 cup dessicated coconut
• 1 cup skim milk or soy milk powder
• 1/4 cup chopped almonds
• 2 teaspoons sesame seed
• 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon or orange rind (choose organic)
• Additional dessicated (shredded) coconut for covering the logs
  

1. Place the water into a heavy-based saucepan and add the apricots and dates. Cook over low heat with a lid on the saucepan until the dried fruit has become soft. Keep an eye on the fruit to ensure it does not burn as the water evaporates. This step will take around 5 - 10 minutes only.
   
2. Add the remaining ingredients to the boiled dried fruit.
3. Mix the ingredients together well.
   
4. Shape the logs. Divide the mixture evenly into two lots. Roll each lot into a log shape of around 4cm width.
   
5. Roll both logs in the additional coconut.
6. Wrap the rolls in food wrap or greaseproof paper (more eco-friendly).
7. Place in the refrigerator for 12 hours.
8. Remove from the fridge and cut both logs evenly into slices. Serve. If you wish to store these logs (if there are any left!), place them in an airtight glass storage jar, packed one on top of the other.
   

Tips

• This recipe is best made first thing in the morning to allow it stand all day; or make it the night before in readiness for the next morning.
  

Items Needed

• Heavy based saucepan with lid
  
• Clean bench space for rolling logs and coating in coconut
• Food wrap or greaseproof paper
• Refrigeration or cold storage facilities
• Knife
  
• Glass jars for storage
  

Be a Sustainable Tea Consumer

Even when consuming your favourite cup of tea you can be sustainable in your choice. Here's how.

1. Look for fair trade tea and prefer it over other teas where possible. Fair trade teas are teas produced by workers working under good conditions and getting a fair wage for their work. By buying such tea, you are helping to sustain their livelihood.
   
2. Only heat the amount of water needed to make your cup of tea. Filling the kettle up when it is only to make one cup is a waste of energy and also takes longer before your tea is ready!
3. Cover it! If you are obliged to heat your water in a saucepan (perhaps when moving house, camping or just for lack of a kettle), make sure to add a lid to the water. This will help it to heat up more quickly, so that you can turn the stove off sooner.
4. If you're using teabags, throw the empty teabag in the compost so that it has a second use and doesn't add to landfill. If the teabag has any string or packaging label, remove these and place in the recycling bin.
5. Avoid consuming tea in disposable cups. Take your own portable and reusable mug or thermos cup with you and ask for it to be filled in cafes or at work.
   
6. Use the eco-cycle on the dishwasher. When the tea break is over, remember to press the eco-wash setting before starting the dishwasher. Also make sure that the dishwasher is full before using it to wash dishes; that way you save both water and energy and get the most out of using your dishwasher.
   

Fixing Overcooked Rhubarb

Overcooked rhubarb or overly acidic rhubarb is not necessarily destined for the compost heap. Try this easy solution to remedy the rhubarb first.





Ingredients

• 500ml overcooked or acidic rhubarb
• 175g crushed meringues (macaroons)
• 175ml double cream
  

1. Mix the rhubarb with the crushed meringues.
2. Whip the cream until thickened and stiff.
3. Lay the rhubarb and meringue mix in a baking dish.
4. Spoon over the whipped cream.
5. Refrigerate for at least half an hour. Serve chilled.

Items Needed

• Mixing bowl and mixing implement
• Beater or whisk to whip cream
• Deep baking dish
• Serving bowls and serving spoon
  

Using Scented Geraniums in Your Home

Scented geraniums are a special plant that have several key uses in a home environment. This article discusses some of the possible uses.

1. Use scented geraniums to scent your gardens. Scented geraniums are pretty hardy and enjoy environments from sea to very dry. They aren't able to survive deep cold and snow but can be brought inside during such a season. Scented geraniums grow well in garden beds, along rocky walls and in pots. Even a small garden can accommodate scented geraniums.
2. Select a type that suits you. There is a very wide range of scents in the scented geranium group of plants. Common scents include lemon, rose, orange, nutmeg and peppermint. Ask your local nursery expert for advice on choice.
3. Use scented geraniums in cooking. Scented geraniums can be used to flavour syrups, rice dishes, cakes and more. Avoid using the lemon scented variety (Pelargonium crispum) for this purpose as it can irritate the stomach but the other scents are fine. Try lining the base of a cake tin with freshly picked scented geranium leaves (clean them!) prior to adding the cake batter. Remove the leaves once the cake has been cooked and serve a scented cake. The leaves are also suitable to flavour risotto, baked custard, crème anglaise, ice cream, vinegar, poached fruits and syrups.
4. Use the leaves in potpourri. Dried scented geranium leaves are an excellent addition to potpourri mixes. They will carry the scent of the relevant leaves through the potpourri.
5. Use scented geraniums to cover up unsavoury odours. If there is a part of your garden that emits unwanted odours, such as a septic tank or a mouldy external wall, scented geraniums can be used to help cover up the bad odour.
6. Rub scented geraniums between your hands. This will scent your hands and freshen them quickly. Be sure that you don't have skin sensitivities to plants or you might get a rash.