Helpful tips for living without electricity. Learn how to grow more of your own food. Canning Recipes to help you put up all your favorite foods! Food storage, emergency preparedness, survival skills, and more. Herbal recipes, essential oils, and old-fashioned remedies for supporting your family's health naturally. Home » All Natural Homemade Cleaners The Easiest Way To Clean Vomit From CarpetNobody’s sick here at the moment (knock on wood). This is a completely random post. But I figured with the cold and flu season here, you might be interested in tucking this little nugget in the back of your mind for a rough day. I came upon it by accident, really, as most brilliant ideas come about. This is seriously the easiest way to get vomit out of the carpet. I wish I’d known to do this from the beginning. It sure as heck would have saved me from way too many stomach churning moments. One night my daughter was sick with a stomach flu, and didn’t make it to the bathroom before she spewed all over her bedroom floor.

Stay with me here, it’s gonna get worse before it gets better. It was chunky, and smelled horrible, and I really didn’t feel like trying to sop it out of the carpet with a towel at 2 o’clock in the morning. pool ball cleaner homemadeHer brother was sleeping in the same room at the time, and begged me to make the awful smell go away.best las vegas heated pools So, I did what first came to mind. best carpet cleaner cambridgeI grabbed a big bag from the pantry, and sprinkled it liberally all over the mess on the floor. steam cleaning carpet on stairsEnough to completely bury the puke. hoover steam cleaner has no suction

And then I put a towel over it just in case somebody accidentally stepped on it. Dare I admit, with all the vomiting that went on those next few days, I didn’t even get around to cleaning that mess under the towel for two days. steam clean couch at home When I finally remembered there was something there that really needed to get cleaned up, I was shocked and amazed when I pulled the towel up to find that the baking soda had transformed all of the throw-up into small, odorless clumps of powder. Besides that, all that was left was a stain that needed scrubbing.No disgusting mess to slop up with my bare hands? Using the vacuum, I (probably too ecstatically) sucked all of the dried clumps up in one mess-free motion. (If you don’t want to use your vacuum, a broom will do just as well.) With that out of the way, I sprayed a little carpet cleaner on the spot, and had it as good as new in minutes.

And picking chunks of leftover food out of the washing machine. I’m telling you, the next time you have throw-up on your carpet- Baking Soda. Add a couple drops of essential oils while you’re at it. You’ll love me forever. Do you have a better way to clean vomit from carpet?? I’m game to learn an even better trick if there is one! Grab these items to have on hand for the next time the stomach bug runs through your home…Adapted from Rodale's 21st-Century Herbal, an upcoming book by ethnobotanist Michael J. Balick, PhD, vice president for botanical science at The New York Botanical Garden. Enter your email address You may unsubscribe at any time. With just a few basic ingredients, you can make safer "green" cleaning products for a fraction of the cost of the commercial products and without the scary ingredients. For instance:•    Distilled white vinegar (which contains acetic acid) has antifungal and antimicrobial properties and can eliminate mineral deposits from sink and bathtub fixtures, as well as cookware.

•    Acidic lemon juice kills germs on countertops, cutting boards, and more. Baking soda deodorizes and dissolves grease and dirt. Mixed with other ingredients, it makes a gentle but effective scrub. •    All-natural castile soap, made for centuries with olive oil, not only washes dirt and grease from your body, but also from household surfaces and laundry. Many herbs have potent disinfectant properties, too. Basil, bay, cardamom, clove, coriander, eucalyptus, ginger, hyssop, lavender, lemongrass, oregano, peppermint, rose geranium, rosemary, sage, spearmint, and thyme are cleaning powerhouses. All contain a multitude of plant chemicals that possess antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic, and antiviral actions. By adding a few drops of these essential oils to your homemade cleaning products, you can boost their cleaning power and impart a delightful fragrance that makes cleaning more pleasurable. (Always be sure to handle essential oils with care, following directions.

Kitchen Countertop SprayUse this fragrant solution to disinfect countertops, refrigerator shelves, and painted surfaces, including walls and wood trim. Feel free to experiment with other antibacterial essential oils, such as basil, thyme, or lemon. Ingredients:½ cup distilled white vinegar ½ cup water 10 to 12 drops rose geranium essential oil Directions:In a small, dark glass jar, combine the vinegar, water, and oil. Pour small amounts into a spray bottle as necessary. Gentle Spearmint ScrubberThis nonscratching, chlorine-free paste is perfect for cleaning cookware, countertops, and porcelain sinks and tubs. Lemon and lemon verbena essential oils also work well in place of the spearmint. Ingredients:1 cup baking soda1 Tablespoon liquid castile soap10 to 12 drops spearmint essential oilWarm water (90° to 110°F) Directions:In a small, dark glass jar, combine the baking soda, soap, and enough warm water to form a thick but pourable paste. Stir in the essential oil.

Apply to surfaces, wait for 5 minutes or more, then scrub with a sponge. Rinse off the residue with water. Antibacterial Bathroom CleanerUse this fragrant spray to disinfect bathroom surfaces. Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil— which has antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal powers—helps clean and control mildew. Lavender and hyssop, which were once used as disinfectant strewing herbs, have antibacterial and antiviral properties. Ingredients:½ cup distilled white vinegar1 ½ cups water2 Tablespoons liquid castile soap8 to 10 drops tea tree essential oil8 to 10 drops lavender essential oil8 to 10 drops hyssop essential oil Directions:Combine the vinegar, water, soap, tea tree oil, lavender oil, and hyssop oil in a dark glass jar. Pour a small amount into a spray bottle to use as needed. Rinse off any residue with water. Chlorine-Free Grout CleanerThis all-natural paste removes mildew but has no harsh fumes. Ingredients:1 cup baking soda10 drops tea tree oilWater

Directions:In a dark glass jar, combine the baking soda and oil with enough water to make a thick paste. Apply the paste to grout, then wait 1 to 2 hours. Scrub with a stiff nylon brush, then rinse with water. Fragrant Floor CleanerMop floors with this fresh-smelling liquid; the eucalyptus and rosemary oils have antiviral properties. Make a fresh mixture each time you need it. Ingredients:1 cup distilled white vinegar1 gallon hot water (at least 130°F)1 to 2 tablespoons liquid castile soap (optional)1 teaspoon lavender or eucalyptus essential oil1 teaspoon rosemary essential oil Directions:In a bucket, combine the vinegar, hot water, soap (if using), and lavender or eucalyptus oil and rosemary oil. If you include the soap, rinse with clear water after using. Lemon-Scented Furniture PolishRemove dirt as you add shine to furniture with this naturally lemon-scented formula. Shake well before using; buff dry with a clean cloth. Ingredients:1 cup olive oil2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar½ cup water1 teaspoon lemon or lemongrass essential oil

Directions:In a dark glass jar, combine the olive oil, vinegar, water, and lemon or lemongrass oil. Pour a small amount into a spray bottle to use as needed. Magic Carpet DeodorizerThe spicy fragrance of this deodorizer will remind you of an island breeze. Ingredients:1 cup baking soda10 drops grapefruit essential oil10 drops ginger essential oil Directions:In a dark glass jar, combine the baking soda, grapefruit oil, and ginger oil. Sprinkle the mix over your carpet, wait an hour, and then vacuum. Fresh Air Laundry DetergentThis powdered mix will clean and brighten your laundry naturally and give it a fresh outdoor scent. The recipe makes enough to last several months. Ingredients:8 cups baking soda6 cups borax4 cups grated castile soap1 tablespoon lavender essential oil1 teaspoon clary sage essential oil Directions:In a large bucket, combine the baking soda, borax, and soap. Whisk in the lavender and clary sage oils. Store in a dark, covered container in a cool, dark location.

Use  1/8 cup per medium-size load. Aromatic Fabric SprayRefresh upholstered furniture, drapes, linens, and mattresses with this herbal spray. Ingredients:15 drops lavender, lemongrass, patchouli, orother fragrant essential oil1 ½ cups distilled water Directions:In a dark glass jar, combine the essential oil and water. Herbal Cleaning Bonus Tips•    Because essential oils break down plastic over time, it's best to store your homemade cleaning products in labeled, dark glass containers •    Plastic spray bottles are fine for short-term storage of smaller quantities. •    Also, remember to store all cleaning products—even those made with natural ingredients—in a cool, dark location where children and pets cannot reach them. •    Just remember that even plant products can be toxic under some circumstances, and the same cautions given for other herbal uses also apply when using herbal products in homemade cleaning products. •    Not all essential oils are high quality.