Lemon eucalyptus insect repellant

Google "lemon eucalyptus" insect (including those quotes) and you'll be able to read about studies that show this oil is most effective as a mosquito repellent.

There is currently only one brand available in the U.S. that's using this oil as its active ingredient-- it's called Repel. I searched high and low for it this spring for my daughter, who attracts mosquitos like mad and then gets horrid red welts for weeks afterwards. She scratches them (even in her sleep), they bleed and don't get well, she gets more every time she goes outside... it's an ugly scene.

I bought the oil at the health food store (Aura Cacia, fairly poor quality brand but possibly okay for this purpose) and have been hunting to find a recipe to create a spray with it. Finally found one here.

Homemade All-Natural Mosquito Repellent

Ingredients:

1 ounce jojoba oil

3 ounces vodka - Any type of vodka will do, but higher proof vodkas tend to work better.

1 teaspoon lemon eucalyptus essential oil

1 4-ounce spray bottle

Preparation:

Simply add the vodka and oils to the spray bottle. Make sure to shake the bottle well before using as the contents will settle.

Directions for Use

Spray on liberally before going outside. Reapply every 1-2 hours. Just as with commercial products, this mixture should not be ingested.

The author said it needs to be reapplied every 1-2 hours. Since we don't often stay outside much longer than that in the summer, that'll do just fine. No bugs, no toxic chemicals on my babies! (Always test for irritation on the forearm before rubbing an essential oil concoction all over you or your kids-- you know that, right?)

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Homemade Dishwasher Detergent-type Stuff.

I went hunting for a good dishwasher detergent recipe tonight-- I'm finally out of my Cascade tabs and have been experimenting, trying to find a recipe that works for my dishwasher and hard water. (Read here for a quick summation of why it's a good idea to avoid standard dishwashing detergent. Also, it doesn't smell nice.)

The standard 1 part Borax to 1 part Baking soda doesn't work for me-- it clouds up the dishes terribly and doesn't clean the silverware well.

The recipe below came from a woman named Lynn at The New Homemaker. And guess what? ESSENTIAL OILS are involved. (I laughed when I found the recipe... EOs are stalking me, even on unrelated Internet searches!)

My modifications are below.

In a plastic container with a firmly fitting lid, mix:
1 cup borax (20-Mule-Team Borax, available in any supermarket)
1 cup baking soda (I'M NOW USING WASHING SODA INSTEAD)
1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup citric acid (available in brewing stores among other places--if you haven't tracked it down yet but must try this formula, use two packets of Lemonade-Flavored Kool-Aid, ONLY lemon, or you'll dye your dishwasher! and ONLY unsweetened Kool-Aid!)
30 drops citrus essential oil--lemon, grapefruit, orange, tangerine, or a mixture

Put all of it in the container, shake it up.

To use, put a tablespoon or so into each cup of your dishwasher. I've found I no longer have to use the scrubbing cycle but can get by fine with the short cycle, thus saving even more money. On average, it looks like this is about 8 cents a load compared with Cascade at 22 cents a load. Compare it with EcoVer or Seventh Generation and it's a steal. I have also started putting some of this in a shaker canister--the one I have we got at a restaurant supply, it's aluminum and was made for popcorn salt. I use it to clean my sink and anything else that I'd normally use Bon Ami on. Works great, and the essential oil makes it smell fantastic.

My "modifications":
The original batch I had did not clean well- at 1.5 tablespoons per load it didn't leave gunky stuff on everything like 2T did, but it did leave a haze all over everything.

Enter citric acid, purchased at the health food store, 1 lb for $5.99 (about 1.5 cups- 6 batches' worth). Also enter Washing Soda, found at a local grocery store for under $3 a 55oz box, to replace the baking soda and hopefully up the cleaning power. I'm mixing this up right now and will report back on efficacy.

I also put in five drops of lavender oil and ten drops of lemon (mine is wildly strong) rather than the 30 drops of citric recommended.)

Boy, does my kitchen smell nice.

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All-Purpose Cleaner

Found this here.

This came from Karen Logan's "Clean House, Clean Planet". I mixed up a batch to try it one day and haven't used commercial all-purpose cleaners since. Good essential oil combos are tea tree and peppermint, orange and cinnamon, and lavender and lemon. Keep out of reach of small children as the borax is somewhat toxic.

16 fl oz (change servings and units)

Ingredients

* 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
* 1 teaspoon borax
* 1 1/2 cups very hot distilled or purified water
* 1/4 cup castile soap or 1/8 cup liquid dish soap
* 10-15 drops essential oils

Directions

1. Mix the vinegar and borax in a 16oz spray bottle.
2. Fill bottle with the water and shake to dissolve the vinegar and borax.
3. Add soap LAST and then scent with essential oil.

Use as you would any all-purpose cleaner. This mix can get quite soapy so you might want to have a cloth wet with just water handy to "rinse" with.

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Bath fizzers, exfoliating scrub, linen spray.

Is there anything you CAN'T find a YouTube video about?? I'm currently steeping myself in all these great essential oil videos. Fantastic.

Lavender was my first essential oil to purchase; here's a helpful, basic little TV interview with a Young Living associate that gives three simple gift/pampering recipes using lavender. For my own ease of reference, I've written out the recipes below.



Bath Fizzers
a. 2T baking soda
b. 2t citric acid
c. 8-10 drops lavender oil
d. spray bottle containing water

Mix a-c; use spray bottle to dampen dry mixture into a moldable consistency.
Press into candy molds, ice cube trays, or shape into small balls by hand.
Invert onto waxed paper and let dry thoroughly until hardened before packaging.

Linen Freshener
a. 4-8 drops lavender essential oil
b. 4 oz distilled water
c. small spray bottle

Combine a & b in the spray bottle; shake before spraying to make sure oil and water are combined thoroughly. Use as a room freshener, linen spray, etc.

Exfoliating foot scrub/Body soak
1/4 c sea salt, epsom salts, or raw sugar
1/4 c enhanced vegetable oil complex (v-6 or massage oil)
1-3 drops lavender essential oil

combine all three ingredients, stirring thoroughly; store in sealed container.

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