Clean Your Whole House Naturally

After reading the book, Healthy Child, Healthy World, WD and I became sold on the idea of making our house healthier for ourselves and our future children by removing the toxins and poisons.

Here are some of the natural cleaning solutions we use. We are completely chemical free except liquid dish detergent (still in bulk from couponing) and the barkeepers friend I keep to polish my sink, I haven't found a greener solution for that yet, but we only have to do that when aluminium comes in contact with it.

Switching to the natural cleaning method is much cheaper too. Even when I was couponing, cleaning supplies weren't this inexpensive. 

Save money, be healthier- win, win. 

White Vinegar- buy it in bulk.

Add 1/4 cup white vinegar to your wash cycle as a natural fabric softener and to remove odors.

Add 1 tablespoon to your rinse aid spot in your dish washer for a cloudless spot free shine on your dishes.

We have a straight vinegar spray bottles used for: 

Cleaning or disinfecting countertops, degreasing pans, spritzing the tile shower in between scrubbing, cleaning the tub and toilet, cleaning windows, and cleaning up pet messes. 

Diluted vinegar (about 1/2 cup vinegar, rest of the spray bottle water) spray bottles used for:

Mopping the floor (spray, then mop with dust rag or microfiber cloth), spot cleaning the walls or any other painted surface if water didn't work first. You can also use this as your all purpose cleaner too, safe for pets and kids. 

Hydrogen Peroxide

Leave this product in the dark bottle it comes in, but you can twist a spray nozzle on it too. This is great for stains on white shirts, and really grody tile grout.  Use it to do the deep cleaning on your toilet and tub too. It also works great on windows and mirrors, be patient it takes a little longer to dry.  It can discolor your clothes, so be mindful of that. 

Baking Soda

After living in two apartments with nasty acrylic tubs, all full of scratches I buy the big box of baking soda. No bathroom cleaners worked as well as baking soda and a brush, and I tried enough to cause brain damage, I'm sure. Baking soda is an abrasive that is soft enough to clean off acrylic and plastic surfaces like a miracle without damaging them, just like it does your teeth! You can also sprinkle it on carpet and vacuum for a fresh room, and leave in your fridge to keep the stink away. I put mine in a small shallow dish, covered with a coffee filter fastened with a rubber band- not willing to waste the whole box. 

Borax

Borax is my new best friend. When we moved into our house WD's shower had this weird grey discoloration all over his 1960's green shower. We tried EVERYTHING, even left straight bleach sitting on these spots and nothing helped. I figured the shower was a goner, maybe someone dumped some super toxin in there to clean the drain and left it too long of something and it ate the enamel off the tile. BUT BORAX GOT IT OFF! I was scrubbing the grout last week, and realized there was also grey clumpy stuff all over the doorway- like where a glass door had been removed.  The borax paste began to slowly remove the ancient adhesive, and I thought I would give the grey mystery stains a try- maybe it was where someone tried to wash adhesive down the drain. A LOT of elbow grease + borax + teeny bit of water, and it came off!!!

You can also mix it with jelly/honey/syrup in a sealed container with tiny holes and kill ants with it!! We also used it to make gak when I was a kid... do you remember gak? 

Tea
 Cleaning wood floors with black tea is a safe and natural way to make your wood surfaces shine. The tannic acid in tea, finished with a light buff of olive oil, does wonders for wood! Steep one of two tea bags in quart of water and let the water cool to room temperature. Remove the tea bags, and dip a soft cloth into the solution. Wipe down the floors, and admire how easily the scratches and imperfections disappear!
Olive Oil
Polishes wood, and heals water rings. Read Post Here
Washing Soda

Boosts your laundry detergent on super dingy loads. Mix with water for an all purpose cleaner.

Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent

Homemade Powdered Laundry Detergent

Homemade Dish Washing Detergent

If there is a specific cleaning question you have or product you would like to replace naturally, please ask. I would love to find the answer for you!

Homemade Powdered Laundry Detergent

One of my most popular posts is the homemade liquid laundry detergent.  I made my first batch of liquid detergent in January, and this double batch lasted me from the January to June. There are only two of us, but I was pretty impressed. That would mean I could most likely only have to make detergent twice, maybe three times per year. The liquid detergent is a little slimey, gloopy and doesn't look like traditional liquid detergent so may not be appealing to some people. If that was a problem for you, this recipe may be appealing.
This is an original Bricks & Bauble's recipe. 

This powdered detergent recipe is HE (high efficiency) safe. So here is what you need:

• 2 cups of Borax
• 2 cups of Super Washing Soda
• 1 bar of Ivory Soap
• 1/3 bar of Fels Naptha Laundry Soap
• 1/2 Cup white Vinegar 
• You may also want a food processor, I used my Ninja blender. 

1. If you are using a Ninja or a food processor roughly chop the soap, then tossed it in the ninja until it was pulverized into powdered dust. If you aren't using a Ninja, just grate the bar of Ivory soap & Fels Naptha washing soap. 

 2. Add the Borax and Washing Powder to the soap  and either stir, or blend together. Remove the combined powdered. 

3. Separate 1 cup of detergent and put it with the vinegar back into the Ninja*. Blend into as fine pieces as possible slowly add more dry powder, and mix again. Continue until the laundry detergent is fully blended. 

(Vinegar helps remove odor, and works as a natural fabric softener.)

If you still think it's too clumpy, you can sift it through a colander and re-blend the clumps into powder. *If you are not using a food processor or Ninja, combine with a fork. 

4. Add the powdered detergent into an adorably stylish jar (or whatever else you can find.) 

Bonus points for a cute label on your stylish jar! 

Use 1 Tablespoon per load. 

(Extra stinky load? you can use 2 Tbs)

Anthropologie Napkin Pillows

I wanted to share my guest post from my visit to Qualls Quirks on Wednesday... in case you missed it.  

I think most of you can agree that, although I cannot pass up an opportunity to pop in an Anthropologie store, I rarely find anything I can afford. Sometimes I even get so excited when I find something that is under $20, that all of the sudden it becomes completely reasonable, in comparison, to spend $20 on measuring spoons or a dish towel. I call this the Anthropologie affect - I love EVERYTHING in the store and just want to take SOMETHING home with me. Almost EVERY one I style for says "I want it to be sort of Anthropologie-ish," so I know I am not alone on this. Well, if you have been nodding along then this DIY project is for YOU! 

 I fell in love with these watercolor, Anthropologie napkins ($8 ea), but they were too fantastic for people to wipe their spaghetti faces on - so I decided they needed to become throw pillows. (Check the clearance section, you might snag some that make you swoon for less.) 

I picked up two of each napkin for a total of 4.

I decided to put one of each pattern on each pillow. 

(You could also just use a solid color fabric on the back to save money and make 4 pillows.) 

Each napkin was around a 20" square, so I bought 20 x 20 pillow inserts at Ikea for $3. 

I loved the ric-rac edges, so I whip stitched the edges to bring that out. Whip stitching is the easiest stitch in my opinion because it resembles the craft stitching I did as a child. You do NOT have to "know how to sew" to make these pillows... please don't quit on me yet! 
The exposed seam is created by pushing your needle in the right side, then out the left side every time. You scoot your next stitch down a bit, in right, out left, scoot, in right, out left.... and the angled, repeating line is created.

SO cute and for only $19 each! Definately a steal compared to the usual $100-300 throw pillows from Anthropologie. And a much bigger bang for my $20, than measuring spoons. 

Welcoming Guest Room

This is a homeowner reveal of a Simple & Relaxing guest room. 

.... bland before...

 From a simple style board and shopping list.

The homeowner sent me pictures of items they already owned but were not planning on using in another space in their new house. The bedding, pillows, photos & art were selected from this collection. Although the guest room should not be the catch-all location for every left over decoration from your last house, sometimes a third party viewer can see potential to give these unused items a new home. Reclaiming what you already own saves a TON of money.

this cute door sign is available from Abundant Haven on etsy

How to Make Homemade Pickles

 During my canning extravaganza this weekend I decided to make WD some pickles. He LOVES pickles.

You will need: 

3-4lb of pickling cucumbers (the ones that look like cartoon pickles)

1/2 c canning salt

4 c (32oz) white vinegar

1/2 c sugar

4 c water 

pickling seasoning or dill seeds. 

Canning supplies, 6 pint jars & boiling water canner (really large pot)

yields 6 pints

1: sanitize your jars and lids (here are some instructions if you are new to canning)!

2. In a 4-5 qt pot, combine water, vinegar, sugar, & canning salt. Bring the brine to a boil. 

3. Wash your cucumbers thoroughly, and remove any stems or blossoms. 

 4. cut your cucumbers into 1/4 inch-ish slices. 

 5. pack them loosely into sanitized jars leaving 1 inch head space (leave 1 inch of space from the top of the jar). 

5. Add 1 tablespoon of pickling seasoning, or dill seeds. 

6. Fill with boiling brine maintaining the 1 inch head space (usually where the glass lip for the lid part of the jar starts is a good estimate.)

Attach the lids and submerge in boiling water in the canner. 

Process filled jars in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes (start timing when the water returns to a boil.) Remove jars from the canner and cool on wire racks. 

Allow to stand at room temperature for 1 week before serving. 

Pickles are good for 1 year. 

I had only enough pickling cucumbers for 6 pints, and enough brine for 8 so I sliced 2 regular cucumbers like spears to use up the left over brine. I read somewhere that you can use the same recipe for regular pickles, you just had to make them spears instead of slices/chips.  

 So this is the completion of my canning extravaganza... for now...

UPDATE: INSTRUCTIONS FOR CANNING OKRA IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW
Between last night and today I now have...

6 quarts and 9 pints of tomatoes

8 pints of pickles

4 pints of corn

1 pint of English peas

1 quart of asparagus

5 quarts of okra

(I also froze 3 quarts of Brussels sprouts, 3 quarts of blueberries, and 8 quarts of strawberries)

(btw... Canning is REALLY bad for your manicure...)

Free Printable Friday: Recipe Cards

As you may recall, I recently picked up this ADORABLE recipe box at an antique shop. 

Today I wanted to feature some very cute, free printable recipe cards for your adorable recipe box.

erin vale design

Financial Peace University: Personal Review

I briefly explained during my kitchen reveal that we were able to pay cash for our kitchen renovation thanks to Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. Which meant after the renovation was over, we just got to enjoy the kitchen, not dread paying it off over the next few months (have you ever noticed how much less fun something is when you have to keep paying and keep paying for it?) I wish I could convince everyone I knew to take this class (or at least read the book), especially newly weds/ engaged couples. It will radically improve your marriage. Couples who fight about finances are 30% more likely go get divorced than those who don't, this will help you to approach your money as a team instead of constantly being frustrated that your financial priorities don't align. 

Now don't get me wrong, this class is HARD. You have to acknowledge selfish, childlike spending habits, and be willing to change them, but the reward is a HUGE peace over the marriage. Budgeting goes from being a straight jacket that keeps you from enjoying your money, to a freedom list of what you can buy guilt-free. 

I just thought I would share this with anyone who would like to live with less financial stress, have a happier marriage, and change their futures. It won't miraculously increase your paycheck, but you can learn how to live in a way that makes what you have more than enough, and you will learn how to invest for the future like rich people do. Especially since WD is a teacher- the income he makes now, is not going to change much over his teaching career, it will hopefully only keep up with the cost of living increases over time. SO it is very important to live a comfortable life without resentment that we spend our money wisely, avoid debt at all costs, and live like no one else, so that later we can live like no one else.  

One of Dave's big things is eating beans and rice, then rice and beans until you get out of debt. So to commemorate completing our semester of Financial Peace University, we ate beans and rice for dinner. 

Craving Affordable Dramatic Style

Dramatic style is possible with a small budget and can even be achieved in a temporary space. Have you considered using your walls as gallery space to display sculpture?

Anthropologie Stores; photos collected by EffortlesslyAnthropologie

 Just about every young or creative person I know loves Anthropologie. Even if they do not own a single item from there, they love to walk through the store and browse the carefully curated spaces and products.

In fact, it is the number one requested style description my clients have used to explain the style they would like in their space. 

Anthropologie Stores;  photos collected by  EffortlesslyAnthropologie

I think what we are drawn to most in Anthropologie is the atmosphere. The window displays and walls are just as beautiful as the products they sell. I can't think of any other stores that put as much energy into styling their walls (maybe more)  with things they don't even sell.

So if you are looking to add drama to your walls, or fill a large blank wall with a tiny budget, use a paper sculpture. Here are some links to DIY instructions for Paper Sculpting for Beginners.

Use an old book's pages to create these Pinwheels from The Goods.

Here is another pinwheel Tutorial from WeddingChicks.

This sculpture is made from toilet paper rolls from Design Sponge.
 

You would not have to sculpt wings, like Simple Joys, but you could use the paper cone sculpting to make other abstract shapes.
Paper+ Pushpins = Paint Free, temporary, dramatic style that is very apartment friendly!

My Secret Weapon, Canvas Drop Cloth

Drop cloth became my go-to secret weapon during art school. The cheapest rolled raw canvas is about $70 for 52" x 18 feet (72 square feet). And you can buy a 15' x 12' (180 square feet) Drop cloth for $30.  I used it just as the rolled canvas would have been used, and saved a LOT of money.

When this French Country/Shades of White movement started catching on, I realized again people were overpaying for cotton canvas upholstery material. 

This is why canvas drop cloth is is my secret weapon. It can be left raw, or embellished with paint. 

www.asoftplace.net

Miss Mustard Seed

unknown

You can easily stencil or stamp any pattern you would like and use it anywhere you would use a natural colored canvas upholstery material.

I caution you though, it can look like frumpy drop cloth really easily (a quick google image search will show you plenty of examples of that). So the ways you use it must be considered carefully. 

1. FOR EVERYTHING - WASH AND IRON FIRST. That is the biggest reoccurring faux pas I see when looking at "you'd-never-guess-it-was-drop-cloth" DIY projects. Yes, I did guess it was drop cloth - because it looks like a wrinkly hot mess!

2. For curtains, bedskirts, & table cloths - consider ironing in a heavy starch. The fabric looks most professional when the lines are clean and crisp. People don't want to snuggle your curtains so they don't need fabric softener. They will look plenty casual crisply ironed - wrinkles aren't casual - wrinkles are sloppy. 

3. For bedding, pillows, and reupholstered furniture - Wash it twice and iron it really well. The pillows and upholstery should then be stretched tight so the fabric doesn't wrinkle easily. You should always wash it at least twice, preferably in hot water to remove the chemical/scotch-guard-like substance the manufacturer applied. This chemical was not intended or approved to be near your face or skin, so make sure it no longer has a chemical smell before you ever use it on your bed. (This is true for headboards & furniture, too!)

4. If you are covering more than one item and would like the fabric to look the same, buy the same brand, weight, and size cloths at the same time, preferably from the same box. Canvas colors can vary a LOT, so keep in mind that the 9'x6' may look yellow next to the 15'x12' which has more tan. It is likely not from the same production/bolt from the manufacturer. (You can even go to the lighting section and check out the colors to make sure yours look the same in different types of light).

diy showoff

Kitchen Renovation for less than $2500

So the budget on this project was pretty tight. WD and I are currently re-taking Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University, which empowered us to save enough money to pay cash for our kitchen renovation!!! Just to be honest, when we bought this house last July, I hoped if we saved for 3-5 years we might be able to make a few minor changes. But when we began to pray about being better stewards of our funds, God provided opportunities for us to save!

Just in case you missed the kitchen journey a few days ago, here it is again, so that you can appreciate how far we have come. 

Countertops- $58 (I only had to buy the sealants Envirotex and Polycrylic)

White Cast Iron Kholer Sink- $236 (Lowes)

Cooktop Stove- $251 (Lowes)

Samsung Refrigerator- $899 (Best Buy)

LG Dishwasher- $358 (floor model from Home Depot. Originally $719)

Installation- $400

9% sales tax $162 

Total Cost: $2364.18 

By the way, do you like the blue wall? Confession: it is Photoshopped, but I definitely think it is an improvement over the buttery beige it is now.