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Spring Cleaning With Herbs and Essential Oils
By Karen Hegre
Cleaning out drawers and closets...rearranging them to match the new season,
and storing winter clothes is a spring ritual at most homes.
First, I empty the drawers, vacuum out any debris, wipe them with a damp
cloth, then spritz them with the following Drawer Spray;
two ounces isopropy alcohol
one half teaspoon sandalwood e.o.(essential oil)
one teaspoon tangerine e.o.
one half teaspoon Peru balsam e.o.
One eighth spruce e.o.
one eighth lavender e.o.(or more if you prefer)
two ounces distilled water.
Pour the isopropyl alcohol into a glass spray bottle and add the oils. Add
the water and shake to mix.
Before using, first test the spray on a small section of a drawer before
using as alcohol can dissolve a shellac finish. If the finish is unharmed,
spray the empty drawer and allow it to dry before replacing the clothes.
Drawers and Closets
Use the following blend in drawers and closets, particularly where woolens
and furs are stored.
Make sure the herbs are dried completely...then chop or crush them before
blending;
4 cups lavender flowers
2 cups peppermint leaves
2 cups rosemary leaves
1 cup patchouli leaf
1/2 cup whole cloves
1/4 cup thyme leaves
Make some sachets and fill with the herb blend. Hang in closets and tuck in
drawers.
Spice Sachet Blend:
6 cups oakmoss
one cup each black peppercorns, allspice berries and cinnamon chips
one fourth cup aniseed
two tablespoons cloves
(sandalwood and ginger would also be nice additions to this recipe)
Combine all ingredients and mix well. Fill sachets and hang in closets and
tuck in drawers.
I use spice sachets in my kitchen towel drawer.
More Oil Uses
Place a drop of your favorite essential oil on a scrap of fabric or
handkerchief. Toss it into the dryer with your clothes or sheets.
Use a drop or two of orange oil on a paper coffee filter to remove glue or
masking tape residue from windows.
Scent the filter bag of your vacuum cleaner with a drop or two of a
fresh-smelling essential oil.
About The Author
Karen Hegre
I feel very fortunate to have met Karen, and to be able to share her
wonderful
crafts and herbal inspiration with our visitors. She has a gentle soul
and contributes
not only her words but encouragement as well.
Karen is a Master Gardener specializing in herbs, a mom and grandma.
She and her husband have a Backyard Wildlife Habitat, plus 'Fairy
Gardens' where the children can learn about different herbs and hear
Karen read a story about the Garden Fairies and Flowers. They are open
to the public May through September.
Karen owns several discussion lists, which we have listed below with
the subscription
information. All are free to join and a joy to be a member
of!
Nature
Crafts: This is a list for those who enjoy crafting
with Nature and want to learn more!! We will share projects, learn ways
of preserving those natural items and much more. Click Here to
subscribe.
Keepers Of
the Gardens: This list is a 'learning &
sharing' list on how to create beautiful back yard habitats for birds,
butterflies, hummingbirds, and other wildlife including bees,
dragonflies, frogs, toads & other friendly insects &
reptiles. Click Here
to subscribe.
Aromatherapy
One-0-One: This is a list for learning the basics
of Aromatherapy and Essential Oils. A friendly place for questions and
ideas... a place where we can learn from each other. Click
Here to subscribe.
SeptemberLady "Born and have lived in Southern MD most of my life. My husband and I just finished building a new home on the family farm, where I hope to retire in the near future.
My interests: Doll collecting, cookbook collector (especially old ones), antiques, family/friend get-togethers, cooking/baking, flower and vegetable gardening, bird-watching."
Memorial Day: Backyard Grilling Memorial Day signals the start of barbecue season. Everyone wants to light that fire and charcoal that first meal. A few tips might pre- vent your entree from becoming a "Burnt Offering."
Read these tips for plenty of grilling ideas, make this year's barbecue perfect!
Growing and Using Garlic Chives Garlic chives, Allium tuberosum, is a hardy perennial (Zones 3-9) that will grow to about 12 inches high. The stems are skinnier and flat, instead of hollow as are regular chives, with greenish white blooms that are about an inch wide and not as rounded. They bloom in the summer rather than spring. The bloom stalks grow much taller than the leaves, sometimes up to 30 inches.
The stems and blooms are both edible and have a mild garlic onion taste. I've noticed many writers will list this as primarily as an Asian herb, as they are also known as Chinese chives, Chinese leeks, ku chai (China) or Nira (Japan), but it has many other uses as well!
The Perfect Porch Swing Perhaps it is the soothing rhythm or the reassuring creak of the porch swing that attracts us. Perhaps it is the companionable silence or quiet conversation. Or maybe swings simply remind us of more genteel times.
Although porch swings can be purchased in a wide range of materials, the most common are wicker and wood. You can also make your own porch swing from one of the myriad of woodworking patterns available at garden centers, hardware stores, or on the Internet.
Memorial Day: Backyard Grilling
Growing and Using Garlic Chives
The Perfect Porch Swing