Simple Odor Solution
Monday, September 23, 2013
If your home has a room (or rooms) that have a problem with odors; whether it be the bathroom, the kitchen, or the room with the litter box in it this two ingredient room deodorizer should help!
This recipe is so easy I will not have to make a recipe card for it.
What: baking soda and essential oils of choice
How: put the amount of baking soda you wish into the container of your choice and drop a few drops of your favorite essential oils or essential oil mixture.
When you notice the odors coming back simply shake the mixture, you can shake the mixture for at-least three months before you will need to replace it.
Let me know in the comments section which mixture of oils you used. Remember that shaking the mixture will release more scent into the air but with all air fresheners if you live with them and smell them daily they wont smell as fragrant to you as they would to a visitor to your home.
This recipe is so easy I will not have to make a recipe card for it.
What: baking soda and essential oils of choice
How: put the amount of baking soda you wish into the container of your choice and drop a few drops of your favorite essential oils or essential oil mixture.
When you notice the odors coming back simply shake the mixture, you can shake the mixture for at-least three months before you will need to replace it.
You can find a glass jar with a slotted lid at any thrift store, or you can make your own using cheesecloth and a bit of twine. For that you will need a glass jar with a lip (a mason jar will work), cut a piece of cheese cloth to fit over the top and tie it on around the mouth of the jar. If you have a mason jar with the original lid you can simply cover with the cheesecloth and screw on lid without the inner plate.
Baking soda naturally wicks away odors, by adding your favorite essential oils you then replace the odor that the baking soda took away with your favorite scent.
The first time I made this air freshener I used only peppermint oil. It was nice but something I got tired of after a few days. The second time I used a mixture of lemon, wild orange, and lime. This mixture smelled like a bag of skittles and was delightful.
Many people use this recipe, from the farmers wife to the store owner it has been around and loved for many years. The first time I used the recipe was when my chicks were living in their brooder box in the basement; it definitely came in handy!
My favorite thing about this mixture is how simple it is and how simple it smells. I'm not sure if you have ever noticed the burning sensation in your nose that some candles, sprays, or fresheners give off, but you don't have to worry about that with this recipe.
Let me know in the comments section which mixture of oils you used. Remember that shaking the mixture will release more scent into the air but with all air fresheners if you live with them and smell them daily they wont smell as fragrant to you as they would to a visitor to your home.
Thanks for reading!
-Kayla
From my workspace to yours: Vol. 1
Saturday, September 14, 2013
One of the most used (and complained about) ingredients in my recipes is beeswax. While there are no complaints about all of the wonderful properties beeswax adds to the recipe, there are many about working with it. After I made my first recipe with beeswax I honestly shuddered at the thought of having to use beeswax again. Through trial and error I have learned a few tricks that make my life a lot easier. In this post I plan to share some of the tips I have learned along the way that makes it simpler for me to enjoy working with beeswax.
1. Beeswax cubes: In the photo above you can see my tiny beeswax pyramid and a container full of what look like beeswax ice cubes. The very first thing I noticed about working with beeswax was how hard it was to cut, and how many shavings fell on the floor while I was cutting it. Although I was being tedious about slicing it I made a big mess and had tiny slivers of beeswax everywhere.
My Solution: I became curious about pre-measured beeswax cubes, and wondered how much beeswax would fit in each space of an ice cube tray. To my surprise roughly one tablespoon; I figured this out first with water of course.
How to: In order to melt the beeswax you can either lay the whole block in your double broiler or melt it in your Crockpot (explained in #2). Then simply pour the beeswax into the ice cube tray and let it harden overnight. When it is ready bust the beeswax out the same way you would ice and store your cubes in an airtight container or bag.
2. Beeswax in my Crockpot?
While this idea may sound crazy, trust me! I couldn’t get over how cumbersome it was to quickly pour the exact measurement of beeswax I needed into the container I was using, or into a mixing bowl from the double broiler. Another complaint I had was how the double broiler either used all of the water very quickly or got a little too hot, too fast and the beeswax smelt a little burnt. The beeswax wouldn’t turn black or anything but the pleasant smell of beeswax became the smell of charred beeswax. Oh, and then I had three containers to clean with hardened beeswax on them…
My Solution: Before the beeswax cubes came the tiny Crockpot. You know the kind I’m talking about; usually they are used for warming candles or potpourri. You can buy one online (here), or if you would like the country themed (cheaper) version pick one up in a thrift store like I did (maybe you will get lucky and find one with ducks on it).
By allowing the beeswax to melt slowly you don’t have to worry about overcooking it or a big cumbersome pot. You can also let go of any worries about burning your hands because it doesn’t get as hot as your double broiler. The only negative thing I have noticed with this method is the time it takes to melt. So usually I turn on the tiny Crockpot, put the beeswax in it and get busy gathering the rest of my supplies and ingredients for the recipe. As the saying goes, a watched pot never boils!
How to: I believe you could also use either a mug warmer/ candle warmer it’s the same concept, but without sides (like this).
Once I found my Crockpot, I found a mason jar that would fit in it. Whether or not you decide to make the beeswax cubes it’s so much easier to be able to add the beeswax, and/ or coconut oil, Shea butter, etc. and then remove the mason jar from the Crockpot to add the final ingredients that do not require direct heat (such as the essential oils) before you pour your mixture into its final container(s).
If you are planning to make beeswax cubes of your own, using the tiny Crockpot method comes in handy. You have better control with your pouring and you do not need pot holders (please use your judgment here, test your melted jar of beeswax for temperature before picking it up, your Crockpot may get warmer than mine).
3.Freeze your beeswax!
Well to be honest I’m not sure if there are any benefits in freezing beeswax, but there is a huge difference in cleanup! When the recipe is finished and you have your nice new product before you, you also have the task of cleaning up the melted beeswax. Why should this be a chore?
My Solution: My mother taught me how to freeze candles to remove them from the container they are in so I could use the container for a different candle. When the candle is frozen it contracts and pulls away from the sides/ bottom of its holder. With beeswax you are working with the same concept.
How to: Place your dirty beeswax jar, into the freezer and leave to sit over night. When you go back to it in the morning you should be able to simply chip it away from the glass. Washing beeswax from a container is terrible, you end up spreading it everywhere and you have to wash the dish cloth before you can use it on anything else, ugh it’s just a mess. You can also use this method to get a product you have made out of a container if it includes beeswax, like lip-balm.
How to: While this method may be old news to some of you, if you don’t know about it already you will love this trick! For this trick you will need a clothes iron and a brown paper bag. Place the brown paper bag on your carpet where the beeswax or candle spill is then iron (on a low setting) over the brown bag. You will see the brown paper bag begin to wick the wax away from your carpet and it’s almost like magic!
I believe this sums up the beeswax tips, if you have any that I could use please leave them in the comments section below. If you would like to share this post feel free to do so, if it has helped you it will likely help someone you know! E-mail me with any other questions or concerns and as always thanks for reading!
-Kayla
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