Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Who Loves The Earth?

I have made several Earth friendly recipes this Spring.  First, I decided rather than buy Hummingbird Nectar, I will make it myself.  Very easy.

Hummingbird Nectar

1cup sugar to 4 cups of water.  Bring to a slow boil.  This will take impurities out of the water.  Keep the nectar refrigerated.  This can last for two weeks refrigerated.

**Do not put red dye in the feeder.**  If you have a feeder, the Hummingbirds will find it without the water being red.  The dye is not good for the birds. 

Very important to change and clean your Hummingbird feeder every few days.  Today when I checked my feeder it had mildew growing.  It had only been three days since I cleaned it out.  If you are buying a feeder, get one that has a perch.  It is so much easier to see the birds when they are sitting still to drink the nectar.  They really are such an amazing little bird!!

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Normally, I am able to talk Uncle (pay) into scrubbing my kitchen floor on his hands and knees.  My floors are laminate.  He uses plain water.  Does not put too much on the floor.  Water + Laminate = Warping

The other day I was looking at Earth Friendly cleaners and found a recipe for Laminate Floors.

1 Cup Water
1 Cup Vinegar
1 Cup Isopropyl Alcohol
2-3 drops of dish soap  (I use Dawn)
10-15 drops of a scent

Put it in a spray bottle.  Mist the floor.  Wipe with a Swiffer Cloth.  Go with the grain.  This did a so-so job.  I think I like having Uncle clean the floors better.

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Shower Cleaner

Equal parts of Dawn & White Vinegar & Water in Spray Bottle.  Spray on shower, wipe off.  Awesome!!!

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Anything that is made with Dawn is really not considered chemical free.  In my world it is!  Much better than using bleach and harsh chemicals.

I heard that straight vinegar is a great chemical free weed killer.  I have tried this several times.  Not really seeing it work. 

I made liquid detergent for clothes.  It worked fine.  Not sure it is worth the time. 

It is almost like I am Pioneer Woman with the ability to Google.  Instead of a cattle farm, I work at an insurance farm.  Do not wait for my cookbook or cooking show.  Watching me pull up to a drive through window is not good television on the Food Network.

5 comments:

Munchkin said...

hahahaha, your last sentence is funny

Unknown said...

Munchkin - I'm very funny!

Anonymous said...

I would disagree, Page Turner. Guy made it big time on the Food Network with Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. Your time will come...

I tried the homemade powder laundry detergent. Lasted four months, cost me $20. The hardest, most time consuming part was shredding the bar of soap. I think I'm converted.

-The Mrs.

Unknown said...

Mrs. - I might have to give the laundry detergent a try again. I did not do powder. I went with the liquid detergent.

Millhouse said...

one cup of vinegar in your dishwasher, run empty works better than Dishwasher Magic.
LOVE vinegar in cleaning. also good on pet odors & sanitizing (children's toys come to mind in my house)