I know that a lot of us don’t like to use chemicals in the home and try to use natural ingredients whenever possible. Unfortunately, sometimes the only thing that is offered at stores when we are looking for cures for ailments or cleaning solutions are chemicals and chemically altered ingredients. Also store bought cleaners often don’t resolve problems like: markers on our white linens, vomit in the carpet, blood on all kinds of things you don’t want blood stains on, weird smells that emanate from children, pets and (shhh) husband and other household hazards raising kids creates. Here is a list of things that work, are inexpensive and make us feel good cause they don’t have anything we can’t pronounce in it.
CURE NAUSEA WITH GINGER
So, its the middle of the night and your kiddo “doesn’t feel well” the odd green tinge to their skin, the air of queasiness about them, their dull glossy eyed look alerts you to the fact that your kiddo is about to blow! Difinitely grab a garbage pail, just in case, but you can also help them quell their nausea with ginger. This easy remedy should be done ahead of time and kept in the freezer for those “don’t feel good” moments.
Take fresh ginger shave it into a pot and soak it in hot water, when the ginger has absorbed the hot water, strain it and put the ginger concoction into ice cube trays. Then freeze. When your kiddo or you are feeling nauseas take the cubes and crush them, then suck on the crushed ice, throughout the day; it will settle your stomach. This remedy is good for little kids who are too young for medicine and pregnant women. Also kids love sucking on little pieces of ice, so hopefully it will also be fun for them as well.
REMOVE SPLINTERS, POLISH SHOES, CURE BUG BITES WITH A BANANA PEEL
Who knew a banana peel had so many uses? If you are a gardener and like to tend plants, use banana peels in the soil to help fertilize. If you have one of those pesky splinters that get lodged deep within the skin, use a banana peel to draw the splinter out and help heal the wound. The enzymes in banana peels help draw out the splinter and aid the skin’s own healing process. Tape a piece of banana peel over the splinter and it will bring the splinter to the surface, you also can use the same method to remove warts.
STAIN REMOVERS
If you have kids, you have stains. The worst of these stains are usually found on nice clothes and furniture. The clothes are not so bad, unless they are OURS as we don’t grow out of ours as fast (hopefully) and we pay a lot more for them. But in my opinion stains on the furniture and carpet beat all for being the most frustrating, so here are some home remedies for stains.
INK
In all fairness to my kids, I think I have inked my own clothes more than they have, but they have done a pretty good job of inking up the couches, the walls, their clothes and skin. So the best remedy for ink stains is hairspray or rubbing alcohol. Just dab a little on a cloth and rub it out. After a few sprays of hairspray or rubs of rubbing alcohol the stains should be able to fade.
BLOOD
Another tough one is blood stains. Here are a few different things that tackle blood stains, in the event that your little one gets tackled. All you need is COLD WATER and DISH SOAP simply blot the stain in a mixture of cold water and liquid dish soap until the stain starts to fade. For tougher or dried on blood stains use COLD WATER and AMMONIA OR HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
Here is a list of other great home remedies for household uses.
MICROWAVE LEMON JUICE TO REMOVE STAINS
Mix a little water with fresh squeezed lemon juice to remove gunk in the kitchen.
ADD VINEGAR TO THE WASH TO SOFTEN CLOTHES
Add a little white vinegar to the wash to soften and deordarize clothes. Vinegar can also be diluted in water and used to mop floors, clean counters, mirrors and windows.
These are just a few of the inexpensive home remedies one can use to help avoid exposing our families to unnecessary chemicals and expensive cleaning and first aid products.
