Lavender Lemon All-Purpose Cleaner

Hello friends! Here's hoping that you had a lovely weekend!

Tonight I want to share another cleaning product recipe, this time one for all-purpose cleaner...

Credits:

I have been making my own for a long time, but it still seemed like something was missing. Then while visiting the blog "The Grocery Cart Challenge" I saw that her recipe included Borax.  Maybe that was the missing ingredient! I gave it a whirl, and I have been adding Borax to mine every since! Our recipes differ enough that I am going to go ahead and share mine {including Borax of course, thanks to Gayle} and you can find her recipe here! She has many amazing tips for cleaning on the cheap, and advice on saving money on groceries. It is an amazing blog, definitely a must-read!


Now I am all about how things smell, and  making your own cleaning products is even more fun when they include essential oils...Truly, the options are endless...everything from cinnamon to rosemary to geranium is available. And don't be afraid to mix up your scents, adding two or three different oils you like. 


Here is my all-purpose spray, made with my favorite essential oils combo...but you can substitute/add whatever oils you prefer in their place. Some oils will be stronger than others, and this is the case with the Lemon Myrtle, which is much more potent than any lavender I have tried so far. This means I just need to add less of it than I would the Lavender, and it goes further! :)


 

Lavender Lemon All-Purpose Cleaner

One tablespoon Borax
Two cups hot distilled water 
15 drops Lavender essential oil
10 drops Lemon Myrtle essential oil
Three tablespoons white vinegar
Two tablespoons rubbing alcohol {an emulsifier; helps keep the water and essential oils mixed}
One teaspoon castile soap {I use Dr. Bronner's, which can be found at Target or Super Supplements} 


 First mix the Borax and the hot water in a liquid measuring cup until dissolved. When it has cooled a little, add the rubbing alcohol and essential oils and mix these in. Add in the castile soap and white vinegar and mix the whole concoction well. Pour into your spray bottle and enjoy using! 

*Remember to shake the bottle well before each use, as even with the emulsifier added, the oils and water still tend to separate a little! 

And there you have your own homemade all-purpose cleaner, at just a fraction of the price of what you'd buy at the store! 

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a beautiful Monday!

Blessings,
Jenni

Ah, summer...

...It is so good to see you again! How I have missed you! 

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Welcome back, warm lazy days...

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and long summer evenings curled up with a good book...



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The Fourth of July...

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and meals eaten outside... 

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Here's to pie made with fresh berries...

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and glasses of cold lemonade...

 
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Hurray for time at the beach...

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And picnics in the warm sunshine...

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Hello flip flops




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and sweet, sticky popsicles

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Goodbye schoolbus

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and hello vacation!

 You see, we have our lists of things we want to do while you're here, and are going to soak up every gorgeous sunset





     and every single blissful moment...

I know it's been summer for almost two weeks now, but I still just had to do a summer post! I hope you don't mind! :)


I also hope that you are having a great week, and to my American friends, that you have a fun and very safe Independence Day! 


Much love,
Jenni

Fourth of July Banner

So how are you tonight? I hope you are doing well, and that you had a lovely weekend! 

I am already ready for another weekend ;) and so I'm looking forward to Wednesday, one of our family's favorite holidays!

And speaking of the Fourth, I thought a banner was in order:

This is my little take on a lovely flag banner 
 Sweet Bee Hollow
made last year, which was my inspiration!









I used soft denim wash for the blue, and ticking for the stripes.









When I was hanging it up, my oldest daughter told me that the word "America" could be on the banner, because there were enough flags for each letter.

I hadn't thought of that, but it did get me thinking how cute it could be to stitch the letters on the banner, if you wanted a word! I think I might have to try this!




Now if you would like to make this project you will need:


Red and white ticking
Blue denim of your choice
Lace embellishment
jute twine
stitchwitchery to bond two fabrics together
stitchwitchery {Pellon 808 Craft Fuse} to give fabric strength and body
glue gun, glue sticks
iron
sewing scissors
craft scissors


First cut your ticking rectangles in the sizes you want. I made two different sizes for mine, but you can do yours however you want. :)









Then cut the "craft fuse" stitchwitchery,  making it about a fourth of an inch wider than your ticking on all sides. With the ticking on top of the stitchwitchery, iron them on hot until fused together. {This will only take about a minute.}









Cut your denim rectangle to about half the size of your ticking rectangle, then cut your other stitchwitchery {the kind that bonds fabrics together} with a little extra on the sides and enough on the bottom for your lace.








Add your lace and cover the denim/lace with a damp cloth and iron on hot until fused.









Trim any excess off all the sides and you have a flag! 








 I glued twine to each side of each flag until they were all strung together...













...and hung it up adding a little twine bow to each side to pretty it up. :)









And there you have it, a banner to celebrate the Fourth of July!

I am linking this to Tatertots and Jello, Freckled Laundry, It's Overflowing, and Under the Table and Dreaming.


Well, that's all for me tonight! Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you each have a good night and a beautiful Monday!


Much love,
Jenni