Homemade Disinfecting Sprays Like Lysol

It's that time of year again.  Time for colds, flu, and just general crud.  Everybody is cooped up, and it's easy to spread germs and viruses.  All three of us have been sick.  I started it, and the hubster and my son now have it.  We've tried hard to wash hands, keep everything swabbed with disinfecting wipes and sprays, but somehow we still managed to pick up a bug.  

The most important thing to remember is that good old soap and water do the best job of removing germs.  The surfaces are clean, and any remaining germs or viruses can be killed with disinfectants and other sanitizing agents.  While I love disinfecting wipes, they can't get everywhere.  That's when disinfecting sprays come in handy.  They form a fine mist that gets into nooks and crannies and can be sprayed so that there is even coverage.

Most disinfecting sprays do their best job when they are allowed to sit for a few minutes.  The optimal time is 5 minutes in order to kill everything.  Unfortunately, some of those sprays are not only expensive, they stink!  No matter how they are fragranced, it seems they still smell like chemicals. Blech! 

You can make your won disinfecting sprays at home and make them suited to your liking.  There are two recipes listed below.  One is an alcohol-based disinfecting spray.  The other is a paracetic acid spray.  The alcohol-based one is easier to make, is very effective at killing the flu virus, and is reasonably safe for all surfaces.  The paracetic acid mixture is acidic and contains peroxide so is not recommended for use on items that will bleach, such as fabrics. The CDC has deemed alcohol, peroxide, iodine-based products, and detergents as suitable substances for killing the influenza virus (link HERE). 

Finally, if you can stand the smell, a simple mixture of 1 tablespoon of bleach to 1 quart water or 1/4 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water is an effective germ and virus killer.  However, it is not safe for all surfaces, and... it stinks.  

Here are some alternative recipes for homemade disinfecting spray.  

Alcohol-Based Disinfecting Spray:

1 spray bottle 

isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol 70% (the regular stuff you buy in the store)

essential oils such as tea tree oil, lavender oil, rosemary oil, or peppermint oil 

OR

1 teaspoon Lysol cleaner or other disinfecting liquid cleaner

In spray bottle put either 15-20 drops of essential oil or 1 teaspoon of disinfecting cleaner.  Fill with alcohol and insert sprayer.  Shake gently to combine.  Spray on surfaces and allow to sit until dry.  

Paracetic Acid Based Disinfecting Spray:  

1 spray bottle

1/4 cup 5% white vinegar

1/4 cup 3% peroxide 

5 drops essential oil 

(Do not use cleaner with this solution.) 

Mix ingredients and carefully pour into a spray bottle and set sprayer to fine mist.  Spritz on hard surfaces that are not easily bleached or prone to damage from liquids.  Allow to sit until dry.  

Note:  This makes a small quantity.  If you need larger amounts, adjust ingredients accordingly by using 1 part vinegar to 1 part peroxide. 

For tips on preventing flu see this post from the CDC:  http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/stopgerms.htm

Milk of Magnesia as a Makeup Primer

Why would anyone want to use a makeup primer?  Well, it helps your makeup go on smoother, lends staying power, absorbs oil, and can even help even out blemishes or uneven spots on your face.  Some are really expensive and some are midrange.  However, the least expensive and one of the best may very well be in your medicine cabinet.  It doesn't even have to be name brand, as generic works just as well.  Milk of magnesia (MOM) makes an excellent makeup primer and one small bottle can last for ages. 

I always dilute MOM slightly by applying it with a wet cotton ball.  The way you will use it depends on your skin type.  If you have dry skin, you will want to apply a moisturizer with sunscreen first and then apply the MOM over the top.  If you have oily skin, like me, you may want to apply it all over, and if you have oily skin in certain spots, you might want to just use it for those places.  

Apply the MOM then allow to dry.  If you have white splotches, just use the dampened cotton ball to swipe a little away.  Make sure your face is dry, then apply your foundation and makeup as usual.  I even carefully apply it to my eyelids, as it makes a great base/primer for eye shadow.

I tend to have oily skin.  Oftentimes, if I don't wear some type of oil absorbing something or other, my makeup will have practically faded away by the end of the day.  I use the MOM for makeup staying power.  

How often to use this is up to you.  Some people have said it has actually helped their complexion by absorbing oil and smoothing skin tone.  I have also seen some people say that if they use this and wear it for a very long time it can cause breakouts, so try it to see how it works for you.  

My personal experience has been that it provides an excellent base for makeup, allowing it to go on smoother.  It's helped my oily skin problem, and my makeup has been fresh and pretty at the end of the day.  It's easy to obtain, inexpensive, and it can help provide flawless makeup application. 

Easy Deep Conditioner for Hair

Olive oil is known for its benefits as a food substance because it is flavorful and is known to help lower cholesterol.  It is also terrific as a topical application for skin and hair.  I love making this easy conditioner recipe listed below and using it a couple of times a week for a deep conditioning hair treatment.

Olive oil is biologically closest to sebum, which is the oil naturally produced by our bodies.  Why don't we just leave the natural oils there?  Well, that sounds great, but unfortunately sweat, bacteria, and skin cells tend to collect in the oils present on our body, so it's necessary for us to take a shower or bath, grab our favorite soap, and get squeaky clean.  Unfortunately, soap tends to strip those natural oils and can sometimes leave us with overly dry skin or hair.  That's where conditioners and lotions come in.

This is another beauty tip that was given to me by my brother.  Use this 2-3 times a week (or less, depending on your hair).  Keep it in the shower for easy use, and make sure that you blow dry your hair afterwards to help the conditioner "set."  Otherwise, you may seem to have an oily residue on your hair. 

OLIVE OIL DEEP CONDITIONER:

1 bottle of inexpensive conditioner, your choice

1 teaspoon of olive oil per 8 oz. of conditioner

(Example:  If your bottle is 12 oz., you will need 1-1/2 teaspoons of olive oil.  If it is 16 oz., you will need 2 teaspoons of olive oil, and so on.)

Open the conditioner and squirt out just enough to give you some "shaking room" in the bottle.  Add the olive oil, and shake for 1 minute. Store the conditioner in the shower or wherever you wash your hair.  Apply liberally to freshly shampooed hair and allow to sit for 2-3 minutes.  Try to keep away from scalp.  Rinse well, then blow dry.  Blow drying is a MUST in order for the conditioner to set. 

That's it!  This conditioner will leave your hair silky smooth and well conditioned without spending a ton of money! 

Best Homemade Stain Remover

Ever been tempted to throw away a perfectly good article of clothing just because it has a stain?  There are times when clothes get grungy looking, or you find yellow armpit stains, or there is a ring-around-the-collar issue.  Maybe you dropped a dollop of tomato sauce on your favorite white shirt.  Or maybe you have a grease stain on that pretty turquoise blouse.  Rather than buying expensive stain removers, you might have everything you need right in your kitchen cabinets. 

I had seen this post at One Good Thing by Jillee for armpit stain remover.  It works great for whites and takes out more than yellowed armpit stains.  BUT, if you have colored clothing, hydrogen peroxide is not the ideal thing as peroxide can bleach colors.  Never fear!  There are alternative solutions.  

Here is the recipe for the original stain remover for white clothing:

• original blue Dawn dish soap
• hydrogen peroxide 
• baking soda

Mix the Dawn dish soap and baking soda to form a paste.  Using an old toothbrush or other type of brush, work the Dawn/baking soda mixture into the stain.  Let it sit for a bit.  Then saturate the area with hydrogen peroxide.  This will bubble like crazy.  Allow this to sit, again, for about 10-15 minutes.  Throw in the washing machine with other whites and launder on the hottest setting the fabric can tolerate.  Stains should be gone.  

I also keep a mixture of equal parts Dawn and peroxide in an opaque spray bottle to use as a pretreatment prior to washing.  An opaque bottle is important, as peroxide begins to break down or deteriorate if exposed to light.  That's why it comes in a dark brown bottle in the store.  

Now, for the color-fast stain remover!

Color-fast stain remover: 

• original blue Dawn dish soap
• white vinegar
• baking soda

Make a paste with the Dawn and baking soda.  Using a toothbrush or other bristled brush, work into the stain.  Allow to sit for about 10-15 minutes.  Once time is up, saturate stained area with white vinegar.  This will bubble considerably.  Once bubbling has stopped, launder clothing as directed.  

There you have it!  These are two inexpensive and easy ways to get stains out of clothing without resorting to expensive laundry pretreatments at the store! 

Broke Food - Quesadillas

It's down to the wire, payday's tomorrow, and you surf the fridge looking for something to eat.  The pickings might be slim.  Except.... you have a tortilla, some cheese, and a tiny package of leftover salsa from a fast food drive-through.  That's all you need!  You have all the ingredients for a quesadilla! 

I like the fold-over quesadilla method, but some like to make their quesadillas with two tortillas.  Since this is broke food (i.e., cheap, yummy, filling, and made from what you have on hand), we'll go with whatever you have in your fridge and cupboard.  Here is what I had, but see the recipe below to make a basic quesadilla: 

Basic Cheese Quesadilla

Ingredients:

Tortillas (flour or corn; both work fine, but I prefer flour)

Shredded cheese or cheese slices, any kind

Butter, oil, Pam, or nonstick surface frying pan 

Whatever condiments you have in your fridge

Place butter or oil in a frying pan and allow to heat.  Make sure the surface of the frying pan is covered with the fat of choice. (If you're using a nonstick pan, skip this step, but I do prefer some type of fat to help the quesadilla brown on the outside.)  Place tortilla in the pan and allow it to heat well for about a minute.  Place cheese on 1/2 of the tortilla and allow to heat for a minute or two more.  Fold the tortilla over the cheese and press down gently with a spatula so that the tortilla touches the cheese and the cheese smooshes.  Allow to heat through for another second or two, and then remove the quesadilla to a plate. 

Slice into triangles and serve with any extra condiments you have in your fridge. I hoard salsa and sauce packets from fast food restaurants.  The salsa served with this was from my son's order from Taco Bueno 2 days ago, but I also have a love affair with Taco Bell's Fire Sauce. (Restaurants around here have a taco fixation, apparently, because we also have a Taco Mayo!)

If you have any extra proteins or veggies, you can add those to the quesadilla.  Ideas include: 

• Leftover shredded chicken or beef
• Cut up green onions or diced onions
• Diced/sliced green peppers
• Jalapenos
• Diced bits of deli meat, such as chicken, turkey, or ham
• Olives 
• Guacamole (for a dip, or add it with the cheese if you don't mind it heated up)
• Refried beans 

These are easy to whip out, and they're filling.  This was always what my grandmother made for me if I went to her house after school because it was easy for her to fix, and they were yummy!

Using what you have on hand can also make for some interesting combinations and use up small bits of leftovers that may be languishing in the fridge.  Put them with a little cheese, tortilla, and heat, then enjoy!  

Broke Food - Microwave Scrambled Eggs with Veggies or Heuvos Rancheros

A couple of mornings ago, I was starving, and there wasn't a whole lot in the fridge that was ready to eat.  I hadn't been to the grocery store in a while, and it looked like it was going to be a couple of days before I could make a trip.  

I spotted a carton of eggs and some salsa and knew what I wanted.  I just didn't want to have to take the time to get out a bunch of pots and pans and get them dirty.  

Microwave to the rescue!  I quickly gathered my supplies, and within 5 minutes had a hearty breakfast that was flavorful, spicy, and easy. Normally, any self-respecting southern girl would gasp at not cooking your eggs in butter and a cast iron skillet.  However, I just needed to get to work and fast, without having to listen to a growling belly.  

On a side note, I know that most huevos rancheros are made with fried eggs sunny side up; however, since we're doing this quickly, we had all the components, just a slightly different technique.  

I don't care for tortillas in the morning (yes, I'm weird), so I usually pop a couple of slices of toast in the toaster while I'm microwaving the eggs.  And yes, that's a foam plate.  Did I mention I was in a hurry and didn't want to get dishes dirty?  Ha!   This is also a great way to use up those little tiny packets or containers of salsa you receive with fast food and stick in your fridge!

Microwave Scrambled Eggs with Veggies/Huevos Rancheros 

Pam or other oil

2 eggs

2 tablespoons of milk 

Salt and Pepper 

Spray the inside of a large coffee mug with Pam or lightly grease it with oil.  Crack the 2 eggs into the mug and add the milk, salt, and pepper.  Using a fork, scramble the eggs well.  Microwave on high for approximately 45 seconds.  Remove, stir eggs well, and return to microwave and cook for another 1 minute of time.  Remove the mug from the microwave and immediately dump eggs onto a plate.  Use a fork to break up and distribute scrambled eggs. 

For omelet style scrambled eggs, top with chopped onion, peppers, bits of bacon or ham, cheese, and other goodies.  Use what you have in the fridge.  Leftover stir fried veggies are great heated up and spooned over these eggs.

For huevos rancheros style, top the eggs with shredded cheese and spicy salsa.  Roll into flour tortilla or serve alongside buttered toast.  You could even add refried beans or chili, if you can stomach it first thing in the morning.  Otherwise, it also makes a great evening meal. 

There you have it!  Easy, quick, inexpensive, and satisfying! 

Broke Food - Lentil Chili

Lentil chili may be listed as a "broke food," but realistically it is very tasty, an excellent source of protein, and it's very filling and satisfying, especially on a cold and blustery day. 

I make this at least once a month, if not more, and each time I'm reminded how great it tastes.  Since lentils cook quickly, this is an easy chili to make when you're needing a large, hearty meal.  It's excellent with crusty bread, cornbread, toast, and is equally satisfying served over rice or with noodles.  I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!

Lentil Chili

1-1/4 Cups dry lentils (approximately 1/2 pound)

4 cups water

2 tablespoons oil or bacon grease

1-2 Tablespoons dried minced onions

3 beef bouillon cubes (use vegetable bouillon for a truly vegetarian meal)

15 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chiles like Ro-Tel

1 small can tomato paste

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

2 teaspoons chili powder

Dash of hot pepper flakes or Tabasco sauce

1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Another 2 cups of water (possibly)

In a large pot, heat lentils and water.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to low, cover with lid slightly tipped to vent steam, and simmer.  Cook for 30 minutes.  Do not drain. If the lentils look dry as they cook, add water in 1/4 cup increments.  Lentils should still have some liquid after cooking time.  After lentils have cooked, add remaining ingredients. Assess thickness of chili and add water as needed.  Simmer for 15-20 minutes or more.  Serve with rice, cornbread, toast, or noodles. 

Scouring Powder Alternative

We all know there are things that just need a good scrubbing or scouring sometimes.  This is an alternative to the harsh scouring powders that contain bleach (Comet, Ajax, etc.).  It's simply blue Dawn dish soap and baking soda.  Honestly, there aren't too many things that I haven't used Dawn and baking soda to clean.  There will be more of those in later posts, but for now, we'll start with this.  

In order to make your own scouring alternative, using a damp sponge or soft cloth.  Squirt a little Dawn on the sponge or cloth, then sprinkle with baking soda and scrub the surface.  Scrub as you would with a scouring powder, then rinse thoroughly with water.

This works great for things like the bath tub, shower tiles, kitchen sink, counter tops, and I have even used it as cleaner to get bug splats off the front of my car without scratching the paint.  I have been told that it is also acceptable for cleaning flat-topped stoves, though I have not tried it myself, so use at your own risk. 

While it will not necessarily bleach stains, it will remove any substances that are stuck on and does a great job of dissolving oils and soap scum left behind in showers. I like to use it on my stovetop to get the tough, baked-on spills left after cooking.  

It leaves a fresh, clean scent.  It is nontoxic.  It's "green."  It won't hurt septic systems.  It's readily available whenever you need it, and it's economical.  It also cleans great, and is nowhere near as expensive as other scouring powders!

Broke Food - German Pancake

German pancake, Big Egg, Missionary Pancake, Dutch baby... these are all names for this simple, scrumptious, and filling recipe. It seems that every ethnicity has a version of this recipe, and they all contain the same basic 4 ingredients.  This is very is easy to whip together, and makes a yummy breakfast or even dessert.  

When baking, this resembles a cross between a pancake and souffle.  It puffs up and rises during baking, but then when removed from the oven flattens into a shape that can be cut.  

This can be eaten sliced like a pizza and sprinkled with powdered sugar or served with fresh fruit.  Our favorite way to eat it is with syrup, as it is not a sweet bread and has a very light texture when eaten with syrup or honey.  

Here's the recipe I use.  

German Pancake

2 Tbsp. butter or margarine (prefer butter but margarine is OK)

3 eggs whipped until frothy*

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup milk 

Place butter in a 8 or 9 inch pie pan and place into a cold oven.  Turn oven to 400 degrees.  This allows the butter to melt in the pan and for the pan to heat up, as well.  

Whip eggs until frothy (see note below).  Add in milk and flour, and mix until smooth.  Remove pan from oven and pour batter into hot buttered pan.  Place back in the oven and cook at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes.  

Remove and slice into sections.  Serve with syrup, honey, powdered sugar, or fresh fruit in syrup.  

*NOTE:  An easy way to do this is to just place all the ingredients into either a blender or food processor and process for about 30 seconds.  You want a frothy, bubbly consistency to the batter.  Then pour into the hot buttered pan and cook as above. 

Get More Out of Your Disposable Razor

Denim and disposable razors?  One of these things is not like the other.  That is because an old pair of jeans can be used to extend the life of your disposable razors!

Normally, when you shave, you do so in a downward motion, pulling the razor across your skin, and the hair is shaved off at the skin surface.  This works great for a close shave, but eventually your razor begins to do more harm than good, and it gets tossed.  The reason is tiny burs and nicks form on the edge of the razor blades, and eventually they will not cut as closely and sometimes won't cut at all. 

There is a method that can extend the life of your razor for quite a long period of time.  Once your razor is starting to lose its ability to provide a close shave, then you can use this method to restore its sharpness. 

How?

You will need an old pair of jeans or a length of denim.  It doesn't have to be fancy.  We like Gillette Razors Gillette Custom Plus Disposable Razor - 52 ct. - Shaving & Hair (Google Affiliate Ad)  and Bic Soleil Razors. 

Use this method:  You will PUSH the razor up the leg of the pant about 10 times, and then turn your hand around and PUSH the razor down the leg of the jeans 10 times.  This is the exact opposite motion you normally do when you shave.  Apply just enough pressure to have the blades touch the surface firmly but not enough that the center of the blades bend.   

You may repeat this process any time you need a sharp edge for your razor.  This even works for the razors with the smoothing strip across the top.

We've been able to extend the life of our razors 3 months.  This is particularly true for the disposable cartridge type razors such as the Mach 3 and Fusion types.  Even if you choose to not take this to the extreme of 3 months, it will get you a close enough shave until you can purchase more razors!

Freezer to Crock Pot Cooking

A month or two ago I discovered freezer to crock pot cooking, and it has been life changing for me.

I tend to be on the frugal side and believe in trying to conserve resources any way possible. Some would call me a tightwad. I just call it being innovative.

Freezer to crock pot cooking appealed to me because I could prepare meals ahead of time, freeze them, and then the day I needed them, dump them in the crock pot and go. My family and I could come home to a hot meal that didn't require a lot of effort.

I check my local grocery store, Homeland, weekly to see what deals they have. Last week I found hamburger meat marked down, and I bought it!!

Now it was time to come up with some things to make.

Some meats can be frozen raw with recipes, but generally hamburger meat cannot because of the fat content. The meat must be cooked first and then added to recipes. Using the freezer to crock pot method, I looked at some recipes and decided to make them crock pot friendly.

I made:
 Two batches of tater tot casserole base.
 One batch of Mexican casserole base.
Two batches of taco meat.
One batch of Italian-seasoned meat.

I froze the remaining meat to be used for hamburger patties in the future.

My next few posts will provide the recipes for the above casseroles.