DIY | Prudent and Practical

July 7, 2009

How to Compost and What to Put in It

Filed under: DIY — Tags: gardening, home, natural — K @ 12:08 AM

Now that you have your compost bins, what do you do with it? D and I keep a small lidded trash can and fill it during the week. You could also use a bucket – our dogs became fascinated with it, so we had to use something with a lid! If it gets full we dump it on the compost. When we have time on the weekend, we flip it to incorporate the new material.

Good things to put in a compost

Fruit and vegetable peelings and leaves
tea leaves/ tea bags and coffee grounds
leaves
grass clippings
soft prunings (not the hardwood kind because it takes forever to compost)
young weeds (those with seed, or about to set seed, should be disposed of in the garbage)
cow and horse manures
ash (from open fireplaces)
hair and nails
vacuum cleaner contents (however, synthetic carpet will not break down)
shredded newspapers/paper/mail, paper towels/napkins/tissues, and cardboard
if you want to speed up the composting process, you can add a fertilizer high in nitrogen
For some interesting things to put in your compost, visit the WebEcoist’s article on composting
For 163 things you can compost, see PlanTea’s list
The below photo is what our compost bins look like before we flip them.

Do not put this stuff in a compost bin

Animal products – meat, fish, chicken, bones, dairy products & cooking oils
Non-living things such as plastics, bottle tops, food wrappers, metals etc
Diseased plants
Fruit fly infested fruit
Pet and human droppings – if you’re interested in composting this stuff, look for the Pet Poo Converter (or make a poo composter) or get a composting toilet.

Ratio for fastest composting

1 part greens to 2 parts browns
Browns are those things that are dry to the touch – crunchy autumn leaves, paper products
Greens are those things that are fresh or have a higher moisture content – grass clippings, kitchen scraps

An added bonus!

When flipping the compost, you’ll notice a lot of worms! I still get a little squeamish around them, but they do very good things for the soil. They break down the compost and then spread nutrient rich castings (worm poo) wherever they go!

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March 30, 2009

A Natural Way to Clean Animal Urine?

Filed under: DIY — Tags: cleaning, home, natural — K @ 9:15 AM

My husband and I have five kids… not human kids (yet), but little furry kids. Three cats and two dogs to be exact. All but one cat were rescued. Both dogs came from neglectful homes. The dachsie was kenneled all the time and the spaniel was left outside all the time – neither were appropriately potty trained. So, even though most days they are good, the dogs still have accidents inside. Our youngest cat had a urinary tract infection when we rescued her and found a close corner to relieve herself – cat urine is one of a kind and I still haven’t been able to get rid of the unique smell.

I feel the need to back myself up here. Our house is clean and smells fine. It’s just that when you lay down to watch a movie or sit down to do laundry, you can sometimes smell the faint aroma. The smell that our insensitive human noses cannot detect is more than enough to keep our little furry babies coming back to a particular spot.

A few months back, I saw an episode of the British show “How Clean is Your House?” with Kim and Aggie. On camera they use a lot of natural cleaners to help those pitifully disgusting homes. A woman had rescued a cat and then failed (that’s an understatement) to clean up after it. I was elated when they stated they had a cure for cat urine. Their elixir called for warm water, biologicals, and surgical spirits. The latter two took a bit of research because no one in my area had heard of those two ingredients.

Ingredients:

A bowl of warm water
Biologicals. In the states these are known as “digestive enzymes.” Yes, the same kind you find in the pharmacy for digestive problems. I picked up a bottle of 60 capsules for about $5 from my local grocery pharmacist. The capsules contain a 220mg proprietary blend of: protease, amylase, lipase, cellulose, sucrose, maltase, and lactose.
Surgical spirits. This liquid goes by many names: methanol alcohol, methylated spirits, or Meths. In the states this is the same thing as “denatured alcohol” and can be found at a hardware store near the paint removers. It’s also used as a gas for smaller burners such as fondue pots. It’s straight alcohol that’s got a little methanol in it to keep it from being labeled as a food product which would mean much higher taxes. Mine has “less than 4% methanol” in it.

Instructions:

Sop up any wet stain with a sucking device or paper towel.
Pour biologicals/enzymes into a bowl of warm water. I used about 4 cups of water. I opened 5 caplets and poured the powder into the warm water until it was cloudy.
Brush the mixture into the stain.
Pour surgical spirits on and let dry. There’s a warning on the container not to “rub” as it may cause a spark and ignite, so please be careful when dabbing.

While visiting a different local grocery store pharmacist, I asked about digestive enzymes. I specifically mentioned that I would be using them to clean urine. The pharmacist had a couple items behind the counter. Granted they were much more expensive – $17-$30 for 30 pills, but I assume they were also much more concentrated.

Some other items we have tried:

UrineOff
UrineGone
Resolve
Kid’s and Pets
Vinegar
Baking soda
Pet cleaner and stain remover (the stuff made for steam cleaners and SpotBot’s)
I’ve also read good things about Nature’s Miracle but haven’t tried it yet

I think the main key to cleaning up pet urine is to get it sucked up and cleaned up while it’s still fresh. This helps with some of the smell and definitely helps with stains. I received a SpotBot for my birthday over two years ago and we still use it often. One thing to remember when cleaning urine is to never use straight ammonia or products containing ammonia (cleaning solutions, window cleaners, and floor waxes) to clean it. What is urine made out of? Ammonia among other things, which will attract your pet back to the spot!

So……… I’m sure you’re all wondering if this works after I gave you all of this back story and information. The short answer is no. Although it did get out the stain, the following day it failed my nose-to-the-floor sniff. I also tried it on some cat barf. The enzymes literally melted it, which is great! The long answer is: I think it has great potential. Being a naturally curious person, I can’t help but wonder about different factors. Did I use too little enzymes? The recipe told on tv did not say what blend of enzymes in what amount was used. Would more potent enzyme caplets do better? Do I need to repeat the process? Having read a lot about both chemical and natural urine remedies, many pet owners find that with repeat applications, the smell goes away.

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March 25, 2009

DIY Laundry Supplies Part 2: Fabric Softener

Filed under: DIY — Tags: cleaning, DIY, health, home — K @ 7:15 PM

When making laundry detergent, there are three basic ingredients that are the same across the board. Pretty much everybody agrees on a bar of soap, washing soda, and borax. With homemade fabric softener however, there are so many different ways to make it. Some of the different ingredients suggested are vinegar, baking soda, hair conditioner, distilled water, aluminum foil, and essential oils. Homemade fabric softener is much cheaper than those you buy in the store, has no toxins (unless you use conditioner), and is eco friendly – a great idea all around!

Baking soda is a natural fabric softener
Vinegar is a natural fabric softener and anti-static liquid. It removes soap residue and makes towels more absorbent.
Commercial fabric softener makes your towels less absorbent over time.
Distilled water has far fewer contaminants and minerals than tap water

Googling “DANGERS OF FABRIC SOFTENERS AND DRYER SHEETS” brings up 28,000 pages! I had no idea… except that the smell chokes me when I use them.

According to SixWise, there are many toxic chemicals found in fabric softeners and dryer sheets:

Benzyl acetate: Linked to pancreatic cancer

Benzyl Alcohol: Upper respiratory tract irritant

Ethanol: On the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Hazardous Waste list and can cause central nervous system disorders

A-Terpineol: Can cause respiratory problems, including fatal edema, and central nervous system damage

Ethyl Acetate: A narcotic on the EPA’s Hazardous Waste list

Camphor: Causes central nervous system disorders

Chloroform: Neurotoxic, anesthetic and carcinogenic

Linalool: A narcotic that causes central nervous system disorders

Pentane: A chemical known to be harmful if inhaled

And now on to the recipes!!!

Liquid Fabric Softener Substitutes

***The recipe I tried out was equal parts water, vinegar, and baking soda – 2 cups each. I shook it before using and then poured into my softener ball a little past the fill line. My towels came out hotel-linen fresh!

#1 1/4 cup to 1 cup white vinegar

#2 Liquid Detergent: Makes 15 1-Cup Servings

Ingredients and Tools:

1 cup baking soda
6 cups distilled white vinegar
8 cups water
10-15 drops essential oils (optional)
1 gallon plastic container (clean milk or vinegar container)

Instructions:

Add the baking soda to the container.
Add 1 cup of water.
Slowly add the vinegar to the container (careful: it’ll fizz!).
Add the rest of the water and mix/shake/swirl. You will need to take off the lid to release the pressure a few times.
OPTIONAL: Add the essential oil.
TO USE: Give the container a good shake and then add 1 cup in your final rinse cycle/Downy ball/fabric softener holder for each load.

#3 2 cups white vinegar+2 cups baking soda+4 cups water… combine/shake. Use 1/4 cup in final rinse or Downy ball.

#4 6 cups water+3 cups vinegar+2 cups cheap conditioner… shake before using. Use 1/4 cup per load.

Sheet Fabric Softener Substitutes

#1 A ball or two of aluminum foil tossed in the dryer neutralizes the charges that build up due to friction between drying/tumbling clothes.

#2 Homemade Dryer “Sheets” – Warning: this recipe uses store bought fabric softener
Ingredients:
2-3 cups water
1 cup liquid fabric softener
Large sponge cut in half

Instructions:
Combine the liquids. Place both sponge pieces in the mixture until needed. When ready to use, squeeze out excess liquid from one piece and place in dryer with clothes. Place sponge back in mix when done to be used for next load.

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March 23, 2009

35 Uses for Vinegar

Filed under: DIY — Tags: cleaning, DIY, home, kitchen — K @ 4:41 PM

In conjunction with a previous article on the natural wonder of vinegar, I went on a search for the many uses of it. Many of the following ideas we use here at home. I have not tried any of the health related uses, but am curious to see if they work. Vinegar is a natural alternative to synthetic cleaners and disinfectants, conditioners, and fabric softeners. There are many uses for it, but most people know that it can be used for cleaning and for making “volcanoes.” In the following tips, when I refer to vinegar, I’m referring to “white” vinegar. Apple cider vinegar will stain porous materials, so please be careful.

Clean soap scum, mildew, and grime from bathtub, tile, and shower curtains with vinegar. Simply wipe the surface with vinegar and rinse with water.
Unscrew the shower head, remove the rubber washer, and place the head in a pot of equal parts vinegar and water. Bring to a boils and simmer for five minutes.
Clean your toilet by pouring in one cup of vinegar. Let it stand for five minutes and then flush.
Have a spray bottle of straight vinegar ready when you need to clean your windows, then wipe clean with a soft cloth. I think you can also use newspaper.
Use vinegar as a stain fighter. Apply directly to the stain and then wash as usual.
Clean food stains off of clothes by using a mix of two teaspoons dish soap and two teaspoons vinegar per two quarts warm water. Lightly wash and then blot up before washing.
Clean baked on food with vinegar. Simply pour vinegar in the pot/pan and let sit for at least 30 minutes. Then wash as usual.
Clean drains… pour baking soda down the drain followed by vinegar (yay for a fun chemical reaction!). When the fizzling stops, rinse with hot water.
Use equal parts of baking soda, vinegar, and water for a homemade fabric softener. Only use the fabric softener balls when using this recipe.
Clean your automatic drip coffee pot by filling the reservoir with vinegar and running it through the brew cycle. Rinse with two cycles of cold water. Do this once per month to get rid of buildup.
If you have dentures, you can soak them overnight in vinegar and then brush them off in the morning.
If you have cows, clean milking equipment with un-perfumed soap followed by a vinegar rinse. And since vinegar is a natural disinfectant, it lowers the bacteria count.
Clean up pet stains with vinegar.
Clean your washing machine once per month by pouring a cup of vinegar and running the machine one cycle (without clothes).
Mixing one tablespoon vinegar to water when mixing plaster will slow the drying time.
Soak rusty items in vinegar overnight.
You can prevent eggs from cracking during hard-boiling if you add 2 tablespoons of vinegar per quart of water. The shells also peel off better with this method.
Propane lanterns can burn long and brighter by soaking new wicks in vinegar for several hours and then letting them dry before using.
Use vinegar as a sticker/decal remover. Soak a cloth in vinegar and cover the bumper sticker for several minutes until the vinegar soaks in. The sticker should peel off easily.
Prevent ice from forming on a car windshield overnight with vinegar. Coat the window with a solution of three parts white vinegar or apple cider vinegar to one part water.
Vinegar is a great air freshener. It can be sprayed full strength into a room or placed in small dishes near the offending odor. It can also be placed in small places such as lunch boxes – if a small dish doesn’t fit, use a vinegar-soaked napkin or cloth. You can also boil one tablespoon per one cup of water to get rid of kitchen odors.
Vinegar is acidic. You can occasionally water (acidic soil loving plants) with a mix of 2 tablespoons per one quart of water.
Along the same lines… if you over water with vinegar, you may kill plants. Pour some straight vinegar down sidewalk and driveway cracks to get rid of weeds.
Vinegar can also help prolong the life of your floral arrangements. Add 2 tablespoons vinegar and 3 tablespoons sugar per quart of warm water.
Some insects such as ants, can be repelled by spraying equal parts vinegar and water around where they try to enter your house.
Before each meal, drink a glass of water with two teaspoons apple cider vinegar to relieve arthritis pain. It may take a few weeks to notice a difference.
Relieve cold symptoms by mixing equal parts of apple cider vinegar and honey. Take one tablespoon every couple of hours.
You just might be able to cure your hiccups by drinking a mix of one teaspoon apple cider vinegar in one cup warm water.
Drinking one teaspoon apple cider vinegar in one-half cup of water may help to quiet an upset stomach.
Dab bug bites and sunburns with vinegar to sooth the pain.
Add a couple teaspoons to your humidifier to help soothe a sore throat.
Vinegar can also help prevent yeast infections by adjusting a woman’s pH balance. Douche with one tablespoon vinegar to one quart warm water.
Vinegar can be used as (hair) conditioner. Use either a mix of 1 cup apple cider vinegar to two cups water OR 2 cups vinegar to 2 cups water. This adds highlights to brown hair, restores acids, and removes soap and oils.
For the kids… soak small bones (for example, chicken) in vinegar for a few days. It will have turned into “rubber!”
Also for the kids… make the traditional “volcano” with baking soda and vinegar.

Making your own vinegar…

Vinegar can be made from about any sugary/starchy substance that can be fermented to ethyl alcohol. This includes molasses, sorghum syrup, fruits, berries, melons, coconut, honey, maple syrup potatoes, beets, malt, grains, and whey. The oldest way to make vinegar is to leave wine made from fruit juce in an open container, allowing microorganisms in the air to convert the ethyl alchol to acetic acid (aka vinegar). Vinager literally means “sour wine” in French (vin + aigre). If this is something you are interested in, check out the Vinegar Man’s page on how to make vinegar.

If you have a new way to use vinegar, I’d love to hear what worked and what didn’t. See you later!

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March 9, 2009

Cheap and Easy Tool and Craft Storage Made with Stuff You Already Have

Filed under: DIY — Tags: crafts, DIY, free, home improvement, projects, saving money — K @ 5:00 AM

When we moved into our house three years ago, we acquired a lot of extra wood and screws. Add to this the plethora of peanut butter, jelly, pickle, marinara, and baby food jars we have lying around. With a little creativity and only a few tools, I managed to find a solution to both of the above problems.

Tools:

Jars – all shapes and sizes are fine (I used a peanut butter jar this time)
Scrap wood – I used 6″x18″ approximately, but you can choose the size depending on your need
Screws – to fit the depth of the wood and also to hang up the storage
Hammer
Screwdriver

Instructions:

Gather materials.
Grab a jar lid and screw. Hammer the screw threw the center of the lid to poke a hole in it.
Place the jar lid where you want to attach it to the wood, then screw the lid onto the wood.
Screw the jar onto the lid… voila! Storage!
When adding more lids to the wood, leave an inch or two between them, so you have room to grasp the jars.
This could be decorated and hung on the wall for craft storage.
Or hung on the ceiling in the shop.
I made one and then my husband made one!

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