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Since I have a large uncontrolled catnip plant and plenty of mosquitos, I am going to have to give this a try!

Grow Your Own Mosquito Repellent

CATNIP MOSQUITO SPRITZ
MAKES ABOUT 3 CUPS

* 2 cups catnip, stemmed
* 3-4 cups mild rice vinegar

Rinse herbs, roll lightly with a rolling pin, then place them in a clean quart jar and cover with vinegar. Seal jar and store in a dark cupboard for two weeks.

Shake jar lightly every day or so for two weeks. Strain into a clean jar, seal and refrigerate for up to 6 months unused.

To use, spritz on exposed skin and around outdoor dining area.

CATNIP AND ROSEMARY MOSQUITO CHASING OIL
MAKES ABOUT 2 CUPS.

* 2 cups catnip, stemmed
* 1 cup rosemary, cut in 6-inch sprigs
* 2 cups grapeseed oil or any light body-care oil

Roll herbs lightly with a rolling pin and pack into a clean jar. Cover with oil, seal jar and place in a cool, dark cupboard for two weeks.

Shake jar lightly every day or so for two weeks. Strain into a clean jar, seal and refrigerate for up to 8 months unused.

To use, rub on exposed skin.

Gonna try this soon!
Solar Box Cooker

Okay, I finally made myself a big bucket of laundry slime. I used a bar of Fels Naptha and this recipe. Although I goofed and put twice as much borax. But I figured it will just help soften the water and shouldn’t hurt anything.

The detergent makes absolutely no suds at all! I was concerned, even though I read in the posts that there would be less suds, I was worried. But the stuff cleaned Dennis’s couch blankets good! They no longer stink and are bright and clean.

I was shopping yesterday at Meijer and the lady in front of me had her own reusable shopping bags. That’s great! But…I couldn’t believe it when she mentioned to the cashier that she had paid $20 for one of them! The cashier looked up at me just as I looked up at her and all I could do was raise my eyebrows as I thought this woman must be nuts! She could buy the Meijer bags for 99 cents! Not to mention the bag she was using didn’t even have a flat bottom…

Even though I don’t work at Meijer anymore, I still shop there all the time! They have some really great reusable shopping bags. (more…)

Crochet plastic bags into something new!

Gather up all those pesky plastic shopping bags and make them into yarn – watch this video: (more…)

Good Sudless Laundry Detergent

Ingredients:
5 gallon bucket – I use the big bucket that came filled with cat litter
1 bar Fels Naptha soap, grated
1 cup Arm & Hammer washing soda (NOT baking soda)
1/2 cup borax
1 large pan
1 big spoon

Directions:
Put 4 cups water into pan and warm on the stove until its almost boiling. While it is warming, grate the soap and add to the water. Cook soap and water (but not boiling) until the soap is melted.

Put 3 gallons of hot water into the 5 gallon bucket. Then mix in the hot soapy water and stir for awhile. Add washing soda, keep stirring, add borax and stir a few minutes.

Let mixture sit overnight to cool. It should get gelatinous and will be a nice lemony color.

Use one cupful per load of laundry.

Notes:
I use the warmest water possible to wash in order to be sure the soap is dissolved and to get clothes the cleanest. This works very well on whites and light colors especially. On very dark colors, I dissolve the soap in hot water first, and then fill tub with warm to cool water.

It is a good idea to stir the soap in the big bucket before using.

This soap makes no suds at all in the wash, so don’t even look for them!

I add 1/4 cup of vinegar to a second rinse because some of us have sensitive skin and I wan’t to be sure to get all the soap out.

This recipe came from here:

How To Make Your Own Laundry Detergent – And Save Big Money
March 15, 2007 @ 10:30 am – Written by Trent