ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY HOME RECIPES!-FREE

Although many of these recipes are more environmentally friendly than many toxic chemicals, some of them are very harsh and poisonous, and can cause serious harm from handling them, or breathing their vapours - In EVERY case, these homemade products should be made or used only by competent adults.

 WARNING!!!

 NEVER EVER MIX CHLORINE, SUCH AS CHLORINE BLEACH, WITH AMMONIA - YOU'LL PRODUCE DEADLY CYANIDE GAS- BOTH ARE COMMONLY FOUND CLEANING PRODUCTS - YET INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS - AND POTENTIALLY LETHAL - WHEN MIXED! 

About the information found here:

 THERE MAY BE SIMILAR RECIPES HERE, or ones that will accomplish similar deeds, it's up to you to choose the one most suited to your needs. If one recipe doesn't seem as effective as you would like, try another, that's why they are here, to give you a good cross section and choice.

Many of the products such as corn starch, 20 mule team borax, washing soda, etc, will have home recipes on the packages they come in. As well, many of the producers of these products also have free booklets available, free of charge, which outline many more uses of their product. Don't be hesitant in writing to them for these free-bees! 

In college, we learned that chlorine is normally added to drinking water after the water has been clarified, and sediment dropped out of the water. This is done because chlorine, when introduced to organic matter, produces halomethanes, and trihalomethanes, which are chemicals known to be very potent carcinogens. Carcinogens are agents which cause cancer(s). By clarifying the water before adding the chlorine, there will be less halomethanes or trihalomethanes produced, and resultant in our drinking water. Good stuff right? Well, then, most municipalities, using government standards, pump in enough chlorine into the water, to leave what is known as residual chlorine in the water, which is then pumped into the water system (our tap water). This residual chlorine is to prevent future infection of noxious or toxic bacteria causing harm later on in the water system. Water that enters the water system may not be used by consumers for several weeks, and in some cases longer, so they need this added protection right? You and I then use the water, drawing a nice cold glass of water from the tap, and drink heavily, with meals and at any time at all. Indeed, we are told to drink up eight glassfuls of water per day to keep healthy. What exactly do you think your body is made up of. Yes, we have a high moisture content, and the remaining is ORGANIC MATTER, now what exactly do you think the residual chlorine is doing in your body? Could it be causing halomethanes, or perhaps trihalomethanes, the carcinogens mentioned earlier in this discussion? It will be argued in defence of chlorine residual, that this (residual) is less threatening than cholera, dysentery, or the host of other potentially deadly organisms that used to wipe out human populations en mass only a century ago. This is right, and I don't dispute the fact that chlorine is likely helping keep us healthy, and the balance of producing more good than bad may come into play here. I maintain though, lets not press our luck, and use chlorine indiscrimanently at every opportunity. Let's cut its usage down to only that usage that is absolutely necessary, and not expose ourselves to it any more than the bare minimum required to kill the noxious cooties in our drinking water. Too, lets pressure governments to seek out other methods of water treatment. 

IT'S EASY TO ELIMINATE CHLORINE FROM YOUR DRINKING WATER - AND CHEAPLY - HERE'S HOW

Here are two ways to eliminate chlorine from drinking water. 

Use one of the activated carbon filters on the market; replace filters when required. The kind that has gained popularity over the past several years are the kind that attach to a pitcher/container. 

*The method that I use won't cost much, and does a good job of taking chlorine out of water. Chlorine is a gas, and once it is exposed to the air, it readily leaves the water in which it was put for disinfection purposes. Most water systems are closed units, and don't have any air contact until the water comes out of your tap. As well, the chlorine stays in the water much better when under pressure. Once you subject the water to no pressure, and open air, the chlorine gas quickly escapes. I use a pitcher, much like what most people use to make and store pink lemonade in (or any other colour I suppose), or any other concentrated drink for that matter. Simply fill the container with water, and allow it to stand overnight in the refrigerator. It's not necessary to leave it in the fridge, but I like my drinking water cold. To hasten the process of chlorine eradication, simply pour the water from one container to another, allowing for a maximum fall, at which time it is exposed to the air, which carries off the chlorine. After several pours back and fourth, nearly all of the chlorine will have escaped, leaving the water relatively free of chlorine. To keep ahead of demand in a large family, follow the above procedure, and store in cleaned and sterilized disposable plastic pop bottles. The large two litre size is what I use around my home. Another great reuse for a disposable too. 

INSECT POISONS & KILLERS

It's tough to come up with an environmentally friendly poison. Indeed, a poison is a poison, and should only be used as a last resort. I'll deal with some poisons that are of low toxicity, and those from natural substance, which have a relatively short break down time once released into the environment, that hopefully won't kill more bugs than originally planed on. 

* Attract birds to your area, they are great at helping cut down on insects of all types. Swallows, purple martins, and flycatchers are some of the desirable species that'll catch flying insects. 

*Robins, starlings, bluebirds, and most of the thrush family are efficient ground insect predators. These birds do take the occasional earth worm, but are deadly on cut worms, slugs, earwigs, white grubs (both June bugs and now the European chaffer beetle). The nice thing about birds is that they are pleasant to have around, and may even sing you a song. Bird houses are a cheap investment.(see environ product section for bird houses) 

 *One of the most recent insect poisons on the market is a biological control, in that the family is from bacteria. These poisons are called BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS (or B.t as a short form). These bacterium make insect sick, which ultimately kill them. These are relatively narrow spectrum insecticides, or ones that kill fairly specific insect pests. The most common commercial products that I've been able to find fairly easily are "Dipel" and "Thuricide". Because of the advantages these poisons offer, more of these will likely be on the market soon. Be sure to read the labels to be sure that the product you purchase is going to be effective on the insect you intend to control, and follow directions faithfully. 

 *Rhubarb spray can be useful at repelling some insects, and is a good fungicide used against rusts and black spot on plants. Take eight medium sized rhubarb leaves and place in about three quarts of boiling water. Let stand till cool, strain and use. You can blend the leaves with the water if you prefer, using an electric blender. Reduce the quantity of rhubarb leaves by half when using this latter method. 

I hope you've enjoyed this small sample of what kind of items you'll find in my booklet: ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY HOME RECIPES - to save you money... and the environment. This booklet is available in the product section of this homepage!