Parental Controls For Cell Phones

I am the parent of a teen, and although I know this to be a controversial subject, I want to be sure that my son is protected while using his cell phone and held accountable for his cell phone use.

I understand that there are parents that think what I'm about to describe is an invasion of your child's privacy, however, I must say that I disagree.  I'd prefer not to debate the issue if possible.  My goal is to let parents, who like me, are looking for ways to protect their kids from cyber-bullying, sexual harrassment, sexting, and spending too much time and money on their phones.

If you are one of those parent...you may just be in luck because I've found and been using a wonderful new Application called Mobiflock.  Mobiflock is in its Beta phase, so right now it is free to download for Andriod phones and some Nokia phones.

I had gone to great lengths to try to get parental controls and services from our cell carrier (AT&T Wireless) and after paying for their so called 'parental controls' and 'filters', I found that all I could really do was restrict the number of minutes he uses, the amount of money that gets spent on downloads, or the hours he uses his phone.  And although those things were somewhat helpful, they provided no help with the fact that most cell phones today have FULL access to the internet.  Many of us have rules at home for our kids internet use on the computer, but do you have rules for (and ways of verifying) their cell phone internet usage?

If you don't already know this, it is even easier to delete the internet history on a phone than it is on a computer and most kids know how to do it!

 

Here is a section from Mobiflock's website

http://www.mobiflock.com that explains their services:

"Mobiflock makes cell phones safe for children by giving parents the visibility and tools to manage their children's phone use, and so protect them from harm.

Mobiflock is easy to install and use. A small program - or application - is downloaded on to your child's phone. Then you use an online dashboard to set up security levels and alerts, and to get a bird’s eye view of how your child is using their phone. Including the time and money spent.

The Mobiflock service allows you to:

• Find out who your kids are contacting and who is contacting them. And what they are saying to each other.
• Control who your child contacts, who contacts them, time and money spent, information sent and received.
• Locate where a missing or stolen phone, or even where your child is. And delete private info from a missing or stolen phone.
• Receive alerts about inappropriate content; cyber-bullying; sexting; predatory activity; spending too much time or money online.

We also help you out with a wealth of information on these topics, giving you the knowledge you need to raise your children in this rapidly changing digital and mobile world.

By the way, we recommend you discuss Mobiflock with your child. The way the system is designed means your child will know Mobiflock is on their phone. We're not about spying, we're about empowering parents and starting a conversation between them and their children."

I personally discussed this program with my son and he knows it has been installed on his phone.  I don't really believe you can do it otherwise because there is an icon that stays constantly on the upper task bar of the phone (where you usually find your cell signal strength and your batter life icon), so they will wonder what it is if you don't tell them.  

So far, this application has proved very helpful to our family and provides a great source of accountability for our son.  When they roll out the full program it will allow even greater filtering options.

I hope that you have found this helpful.  

May God Bless you with wisdom in parenting and protect our children from harm.

 Jessica

SCRIPTURES: 

Romans 6:12-14

"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace."

2 Timothy 2:22 

"Now flee from youthful lusts and
pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call
on the Lord from a pure heart.

1 Peter 5:8 

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil
prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

Philippians 4:8 

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is
noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."

Romans 12:2 

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this
world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Meal Planning and Leftover Ideas

One way to not only save on grocery expenses, but to reduce meal stress is to have a pre-planned meal schedule.

You can do this in a way that works best for your family.  Some like to plan weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly.  I personally prefer to plan based on whatever our current payday schedule is.  If we get paid every other week, then I like to plan 2 weeks at a time...if we get paid once a month then I like to plan by the month, and so on.  I do it this way because it helps to stay within our grocery budget, and it assures that we not only just have food in the cupboards, but it guarantees that we will have all the ingredients to make a complete meal.

Here are some of the things that I do when preparing to complete a meal plan:

• Decide which meals to schedule - This is totally up to you, but you will want t decide before beginning this process if you want to plan breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, or if you just want to plan dinner.  To be most efficient you would plan all 4, however I must confess that I usually only plan our dinners.  I am considering planning all 4 because I know the value and this also helps to ensure that we aren't just eating 'junk' for our other meals or snacks.  Again, this is a personal preference.
• List Favorite Meals - Most families have some favorites, whether you eat them multiple times a week or just once a month, you likely have some standard meals that you know your entire family will eat.
• Review New Meals - Our family got out a couple of cook books and we each marked several new recipes we would like to try.  We looked them over together and added a few that once reviewed we decided that we were all willing to try.  Once this is done, add these new meals to your list.
• Begin making your list - Depending on which sort of list you're making (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly), you will need to have the correct number of meals ready to be entered.
• Make note of similar ingredient meals for scheduling purposes - For instance, if one of your meals it turkey, and another is sweet and sour turkey, be sure to schedule them either one or two days apart so you can cook the turkey just once and use the leftovers for the corresponding meal.  Be sure not to stretch your time frame too far as many meat items will spoil after a few days.  I have Lupus and because of this my immune system is compromised but my Dr has advised me never to eat left overs older than 3 days old.  (I've read similar instructions, especially when referring to poultry... however my Dad has probably broken records for eating leftovers way longer than that and doesn't ever get sick!  I try not to think about that.*smile*)  Here are some things that are good new meals to make with leftovers:
• Chicken or Turkey - Salads, Soup, Stir fry, Sweet and Sour, Chicken/Turkey Salad for Sandwiches, Casseroles, Enchiladas, Taco's, Chicken Pesto Pizza....just to name a few.
• Salmon or other Fish - Make Salmon Patties/Cakes (mixing fish with onions, eggs, bread crumbs, and seasonings to form into patties and fry to eat alone or on a sandwich)  Salmon Patties are a HUGE favorite in my family.  We used to make them from canned Salmon, but with that in short supply...left over cooked salmon works perfectly!  Of course left over fish is great on Salads, or in Fish Tacos!
• Chili - Chili dogs, Nachos, Taco Salad, or mix with cheese for a chip dip.
• Spaghetti - Spaghetti Casserole, you can rinse and fry the noodles (if they were kept separate from the sauce) until brown and add ingredients for a noodle stir fry with soy sauce, Thai peanut sauce, or whatever sauce you prefer.  Marinara Sauce can be used to make Lasagna, Chicken Parmesan, or any variety of Pasta meals with added Veggies.
• Meatloaf - Meatloaf Sandwich, Spaghetti Sauce, Shepherd's Pie, Sloppy Joe's, Biscuits and Gravy.
• Steak - Steak Salad, Fajitas, Stew, Stir Fry.
• Mashed Potatoes - (I find it hard to believe anyone would have leftovers, but if you do....) they can thicken soups, Perogies, Shepherd's Pie, Potato Pancakes.
• Taco Meat - Southwest Omelet, Spaghetti Sauce, Lasagna, Nachos.
• Make Grocery List - You will find that you probably have certain ingredients that you will need for multiple recipes, here is where you can save by buying in bulk for things like (tomato sauce, hamburger, veggies, etc.)
• If you are really a person who loves organized lists (Which I am! I'm convinced that in Heaven God will hand me my job duties on a list with check boxes. Ha!), you can organize your shopping list by store sections (produce, frozen foods, bakery, canned goods, etc)
• Food Prep - You can prep one day at a time or you can take your meal preparation to another level by using a day or two (weekends are good for those who work) to prep things that can be made in advance.  You can cook a large amount of hamburger and split it, taking some for chili, some for spaghetti, and then leaving the remaining in the pan and add taco seasoning for taco's.  If it will be several days or even weeks, just place it in freezer bags or freezer safe containers and write your date on the container and keep in the freezer until you need it.  You can do this with your steak, chicken, turkey, and even fish (although I prefer fish fresh but it is ok to freeze and eat).  You can chop onions and other vegetables in advance for your multiple meals. You could use pre-chopped frozen veggies also if they are not in season or if you just want to save.  With the price of produce on the rise, this may become a more interesting option as time goes by.  You can prepare things like lasagna, chili, and other dishes in advance and just freeze them for easy removal and cooking or re-heating (depending on whether you fully cooked your meal in advance or not).
• Bring a Friend -You can make this a little more fun by doing it with a friend.  Plan your meals together and help each other by cooking in bulk.  You can prepare larger portions and split them up between the two families.  So you might work on chopping while your friend is cooking and take turns.  It has been many years ago but when I lived in a very small town in Alaska, I did this with a friend and not only did it provide many easy to prepare meals for both of our families, we were able to make it much more enjoyable by visiting during the process.

I have found many free templates for meal planning online.  It is as easy as a quick Google search.

I have recently found a free weekly meal planning template that I like and am trying out.  This site has 2 week plans as well as monthly planners.  Here is the link:

http://www.vertex42.com/ExcelTemplates/meal-planner.html

Happy Planning!  Let me know if you have any suggestions or if you have any favorite new meal leftover ideas!

A Visit From Papa

For the past few days, and I've been thinking about just how nice it is to have family around when you aren't feeling well.  As I'm recovering from surgery and dealing with a Lupus flare up, my family has had to do extra work in my absence from the regular daily chores.  And....we are a homeschooling family, so my son has been doing a lot of his work independently the past few weeks.  No one has complained, but we are all feeling the effects of being cooped up as Mom recovers.

This week my Dad decided to come down for a visit.  I was worried that I wouldn't be very good company but was very happy that my son would have his Papa here to hang out with.  They have so much in common, which allows them to share in many activities.

Grandparents can be such an amazing blessing!  They bring an element that no other relationship does.  I love the way my son and my Dad love each other....it is how it is meant to be.

Yesterday they went shopping....yes, sounds a little strange until I tell you that they spent their time at Sportsman's Warehouse.  Regan came home and was so excited to have some new arrows and a quiver that hooks on to your pants!  Boy heaven!  He spent the afternoon having target practice in the back yard.  On top of his already great day, our neighbor saw him out there and gave him a archery target board that he said he hadn't used in a very long time!  He had a day full of blessings!

Today they went to the shooting range along with my husband to shoot clay pigeons....I knew they must be having fun because they were gone for a few hours.  Again....boy heaven....

Tomorrow, weather permitting, they will be taking the kayaks up to our favorite little lake in the Applegate Valley.  They'll kayak and fish the day away....my boy and his Papa.

I'm feeling thankful today.  Family is a blessing!

Thanks Dad!

Bad Day Pick Me Up

I've recently been recovering from a surgery, and for whatever reason my emotions have been a little crazy the past 2 weeks.  I've had several days of crying for no apparent reason and yesterday I had a particularly rough day.  I think I was just a little overwhelmed.

That said, I wanted to share what I woke up to this morning.  The first thing that happened was that my husband woke me up to let me know that I should wake up because he made pancakes for breakfast and he was going to be bringing me breakfast in bed.  (Awwww....right?!)

The next thing I noticed after I ate breakfast .... and might I add ...... my dishes were cleared for me, I had a card and this was the front of it:

The dinosaurs have missed Noah's Arc...this was funny to me and it made me laugh....which was their goal.  The inside was filled with encouraging words from my husband and then  eight 'coupons' total.  Four from my son and four from my husband....offering things from a 'pedicure' to 'crafts with Mom'.
I was so encouraged by the efforts of love from my husband and son.  And even though I wish I wasn't feeling in need of encouragement, it came at such a good time.

I had so laugh to myself that my son made a coupon to craft with me....because he knows that I LOVE to craft but it is truly NOT his 'thing'....he would prefer to do almost anything else.  So knowing this, I realize what a sacrifice of love this was coming from my teenaged son.

At the end of the day....I feel so blessed to have a family and a God who love me, remember me, and have a sense of humor!

May we all remember to encourage one another....sometimes a good laugh is the best medicine, and a phone call or a text just telling someone that you are thinking of them can mean more than you would ever know.

Things I've learned as a Parent

I did a recent post on my other blog www.remnantpostings.com and since I recently wrote a post here about Motherhood, I thought it would be appropriate to post this Parenting article here as well. 


As a Mother, what am I responsible for when it comes to parenting my son?  There are many opinions and answers to this question, but as a Christian Mom I came up with a few thoughts.


My job as his Mom right now is not to be his best friend, although that goes against popular belief.  I am called to love my son, and that is not hard for me to do.  However, my job, or rather my privilege is to teach my son: (each of these items are worthy of an entire blog or book so please know these are not complete)

• To love the Lord God with all his heart - Not just to attend church with us, but to teach him all throughout every day, even through my own actions and examples, who God is, who Christ and the Holy Spirit are....and why they are so worthy of our Love and Worship.  And...how his personal life can be forever impacted by having his own relationship with God.
• Teaching him God-Esteem instead of Self-Esteem  - This will ruffle feathers undoubtedly (I worked for years in counseling centers and fully understand the controversy over this subject), but in my view, 'self'-esteem is not all it's cracked up to be.    It is putting the wrong (and very fallible) person first...us!  When we as humans, and our ever changing our ideas about what is failures and successes, are guiding how we feel about ourselves...our 'self-esteem' will change like the ocean tides.  But if we have God-Esteem, building our view of ourselves upon what the creator of the Universe says about us, it is solid.  We can have security, we can worry less, and find a life much more fulfilling.  I want that not only for myself but for my son.   I've found that I've used the term 'self-esteem' so often over the years that I have to make a point to change the way I speak about this...especially to my son.  I think in a lot of ways it is harder for our kids to feel good about themselves now days, than it ever was for us!  They need all the help they can get to counteract what they see and hear when they're out in the world.  I believe this is the case whether you send your kids to public school, private school, or if you home-school.
• Wisdom and discernment - Our kids must know how to make choices between right and wrong, not just when we are there to help lead them to the answer.  I must teach my son how to do this himself, especially now that he is a teenager...he needs to learn how to take the facts and weigh the options thus making a decision based on what he knows to be responsible and true.  And the most important part is that he would not be weighing against what he 'feels' is right, but what he knows to be right from the Word of God.  And part of learning this lesson is failure, to see the consequences of poor choices can sadly be a great motivational tool to avoid such mistakes in the future. (hopefully)  But as parents we pray that learn on the little things, and while they are still under our protective wings.
• Setting Boundaries - If we must teach our children how make decisions, then we must also teach them how to set a boundary when they are faced with decisions that are difficult to make....and this is DEFINITELY IMPORTANT for them to know how to do when you are not around, for their own protection!  Peer pressure can be overwhelming and we must discuss and even role play with our kids before the temptations present themselves.  I am a firm believer in giving our kids the facts of some of the larger temptations in life (age appropriate details of course), but if you aren't telling them, then they will ask someone else and who knows what sort of information they will get.  How will they know why it is important to set boundaries, if we don't explain to them why it is important to put them in place?  I also like to give life examples in this area and point out some choices from his own life...good and bad...this way a a good choice vs. this was not the best choice....and here is why.  And if you are really brave....try giving them some examples from your own life.  When they see that other people suffer natural consequences from bad choices, it somehow means more and becomes information that seems for valid.
• Discipline as a mode of teaching, not punishment...  Giving our children rules and boundaries, and helping them to be able to expect in advance the outcome of their actions...is what I believe is not only Biblically correct but I truly believe it helps our kids to feel safe, important, and loved.  **Discipline does not = physically beating or verbally abusing a child!**  There is so much to say about this, but I will save that for another post.  I will just say three extra words....CONSISTENCY IS KEY!
• Compassion - It is important to teach our kids that serving others is not only a good thing, but something that will make you feel better and be healthier.  Selfishness breeds pride and causes many problems and should not be excused in children just because they are young and immature.  Give your children the gift of knowing what it is like to put others first!  There is no other feeling that beats knowing that you have surprised someone with a blessing of provision that they had no idea was coming!  You get to feel for a minute like the hands and feet of Jesus.  Our kids need to also realize how blessed most of us are to have a roof over our heads, food to eat at 3 main meals a day, and someone to love and care for us!
• Choosing their inner circle of friends - Helping our kids to identify the qualities that make them a good friend, and the qualities that they should want to have in their friends will help them to reduce friendship drama.  And DO NOT underestimate the fact that your children's friends will have so much influence over them, as a parent you will be thankful for good choices in this area!  Know the parents of the friends your kids are spending time with, and if there is ever a question of safeness....do not allow sleepovers!  That is really a separate subject but I wanted to be sure to say it.  You would be shocked to know how many kids are abused staying over at other people's homes. 
• Teaching them independence -I believe this is best in small doses and in varying degrees of responsibility, but this is what prepares them to be on their own.  Allow them to learn and falter under your supervision.  Keep your Mothering eyes open for teachable moments... they're all around you!  We need to teach them to stand on their own....and I personally find this is a hard one as Momma....but alas I am trying.  :-)

Having a good husband and parenting partner makes a world of difference as does having a solid and group of fellow Mom's who allow for vulnerable and 'real' conversations about the ups and downs of Motherhood and offer advice and hugs when needed.

And for those of you who are single Mom's, I just want to say that having that core group of fellow Mother's is essential!  I spent 10 years raising my son alone, so I can relate to the special hardship that comes with trying your best to be everything to your kids...when you can only do so much and you feel like you often fall short.


If you are a Christian, remember Christ is your Partner and He is the Father to the Fatherless (even if they do have biological Fathers that just may not be present often or ever).  If you aren't a Christian, all I can say is.....consider it friend.....I'm not sure I could have made it without Him!  He is still my best friend, closest confidant, and best advise giver!

I am far from a perfect parent, I'll tell you that in all honesty and humility.  I'm just attempting to be a good steward of the son god gave me each and every day.

What is a Mom?

Although I could fill pages of the details of how I love my son ...today I wanted to talk about what it means to be a Mom.

One of the simplest definitions of a Mother that I've seen says that a Mother is a female who has given birth to a child.  Even as I type that is seems grossly simplified and not exactly correct.


I have friends who have adopted children, and even though that child did not come from her own womb, the child is no less hers and she is no less of a Mother.  I even have a friend who was a surrogate Mom for an amazing couple who could not conceive themselves.  She in fact had twins, and although my friend will always have a bond with those babies that grew inside of her...my friend is not their Mother.  And then there are some who connect the word Mom more with a friend or mentor who has been to them what they always longed for but didn't get from the Mother who raised them.


Sometimes Motherhood is biological, sometimes it is not.  I believe that the love that many connect with the person they call Mom does not come simply from DNA or Title, but from relationship.  From listening to the details of our lives, teaching us and walking us through the hard lessons in life, giving advice when necessary, hugging us when there is nothing more that can be done, and loving us always.  Mothers come in many different shapes and sizes, but one thing connects them all.....love. 


Some Mother's are better at these things that other.  Some children grow into adults with the thinking that their Mom is one of their best friends, other children grow older and begin their own families and only see their Mom's on major holidays, and still yet....some grow and disconnect completely deciding for whatever reason that continuing a relationship with their Mother is not beneficial.


As I thought about all of this, I began to wonder what type of Mom my son thinks I am.  When he grows older, what will his relationship be with me?  Will we be close?

One thing I am learning is that this thing called Motherhood is a marathon and not a sprint.  There are days when you want to cry, pull your hair out, and run away....and then there are days you cry because you are so full of love that you can't hold it all in.   It isn't always easy, but the important things often aren't and I believe in the end all of our hard work will be worth it!


Being a Mom is the biggest job on Earth...you are responsible for teaching and raising a human life.  There is no higher calling.  It took me a long time to figure this one out as I spent years clawing my way up the corporate ladder.  Being a Mom is an honor.....don't forget.....it is an honor and a miracle!


So to all of you fellow Mother's.....


Thank you for all you do for your kids!  If they aren't thanking you now....one day they will!

Burn Remedy

 In our home we seem to have ample opportunity for skin burns.  Whether it's the wood stove, the oven, or the stove top.....undoubtedly someone is getting burned.


A couple months ago my husband had a pretty nasty burn on his hand from our wood stove and it immediately blistered.  I was getting ready to leave the house but wanted to tend to his burn before I left.  Of course the first thing I did was to look in the medicine cabinet to see if I had any burn gel....no such luck.  There is always the first aid spray but I happen to know from personal experience that it is not pleasant to use.


In a last minute effort, I ran to the computer and looked up natural remedies for burns.  I quickly discovered 2 remedies that looked promising since I had them in the kitchen.

The first remedy was Honey....

If your burn is a 1st degree or 2nd degree burn (without an open wound), you can place honey over the burn to relieve the stinging and assist in the healing process.  Honey has been proven to have anti-bacterial, antioxidant, and antiseptic properties.  My husband said that as soon as his burn was covered in the honey, the burning feeling was relieved and it was completely gone after a couple minutes!

The second remedy was Camomile Tea....

Take a tea bag and soak (about a minute or so) it in a cup of very cold water, remove the bag and lightly squeeze excess water.  (You want the bag to still be wet so that the tea inside seeps into your skin, you just don't want it pouring water out the bottom) Apply the cold water soaked camomile tea bag directly on top of your burn. (If it is a large burn you may have to use multiple bags so that the entire burn is covered in tea bags) Apply pressure for at least 10 minutes.  The tea will take away the redness and relieve stinging as well as keeping your burn from blistering if you catch it fast enough.

For my husband I decided to use both since his burn was very painful and looked pretty bad.  We covered his burn, which had already blistered, with honey and then we set the tea bag on top of the honey.  We took an ace bandage and wrapped his hand to keep the tea bag snug and in place over the burn.  

Because his burn was so bad and this remedy was giving him relief, we left it on for quite some time.  After about an hour and 1/2 we removed the wrap and reapplied fresh honey and also placed a new tea bag on top of the burn.  Once this was done we wrapped it again to keep the tea bag in place.  In total he kept the honey and camomile tea bag on for several of hours.

What started out as a very red, painful, and blistered burn....ended up the next day as a small mark.  No red or irritated skin, no burn, no blister.  We were so amazed we couldn't believe that my last minute remedy actually worked better than the normal over the counter gel and antibiotic ointment.  In the long term, the burn never scared or left a permanent mark.  


I know that in our home, the next time anyone gets a burn, we will be using honey and camomile tea!

*Note*

Never use this remedy on a 3rd degree burn.  3rd degree burns require immediate medical treatment!

Meal Delivery

Just the other day I was getting ready to send out an email to organize meal delivery for a friend who is having a baby.  I was going to go about it the way I have in the past, which was to print out my own calendar.  Ask each person to contact me to sign up for a day, and keep everyone posted with multiple emails.  But then I had an idea....why don't I see if anyone has come up with a free online calendar that would make it simple to give everyone the information, dates needed, food preferences, allergies, etc all in one place.

I decided to do a Google search for 'Free Meal Delivery Calendars' and I checked out several.  I originally signed up with a different site, but once I had gone through the entire process, I discovered that although it was free, it would require each person who wanted to sign up for a meal to create an account (for marketing purposes no doubt).  I quickly scrapped this site and moved on to another.

I ended up using the site http://www.takethemameal.com which I've discovered to be relatively simple for both the site administrator and those wanting to provide a meal.  Friends can just click on a link that you send them, which takes them directly to the page regarding the person you are serving, and click 'take' to sign up for a date.  With a quick glance they can see what others are bringing so that the recipient of the meals doesn't receive spaghetti 4 days in a row.

You are also able to print out the schedule and the recipient can see what is scheduled to come as well as having easy access to phone numbers and email addresses should they need to cancel a meal or make changes for any reason.

So far this has worked beautifully!

Here is a sample schedule:

Next time you have a friend or family member who is having surgery, welcoming a new baby, or in need of meals for any reason....I'd suggest trying out this website.  It's never been so easy to coordinate meal delivery!

If anyone is interested I'd be happy to share how I made the email notification that I used.  I didn't use the site's standard notification email (surprise, surprise).  I created an email in Microsoft Publisher and emailed it as well as attaching it as a .pdf file.  I did this so that I could use the colors of the nursery, photos of my friend, her ultrasound photo, and a picture of a painting that her daughter had painted for the baby's room.  It felt more personal to me with these added items.  This is something that I enjoy doing and if I didn't, I would have happily used the email that is provided by the website itself to notify the friends and family of the meal schedule. (Which is perfectly adequate.)

Here is what my email looked like:

If anyone has any sites that they have used or found helpful in coordinating assistance for other people or families, I'd love to hear what they are!  You're comments are welcome and appreciated!

Green Cleaning

I was recently researching some environmentally and financially friendly cleaners to use at home.  Having some of my own health issues, I am more concerned with reducing the harsh chemicals that I use regularly.  Especially when it isn't even necessary.

I have friends who have made their own cleaners for years, and I'm finally jumping on the bandwagon. After all, most are way cheaper than the cleaners you buy at the store.

I thought I would share some of these natural cleaning tips for those of you who may not have heard of them before. You will likely notice that most of these include the use of vinegar (in one form or another), baking soda, or lemons.  And the good news is that most of us have these things on hand in the kitchen already.  Yay for using stuff we already have!

I hope you enjoy my list!  Happy Cleaning....  I'm a firm believer that loud music helps to assist with easing the pain of cleaning!  Have fun and be silly...after all, you only live once!

 

Sticker Remover
Soak the sticker or label with vinegar, let stand until it's saturated, then peel off.


Stain Remover
For stains caused by grass, coffee, tea, fruits and berries, mildew, and inks, soak clothing in full strength vinegar.  (adding 2/3-1 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle of your wash will control static cling and also work as a fabric softener)

You can also remove bloodstains by soaking cloth in a bucket of cold water with a cup of vinegar and an equal amount of baking soda, let it stand overnight before washing as normal. 

Scouring Powder
Mix a tablespoon of baking soda, salt, and borax.  Use instead of chemical scouring powders such as Comet or Ajax.

Cheap Cleaning Solution
1/3 part white vinegar
1/3 part rubbing alcohol
1/3 part water
3 drops of dish-washing liquid


Put this in a spray bottle and use to clean many surfaces including floors and tile.  The alcohol is added for faster drying but you could leave it out.  If you don't like the smell of vinegar you can add some lemon juice to assist in neutralizing the vinegar smell.

Another recipe, which is simple is to mix 2 cups of very hot water with 2 teaspoons of borax and place in a spray bottle.

Glass Cleaner
Use a solution of 50/50 white vinegar and water to clean glass and windows.
     *  Windshields - Use a solution of 3 parts vinegar to 1 part water, it will not only clean your car windshield but it will also keep it ice and frost-free! 

 Laundry Detergent

1 quart Water (boiling)

2 gallons of water (tap)
2 cups Bar soap (grated)
2 cups Borax
2 cups Washing Soda

• Add finely grated bar soap to the boiling water and stir until soap is melted. You can keep on low heat until soap is melted.
• Pour the soap water into a large, clean pail and add the Borax and Washing Soda. Stir well until all is dissolved.
• Add 2 gallons of water, stir until well mixed.
• Cover pail and use 1/4 cup for each load of laundry. Stir the soap each time you use it (will gel).

Detergent Booster
Pour 1 cup of lemon juice into your wash (in wash cycle).  This will help get rid of stains and make your clothes smell fresh.  Stubborn stains can be soaked for 30-60 min's in a solution of equal parts white vinegar and lemon juice.  Then wash as usual.  You can also get your white socks whiter by boiling them in water with a slice of lemon.  **I can't wait to see Regan's face when he sees me cooking his socks!**

   

Fabric Softener 

Mix one part white vinegar, one part baking soda, and two parts water.  You can keep it in a labeled bottle and add four tablespoons to the final rinse.

Anti-Fog Solution
Want to stop your windshields or bathroom mirror from fogging up?  The first thing you can do to help is to clean regularly because dust and dirt particles are necessary to form fog.  Another great idea is to make your own anti-fog solution.  Firstly, clean your window or mirror.  Secondly, heat 4 cups of water (as hot as you can make it while still being able to touch it.  If your hot water heater is high enough, you can use the hot water from the tap.  Add 1/4 cup of vinegar to the hot water.  Put a lint-free cloth, such as linen or an old t-shirt in the solution, wring out the excess and then rub the surface in circular motions.  This should last 3-4 weeks, when the window starts fogging up again, reapply the solution.

Dishwasher Detergent

1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda
1/2 cup citric acid
1/2 cup kosher salt
(You can add 1 teaspoon of dry rice to help with some of the clumping, but it will still clump up...don't worry...it will work fine.)
 
Mix all these together, it will yield 20 oz of detergent.  Stir before each use.  Use 1 tablespoon of detergent for each load.   


Rinse Aid for Dishes
Put 3 tablespoons of white vinegar to the rinse cycle, or add to rinse water when hand washing.  It will take the soap off and leave them squeaky clean.  (You can also clean your kitchen sponges by rinsing them off and then soaking them in a solution of 4 cups water with 3 tablespoons of vinegar overnight to clean them)

 

Cleaning Drains
Keep your drains clean with vinegar.  When they seem a bit sluggish, or even blocked, pour white vinegar down the sink or tub drain.  If that doesn't work, use 1/2 a box of baking soda with a cup of warm vinegar.  Let it work for an hour or two, then pour down a lot of very hot water.

Removing Water Stains on wood
I am excited to try this one!  Make a mixture of equal parts of distilled vinegar and olive oil.  Rub with the grain and polish for the best results. Another remedy is to mix a paste of vegetable oil and salt and rub the paste on the spot and let it stand for an hour or two, then remove.  (You should try these on an conspicuous place first just to be sure it won't discolor your furniture.)

Cleaning Silk Flowers or Plants
Fill a spray bottle with vinegar.  When they get dusty, spray them lightly, and the dust is gone.


Stainless Steel Kitchen Appliances

Use a moist cloth and baking soda and polish.

Stainless Steel Sink
Clean with a solution of vinegar and baking soda and polish.  Rinse with water.  This can also work on your silverware.


Melting Snow and Ice
Use baking soda to melt snow and ice, especially in garden areas since salt will harm any plants it comes in contact with.  

Air Freshener for a room or car 
Mix a few drops of your preferred fragranced oil in a small bowl of baking soda and set in your desired room.  An unused ashtray in a car is a perfect place too!  Another great idea is to use the foot of an old pair of nylons and add the mixture and tie off to make a sachet you can place or hang anywhere.  Place the mixture in the toe of the nylons, twist several times, and go back over the ball of powder with another layer.  Tie off with a string or ribbon.  Another option is to cut a lemon in 1/2 and place it cut side up in a dish or plate and put it in your room or on a windowsill.


Deodorizer
Mix 1 pint of water and 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil into a spray bottle.  Spray in room as tea tree oil has proven to have powerful antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-fungal benefits.

 

Dry Shampoo
Ever in a hurry with no time to shower?  Or gone camping and either have no place to shower or the only place available creeps you out?  Sprinkle baking soda on your hair and massage it into your hair.  Comb out and let warm air help get out residue.  I'm thinking that if your home, a hair dryer might work also. 

Treatment for Dry Skin
Make a paste of olive oil and baking soda and apply it to rough skin on your feet, elbows, etc.  Let it sit for 3-4 min's and rinse with warm water.  


Cleaning your Microwave
Mix 3 tablespoons of lemon juice with 1 3/4 cups of water in a microwave-safe bowl.  Microwave on high for 5-10 min's, allowing the inside to fill with steam.  Wipe with a cloth and it should be clean and smelling fresh.

Weed Removal
Spray with lemon juice and they should dry up and die within a couple days.

 

Insect Repellant
Lemon juice/peel, vinegar, salt, and borax have all been shown to repel insects.  I've seen articles that say to spray a vinegar/water mix on carpet, furniture, rugs, dog beds, and even directly on pets (if fleas are your problem insect).  Placing lemon juice or lemon peels on door frame or windowsills are also listed solutions.  This last summer we had our first problem with fleas and I had them eliminated by doing the following:

• * First I added a couple cap fulls of vinegar to spray bottle filled with water and I sprayed the cat and the dog.  (I found out quickly that they don't like this!  Especially the cat!  I was chasing the animals around the house with the spray bottle...it was quite comical.  I'll be prepared next time)  I brushed their coats with a brush to get the mixture down to the skin.

• * I bought a large container of salt and generously poured it on basically everything....the carpet, the couch (I also lifted cushions and sprinkled the salt on the arm rests and back rest), chairs, I left a line in front of the doorway for a while, and I opened the dog bed cover and poured salt into the stuffing and shook the whole bed around to evenly disperse the salt.  ** Because I read that the salt can hurt your pets paws, I moved the animals into bedrooms and heavily salted the other rooms in the evening, then in the morning I vacuumed it all up before letting the pets out.  **  I repeated this step 2-3 times because I wasn't totally sure how often to do it.  That was several months ago and I haven't had to do it again.

My understanding behind using salt is that it dries out the insect and it dies.  For this to work it has to come into contact with the salt.  Borax can also be used alone or with salt in the same way as salt.  Borax releases boric acid, which is poisonous to fleas, ants, cockroaches, & silverfish.  BE SURE TO GET IS ALL VACUUMED UP, BORAX IS NOT GOOD IF CONSUMED BY KIDS OR ANIMALS.

I hope that this post has been useful and contained some information that you can use with your family.  I know that I love the idea of saving money and reducing the harsh chemicals that I use!


If anyone has used any of these solutions or has some good ones that aren't listed, I'd love to hear!  Please comment below.