The EssentiaList

By Catherine Haug, September 9, 2015

This kitchen hint comes from Dr. Mercola (1). He provides two different recipes you can make with ingredients found in your kitchen or bathroom cabinet. He also provides a list of harmful ingredients found in commercial toothpaste.

When I was a small child in the early 1950s, commercial toothpaste had not yet made it to NW Montana (neither had commercial laundry detergent or dish ‘soap’). Most people ate home-cooked food, made from scratch, a diet that was good for the teeth, leaving them naturally clean. If a bit of meat or other food got stuck between the teeth, one used a toothpick. For special occasions such as a date, you used baking soda on your fingertip to clean your teeth and freshen your breath. (more…)

By Catherine Haug, Feb 2015

Thanks to K. Britton for this useful hint. See also her related Kitchen Hint for Pet Urine on Carpets.

I started using the Dawn/vinegar combination when my granddaughter informed me that nothing beat window washing like a Dawn-in-dishwater-strength concentration wiped onto windows and wiped off with a janatorial-grade black squeegee.

I also use Dawn-vinegar solution on bathroom surfaces such as the window, show glass and mirror, to remove calcium spots. No rinsing is needed.  Works fabulously!  The good squeegee is important; cheap ones streak.  (more…)

By Catherine Haug, Feb 21, 2015

Thanks to K. Britton for this useful hint. See also her Kitchen Hint: Vinegar-based solution for bathroom surfaces.

Dog urine (or cat?) in nice plush carpet?  This works perfectly for me with my synthetic carpet.  I certainly would NOT try it with wool or other natural fibers.

I have a dog with separation anxiety, and had to do this repeatedly.  It has never failed me.  The carpet has survived beautifully.  The commercial stuff I tried is a joke and doesn’t get the urine out of the pad.

It only takes me about 15 minutes, start to finish, and has saved me from having to replace my carpet!

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