Lavender Laundry Soap ~ Herbal Homemaking ~ Printable Recipe

"'Aye!' said Mrs. Purkis, smoothing down the bed,

and despatching Jenny for an armful of lavender-scented towels..."

~ Elizabeth Gaskell, North and South

It is okay to enjoy your life at home. It is okay to collect large, old jars because you think they’re pretty. It’s okay to decide to fill those jars with homemade sundries to add loveliness to your routine. It’s okay to want to beautify the ordinary to make it extraordinary. It’s okay to pour love, creativity and joy into your tasks. It’s okay to pour your heart into all areas of your home. 

You have permission to ignore everyone who tells you housework is mundane. It’s okay to make homemaking fun! As Mark Twain put it, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

Lavender Laundry Soap (a perfect recipe of loveliness): 

-- 1 c. grated bar soap *

-- 1 c. borax (found in laundry isle at Walmart)

-- 1 c. washing soda (found in laundry isle at Walmart)

-- 1/4 c. lavender buds

Optional: 10 drops lemon essential oil or your favorite (I use lemon as it is cleansing and the least expensive of all the oils!)

Pulverize ingredients in a blender or food processor until powdery.

* I used a plain coconut oil soap (which I found on my travels - it has no extra oils or fats in it and is therefore better suited for laundry) but you can also use Dr. Bronner’s bar soap and/or Kirk’s Castile Soap if you desire something natural. Calico and Twine sells a lovely laundry soap in her shop (which is also natural and made with coconut oil). I know many people use Fels Naphtha soap, Zote soap or even plain Ivory bar soap.

There are a myriad of recipes online you can experiment with. I’m sharing a basic recipe but with the addition of dried lavender to make it special. I have extra in my apothecary that I want to use up before it loses its potency. As lavender means “to wash”, what better herb to enjoy for our laundry?

Use 1 tbsp. for regular loads, 2 for larger loads. As it is low in suds, this recipe should be fine for HE machines. Just make sure all the lavender is pulverized!

You will find the printable recipe with labels HERE (my dear, sweet homemaking friend).

(Some of the links in this post are affiliate links which help support this blog. Thank you!)

Happily homemaking,

♡ JES

"Pink Windex" aka Rose Petal Windows and Glass Spray ~ Romantic Homemaking Series

“What a lovely thing a rose is!”

~  Arthur Conan Doyle

If you have a love of roses as I do, then I think you will enjoy this sweet little project which brings them into the housecleaning routine. Our bushes are blooming and making this all natural window cleaner with a few of the buds brought me so much pleasure. You can even make a complete collection of rose cleaning products with them if you desire (more on that below).

Simply soak one cup of fresh (pink or red) rose petals in 1 1/2 cups of vinegar in a pint jar (line the inside of the lid with plastic if it is metal to keep it from corroding). Shake the jar gently when you think of it. Let the contents infuse for 1 to 2 weeks and strain.

To prepare the window and glass cleaner, place one cup of the rose-infused vinegar with one cup of water in a large spray bottle (this is an affiliate link). Add 1 tsp. of cornstarch and give the bottle a nice shake until everything is evenly distributed. You will need to shake the bottle each time before using. 

Your windows and glass cleaner is ready for service! For best results, use an old newspaper to wipe down the surfaces. We also use cotton rags (you can see my pretty version with lace above -- visit here to make your own).

This lovely recipe is inspired by Jan Berry from her beautiful book of homemade products (and is a part of my Beloved Homemaking Book List which I highly recommend).

 (I've stored my set of labels inside my "Inspired Home Junk Journal" until I have need for them.
I simply made a paper pocket and tucked them in.)

Now for the fun part! Here is a rose-inspired printable label to use on your bottle if you like. I have also included a whole set of romantic rose-inspired cleaning labels should you like to elevate your spring cleaning routine this year! You can make it all pink and pretty! Simply replace the lavender in all the recipes shared here with rose petals. 

Happy romantic homemaking dear friends!

This post was a part of our... Romantic Homemaking Series:

Romantic Homemaking Series Introduction

My List of My Beloved and Beautiful Homemaking Books

The Inspired Home "Junk" Journal ~ Free Printable

DIY Vanilla Rose Room Spray

Embellish Ordinary Kitchen Linens with Lace

Easy Custom-Made Chocolates

Holy Homemaking

No Sew "Snip & Rip" DIY Dinner Napkins

DIY Vanilla Rose Room/Linen Spray ~ Romantic Homemaking Series

“There is simply the rose;

it is perfect in every moment of its existence.”

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Scent is such a powerful tool in the home and the fragrance of vanilla and rose feels utterly romantic to me. To make a simple spray for freshening up the bedrooms or linens, please follow the basic guidelines in the tutorial below. This may be quite a desirable spray in the winter when the home can be a bit stale and a dash of deodorizer is always welcome.

This recipe is very flexible. Use what you have and as much as you'd like of each ingredient to get the desired aroma. I have also included variations using lavender and citrus essential oils (as these are more common oils that you may already own). I do suggest you maintain the witch hazel and/or vodka to water ratio as it is a preserver and helps disperse the essential oils in the recipe. 

Place the following ingredients in an appropriate sized spray bottle and shake well before each use.

-- 1/2 tsp. clear vanilla extract (or vanilla essential oil or regular vanilla extract but keep in mind the darker extract may stain linens -- but I think it'd be fine for a room mist)

-- 20 drops of rose absolute (or you can use rose essential oil if you have the luxury, Palmarosa essential oil or even try a few drops of Geranium essential oil -- please add in the drops cautiously and test the fragrance to your liking as you go -- see other variations below)

-- 1/4 c. witch hazel (or use plain vodka or a vodka/witch hazel mix)

-- 1/4 c. distilled water (or water that has been boiled and cooled down)

Yields: 1/2 c. (4 oz.)

VARIATIONS:

I did one batch with the 1/2 tsp. clear vanilla extract, 20 drops of rose absolute and then I added in a few drops of Palmarosa and Geranium essential oil to the witch hazel and water mix. I really liked the depth they added. I encourage you to be creative with what you have!

If you'd like to make a romantic aroma mist for your home but lack the oils I mentioned above, you can make a lavender vanilla spray (just replace lavender essential oil with the rose). You can use the label here for embellishing the bottle.

You can also do a delightful citrus vanilla spray. Just replace the rose oil with lemon, orange or any other citrus essential oil. You can use the citrus bliss room spray label here to embellish your bottle.

Here is a PRINTABLE of the recipe to include in your Inspired Home "Junk" Journal (thank you to Little Birdie Blessings for the darling homemade washi tape I used to attach the recipe to the book). I have also added a large and small label to print out for your vanilla rose spray. To make them waterproof you can cover them with clear contact paper or thick clear mailing tape. 

I hope you have enjoyed this simple tutorial and spritzing your home with this romantic blend! May this sweet spray add a dash of loveliness into your domestic day!

Happily homemaking,

♡ JES

Romantic Homemaking Series:

Romantic Homemaking Series Introduction

My List of My Beloved and Beautiful Homemaking Books

The Inspired Home "Junk" Journal ~ Free Printable

DIY Dusting Spray and Spring $ale on Our Ebook ~ Citrus Series

"There were times, indeed, when the vigor she put into her work was more of a relief to her feelings than it was an ardor to efface dirt... "

~Eleanor H. Porter, Pollyanna (1912)

I hadn't posted on our Citrus Series this winter and since I have one more week before the technical expiration date, I wanted to share something that will tie both winter and spring together. And so today (in honor of the 2017 spring cleaning schedule), we gladly share a citrus recipe excerpt from our Ebook 100+ DIY Projects to Make with Fruit Scraps. I hope you enjoy this simple and "all natural" tutorial to make your own citrus dusting spray!

Ingredients:

•  1⁄4 c. lemon infused vinegar * (see instructions and/or variations below)

•  1⁄4 c. olive oil 

Mix ingredients together in a small spray bottle and it is ready for service!

Suggested Use: Shake well before each use. Apply spray to dusting cloth (such as a flannel or microfiber cloth) and wipe wood surfaces clean. Our un-papers towels work great for dusting too!

To make the lemon infused vinegar:

Place fresh citrus peels (of at least 1 lemon) into a clean jar. Cover peels with white household vinegar (make sure they are submerged under the vinegar so that they do not mold). Cap your blend with a plastic lid and let it infuse in a sunny spot for 3 - 4 weeks. Once the time is up, strain the vinegar and discard the peels. Pour through a fine sieve to remove any excess solids. Your lemon infused vinegar is now ready to use!

Variations:

• Replace the lemon infused vinegar with orange infused vinegar.
• In a hurry? Simply add 10 drops of lemon (or orange) essential oil to 1/4 c. plain white vinegar and use this as the infused vinegar in the recipe.

This is such an easy alternative to the fake-perfumed dusting sprays sold in the market. Make a “pledge” to keep your home more chemical–free by starting here!

If you enjoyed this recipe, you will find many others for your spring cleaning endeavors in our Ebook (all the recipes include printable labels too!). The chapter titled "Cleaning Closet" includes how to frugally (without essential oils) make your own:

• Citrus Air Freshener
• Citrus All-Purpose Cleaner
• Citrus Cleaning Cleanser
• Citrus Carpet Deodorizer
• Citrus Cleaning Solution
• Citrus Disinfectant Spray
• Citrus Dryer Sachets
• Citrus Dusting Cloths
• Citrus Dusting Spray
• Citrus Fabric Softener
• Citrus Furniture Polish
• Citrus Glass Cleaner
• Citrus Produce Wash
• Citrus Rinse Aid and Degreaser
• Citrus Scouring Cleanser
• Citrus Stainless Steel Cleaner

We share 100+ more ideas on how to use up fruit scraps in our Ebook here! As a "Spring Cleaning" $pecial, we are offering the PDF FILE at a 40% discount for this week only (you do not need a special device to download our ebook, it can be saved straight onto your computer). Simply type in this coupon code at check-out: 2017springsale

Happy housecleaning, ladies!

All the fine print. This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making Mondays, Modest Mom Monday's, Monday's Musings, Make Your Home Sing Monday, Good Morning Mondays,  The Scoop, Tuesdays with a Twist, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Link Up, Homestead Blog Hop,  Wow Us Wednesdays,  Coffee and Conversation, Homemaking Thursdays, Home Sweet Home, Our Simple Homestead, Awesome Life Friday Link Up and Create, Bake, Grow & Gather. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these. This post may contain affiliate links (which are merchant links that help to support this site at no additional cost to you if you purchase an item through them).

Ironing Inspiration ~ The Classic Homemaking Collection

"My second favorite household chore is ironing.

My first being hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint."

  ~Erma Bombeck

Before we begin, I have a small confession to make. Ironing, sadly and truthfully, is the least of my favorite homemaking loves. In fact, every time I read the words (shared above) by the late Ms. Bombeck, I am in tears (the humorous kind)! Here is a compilation of ideas, old fashioned homemaking tips, diy's and encouragement that may help to inspire you (and I) to love those linens and iron! I think in a very few minutes, your mind may be transformed to see the beauty in this little task!

"Ironing gratifies the senses. The transformation of wrinkled, shapeless cloth into the smooth and gleaming folds of a familiar garment pleases the eye. The good scent of ironing is the most comfortable smell in the world. And the fingertips enjoy the changes in the fabrics from cold to warm, wet to dry, and rough to silky. There is nothing like keeping the hands busy with some familiar work to free the mind. You can learn Italian while you iron, as a friend of mine did, or you can simply think."

~ Cheryl Mendelson, Home Comforts: The Art & Science of Keeping House

To begin, it helps to have a peaceful and clean environment to iron in. That is often difficult to do because the ironing board is usually the household item that gets stowed away and hidden. If you have a large laundry room, that would be ideal.

Decorating with old fashioned signs can also make it more enjoyable (you will find our printable set here). Our ironing board is kept in our back room and before ironing, I make sure the area is clear and clutter-free to make it a pleasant homemaking experience (such as the one described below).

Gentle Homemaking Inspiration

The Linens {An Old Fashioned Day} ~ Whatsoever Thy Hands

It is interesting to note that the artist Degas (who was famous for his impressionistic ballerina paintings), also took the time to capture women doing the daily duties of washing and ironing. 

Perhaps he saw the beauty in the ordinary homemaking arts! His work is depicted in all the paintings featured above this paragraph (except for the painting showcasing the "Gentle Homemaking Inspiration").

How to Clean Your Iron {Gleaned from Cleaning Plain & Simple by Donna Smallin}

The Sole Plate

• Wipe the soleplate with a sudsy cloth or nylon-mesh pad (make sure your iron is unplugged and cool). If starchy buildup or corrosion is present, remove either with a cloth saturated in white vinegar or make a solution by heating equal parts of vinegar and salt (until it is dissolved). Do not use abrasive cleaners or metal scouring pads.

The Reservoir

• If mineral deposits are coming through the holes of the soleplate, the reservoir needs a routine cleaning. To do so, fill the reservoir approximately one-quarter of the way up with white vinegar. Turn on the iron and steam-iron a clean rag or towel until the reservoir is empty. The fumes may be strong so keep a window open and a fan going if necessary. If problem persists, refill the reservoir with water and continue to steam iron the rag until empty once again. Do a final rinse on the reservoir by filling it with (distilled or purified) water and then emptying it out. To prevent future buildup in your iron, use only distilled water.

Routine Maintenance

• Each time you use your iron, empty water from the reservoir while it is still hot so that it will dry out. This can be achieved by slowly and carefully tilting the pointed end of the iron down over a sink. For best results, always store your iron in an upright position.

A few do-it yourself ironing recipes can be made to create a sense of purpose in your ironing area. One of my personal favorites is this DIY Lavender Water. It makes for a lovely and aromatic ironing spray.

There is also an old fashioned spray starch recipe that can be made in minutes! Store these handcrafted goods in recycled glass bottles with attractive labels in order to foster a sense of delight in this homemaking task.

"You may also like to utilize the essential oils when ironing. You can either put 1 drop of essential oil in a plant mister and spray the clothes before ironing, or put a drop on a damp linen cloth and place that between the iron and the material. You could also put the essential oils directly into the water compartment of your steam iron, but essential oils are not water soluble and could leave a residue in the iron."

~ Valerie Ann Worwood, The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy

Is Ironing Still Relevant Today?

Perhaps you are thinking that the modern-day denim and knit clothing you own does not require such ironing and care. However, the clothes we wear to our Sabbath gathering should be considered. Are we dressing appropriately for the "House of God"? Do you remember the term "Sunday best"? Dressing up and ironing your clothing for worship shows its importance and seriousness. It shows something that our modern-day culture often neglects, it is called "reverence". Dear Moses met with the Creator in the dessert via a burning bush and learned this lesson. Our formal meetings in the church with the Almighty should be just as important. 

"Then He said, "Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet,

for the place on which you are standing is holy ground."

~ Exodus 3:5

"Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace,

whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

For our God is a consuming fire."

~ Hebrews 12:28-29

"I find it soothing to take something wrinkled and make it smooth.

It feels anticipatory. It's what I do before a celebration."

~ Alexandra Stoddard

And life, my dear homemaker, is a celebration!

If you enjoyed this article, you may also be interested in:
Gentle Homemaking Inspiration
The Housecleaning Inspiration Collection
Wash Day Collection of Inspiration

All the fine print. This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making Mondays, Modest Mom Monday's, Monday's Musings, Make Your Home Sing Monday, Good Morning Mondays,  The Scoop, Titus 2 Tuesdays, Tuesdays with a Twist, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Link Up, Homestead Blog Hop,  Wow Us Wednesdays,  Coffee and Conversation, Homemaking Thursdays, Home Sweet Home, Our Simple Homestead, From the Farm Blog Hop, Awesome Life Friday Link Up, Five Star Frou Frou Friday, Shabbilicious Friday, Simply Natural Saturdays and Clever Chicks Blog Hop. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these. This post may contain affiliate links (which are merchant links that help to support this site at no additional cost to you if you purchase an item through them).

DIY Peppermint Granite and Marble Countertop Cleaner Spray

Did you know that vinegar-based and citrus-based cleaning products can do something called "etching" on granite and marble countertops (which can leave white marks and dull them)? Though I am a big proponent of the inexpensive vinegar-based sprays, being a good steward of what we have is also very important. Here is an easy recipe using the mint extract we made a few weeks ago that is safe for granite and marble countertops. This spray can also be used for cleaning any other kind of countertop so don't be shy and let's do a little herbal-kitchen crafting!

To make the cleaner, combine the following ingredients:

• 3 tbsp. homemade mint extract (you will find a tutorial on how to make it here)
• 1 ½ c. water
• 1 tsp. dish soap

Pour mixture into a clean spray bottle. Give it a swirl and it is ready to use!

The alcohol will help to remove the streaks as you clean (as well as disinfect), the mint adds a fresh fragrance and antibacterial properties while the dish soap does some old fashioned cleaning. You will also want to make sure that you always keep your countertops nice and dry to avoid water spots, etc. for routine maintenance.

You will find our printable recipe with the matching label here if you are interested in adding it to your herbal or homemaking binder. Happy herbal-kitchen crafting, ladies!

All the fine print. This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making Mondays, Modest Mom Monday's, Monday's Musings, Make Your Home Sing Monday, Good Morning Mondays,  The Scoop, Titus 2 Tuesdays, Tuesdays with a Twist, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Link Up, Homestead Blog Hop,  Wow Us Wednesdays,  Coffee and Conversation, Homemaking Thursdays, Home Sweet Home, Our Simple Homestead, From the Farm Blog Hop, Awesome Life Friday Link Up, Five Star Frou Frou Friday, Shabbilicious Friday, Simply Natural Saturdays and Clever Chicks Blog Hop. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these. This post may contain affiliate links (which are merchant links that help to support this site at no additional cost to you if you purchase an item through them). This recipe was adapted from here.

How to Make Moth-Repellent Sachets {DIY} ~ Simple to Sew

“MARCH, 1846-- I have at last got the little room I have wanted so long, and am very happy about it. It does me good to be alone, and Mother has made it very pretty and neat for me. My work-basket and desk are by the window, and my closet is full of dried herbs that smell very nice.”

~ Louisa May Alcott, Diary Entry

(I had promised more ways to use your abundance of dried peppermint!)

Mix up some of your favorite, dried, moth-reppellent herbs...

bay leaves

chamomile

cinnamon sticks (crushed/broken)

cloves (whole)

eucalyptus

feverfew

lavender

lemon verbena

peppermint

rosemary

wormwood

Scoop them into a little sachet (hand-made or store-bought)...

We sewed ours. We didn't hem the sides (we left them raw). I think it looks prettier this way...

You can use some of your old fabric scraps or something like ours which were already pre-cut to size...

Once the herbs are inside the pocket, sew up the opening.

Store them away with your seasonal coats, woolens, clothing and blankets

to keep the moths away during the summer months...

Add some liberally into your closets and drawers to further protect your fabrics and provide a sweet scent.

Herbal homemaking is a quiet, gentle and romantic art that slows one down in this busy world

while giving us time to reflect on what is truly important.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

~ Matthew 6:19-21

Note: To remove any form of deception, I normally would not have much time for such sewing pursuits. It would seem like a project like this would be last on a busy homemaking list. However, I save these sorts of gentle doings and desires for our mother-daughter time together. When making these moments of bonding, I am also able to share a slower lifestyle where the loving details do matter, light conversation, some basic sewing procedures, instill a passion and knowledge for herbs and good, pure, old fashioned homemaking. Perhaps you now have permission to enjoy a project like this with your children? Even boys can be involved by foraging for some of these herbs (i.e, climb those eucalyptus and bay leaf trees)!

All the fine print. This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making Mondays, Modest Mom Monday's, Monday's Musings, Make Your Home Sing Monday, Good Morning Mondays,  The Scoop, Titus 2 Tuesdays, Tuesdays with a Twist, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Link Up, Homestead Blog Hop,  Wow Us Wednesdays,  Coffee and Conversation, Homemaking Thursdays, Home Sweet Home, Our Simple Homestead, From the Farm Blog Hop, Awesome Life Friday Link Up, Five Star Frou Frou Friday, Shabbilicious Friday, Simply Natural Saturdays and Clever Chicks Blog Hop. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these. This post may contain affiliate links (which are merchant links that help to support this site at no additional cost to you if you purchase an item through them).