April 2021 HOHL Natural Living Spotlight

As we walk into Spring during the month of April, I wanted to take a moment to take a look at a few natural living tips to start us off on the right foot. This month I would like to focus on Spring cleaning. Here are a couple of recipes to get you started.

Door Knob/Handle Sanitizing Spray –

Viruses, bacteria, and germs tend to multiply and thrive on surfaces that are frequently touched in high-traffic areas. These surfaces often include doorknobs, toilet bowl handles, refrigerator door handles, faucet handles, microwave and dishwasher buttons, and stove top dials. You can minimize the risk to yourself and your family by mixing and using a sanitizer spray to wipe down these surfaces daily.

This recipe calls for:

• ½ cup Vodka

• 1 Lemon Peel

• 6 oz. Amber plastic spray bottle

• Vegetable peeler

Instructions:

• Peel the lemon in strips (trying not to remove the white pith) and add the lemon strips to the amber plastic spray bottle.

• Pour the vodka into the spray bottle covering the lemon peel.

• Store in a cool, dark place (cupboard or cabinet) and allow the essential oils to release from the lemon peel to gently infuse the vodka with its scent and cleansing properties (about 24 hours and up to 2 weeks)

Refreshing Hair Rinse –

Applying an Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) hair rinse can revitalize the skin on the scalp by removing product build-up and assist in maintaining the natural pH level of the skin. An ACV rinse has also been known to increase the hair’s shine and is also thought to have an astringent effect that smooths the hair shaft’s cuticle.

This recipe calls for:

• 1 tsp/5 mL Organic ACV

• ½ Pint/240 mL Spring Water (or Geranium Hydrolat)

• 3 drops Geranium Essential Oil

• Rosemary Essential Oil

• 10 oz. Amber PET plastic/glass spray bottle

Instructions:

• Add the essential oils to the ACV and mix well to properly disperse the essential oils.

• Add ½ pint of Spring water.

• After shampooing and rinsing as you normally do, spray the ACV rinse through the hair several times to ensure effective coverage (being sure to avoid getting the mixture in your eyes).

• Dispose of any unused ACV in the bottle since this mixture does not contain a preservative.

References

Worwood, V. A. (2016). The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy. Novato, California, United States: New World Library.

Zukowski, S. (2012). Salt, Lemons, Vinegar, and Baking Soda. New York: Sterling Publishing.