Little Handmade Gifts

These are some gifts that have been posted on Domestic Servitude that you can make to give during the holidays.

1. Bath Cookie - I made these in Lavendar and Lemongrass scents.  Make sure to mark them for bath only not eatable.

2. Bath Fizzes - I got the Citric Acid for these at natural/health food grocer.  It is something used often when canning but I didn't find it in regular grocery stores near canning supplies unfortunately.

3. Sweet & Spicy Bath Salts - all the ingredients in this recipe by katie, you most likely have on hand!  It would be good idea for all those little empty bottles of herbs/spices that I save wondering how can I reuse these.

4.  Clothes Pin Magnets - very inexpensive - 36 pack of clothes pins at Dollar Tree, 50 cent acrylic paints at  Michael's and then just cheap little stamps I have picked up at Michael and Dollar Tree. Make a great stocking stuffer.

Sweet & Spicy Bath Salts

I do the holiday (and birthday for that matter) gift making around here.  Generally speaking, I do gift baskets with lots of little things tucked inside.  This year, I'm including some of these fun bath salts.  They're quick, easy, and inexpensive but make a fun gift.

Sweet & Spicy Bath Salts

1 Cup Salt (any kind will work: Table, Sea, Epsom, etc.)
1/2 Cup Baking Soda
1/4 Cup Sugar
2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Ground Ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground Cloves

Whisk everything together and pour into jars or bags for gift giving.  Add a nice label and instructions to use 2 Tablespoons per bath.

Homemade Toilet Cleaner

Everyone likes a clean toilet and nice smelling bathroom, right?  I certainly do and this has become one of my favorite ways to achieve both.

Lemon-Pine Toilet Cleaner

1 Cup Boiling Water
1 Cup Borax
1 Cup Vinegar
10 drops Pine Essential Oil
10 drops Lemon Essential Oil

Mix together the boiling water and borax until the borax dissolves.  Add the vinegar and essential oils, stirring well.  Dump the whole thing into your toilet and let it sit (overnight is fine).  Scrub with your brush and flush.  It'll leave the bowl clean and if you have hard water the vinegar helps get rid of that calcium build up and the whole bathroom will smell nice but not overly harsh.

You could easily switch up the essential oils to scents you enjoy more.  If you used some grapefruit seed oil, it has some antibacterial properties, too.

Fall Cleaning: Bathroom

I started fall cleaning last week and will most likely be done with it tomorrow. I thought I would post a list or two daily this week that I use for fall cleaning. I also will be adding a pdf list at the end if you want to download it and print. Please let me know if it isn't working as this is the first time I have tried to link a pdf from our website. And sometimes our hotlinking protection acts a little wonky.

BATHROOM

* Declutter and reorganize - get rid of all the old tubes of lipstick and make up.
* Wash curtains and bathroom rugs
* Empty and wash out trash can
* Wipe down all cabinets the inside and outside
* Clean light fixtures and change any bulbs that are needed
* Clean windows - remember to clean window sill and on top of window sill as well as the tracts and screen. Use toothbrush for hard to reach areas
* Wipe down the bathroom door, and the top of the bathroom door
* Spray down your shower/tub with cleaner, let sit for a bit and then scrub well. Use a magic eraser or stiff scrub brush and then a tooth brush for tiny areas and grout.
* Clean and disinfect toilet
* Clean a soap dish and toothbrush holder by putting them in the dishwasher
* Replace bar soap or refill liquid soap - replace toothbrushes
* Clean sink and faucet and counter - use tooth brush around the faucet and handles to get close and into grooves
* Clean mirror with a microfiber cloth dampened with a solution of vinegar water
* Wipe down light switches, outlets, towel racks and toilet paper holder. Also any furniture - shelves above toilet
* Dust, wipe down and dry walls and baseboards - Clean walls and baseboards with a dampened microfiber cloth. Use alcohol on build of hairspray. Wallpaper only dust
* Take heating vent cover off - scrub heating vent cover and then using vacuum hose vacuum in the shaft and surrounding area
* Wash floor with a vinegar/water solution
* Put back shower curtain and rugs or change out with seasonal ones
* Put fresh towels out

EXTRAS
* Think of ways to reorganize using things around the house. A pretty little jar for q-tips, a candy dish with a cover for cotton balls
* Create baskets for each family member to put their hair products, blow dryers and curling irons so they are responsible for putting things away into their basket after using.

Download and Print Fall Cleaning List - Bathroom

Throwing out mercury thermometers

When a thermometer breaks, the amount of liquid mercury it contains can contaminate all the fish in a 20-acre-lake as well as cause neurological damage to people. Many states have banned the sale of mercury thermometers. Using digital thermometer is a better alternative. The problem though is that people are just throwing out their mercury thermometers in with their normal trash. And that can lead to contamination.

So check out to do if you have any breakage for safe clean up here and then check out this link for how to dispose of your mercury thermometers safely. If you can't find one in the information, contact your local hazardous waste hauler for information on where to dispose of mercury thermometers safely.

Toilet Paper - Over or Under?

I like the toilet paper coming from over the roll. My main reason I do it that way is because I was a maid in a hotel. We were taught that it is over. We were taught it was more "sanitary" over as well as easier to pull and just presentation neater with the little fold corners to give it a tip. Personally it seems to me to rip off easier that way and it just seem less germy then reaching under the roll where you end up touching a lot more roll.