The Farmers Touch Dryer Sheets

Dryer sheets are a must to have on hand. They give your laundry a fresh scent and take care of static cling. But, did you know you don't have to buy them at the store? Making your own dryer sheets is easy, and you will love how effective they are.

You will quickly find that homemade dryer sheets are better than any commercial brand for many reasons. First, they cost next to nothing to make and you can save money on the first load. If that isn't reason enough, you also can create your own scents, avoid harsh chemicals, and reuse them again and again. Pair your homemade dryer sheets with wool dryer balls, and your laundry will be fresh, soft, and free of static cling.

How Often Should You Make Homemade Dryer Sheets?

The best part about making your own dryer sheets? You can use them again and again. Unlike store-bought dryer sheets, which get thrown out after one use, these DIY dryer sheets will last around 15 washes. Just make sure to refresh them or make new ones once they lose their scent by following the steps below.

DIY Homemade Dryer Sheets With Vinegar

Many families have concerns about chemicals in laundry products and are trying to find natural alternatives. If you don't want to spend the money on chemical-free fabric softeners to create dryer sheets, there is an alternative.

The inexpensive answer to eco-friendly fabric softener is vinegar. It can be used in the washer to replace liquid fabric softener and to create your own dryer sheets. A single bottle can keep your laundry soft and fresh and eliminate the need to buy fabric softener or dryer sheets.

The combination of vinegar and essential oils in these dryer sheets is perfect. Vinegar is a natural fabric softener, and the smell disappears when it dries. This leaves the oils to add a subtle fragrance, which you can customize and change as you like.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

• Several pieces of cloth

• Glass container with a tight sealing lid

Materials

• 1/2 cup vinegar

• 6 to 8 drops essential oil of choice

How to Make Homemade Dryer Sheets

Fold Clothes and Place in Container Your cloth can be store-bought or scraps (think rags, cut-up towels, pieces of old t-shirts, whatever works for you). It's best practice to use a jar with a wide opening at the top so it's easiest to place the rags inside and take them out when you're done.

Add Vinegar and Essential Oils

Mix vinegar and essential oils in a separate bowl or jar. Choose an essential oil that you like, as it will not only mask the scent of the vinegar, but also leave its scent on any clothes you dry with your new DIY dryer sheets.

Add Just Enough Vinegar Solution to the Jar

Pour enough vinegar over the cloths until they are damp—but not saturated or soaking. You can save your excess vinegar for tons of cleaning tasks around the house, from using as a fabric softener to removing odors from pet stains to cleaning soap scum out of your shower.

When You're Ready to Use the Dryer, Grab a Cloth

When you're ready to dry a load of laundry, remove one cloth and ring it out over the jar to remove any excess vinegar before tossing it in the dryer.

Replace and Reuse

Place the cloth back in the jar after each use and it's ready for the next load. Add more scented vinegar as needed; it should be every month or so.

Tips to Make Your DIY Dryer Sheets Last Longer

• The dryer sheet will last as long as the fabric holds up! The key to making them last as long as possible is not overusing the cloth.

• Rotate the use of different pieces of cloth instead of using the same cloth over and over.

• Avoid running your dryer on high heat, if possible.
  

XoXo

BethAnn

The Farmers Touch

The Farmers Touch Disinfectant Wipes

In this post: If you want to learn how to make DIY disinfectant wipes that can be washed and reused, then you will love this recipe for REUSABLE DIY “Clorox”- type wipes! They even smell lemony-fresh!

The great thing about store-bought disinfectant wipes is that you know you are getting something clean when you use them. The bad thing about those same wipes is that they can cost a fair amount and they are going to our landfill because they can’t be reused. They have a place and a purpose for sure.

But if you want to learn how to make cleaning and DIY disinfectant wipes that can be washed and reused, then you will love this recipe for REUSABLE DIY “Clorox”-type wipes!

The Difference Between Cleansing and Disinfecting

There is definitely a difference between cleaning a surface and disinfecting it.

According to Wikipedia:

• “Disinfectants are antimicrobial agents designed to inactivate or destroy microorganisms on inert surfaces. Disinfection does not necessarily kill all microorganisms…”

• “The term cleanser refers to a product that cleans or removes dirt or other substances.”

What About Essential Oils?

Some essential oils are said to have antiviral properties, along with antibacterial and antifungal properties.

An article in the American Journal of Essential Oils and Natural Products suggests that some essential oils may help fight flu viruses, though more research is necessary [source1, source2].

However, I’m including a list of possibleantiviral/antibacterial/antifungal essential oils here, in case you’d like to add them to your wipes for their scent or potential anti-germ properties:

• bergamot oil

• eucalyptus oil

• red thyme

• cinnamon leaf

• lemon

• rosemary

• peppermint

• tea tree

How to Make DIY Disinfectant Wipes

Materials

• 2 cups rubbing alcohol (at least 70% alcohol)

• 2-3 tsp Dawn dishwashing soap (adjust the amount to suit)

• 10 drops Lemon (or other) Essential Oil (for scent)

• 10 Washcloths

• Glass jar (with sealing lid so alcohol doesn’t evaporate)

Note: Again, the CDC and others recommend wiping down frequently used surfaces daily, using a disinfectant with at least 70% alcohol (in order for them to be effective).

Instructions

1. First decide how large you want your DIY disinfectant wipes. I cut most of my washcloths in half, but I left some full size for larger jobs.

2. Fill your jar with the washcloths.

3. In a bowl, mix together, rubbing alcohol, dish soap, and lemon essential oil. And add any additional essential oils for additional scent.

4. Pour the cleaning mix into the jar over the washcloths.

5. Put the lid on and use wipes as needed. After your rags are dirty, just throw them in the washing machine and remake them as necessary!How to Use Your DIY Disinfectant Wipes To use the wipes, wipe down high-touch, hard surfaces and leave ten minutes to dry.

Surfaces to Clean with Disinfectant Wipes The following are surfaces that are frequently touched throughout the day, and as such should be cleaned often:

• tables

• doorknobs

• light switches

• countertops

• handles

• desks

• phones

• keyboards

• toilets,

• faucets

• sinks

• etc.

Hi all!

Okay, so here’s the thing. I’m not a scientist or a doctor. I’m just a partner and mom. My heart is to provide what little help I can in all this.

This wipes recipe was created years ago, before everything that’s currently happening. The wipes definitely clean surfaces. And I’ve updated the “recipe” with the latest info.

Does that mean they will kill everything? Not necessarily.

But they can help if you don’t have or can’t get the store-bought disinfecting wipes.

And they are washable, so they save waste. know we are all confused and stressed and doing the best we each can. Please use common sense and use what resources you have well. If that means you increase the alcohol to make yourself more comfortable, by all means, do that.

Regular soap and warm water is said to destroy the current bug, so that could work too.

I really don’t have all the answers. But I hope the projects and things I have created here help you.

XoXo

BethAnn

The Farmers Touch Furniture Polish, Wood Polish, Dusting Spray

Ditch store-bought cleaners! This homemade furniture polish, wood polish and dusting spray is easy to make, affordable and super effective. It’s made with vinegar, olive oil, Castile soap and essential oils to safely clean your home.

This time, we're whipping up a dust, wood and furniture polish spray that might as well be salad dressing–oil, vinegar and citrus are the main ingredients, so this is one cleaning product that's good enough to eat. 😉

Why make your own homemade furniture polish?

Okay, if you've been following along with me for a while, you surely know by now why you should make your own cleaning products.

Of course, safety and health are the number one reasons to make your own cleaners, but I have to say that one of the more practical and tangible reasons I've stuck with DIY cleaning is because the savings are UNREAL!

You're basically getting paid to clean your house at this point. 😉

THE TRUTH: TOXIC DUST + WOOD CLEANERS

Sometimes I get looks from my friends and family when I start talking about toxic products. You know the look–it's a combo of disinterest, pity, condescension and, ultimately, incredulity as they pretend to listen to what I'm saying, while really thinking that I'm just some crazy hippie rambling on again about nonsense that's not backed by science.

Eh, Eh, Eh… the truth is there with hard facts and scientific studies to back up these claims of toxicity. Once I learned about how harmful these household products were, I simply couldn't keep my mouth shut.

Here's the proof: of the most popular store-bought furniture cleaners and dusting sprays on the market (that would bePledge, Method,Old English, Swifter and Bona), every single one of these products is rated an F (the most dangerous score) by the EWG.

This is NOT good, friends–an F rating means the product contains significant hazards to health or the environment, and/or companies don’t disclose their full ingredients list, which is a HUGE RED FLAG. What are they trying to hide?

Colors: Proven to cause cancer. Enough said.

Preservatives: This unspecified ingredient may contain carcinogens like

formaldehyde, an asthmagen that also causes severe skin burns and eye damage,

allergic skin reactions and is harmful to sea life.

Methylisothiazolinone: Trying to pronounce this ingredient is scary enough. Lest

you forget the preservative is also an allergen causing skin and respiratory irritation.

And lab studies on the brain cells of mammals also suggest that it may be neurotoxic.

Film Former: This is another unspecified ingredient that is riddled with impurities,

like Ethylene Oxide and 1,4-Dioxane, which have potential for cancer,

developmental/endocrine/reproductive harm, and damage to DNA.

A few other gems that can be found in these toxic dusting sprays, wood polishers, and furniture cleaners include C-122-20 Isoparaffin (high risk of cancer), Petroleum Gases (yes, as in the fuel used in cars, which causes genetic defects and cancer) and Fragrance, another hormone disruptor and asthmagen with links to skin irritation, allergies, nervous system defects and acute aquatic toxicity.

Fortunately, my DIY furniture polish recipe will have you cleaning dust, wood and hard furniture surfaces just as effectively (if not more!) without any of the negative side effects.

CLEANING TIPS FOR DIY HOMEMADE FURNITURE CLEANERS

Alright, so here's the deal. Instead of loading up our cleaners with harmful chemicals, preservatives and toxins, we're keeping it really simple.

All you need is olive oil, white vinegar, and castile soap. Simply add these natural ingredients to a Spray Bottle and use a Microfiber Cloth to wipe down hard surfaces, like wood and furniture.

They'll be left shiny, the wood undamaged and nourished. And it's a great way to dust hard surfaces around your home.

If you add some essential oils to the blend, it'll smell amazing. As usual, I recommend citrus essential oils, like lemon, orange or grapefruit. For fans of Pledge, you'll get a nearly identical smell from this cleaner.

Ingredients

• 1 cup organic extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 cup white distilled vinegar

• 1 teaspoon castile soap

• 15 drops essential oils (I recommend Citrus and Herb oils)

Instructions

• Pour all ingredients into a bottle (I recommend these). Fit with a spray top. Gently shake the bottle to mix the ingredients together. Use immediately or as needed.

• To use: Spray furniture or surface with the spray and wipe clean with a microfiber cloth.

I hope this helps you understand more why its is not only so much more affordable to make your own products for your home, but also helps you see how so many of the products we buy on the shelves have hidden ingredients in them. When you create your own products you know exactly what is in them.

BethAnn