Tag Archives: cleaning

Homestead Hack: Obtaining Inexpensive Spray Bottles

by Texas Homesteader 

Recently RancherMan & I needed a spray bottle to fill with iodine for our cattle from time to time, such as newborn calves’ umbilical cords, etc. 

I hated to spend the money on a small lightweight spray bottle. But I found a trick to getting better spray bottles for cheaper. Check out this clever Homestead Hack for saving a few bucks if you find yourself in the same position…

Obtaining Cheap Spray Bottles - Check out this clever Homestead Hack for saving a few bucks if you ever need to purchase an empty spray bottle #TexasHomesteader

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Blood-Stains: Laundry Problems On The Homestead (and maybe your house too!)

by Texas Homesteader
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Working with barbed wire (and pasture plants with thorns) means blood stains are a common laundry stain problem here on the Homestead. Maybe you struggle with it too?

Come see how I’m able to remove blood stains from RancherMan’s shirts.

I've got a secret weapon to battle the laundry monster of BLOOD STAINS on our clothes. See my quick & easy solution. #TexasHomesteader

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MYO Natural-Scented Hair Rinse

by Texas Homesteader ~

It’s a well-known fact that diluted vinegar is a natural hair conditioner. It’s said that with occasional use vinegar helps restore the natural PH of your hair. It also helps clean buildup from your hair. Plus it not only restores that healthy shine but it detangles too.

However RancherMan hates, hates, HATES the smell of vinegar. Although no vinegar aroma at all remains in your hair when it’s dry, there is a subtle hint of vinegar as your hair is drying.

To please that man in my life I’ve scented my vinegar with my favorite herb – rosemary! (a double benefit since it’s also said that Rosemary is a good herb to use in your vinegar rinse for healthy hair)

I use the power of the sun to infuse rosemary into plain vinegar and then make it into a natural hair rinse. My hair is soft & shiny! #TexasHomesteader
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Wordless Wednesday: Simple Laundry Day

by Texas Homesteader ~ 

Hanging clean laundry on the line under that blazingly-blue sky just speaks to my heart, reminding me of slower & gentler days gone by. #TexasHomesteader

Hanging clean laundry on the line under that blazingly-blue sky just speaks to my heart, reminding me of slower & gentler days gone by.  ~TxH~

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Using Natural SOAPBERRIES For Your Laundry

by Texas Homesteader
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This past fall I was so thrilled when I suspected that our remote-pasture property contained Soapberry Trees. I excitedly harvested a few berries and took pictures of the berries, the tree, the bark. I submitted those pictures to my local Extension Agent for identification.

Her response was that these trees were indeed the Western Soapberry Tree. Meaning that these berries actually contain soponin – a soapy substance used by early settlers for cleaning, laundry, etc. I dried the berries and have been using them in my laundry, comparing it to the more common soap nuts which I’ve purchased and used before from * Amazon.  I’m very pleased with the results.

Read Our Experience Using Natural SOAPBERRIES For Environmentally-Friendly Cleaning Of Our Laundry #TexasHomesteader

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MYO Dishwasher Tabs – Quick & Cheap!

by Texas Homesteader
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I recently became extremely disenchanted with my crappy low-end dishwasher.  I mean, why must we wash our dishes THREE times? Once BEFORE putting the in the dishwasher, once during the dishwasher’s many cycles and then once again when you pull the still-dirty dishes from the dishwasher! It would be easier to hand-wash the dishes but it was the principle of the thing. We have a dishwasher, we fill it with name-brand detergent and it just doesn’t clean the dishes.

Then right before buckling and replacing the dishwasher we were told to try dishwasher tabs instead of powder. I had always shunned them because they are so exorbitantly expensive. But upon trying them I was convinced. Our dishes came out clean, but oh at what expense?

Not only were they pricey but these dish-washing tab products had individually wrapped tabs that are tucked into a plastic molded tray, then placed inside a foil-covered cardboard box and then the whole thing plastic wrapped again. There has to be a better way both financially & environmentally!  Hummm…  Wonder if I can make my own dishwasher tabs?  Um, YES!

4-INGREDIENT HOMEMADE DISHWASHER TABS - I hate the amount of trash that's included with commercial dishwasher tabs. Make it yourself and SAVE! #TexasHomesteader

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