Homemaking

Potpourri is a combination of dried flowers and barks that is enhanced with either scented or essential oils. Regardless of the quality of the potpourri at the time of purchase, all potpourri...

Aromatherapy is the perfect, natural, way to help keep bugs out of the house without having to use harsh chemicals. Below are the most effective aromatherapy treatments you can use to keep bugs...

Wooden cutting boards are attractive and functional. They are also more sanitary than plastic boards, according to Dean O. Cliver, a University of California professor. To keep your wooden cutting...

Cooking spray, a mixture of cooking oil and lecithin, was invented in 1957. The lecithin thins the oil enough so that it can be sprayed. And while cooking spray keeps cakes from sticking to the...

Cutting boards made of wood are never really fully cured. Curing is an ongoing process that involves the re-application of specific oils to prime the surface of the wood, protecting it from germs...

Oak countertops are often constructed similarly to butcher blocks and they should be treated in a similar way in order to keep them looking good and to prevent cracking or seam splitting. Properly...

Cutting boards are a basic necessity in the average kitchen. Cleaning and protecting your board is of the utmost importance as it can quickly become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. The...

Peppermint oil's most common use is its ability to aid in digestion. In addition to aiding the healing of stomach problems, peppermint oil soothes muscles, relieves colds, and alleviates one's...

Air fresheners add much to the mood, comfort and graciousness of a living space, but the cost of adding scented devices throughout the home can be expensive. But you can keep your home smelling...

A home that smells fresh and clean can be very inviting. You can buy expensive products to make your house smell like almost anything that you can imagine, but the least expensive way to enjoy a...

Many chefs prefer wooden cutting boards because they are easier on knife blades. Also, heavy cutting boards won't slide around on the counter when you're chopping. Seasoning a board simply means...

The cat litter hasn't been dumped. The baby's room? Diaper Geni® must be full. Then there are the teens who believe that there's nothing to recommend a clean room if it requires taking time...

The trick to keeping your antique cast iron cookware in good shape is proper cleaning and seasoning. If your pan is seasoned correctly, food will not stick to it and it won't rust. Seasoning...

Bamboo is a grass rather than a wood but it requires similar cleaning and curing procedures when made into a cutting board. Bamboo cutting boards have a harder composition and are lighter in...

Everyone loves a sweet-smelling home, but just keeping it sparkling clean isn't always enough. Candles soaked with fragrance oils are nice, but they aren't the best choice for every home....

Reed diffusers are a wonderful way to update and freshen your home. Purchasing replacement diffuser oil, however, can become expensive over time and the choices of fragrances can be limited....

One of life's little pleasures is walking into a room suffused with a lovely scent. Bring fragrance into your home by lighting a catalytic fragrance lamp---also known as a perfume lamp. These...

A butcher block cutting board, counter or tabletop can be a prized possession of any cook. Easy to care for, a butcher block top will last for generations and take a lot of abuse before it wears...

Fragrance oil burners are an easy and affordable way to add fragrance to your home. For many, a space that smells nice often goes hand in hand with good moods and a greater sense of comfort and...

Scent diffusers can be found in any craft or home goods store for around $10, but why spend the money when you can make your own for much less. Fill your house with delectable scents in every room...

A black cast iron skillet can be a very versatile piece of cookware and one that you'll use often --- that is, if you know how to keep it in good condition. The main consideration here is not to...

Many cooks swear by their cast iron skillets. They are versatile and can be used for stove top and oven cooking. If you happen to have a cast iron skillet that appears rusted or unused, you can...

As more people are becoming concerned with saving money and living simply, homemade soaps are increasingly in popularity. While several versions of homemade soaps can be seen at Farmers Markets or...

Air fresheners can leave a cloying, overly sweet smell hovering in your home. With so many natural herbs, essential oils and other products that will freshen your rooms and linens, it makes sense...

Mineral oil has many uses other than just for combating constipation. Some maintain that using mineral oil as a laxative could be dangerous. Minerals might be depleted from the body this way. ...

Stop wasting your hard-earned money on expensive air fresheners that don't do the job. Not only do manufactured air fresheners cost a lot, they are full of harsh chemicals that leak into the air...

Spiders commonly find themselves in the homes of people who are not necessarily willing to have eight-legged company. If you have spiders in your home and you want them to move out and stay gone,...

A wooden chopping block is a wonderful asset to any kitchen, and can last for years if cared for properly. Here are tips on caring for a new chopping block, or one that has not been cared for in...

Want to control flies in the house, around picnics, in restaurants, bakeries, and other areas they become annoying? This eHow article shows how to use one natural method with an herb that flies...

Making soap can be a fun experience for families. It allows for personalized soaps for each member as well as gifts for friends and other family members. Soy, when used in soap, is more beneficial...

You will learn how to make a Peppermint air freshener that doubles as a repellant to spiders, flees, and other insects. Peppermint is also great for nasal congestion! Not only is this spray really...

Like a scene from a bad movie, a line of ANTS stream across your kitchen floor. I'll turn you into: THE EXTERMINATOR!

There is nothing more relaxing than laying down onto a bed at the end of the day onto fresh crisp linens that have the faintest hint of a beautiful scent. Linen sprays have been use for centuries...

Bamboo is the latest eco-friendly material for all kinds of furniture, kitchen tools and objects of beauty. Bamboo cutting boards have become prized by home cooks and professional chefs for their...

Do you want an easy fix to your dried out beat up and tired looking cutting board? I've got a simple and easy fix that will not only improve it's appearance without any tools but will increase its...

A natural spider repellent you can make at home will help keep spiders out without damaging the environment. Spiders are good for controlling insect populations, but sometimes you can have too...

Orange oil is a hard-working essential oil with multiple uses from termite control to cleaning. This oil is produced from the glands inside of an orange rind. Essential oils are a term that is...

Cast iron works differently than all other types of skillets or cooking pans. If not seasoned properly, cast iron skillets will be a major pain to use. However, if these are seasoned properly...

Catalytic fragrance lamps not only destroy odors and kill bacteria, they effuse the air with pleasant scents. Manufacturers price these lamps reasonably, but the smokeless oil is expensive. You...

Olive oil, and extra virgin olive oil in particular, has gained popularity in the United States over the past few years, in part because of American chefs who train in Mediterranean countries,...

This is an easy way to keep your shoes smelling fresh as a daisy! This is a recipe my mum taught me many years ago. All made with essential oils that are natural and non harming to the...

Have you ever walked into someone’s house and it smells like pure heaven, but you just can’t figure out how they do it? I can’t help but wonder if they are using plug-in air fresheners, aerosol...

Preserving kitchen décor and utensils through proper maintenance is an important part of not only keeping these items for long use but also to upkeep their beauty. Seasoning a wooden bowl...

If you ever wondered why cast iron pans have remained popular for the kitchen, you either haven't used one yourself or you have not maintained your pans for optimum cooking. Cast iron pans heat...

You can make your own essential oils for a diffuser without an expensive still. The concentration of these homemade oils won't be quite as great as in commercially prepared versions, but they will...

If you're in love with your Lampe Berger but hate paying the high price for "authentic" oil for it, then this project is for you. Quick and easy to make, this fragrance oil will not only scent...

Clean all cast iron cookware thoroughly before seasoning. Remove stickers or tags from new pans, and use hot water and dish soap to wash off any residue. Used cookware that needs to be...

Many of the chemicals found in common household cleansers are bad for the planet and bad for your health. When you factor in the wasteful packaging and inflated price of commercially marketed...

Cast iron items, covered in rust and scale, are discarded every day, to fill local landfills. Many of these items are works of 19th century art, and their loss is painful. Rusty, painted or...

The key to freshening the air in any home is to start with a clean home. Before setting forth to create your home air fresheners, clean your home with a vinegar-based cleaner to sweeten the air....