{AMISH COMMUNITY NEWS} Vol. 4 No. 4
April 18, 2012
Barbara and Sarah’s Recipes for Homemade Cleaning Products
Household Cleanser
1 cup ammonia 1 cup vinegar 1 cup baking soda Mix and dissolve in a pail of warm soft water. Use to wash walls, varnished woodwork and furniture.
Furniture Polish
Recipe #1 1 quart water (rain water preferred) 2 tablespoons vinegar 2 tablespoons good cooking or cedar oil Put all ingredients in a jar and shake well. Soak a soft rag with the mixture and wipe furniture well. Then polish with a dry cloth. Recipe #2* 1 cup linseed oil 5 cups turpentine 1 cup vinegar Mix all ingredients and shake well. First, wipe furniture with warm water, then with a tablespoon or two of polish. Dry polish with a soft cloth. This recipe is good for keeping old furniture from drying out.
Silver Polish
1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 quart water Small piece of aluminum foil. Mix baking soda, salt and water. Place small piece of aluminum foil in a pan large enough to fit silverware being cleaned. Soak silverware in this mixture.
Mildew Remover
1 cup + 1 cup vinegar 1 cup liquid bleach 2 quarts water Mix 1 cup vinegar, all bleach and water. Soak cloth. Rinse well in clear water with a cup of vinegar added.
Presoak for Laundry 1/4 cup Clorox 1/4 cup automatic dishwasher detergent 1 gallon hot water Combine ingredients. Soak clothes in mixture for 15 to 20 minutes. Then wash. DO NOT SOAK OVER NIGHT!
Drain Declogger
1/4 cup baking soda 1/2 cup vinegar Pour baking soda down the drain, follow with vinegar. Close drain until fizzing stops. Flush with 2 quarts boiling water.
More Cleaning Thoughts
To get rid of ink stains on clothing … Spray the spots with hair spray and launder as usual. To keep drawers and sliding doors from sticking … Lubricate their tracks with hair conditioner. Continued on page 2
Update on the Amish Heritage Center By Sarah Miller
Things are moving right along at the Amish Heritage Center with John Gingerich and Ben J. Miller working on the mural hoping to have it finished by the end of April. The carpet is being put down on the upstairs floors. The Amish ladies will make curtains for most of the windows. If anyone has old articles on the Amish that would be of interest that they’d like to share, it would be greatly appreciated. Different things will be added to the Center from time to time to keep things interesting. The Amish Center in Lancaster, Pa. is willing to share some things with us. A lot of research and work has gone into this project and we are very excited at the idea of having it ready to open. Once it starts, the Center will be open 6 days a week.
Next issue Plain Country– May 9. Submission deadline–Monday, April 23. Advertising deadline–April 27. Please send the information to share to Plain Country, P.O. Box 626, Middlefield, OH 44062, or call 440-632-0782 or fax to 440-834-8933. Subscriptions are available for $25 per year.