Homemade Four Thieves Household Cleaner Spray ~ Homemade Window Cleaner Spray

I said we were getting a "slight" warm up, but it's a smidgen of warmth.  The temperature today is 0°F with a windchill of -11°F.  The wind has settled, but they are saying we may get a teensy bit more snow.

Oh boy!  Why I cannot have magazine subscriptions.  I used to LOVE getting magazines from my Mom, after she read hers.  I haven't had magazines around since Mom passed.  I picked these up at the library book sale for free, but that was a year ago.  The magazines are all Cook's Illustrated magazines.  I have moved them from kitchen table, to end table, to coffee table and back to kitchen table.  Sigh.  The magazine shuffle madness must end!  I am forcing myself to get thru them, and pass them on.  Good grief.  However, it is part of my "take back the organized house" mode I am currently in.

Is there something you "shuffle" around for one reason or another?

On to the cleaners part of the post. . .

 I have been using a homemade cleaning spray for a few years, but for some reason, could not find my original post on it.  I have mixed up another batch this week, and I love this for the counter tops, and especially the stove top.

The "thieves" recipe is online with Mountain Rose Herbs - Thieves Household Cleaner.  I use an amber glass spray bottle for this cleaner.  I do use distilled water for this one.

Before (see the grease on the vents?)

After being cleaned.

It smells great, cleans great, and cuts the grease on the stove top.  I have not used it for anything else in the house.  Mostly bathroom sink counter tops, kitchen counter tops, door knobs, light switches etc.

The other homemade cleaner, that I absolutely love, is the homemade window cleaner.  It's very easy to make and oddly has arrowroot powder in it.

It has not failed me in keeping the windows or mirrors clean.  Love this stuff.  I have no idea which friend shared it with me, but they are blog writers, so here is how to make the window spray . . .

I buy a BPA re-fillable spray bottle for this spray.

Mix the following ingredients in a spray bottle.

1/4 cup white vinegar

3 Tbsp. rubbing alcohol

1 tsp. arrowroot powder

3/4 cup distilled water

I do use distilled water for this cleaner as well.  We have well water, and it's not the best for a cleaner such as this.  I double this for a large spray bottle.  It's great for windows and mirrors.

Homemade Four Thieves Household Cleaner Spray ~ Homemade Window Cleaner Spray  ©  January 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

This and That

 Any writers here?  Are there any free downloadable programs that are similar to what Word offers?  Other than Google docs and notepad?  Looking for one like Word, in which to use for writing, with options to save to a removeable drive as well as save to the computer.  Font options, italics, underscore, paragraph widths and all the options that Word has. Or an inexpensive program to purchase similar to Word?

Our Word program expired a few years ago, and I do not like notepad at all.  It comes in handy for a recipe, but that's about it.

Thanks to anyone who can give me recommendations.  I think I follow a few that write books, and possibly a few that keep journals (not blogs, but actual personal journals) using their computer/laptap or tablet.  

This tip may be a repeat tip.  Sorry if that is the case.  I started buying 2# bottles of Dawn on sale, and use them to refill our smaller bottle.  Saves us a lot of money, as we can, preserve, cook from scratch, and there are always dishes to wash.

I also save a few of the lids from the bottles.  They come in handy for other containers and they come in handy to replace the existing lids on the bottle we use daily.

Short post today.

Cleavers.  I'm considering making a tincture this year.  Anyone have any experience with Cleavers as a tincture?

This and That  ©  May 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Snow Update ~ Crochet Embellished Mini Heart Paper Clips ~ Cabbage Stew and Baked Bread (using dehydrator to raise dough)

I took this photo at 9am yesterday.  There was hardly any snow on the ground.  It looked the same in the evening.  They predicted 4-7 inches, but it was a wet and heavy snow.  Roads are clear from what I hear, so I'm hoping the upstairs carpet removal resumes today.
 

As mentioned, I wanted to also share that I also make crocheted mini hearts for embellishing paper clips.  I made homemade cards and gifted the kids with them one year.  They are great to tuck into cards, letters, or surprise gifts.  They make great random acts of kindness gifts as well.  They are easy and inexpensive to make for Valentine's Day gifts too.  I thought I had a post for making these, but I do not see one.  I may just have to get one up.

I changed up the menu yesterday.  I tossed together a cabbage/sausage soup and baked skillet bread.  I know my husband has to watch the bread in his diet, so I sent some to work for co-workers.  I linked the skillet bread recipe.  It is the next best to baking rolls, and tastes like soft rolls.

I also let my dough rise in my dehydrator.  If you have a dehydrator with pull out trays, check the top for the suggested temperature to do that. My tip for today.

 I switched from herbal teas to hot cocoa and enjoyed some schnapps in it.  It was perfect for a "snow" day with some afternoon crochet time.  I'm still working on the crochet blanket order.

Blooms ~ Household Tip

 

My comfrey bloomed for the first time ever.

More bell flower blooms

Household tip:  It took almost a dozen purchases, to find the sink strainer basket replacement that actually fit the sink.  I'm not kidding either.  I finally found one that fit, so the label with part number is being taped inside my cupboard under the kitchen sink.