It’s the time of year for harvesting herbs — to dry, freeze, make into medicine, and for use in recipes.
But are there some herbs that you use less often?
I love the way lemon verbena smells and I think it’s an attractive plant, but I don’t use it for cooking or medicine nearly as much as I use other plants (lemon really isn’t my favorite flavor…).
But it does add an excellent boost to homemade cleaners! I’ve found a way to use lemon verbena in an all-natural, homemade, non-toxic cleaning cleaning spray for countertops and glass.
To begin, you’ll need:
- a jar that holds 4 cups of liquid (a quart jar)
- 3 cups distilled white vinegar
- sprigs of lemon verbena, and other aromatic herbs such as lemongrass, thyme, and mint
- 1 Tablespoon castile soap
- 1/4 cup vodka
The first step is the most fun — get outside and gather some herbs!
Lemon Verbena et al.
Add them to your jar and cover with vinegar.
Herbs steeping in vinegar.
This concoction will need to brew for two weeks.
Two weeks later.
At this point, the liquid can be poured into a reusable spray bottle. Add the vodka and castile soap.
Transferring solution to a spray bottle.
You’re left with a non-toxic, homemade cleaner that was made from ingredients right outside your door. No need to feel badly using this around your pets, family, or self! Not only that, but it does work and you can feel safe about keeping bacteria and mold at bay through the actions of the vinegar and vodka.
Happy, healthy, green cleaning!
Linked up on:
Eat Make Grow, Sunday School Blog Carnival, Homestead Barn Hop, Simple Lives Thursday, Tiny Tip Tuesday, Wildcrafting Wednesdays, Frugal Days Sustainable Ways, and Farm Girl Friday Blog Fest.
These Light Footsteps 
I love lemon verbena. Thanks
Very nice!
I usually just infuse herbs into the vinegar and use it straight. my husband dilutes it with half infused vinegar, 1/4 sal suds and 1/4 water to use washing the dishes. works so well!
Ooo – nice to know! I’m glad to know that it could work for washing dishes, too! Hadn’t considered that!
I will give this a try! looks great. 🙂
What a great post! I make a similar (but different!) orange peel and vinegar cleaner. I am going to try yours and hope you’ll come link up to my Farm Girl Blog Fest: http://fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/2012/09/farm-girl-friday-blog-fest-2.html
This is different! I am stopping over from the blog hop at Frugally Sustainable.
Helen
Blue Eyed Beauty Blog
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dried lemon verbena also works as a nice scent for the dryer. Just put some in an old nylon stocking and throw in the drying cycle.
Great tip! Thanks for sharing – I will definitely give this a try!
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Thank you for the great recipe! I’ll definitely try it! Keep posting!
Best regards! New Barnet Carpet Cleaners Ltd.