The Only DIY You Need To Keep Your Toilet Clean

The simple secret that can solve your sleep problems, a hands-free way to revive old honey, and more. August 22, 2021 [View Online]( Good morning! While there are many reasons to make your own cleaning solutions, being in a bind is as good a reason as any. For instance, if you were planning to clean your bathroom but remembered you were out of your usual cleaner, the homemade toilet bowl cleaner in Today’s Good Thing would be a very useful thing to know how to make. Also in today’s newsletter, I’m trying out another new segment called Sleep Well Sunday. This segment will feature tips for overcoming challenges that can spoil your sleep, starting with a relaxing breathing exercise that can help you fall asleep faster. Jillee TODAY'S GOOD THING The Only DIY You Need To Keep Your Toilet Clean [Photos of making and using homemade toilet cleaner.]( With just a few simple ingredients, you can make a toilet bowl cleaner that works great and smells even better. After I started making my own cleaning and laundry products at home, I quickly realized how many cleaning solutions you can make out of a handful of different cleaning agents. You can whip up all sorts of cleaners at a moment’s notice, which is exactly how I ended up creating my homemade toilet bowl cleaner. In this formula, baking soda and borax work together to break down tough mineral deposits, while Castile soap and essential oils help to clean and deodorize. It’s a simple and affordable cleaner that will leave your toilet sparkling and surprisingly fresh. Here’s how to make it: Use your stove or microwave to heat 2 cups of distilled water until warm, then add 1 cup of baking soda and 1/3 cup of borax and stir until the powders dissolve. Let the solution cool for a few minutes, then use a funnel to pour it into a squeeze bottle. Add 1/3 cup of Castile soap and 25 drops of [Simple Clean]( (or your essential oil of choice) to the squeeze bottle. Replace the top and shake the bottle gently to mix. To use it, apply your homemade toilet bowl cleaner to the sides of your toilet bowl. Let it sit for 5 minutes or so, then scrub well with a toilet brush and flush. [See The Full Tutorial]( [See The Full Tutorial]( Related • [These 9 Problem-Solving Toilet Hacks Are Weird, But They Work]( ⚡️QUICK TIPS⚡️ • From candles to condiments, learn how to make 16 household items last as long as possible with very little effort. [Read more ➜]( • Eggs—is there anything they can’t do? Learn 15 ways to use eggs to enhance soups, make your own mayo, and more. [Read more ➜]( • With 40% of the country currently in drought, practicing these 11 little ways to save water is more important than ever. [Read more ➜]( SLEEP WELL SUNDAY Fall Asleep Faster With 4-7-8 Breathing [A photo of Jillee sleeping peacefully.]( Tired of counting sheep? Count your breaths instead with this ancient breathing exercise. Having lost count while counting sheep more times than I can count (try saying that five times fast), I’m willing to try just about anything that might help me fall asleep more easily. I know that breathing exercises can be effective for relaxation, so I was intrigued when I read that something called “4-7-8 breathing” has helped people fall asleep faster. The exercise is a form of pranayama—from the Sanskrit words prana (“life force”) and yama (“to control”)—an ancient practice focused on controlled breathing. And while it does take a little getting used to, many people find the practice calming and say it helps them wind down faster than they are able to otherwise. To do it, start with an inhale for 4 seconds through your nose. At the top of your inhale, hold for 7 seconds then exhale for 8 seconds out of your mouth. Repeat for at least 4 complete cycles, or until you drift off to sleep. WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT? Quick Fix For Crystallized Honey [A photo of honey going into a dishwasher.]( For help reviving a crystallized jar of honey, look no further than your dishwasher. If your jar of honey is looking a bit worse for the wear after a few too many spins around the microwave, never fear. There’s a quick and easy way to restore a crystallized (or even nearly solidified) jar of honey to a perfectly pourable state. Make sure the jar of honey is tightly sealed, then place it in the top rack of your dishwasher before starting a load of dishes. As strange as it sounds, it's an effective way to warm up and agitate the honey without lifting a finger. JILLEE'S PICK Jar-Friendly Spatulas That Won’t Waste A Drop [A photo of mini spatulas next to a jar of mayo.]( I have a number of flexible silicone spatulas at home, and they’re great for scraping out the contents of mixing bowls and most food containers. But I’ve found that when I’m trying to scoop out the very bottom of a narrower container, like a jar of peanut butter for instance, most of my spatulas are too wide for the task. So I looked around on Amazon and found [this set of two mini spatulas](. Both are 7” long, while one has a standard rounded head while the other has a pointed tip. They’re great for scooping out of tall, narrow containers (which is exactly what I needed), but I’ve also been using them to apply frosting, spread condiments, and more. [See the Prep Solutions by Progressive Mini Silicone Spatula Set on Amazon](. ASK JILLEE How To Remove Strong Fragrances From Clothing [A photo of baking soda and vinegar.]( Molly from Ocean, New Jersey asked: "I love a certain style of pants that has been discontinued so I bought some on eBay. All of them arrived with a very strong laundry product fragrance, but I’m allergic to most fragrances. I have washed them in hot water with baking soda several times and they still smell—so much that my husband notices it when we are in the car! How can I wash out these odors?" My answer: Molly, I understand your frustration—a lot of today’s laundry products (especially fragrance boosters) leave behind fragrances that are too strong even for me, and I’m not even allergic to them! Although baking soda is a good start, vinegar is the real powerhouse when it comes to deodorizing. I would suggest washing the pants again in warm water with 1/2 cup of baking soda, then running them through a second wash cycle with 1 cup of white vinegar. If the pants still smell like vinegar afterward, run another rinse cycle. But that ought to improve the situation considerably! Have a question you want to ask me? [Submit your question here]( for a chance to see it answered in a future newsletter! A FEW MORE THINGS... Full Moon: Today’s full moon is traditionally called the “Sturgeon Moon,” as it is thought to be the best time to catch these large lake fish. It also happens to be a “[seasonal blue moon]( meaning that it’s the third full moon in a season that has four of them. Enjoy today’s Blue Sturgeon Moon if the weather is cooperating! New Cookie Alert: Starting in January 2022, you'll have a brand new Girl Scout Cookie to crave: [Adventurefuls](. This “brownie-inspired” cookie features a caramel-flavored crème and a hint of sea salt. (As someone who loves sweet-and-salty snacks, I can already tell these are going to seriously test my self-control.) LOVE OGT? SHARE IT! If you’re enjoying the OGT newsletter, it would mean so much to me if you'd share it with your friends and family! When you share it allows me to continue sharing the tips and tricks you love with you! 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