Disinfect with Lavender

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If you’re looking for a natural way to
fight household germs, try lavender. In
ancient Rome, people added lavender to
the water at public baths not only for its
relaxing qualities but also to help keep
the water germ-free. Note: Lavender
doesn’t have the concentrated germ-fighting
power of modern commercial
products.

“I learned a great way to use lavender
for my own home from the late Bertha
Reppert, a wonderful author and owner
of the Rosemary House, in Mechanicsburg,
Pennsylvania,” says Jane Irvin-
Klotz, of North Wales, Pennsylvania, an
herbal expert and member of the Herb
Gatherers Club of Pennsylvania. “You
can make lavender water [also called
lavender tea] and store it in a clean recycled
or new spray bottle to clean your
countertops and doorknobs. It’s also
great for cleaning out plastic ice chests.
Lavender water in a spray bottle is a good
idea for teachers, too. Sprayed in the air, it
will disinfect the classroom and calm the
students at the same time.”

Lavender Disinfectant Recipe

• 1 cup fresh or 1.2 cup dried lavender
  flowers
• Sheer cloth bag or cheesecloth
• Glass container (one that can withstand
  boiling water)
• 1-pint sterilized plastic or glass spray
  bottle

Put the flowers in the bag or tie them in a
square of cheesecloth. Place the bag or
cheesecloth in the glass container. Boil 1
pint clean tap or bottled water. Pour into
the glass container. Cover the container
and let it cool. Remove the bag or cloth
containing the lavender flowers from the
container, gently squeezing the excess
moisture into the container. Pour the
lavender water into the spray bottle and
store it out of the sunlight in a cool place.

An alternative method is to add a few
drops of essential oil of lavender to 1 pint
distilled water. Start with 3 to 5 drops and
increase the amount if you would like a
stronger lavender scent. Lavender tea will
keep for about 4 to 6 weeks.Don’t use the
tea if a dark ring shows in the bottle or if
there is a dark scum on top of the water.
It’s best to label the bottle with the date
you made the batch and update the label
every time you make a fresh batch.

Excerpt from 1,001 Old-Time Household Hints—brought to you by Skyhorse Publishing