2009 January - Household recipes

Preparedness Newsletter
January 2009

“...it is true that a great many kinds of illnesses, primarily communicable diseases, can be effectively controlled through cleanliness and sanitation.”

Spiritual Goal: Hold Family Home Evening every Monday for the month.

Provident Living Goal: Review your retirement goals.

Basic Storage Goal: 1 #10 can Juice Mix with Vitamin C per person
50 cans of soup, stew or chili per person
72-Hour Kit: Container for holding the 72-hour kit. Find a place in your home to store it.

Expanded Storage Item: Sanitation Supplies – laundry and cleaning supplies, emergency toilet supplies or chemical toilet.

Thought:
“...Once, I went with my missionary companion to visit a family we had taught and baptized just a few weeks previously. The parents took us down into their basement to show us a room. It had been the bedroom of one of their two daughters. But she had now moved in with her sister. The bedroom she vacated was filled with everything the family would need in an emergency. We had not taught them anything about emergency preparedness. When we asked why they had done something so difficult so quickly, the reply was that they had read in a Church magazine that the Lord would like families to be prepared to take care of themselves and others. They said, “Isn’t that what Latter-day Saints do?” -President Henry B. Eyring, Ensign March 2008


Preparedness Tip:
Check your smoke detectors and replace batteries.



“Adequate sanitation saves more lives than antibiotics. Dying to go to the loo? What if there wasn't one? Contaminated water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene cause over 80% of all disease in developing countries. One gram of feces can contain 10 million viruses, one million bacteria, 1000 parasite cysts, and 100 parasite eggs.” - pooproductions.org


Emergency Sanitation

Suggested laundry and cleaning storage items are:
Lysol disinfectant Toothpaste and tooth brushes
Laundry detergent Liquid chlorine bleach
Dish Soap Bar Soap
Shampoo and Conditioner Deodorant
Feminine supplies Shaving supplies
Vinegar Salt

Ways to use Vinegar
Marinate tough meat in vinegar overnight to tenderize.
Make a thirst-quenching drink: cold water with a little vinegar.
Remove berry stains from hands with vinegar.
Make Homemade Sour Cream: blend together 1 cup cottage cheese, ¼ cup milk, and 1 tsp vinegar.
Add a tsp of vinegar to cooking water for fluffier rice.
Add vinegar to water when canning for cleaner bottles.
Add to poultry water to increase egg production and produce tender meat.
Prevent discoloration of peeled potatoes by adding a few drops of vinegar to water. They will keep fresh for days in the fridge.
Add 1 tsp vinegar to your pastry recipe for an exceptional crust.
Paint adheres better to galvanized metal that has been wiped with vinegar.
Add to pets drinking water to eliminate odor and encourage shiny fur.
Remove skunk odor from pets by rubbing fur with vinegar.
Make fleas flee: Soap kills fleas, after lathering up your pet, rinse, then rub apple cider vinegar through the fur to repel fleas, and add a tsp of vinegar to the pet's drinking water.
Make Hair Rinse: 1 ounce vinegar in 1 quart water.
Add vinegar to laundry rinse water, it removes all soap and prevents yellowing.
Fabric Softener: Fill washing machine with water, add ¼ cup baking soda, then the clothing. During the final rinse, add ½ cup vinegar in the softener dispenser.
Disinfect your washer and remove build-up: Fill washer with water, add 2 cups vinegar. Soak for 1 hour, restart and run through cycle. Repeat process with 2 cups bleach.
Clean jars with vinegar and water to remove odor.
Boil water and vinegar in pots to remove stains.
To remove lime coating on kettles, add vinegar to water and let stand overnight..
Rub diluted vinegar on tired, sore or swollen feet.
Apply diluted vinegar to chapped, cracked skin for quick healing.
To clear up respiratory congestion, inhale a vapor mist from pot containing water and several spoonfuls of vinegar.
For skin burns, apply ice-cold vinegar right away for fast relief.
Keep illness away with a vinegar drink: 4 parts grape juice, 2 parts apple juice, and 1 part apple cider vinegar.
Make a Brass and Copper Polish: heat ½ cup vinegar; stir in 2 Tblsp salt; dip ½ lemon into mixture and rub it over the object.
Make a Window and Glass Cleaner: ½ cup vinegar in 2/3 gallon water.
Make an All-purpose Cleaner: ½ cup borax, 1 Tblsp ammonia, ¼ cup vinegar, 1 gallon water.
Make a Disinfectant Cleaner: combine 2 tsp borax, ½ tsp washing soda, 2 Tblsp lemon juice, 4 Tblsp vinegar in spray bottle, slowly add 3 cups very hot water, shake to dissolve.
Clean your shower head: Pour ¼ cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar into plastic bag over sink. When foaming stops, place bag over shower head, let soak 1 hour.
Clean your toilet: Flush toilet, sprinkle 1 cup borax, drizzle ½ cup vinegar over borax, let set 3 to 4 hours before scrubbing with toilet brush.
Clean fireplace bricks with undiluted vinegar.
Open clogged drains and clean them: Pack drain with ½ cup baking soda, pour in 1 cup vinegar. Keep drain covered 10 minutes, then flush with 1 teapot boiling water.
Clean hardened paintbrushes: simmer in vinegar and soapy water.
Make a Paint/Tile Mold and Mildew Remover: ¼ cup bleach, 1 Tblsp borax, 1 ½ cups water. Combine ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well. Let set 10 to 20 min. then wipe off.

Ways to use Salt
Sprinkle salt on your shelves to keep ants away.
Soak fish in salt water before de-scaling – the scales will come off easier.
Dip freshly picked herbs or vegetables in salted water to quickly remove dirt and bugs.
To prevent fruit from discoloration after peeling, put in mildly salted water.
Add salt to green salads to prevent wilting.
Gelatin sets quicker when a dash of salt is added.
Rub salt on your pancake griddle and your flapjacks won't stick.
Add a pinch of salt to whipping cream to make it whip quicker.
Milk stays fresh longer when a little salt is added.
Rinse a sore eye with a little salt water.
Get rid of sores in your mouth by putting salt on them.
Electrolyte Drink for Diarrhea: 1 cup apple juice, 2 cups water, ½ to 1 tsp salt, juice from a lemon or lime. Drink throughout the day for hydration and balance of electrolytes.
Dry salt sprinkled on your tooth brush makes a good tooth polisher.
Use equal parts salt and soda for brushing teeth.
Mildly salted water makes an effective mouthwash or a sore throat gargle.
Old-fashioned Gargle Solution: 2 heaping Tblsp brown sugar, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp baking soda, in 1 quart warm water. Gargle with up to ½ cup of this as often as needed.
Use salt for killing weeds in your lawn or for killing grass between the sidewalk.
Make Whitewash: combine 1 cup salt, 2 cups hydrated lime with 1 gallon water or milk (adjust for thickness), cool before painting.
Clean your iron by rubbing a damp cloth with some salt on the ironing surface.
Use salt in the final rinse to prevent clothes from freezing when hanging them on the line.
Add salt to the wash cycle to hold fabric colors.
Soak stained handkerchiefs in salt before washing.
Freshen sponges by soaking them in salt water.
Clean greasy pans with a paper towel and salt.
Make a Scouring Powder: 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup borax, 1 cup salt. Store tightly covered.
Shine your Silver: Fill sink with 1 quart hot water, 1 Tblsp baking soda, 1 Tblsp salt. Place tin foil in the bottom, place tarnished silver on foil for 10 seconds. Remove and dry.
Make a Brass and Copper Polish: ¼ cup flour, ¼ cup salt, ¼ cup vinegar, ¼ cup hot water, 1 tsp lemon juice mixed to make a paste. Use a soft cloth.
Remove rust: Squeeze a lime over rust then cover with ¼ cup salt. Let set 3 to 4 hours. Use a nylon scrubber to scrub mixture.


Homemade Automatic Dishwasher Detergent
2 cups borax
2 cups washing soda
Combine borax and washing soda in a 32-ounce plastic container with cover and seal tightly for storage. For each load of dishes, put 2 Tblsp of the mixture in the dishwasher soap dispenser.

Rinsing Agent for Your Dishwasher
Stop the dishwasher during its rinse cycle and add 1 to 1 ½ cups white vinegar. Or pour the vinegar into the rinse compartment beforehand (be careful not to overfill).


Sanitation and Hygiene In An Emergency from Homeland Security
The lack of sanitation facilities following major disaster can quickly create secondary problems unless basic guidelines are followed. If the water lines are damaged or if damage is suspected, do not flush
the toilet. Avoid digging holes in the ground and using these. Untreated raw sewage can pollute fresh ground water supplies. It also attracts flies and promotes the spread of diseases.
Store a large supply of heavy-duty plastic bags, twist ties, disinfectant, and toilet paper.

A good disinfectant that is easy to use is a solution of 1 part liquid bleach to 10 parts water. Dry bleach is caustic and not safe for this type of use.

If the toilet is NOT able to be flushed, it can still be used. This is less stressful for most people than using some other container. Remove all the bowl water. Line it with a heavy-duty plastic bag. When finished, add a small amount of deodorant or disinfectant, securely tie the bag, and dispose of it in a large trash can with a tight fitting lid. This large trash can should also be lined with a sturdy trash bag. Eventually, the city will provide a means to dispose of these bags.
Portable camp toilets, small trash cans or sturdy buckets lined with heavy-duty plastic bags can also be used. Those with tight fitting lids are best.
Tips for Staying Clean in an Emergency Situation As much as possible, continue regular hygiene habits such as brushing your teeth, washing your face, combing your hair and even washing your body with a wet washcloth. This will help prevent the spread of disease and irritation as well as help relieve stress.
Keep your fingers out of your mouth. Avoid handling food with your hands.
Purify your drinking water. Use chlorine bleach, purification tablets (check bottle for expiration dates), or by boiling for 10 minutes.
Sterilize your eating utensils by heat. You can also rinse dishes in purified water that has additional chlorine bleach added to it. (Use 2 1/2 teaspoons bleach per gallon of purified water.)
Keep your clothing as clean and dry as possible, especially under-clothing and socks.
If, during an emergency situation, you develop vomiting or diarrhea, rest and stop eating solid foods until the symptoms ease up. Take fluids, particularly water, in small amounts at frequent intervals. As soon as can be tolerated, resume eating semi-solid foods. Normal salt intake should be maintained.
Keep Basic Hygiene Supplies Handy - These basic supplies should be kept in your Safe Room, 72-Hour Pack and Car.
Cornstarch Fingernail clippers and files Sanitary napkins
Toilet paper Moistened Towelettes or Baby Wipes
A few bath towels Small hand-held mirror Liquid all-purpose soap Vaseline Petroleum Jelly
Liquid Chlorine Bleach Ammonia (disinfecting aid)
Emergency Sewage Disposal
Water flush toilets cannot be used when water service is interrupted. The water remaining in the fixture is not sufficient to flush the wastes down the sewer. Clogging may result and your living conditions then become just that much more uncomfortable. Even if water is available, local authorities may ask you not to use flush toilets, wash basins, and other fixtures connected with soil pipes. The
sewer mains may be broken or clogged, which would make it impossible to carry off such waste; or water may be needed for fire fighting or other emergencies. It is necessary for every family to know emergency methods of waste disposal in case such conditions arise.
Temporary Toilet Provisions
Right after an emergency, or during one, you will probably not have the time and tools to prepare a complex emergency sanitation system. If there is a delay of several days in restoring sewage service to your neighborhood, you may find that disposal is a big problem. Your first task is to make some temporary toilet provision for your family, especially the children. Almost any covered metal or plastic container will do. You can use a covered pail, a 5-gallon bucket, or a small kitchen garbage container with a foot operated cover for an emergency toilet. Anything that has a cover and will hold the contents until you can dispose of them will serve for sanitary purposes at first.
Emergency Sewage Storage
Keep on the premises at least one extra 10-gallon garbage can or other waterproof container with a tight fitting cover. This should be lined with paper and/or a plastic bag. And the lid should be fastened to the can to prevent its loss. Such a can may be used for the emergency storage of body wastes until the public sewage system can be put back into action, or until other arrangements can be made. Empty your emergency toilet into this storage can as often as necessary. A small amount of household disinfectant should be added after each use. If you live in an apartment, you may not have a large garbage can or room to keep one. In that case, two smaller covered pails or other containers will do just as well.
Controlling Odors and Insects
Insecticides and deodorants should be used when necessary to control odors and insects breeding in containers that cannot be emptied immediately. At least 2 pints of household bleach solution should be kept on hand for disinfecting purposes.
Other Supplies
Keep on hand an extra supply of toilet tissue, plus a supply of sanitary napkins. If there is illness in the house that requires rubber sheeting or other special sanitary equipment, make sure that adequate supplies are available. At least a week’s accumulation of daily newspapers will come in handy for insulating bedding from floors, and lining clothes against cold, as well as for the sanitary uses already mentioned.
Babies
If you have a baby in your home, you may find diaper laundering a problem under emergency conditions. It is best to keep an ample supply of disposable diapers on hand for emergency use. Or, any moisture resistant material can be cut and folded to diaper size and lined with absorbent material.
Other Possibilities:
Some people have chemical toilets and some own campers which have toilets that would work.
But the portable toilet chemicals are certainly not cheap. So people have investigated making their own from simple ingredients found in the grocery store. Here is a home remedy found to work in portable toilets:

Homemade Port-a-Potty Chemical
1 bottle of Pine sol
1 bottle of Household Ammonia
1 cup Borax
1 quart water
Mix borax with water then add the Pine sol and Ammonia.

This method is for the camper toilet: add a mixture of ¼ cup washing soda, ¼ cup borax and a little water to the holding tank.

Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent # 1
3 Pints Water
1/3 bar Fels Naphtha Soap, grated
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax
2 Gallon Bucket
1 Quart Hot Water
Hot Water
Mix Fels Naphtha soap in a saucepan with 3 pints of water, and heat on low until dissolved. Stir in Washing Soda and Borax. Stir until thickened, and remove from heat. Add 1 quart hot water to 2 gallon bucket. Add soap mixture, and mix well. Fill bucket with hot water, and mix well. Set aside for 24 hours, or until mixture thickens. Use 1/2 cup of mixture per load.

Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent #2
1 Cup Grated Fels Naphtha Soap
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax
2 Tblsp Glycerin
2 gallons Water
Mix soap, washing soda, and borax together. Add glycerin and water.
Use 1/2 - 3/4 cup per load. Best when used with cold or warm water.

Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent #3
Water
1 Bar Fels Naphtha Soap, Grated
5 Gallon Bucket
1 Cup Washing Soda
4 1/2 Gallons Water
Place grated soap in a small saucepan and cover with water. Heat on low until dissolved. Fill bucket with hot water, and add soap. Stir to combine. Add 1 cup washing soda and mix well. As it cools it will thicken. May be used immediately. Use 1-2 cups per load.

Powdered Laundry Detergent

1 Cup Grated Fels Naphtha Soap
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax
For light load, use 1 tablespoon.
For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 tablespoons.
TIPS
• Liquid detergent can also be used as a pretreater for stains.
• Ivory Soap, Deodorant Soap, and Beauty Bars can be substituted for the Fels Naphtha Soap.
• Essential Oils can be added to soap for fragrance.