Stop . . . Potty Time! (and DIY Fabric Spray)

by thejbird

So . . . yeah.  Guess where I've been spending a lot of time lately?  The 3 yr old finally decided to make friends with the potty.  I backed off completely and decided not to push, especially with the dietary issues she had, but she decided it's time.   Potty Time!  Nothing like Hammer Time, but equally obnoxious.  Oh, don't get me wrong.  I'm glad that she's a big girl and all that.  But ugh.  I need to take out a loan just to pay for all the toilet paper.  And can she please just wear a diaper on soup days???  I'd be ok with that.  No?  Fine.  Then you know where to find me.  Either waiting in the bathroom with her every twenty minutes or cleaning up puddles on her bedroom carpet.  At least pee is sterile.  So it's just the smell to contend with.  Which reminds me.  Here's a recipe for one of my favorite things in the whole wide world: fabric spray.  You know, like the name brand stuff, but without all the crazy chemicals.  You ready for it?  Here it is . . .

Fabric Spray
empty spray bottle
water
several drops of essential oil (my favorites for this are lavender or lemongrass)

Put the oil in the spray bottle.  Fill with water.  Shake.

Easiest tutorial ever, right?   I love lavender in particular because it smells nice, is calming, is also an insect repellant, and is antibacterial.  I'll share a nice insect repellent combination another day . . . for now, pottty time is soon approaching again.

Now, spray everything fabric-like in the house - curtains, pillows, furniture, carpets, shoes, comforters, etc.  And for goodness sake, don't forget to scrub those piddle spots with it.  (A little vinegar added makes a nice carpet cleaner, too.)    The only caution I would add is that some oils in large quantities may stain certain fabrics and some are skin irritants without a carrier oil, so always spot test and use caution.  Around here, cleaning day is now fun day.  My kids LOVE to spray the curtains.  Now, the curtains might get a little soaky, but that's ok.  Water dries, and the curtains smell delightful.  Just watch out for slippery spots on the floor if they go crazy with the spray bottle.

Happy Potty Time!