Not many disinfectants have a fascinating history like that of Four Thieves Vinegar. In 1349 the Great Plague of Paris was responsible for a reported 800 deaths a day. It was during this time, so the story goes, that four thieves invented a disinfectant that would protect them from the plague while they robbed the dead.
Rosemary
This recipe was so successful at protecting the thieves they became very rich. Their wealth, however, would mean nothing to them after they were caught and sentenced to death by guillotine.
Apart from making them rich, their recipe also saved their lives. At the point of execution the terrified thieves bargained their precious recipe for a more merciful death and were pardoned.
Hopefully, we won’t need this disinfectant as protection against a plague but it can be used very effectively in the home.
5 grams each of nutmeg, cinnamon, and ground cloves
10 grams each of dried peppermint, sage, rosemary, and crushed garlic
1 litre of cider vinegar
Place all ingredients in a glass jar, shake very well, and stand in strong sunlight for two weeks then strain and bottle. Use as you would any other disinfectant.
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