Why Do It Yourself?
Two things come up when we’re talking about why to make your own household and hygiene products:
1. Most of the bottles you purchase these products in are plastic. Waste from these bottles is harming our planet.
Plastic is made from fossil fuels, a non-renewable resource. It will eventually breakdown into micro plastics, but these micro plastics will never fully biodegrade. This means that the plastic remnants from your bottles will be around forever. These micro plastics pollute our water and soil, and are now making their way into human digestive systems. If you make products yourself, you can source your ingredients from bulk stores (bringing them home in your own containers) and store the finished products in containers you already have.
2. Many ingredients in household and hygiene products are harmful to the environment.
Have you ever thought about the harm that the ingredients in your products are causing you? And the planet? When you make products yourself, you know what all the ingredients are and can ensure that the products you’re using aren’t harming the environment. Purchasing environmentally friendly products at holistic retailers can also be a great option, but it is not an affordable one for everyone. If you’re ready to ensure that your products aren’t harming the environment but don’t have the financial resources to purchase sustainable products, making the products yourself is a great option.
Here are some of our favorite recipes:
Air Freshener
Ingredients:
- 4 drops peppermint essential oil
- 4 drops orange essential oil
- 1 tbsp real vanilla extract
- 1 cup water
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake well before each use to redistribute the oils.
Note:
Don’t like the orange, peppermint, and vanilla combo? Try experimenting with other essential oils to find a scent you love.
Geranium Hand Wash
Ingredients:
- 2 cups boiled water
- 2 tbsp unscented liquid castile soap
- 1/2 tsp organic coconut oil
- 5 drops geranium essential oil
Directions:
In a bowl, mix the castile soap with the coconut oil. Add the essential oil, followed by boiling water. Mix together and pour into your soap dispenser.
Note:
Try different scents by switching up the type of essential oil you use.
Toothpaste
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoon bentonite clay
- 4 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon organic cacao powder
- 1 tablespoon xylitol powder
Directions:
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl, and transfer to a sealed jar for storage.
source (numerous other toothpaste recipes here): www.authoritydental.org
Yoga Mat Spray
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup witch hazel (or white vinegar)
- 10 drops tea tree essential oil
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
Directions:
Mix ingredients together in a spray bottle and shake. Spray yoga mat and wipe clean with a cloth. Air dry.
Note:
Try different scents by switching the lavender essential oil for another scented oil of your choice.
After Sun Cooling Cream
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup aloe vera
- 5 drops pure jojoba oil
- 1 tablespoon organic, unrefined shea butter (warmed so that it is very soft)
- 1 tablespoon organic coconut oil (warmed so that it is very soft)
- 10 drops peppermint essential oil
- 5 drops lavender essential oil
- 5 drops frankincense essential oil
Directions:
Mix all ingredients together and fill a sealed 4oz. jar with your final product.
We’ve also compiled a list of household cleaning solutions. Have another solution that works well? Let us know!
All Purpose Surface Cleaner
Mix together:
- 2 cups distilled water
- 1-3 tbsp liquid castile soap (depending how soapy you want your solution)
- 15 drops lavender, orange, or peppermint essential oil (use tea tree if you want your cleaner to have disinfecting properties)
Pout into a reused spray bottle and start cleaning!
source: www.livesimply.me
Simple Glass Cleaner
Ingredients:
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 3 cups water
Directions:
Mix all of the ingredients together, and put them into a spray bottle.
Toilet Cleaner
For a heavy-duty toilet scrub that deodorizes while it cleans:
- Pour ½ cup of baking soda and about 10 drops of tea tree essential oil into the toilet
- Add ¼ cup of vinegar to the bowl and scrub away while the mixture fizzes.
For daily cleaning, fill a small spray bottle with vinegar (about 1 cup should do it) and a few drops of an essential oil of your choosing (lemon and tea tree both work well). Spray on the toilet seats, let it sit for a few minutes, and then wipe the surface clean.
source: www.greatist.com
Brass Cleaner
- Dampen a cloth or sponge with vinegar or lemon juice
- Sprinkle a bit of salt onto your cloth
- Lightly rub cloth over the surface
- Rinse thoroughly with water, and then dry immediately with a soft cloth
source: www.goodhousekeeping.com
Disinfectant
Skip the bleach and make a homemade germ-killer instead!
Mix together:
- 2 cups of water
- 3 tablespoons of liquid castile soap
- 20-30 drops of tea tree oil
source: www.greatest.com
Microwave Cleaner
To remove food residue from your microwave:
- Pour some vinegar into a small cup and mix in a little lemon juice (exact amounts don’t really matter)
- Put the cup in the microwave, let the microwave run for 2 minutes
- Leave the door closed for several more minutes
- Open the door and wipe down all the sides with a warm cloth or sponge
No scrubbing required!
source: www.greatist.com
All Natural Bleach Alternative
In 1 gallon jug, mix together:
- 1 1/2 cups 3% hydrogen peroxide
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 12 cups filtered water
Use to disinfect, whiten laundry, and clean.
source: helloglow
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