About 1 month ago, I posted about beginning my journey to switch to safer products for my family- both household and beauty products! I'm learning new things everyday and I'm pretty sure I visit the EWG.ORG app on my phone more than I text...which is A LOT! It's always up on my phone while I grocery shop and even while I'm online shopping. It's important to me that I am aware of the good, bad and ugly products that we are using in our household...and try my best to get better at finding safer options. I've had a ton of questions from friends and family members about how I make certain things and what ingredients are in each...so I figured a blog post was in order : )
Now don't get me wrong, chemicals are e v e r y w h e r e and in almost e v e r y t h I n g in one way, shape or form. I don't drive myself crazy over every item (mattresses, clothing, linens, pillows etc.) that enters our house, but I try my best to be more knowledgeable and avoid them when possible...or when it's time to replace something. Some chemicals have very low risks, while others are moderate to high-risk- those are the ones we avoid.
A few of the first household items to get tossed during "The Great Purge" were hand soaps and laundry detergent- I didn't even buy new "safer" options...I went wayyy back, like I was from the Little House on The Prairie and made my own...with a handful of ingredients I knew where safe...and I even had most of them on hand already! (cha-ching..bonus points!)
I use Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap, baking boda, peroxide, alcohol, essential oils, vinegar and super washing soda for almost everything "cleaning" related.
I went on Pinterest (linked is my cleaning board) and checked out some of the best rated "homemade" soap recipes and got mixing! Below are the recipes I use for hand soap and laundry soap. They are pretty self explanatory and just a matter of mixing up together. You can put any essential oil you'd like in them...whichever scent you prefer :)
I like Lavender, Peppermint or Orange the best .
Laundry Soap
(Use 1/3 cup per load)
2 gallon bucket
2 gallons water
1/2 cup Super Washing Soda
1/2 cup Baking Soda
3/4 cup castile soap (I use Dr. Bronner’s Lavender)
20 drops of your favorite essential oils (I use lavender or Orange blend)
Large wooden/plastic spoon to stir
(2) 1-gallon glass containers to store your soap in
Fill the 2 gallon bucket with hot water- leave about 3 inches from the top. Mix in the washing soda and baking soda (stir well).Next, add the castille soap and stir slowly. MAKE SURE you add the water first and NOT AFTER the Dr. Bronner's...you will have bubbles everywhere! Lastly, stir in the drops of the essential oil of your choice. Pour into 1 gallon glass jugs and you're all set!
I usually shake up the jug before using to make sure it's all mixed up.
Hand Soap
Warm Water
2 Tablespoons of Dr. Bronner's
1 Teaspoon of Fractionated Coconut oil or Vitamin E Oil
10 drops of Essential Oil
Fill your soap dispenser with warm water and leave about 1 inch from the top. Add the Dr. Bronner's, fractionated coconut oil and essential oil. Put the lid on and swirl it around. BAM! You're done!
I can't wait to hear who has tried which recipes and if they worked well for you!