Each time we walk into a store to purchase personal care or household products, we are greeted by an array of hundreds if not thousands of choices. If you are concerned about the safety of the ingredients and sustainable packaging, trying to find an item that meets your criteria can be daunting.
Plastic container, additional plastic packaging, sodium laureth sulfide, phthalates, surfactants, “fragrance,” parabens, preservatives, triclosan, PFAS. Yikes. Many of these chemicals are known hormone disruptors.
What’s an ecologically-minded person to do? Join the growing number of folks who are turning their backs on store-bought fare and making their own – just like Grandma and Grandpa used to do! It’s easy, it’s fun, it’s inexpensive and you probably have most of the ingredients in your cabinets right now.
Here are some of our favorite “Do It Yourself” recipes!
Facial Scrub
Simply combine equal parts sugar and coconut oil in your own container.
The sugar does a terrific job of removing dead skin cells
and the coconut oil leaves your complexion smooth and glowing.
Toothpaste
Combine the following in your own container.
2 T. baking soda
3 t. vegetable glycerin
Stevia to your preferred taste
A few drops of essential oil such as peppermint or cinnamon.
Thieves
(Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral)
13 drops clove essential oil
13 drops lemon essential oil
11 drop eucalyptus essential oil
11 drops rosemary essential oil
9 drops cinnamon essential oil
4 T. isopropyl alcohol or witch hazel
32 oz. distilled water
Combine in a glass spray bottle and shake to mix.
All Purpose Cleaner
Mix equal parts white vinegar and water
with a few drops of your favorite essential oil
in a glass spray bottle for an all-around-the-house cleaner.
Lemongrass, lavender or eucalyptus are good choices.
Oven Cleaner
Make a goopy mix of baking soda and water.
Spread it over the spill and leave it overnight.
Spray with vinegar and watch it bubble.
You will be easily able to wipe up the spill.
No toxic fumes.
Fabric Softener
Never buy fabric softener in a plastic bottle again!
Just add an equal amount of white vinegar
to your rinse water.
Voila!
Dishwasher Additive
Vinegar is the star in the dishwasher, too.
Avoid the plastic encased dishwasher pods
by using powdered dishwasher soap from a cardboard box
with a small glass of 2 tablespoons white vinegar in the top rack
to keep your dishes and glasses sparkling!
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