As requested, the recipes for the things I make myself around here. These are the things that I came up with off the top of my head. I'll add more as I think of them, or if you have any requests, let me know, because I may make that, too, and just forgot about it!
Home
All Purpose Cleaner:
1 part water
1 part vinegar
Tea tree essential oil*
I do 12 ounces water and 12 ounces vinegar in a 24 ounce spray bottle and add 4-8 drops of tea tree oil. Shake before each use. Both vinegar and tea tree oil have disinfectant properties. I use this everywhere with a microfiber cloth. It's kept in the kitchen, but it does everything... bathrooms, carpet spots, you name it.
Powdered Laundry Detergent: (what I currently use)
1 bar grated soap (I use Kirk's Castile Soap usually)
1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda (more powerful than baking soda)
5-10 drops essential oil* (I like peppermint for the laundry)
I use my food processor for this. It makes it quick to grate the soap, then pulse in the rest. Use 1-2 Tablespoons per load depending on your soil level.
Liquid Laundry Detergent: (what I've used in the past, just as effective, but requires more storage space and more time consuming to make)
2 cups grated soap
1 quart boiling water
2 cups borax
2 cups washing soda
Add the grated soap to boiling water and stir gently until melted over low heat. Pour into a large container, add the borax and the washing soda. Stir gently. Add 2 gallons of water and stir again. This soap will gel slightly when cooling, similar to the consistency of egg drop soup. Add 1/4 cup per load of laundry.
Dishwasher Detergent:
1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda
1/4 cup kosher salt
1/4 cup citric acid or Lemi-Shine
Essential oil* if a scent is desired (I skip it in this recipe)
Shake it all up in a container. I use a heaping tablespoon in each compartment in the dishwasher. If your dishwasher is more effective, you could definitely get by using less! Make sure you use a container that seals well, otherwise you end up with clumps. Or you could just pre-measure into muffin tins to make those convenient little detergent pods.
Wood Floor Cleaner:
1 part water
1 part vinegar
Spray and mop.
Glass cleaner:
1 part vinegar
4 parts water
Splash of lemon juice
Combine in a spray bottle and use a crumpled newspaper to wipe glass surfaces.
Floors:
We use a steam cleaner. For spots in between steaming, we use our all-purpose cleaner.
Weeds:
White vinegar, doused or in a spray bottle.
Water marks on wood:
Make a paste of salt and oil. Dab on. Let sit. Wipe off with a damp cloth and polish.
Scratches on light colored woods:
Rub with the meat of a walnut.
Blood/bodily fluid stains:
Hydrogen peroxide. Pour on in a bowl and watch it dissolve. You may have to repeat it a few times, and combine it with other methods, but it works ridiculously well on fresh stains. Wash as normal afterw
ards (check before drying--don't dry if the stain hasn't dissolved completely, just repeat).
Body
Deodorant:
Smear on some coconut oil, then dab with baking soda.
Blemishes:
Cleanser, toner, moisturizer, then a drop of tea tree oil.
Cuts/burns:
Add a drop of lavender essential oil to a cut or burn immediately. You'll be amazed. Seriously, I've had my mind blown so many times with how much lavender speeds up the healing time. I've seen it eliminate the need for stitches, and had a blistering burn nearly disappear overnight. Crazy shit, kids.
Headaches:
Lavender and peppermint essential oils. Lavender on a heat pack works well. Just smelling them helps as well.
Nausea:
A drop of peppermint oil in a glass of cool water. Even smelling peppermint helps.
Congestion:
Heat water up to a simmer, pour into a vessel, add a few drops of eucalyptus oil. Lean over the bowl, draping a towel over your head and the bowl to catch the steam and breathe deeply for several minutes. Alternately, running your shower at its hottest temperature with the door closed, then standing inside once the steam has built up with some eucalyptus oil on the floor of the tub works well. Breathe in the steam until the water cools, or you tire. Also, obviously a neti pot!
Moisturizer:
For my face, I use the oil cleansing method. For my body, I use almond oil and coconut oil. Afterwards, I'll run it over the ends of my hair, and any frizzy parts as well (lightly!)
Facial Cleanser:
Oil cleansing method in the evening, and then scrub with a pinch of baking soda on a damp face in the morning.
Dirty hair:
Sprinkle baby powder on your roots. Let set. Brush vigorously. Works better on lighter hair, but works fine on my bright red hair! A nice alternative to hair powder. Baking soda also works.
Sore muscles:
Soak in a bath with epsom salt, baking soda, and lavender essential oil.
Shampoo/Conditioner:
Baking soda and apple cider vinegar/"nopoo" method. J.R. Lingetts shampoo bar occasionally.
Body Wash:
1 part castile soap
2 parts coconut milk
essential oil as desired
*On essential oils:
Lavender and clove also have disinfectant properties, I just love the smell of tea tree oil, have an abundance, and preserve my lavender oil for other things!
Make sure you use pure medicinal grade oils. I get mine, which are wonderful, from a great company in Oregon called
Mountain Rose Herbs.
