Today I wanted to share with you some recipes and tips for making your own common household cleaners and beauty products, with non-toxic, natural ingredients.

There are so many things that you can make instead of buy. With so many ingredients listed on the labels of nearly every product these days, it makes you wonder whether or not we should be ingesting or inhaling all of those things, which we can’t even pronounce. When you make something yourself, you know exactly what goes into it and that it is safe for yourself, your family, pets and the environment.

Here are some home-made recipes and tips, most I have tried and some I am still eager to. I found these recipes from How it all Vegan by Tanya Barnard and Sarah Kramer and make your place, by Raleigh Briggs.

Household

Vinegar is great for cleaning, although it doesn’t smell the best, you can buy essential oils to fix that. I use vinegar to clean nearly everything around here. It is very inexpensive and super easy. Even if you have no oils or borax to combine it with, good old vinegar and water always does the trick.

All-Purpose Cleaner

• 3 tablespoons white vinegar
• 2 cups hot water

Use on all surfaces, great for cleaning glass and shining up the bathroom sinks.

Lemon Floor Cleaner

• 1 cup castile soap
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 10 drops tea tree essential oil
• 6 cups warm water

Sink Cleanser

• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 1/2 cup vinegar

Apply to wet sink , scrub and rinse well.

DIY Drain Opener

Pour 1 cup each of salt and baking soda, plus 1/2 cup of vinegar down the drain, Let it sit for 15 minutes and the flush it with 2- 3 quarts of boiling water.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1/4 cup vinegar
• 10 drops tea tree oil (optional)
  

Combine everything, pour into toilet bowl and scrub. Do not save leftover cleanser, as it is bubbly.

Homemade Bleach

• 1 cup hydrogen peroxide
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 15 cups water

Mix all ingredients together and keep in a large plastic bottle.

More household tips:

• To remove grease spots – immediately pour salt on grease spots to absorb and prevent staining
• To remove crayon marks – crayon marks on floors or tables can be removed by rubbing them with some toothpaste on a damp cloth
• Deodorizer – Place partially filled saucers of vinegar around the room or boil 1 tablespoon of vinegar in 1 cup of water to eliminate unpleasant cooking odors.

Health and Beauty

Makeup remover

• Apply vegetable oil, or shortening to skin and tissue off.

Normal Skin Cleanser

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 6 tablespoons vegetable shortening

Combine ingredients in a blender or food processor until well mixed. Apply to your face and tissue off. Store in a clean, dry jar with a tight-fitting lid in the fridge.

Parsley Skin Toner

• 1/2 cup fresh parsley
• 1 cup boiling water

In a medium bowl, place the chopped parsley and cover with boiling water. Allow to cool completely. Strain and pour into a clean jar with a tight-fitting lid. Apply to skin with a cotton ball.

Green Goddess Mask

• 1 avocado

Mash up avocado with a fork or in a food processor or blender, until it is creamy. Massage onto your face and neck. Tissue off after 10-15 minutes with warm water.

Cucumber Lemon Mask

• 1/2 cucumber, chopped
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tsp fresh mint

In a blender or food processor, blend together the cucumbers, lemon juice and mint. Refrigerate for 10 minutes. Apply mixture to face and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with warm water, then cool water.

Pimple Killer

Garlic is great for killing any pimples. Peel and mash a garlic clove, apply to your pimple and leave on for  15 minutes. Wash with a warm cloth. This does smell.

Hot Oil Treatment For Dry Hair

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup very hot water

Place olive oil and hot water in a clean, dry container, put the lid on and shake well. Massage into dry hair. Place a shower cap over your hair and wrap your head in a towel. Leave on hair for 15-20 minutes. When you are ready to rinse, apply shampoo directly to your hair without rinsing the oil out. Then rinse and apply shampoo again and condition as usual.

Dandruff Treatment

• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons flax oil or olive oil

In a clean, dry container, combine the vinegar, water and oil. Cap tightly and shake until well mixed. Massage onto your scalp and leave on for 15-20 minutes. Shampoo out.

Cinnamon Toothpaste

• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 drop tea tree oil (optional)

Combine ingredients in a cup or small bowl.
Lip Balm

• 1/4 cup almond oil
• 3-4 tablespoons cocoa butter (solid)
• 1-2 Vitamin E capsules, pierced and drained

On medium-low heat in a small saucepan, melt the oil, cocoa butter and Vitamin E oil together until well mixed. Pour into a clean, dry container and allow to cool. Once cool and set, cap tightly and use as needed. To make it softer, add more oil. to make it harder, add more cocoa butter.

There are so many things that we can make ourselves that are all natural and environmentally friendly. Experiment with some of these recipes, or research your own. There are countless resources on the internet.

Have Fun!