diy
Making your own cleaning and beauty products is often the most sustainable (and cheapest way) to go. With some white vinegar, castille soap and baking soda you can go a long way. Add some coconut oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, lemon, borax and some essentials oils and you can almost make anything.
.
cleaning products
beauty products
Other
cleaning products
Considering the amount of money (and plastic) we spend on brand name cleaning products you will be surprised how easy it is to make your own.
All Purpose Cleaner
1/4 cup white vinegar
2 tbsp baking soda
1/4 gallon hot water
A few drops of essential oil
​
Mix and keep in a spray bottle
Window Cleaner 1
1/2 cup white vinegar
​
1 cup water
​
Mix and keep in a spray bottle
Window Cleaner 2
1/2 cup white vinegar
​
1/4 cup rubbing alcohol (70% concentration)
2 cups water
1-2 dropps of essential oil (optional-it won't help with the cleaning but it will make it smell nice)
​
Mix and keep in a spray bottle
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
1/2 cup bicarbonate
​
1/2 cup white vinegar
​
Pour in baking soda and scrub, spray with vinegar
Sink Cleaner
1/4 cup baking soda
​
10 drops of Tea tree essential oil
​
1 squirt of dish soap
Heavy-Duty Scrub
1/2 lemon
1/2 cup Borax powder
​
Dip the lemon in to the borax and scrub to remove rust stains on porcelain or enamel sinks and tubs, then rinse (not safe for marble or granite as the acid from the lemon can etch the stone).
Fabric softener
One gallon white vinegar
​
20-30 drops of essential oils
​
Add the dropps to the gallon of vinegar and use 1/3 cup to each laundry load (make sure you shake before each use). We find that this makes towels especially fluffy and no, the vinegar smell does not stay on the clothes.
Beauty Products
It's really easy, and surprisingly satisfying, to make your own beauty products. They make great gifts too!
Hand cream
1/2 tbsp beeswax
1 tbsp cocoa butter
1 tbsp shea butter
1 tbsp coconut oil
2 tbsp purified warm water
8 drops of essential oil
​
Heat the wax in a deep plate over boiling water
Add cocoa butter, shea butter and coconut oil
Stir in the water
Remove from heat and add essential oils. Continue to stir until smooth
​
Body butter
1/4 cup coconut oil
3/4 cup cocoa butter
few drops of essential oils
​
Melt oil and butter in a deep plate over boiling water
Remove from heat and allow to cool
Add a few drops of essential oils
Freeze until solid and then allow to soften slightly
Whisk until smooth and add to sterilized jar
Other
Beeswax wraps
100% cotton fabric (preferably organic) washed and dried.
0.35 oz pine resin
1.25 oz beeswax
1 tbsp organic jojoba oil
popsicle or other compostable stirrer
parent paper
clean paintbrush or baking brush
​
Cut the fabric in to desired shapes and sizes
Place pine resin, bees wax and jojoba oil in a double boiler and allow to melt and meld (about 20Min)
Preheat the over to 300 degrees Fahrenheit
Spread fabric flat on parchment paper
Brush melted mixture lightly on fabric and put in over for about two minutes-or until fabric looks wet
Remove from oven and look for dry spots. Brush mixture over these uncovered areas
Place the next wrap on top of the finished wrap to soak up any excess coating mixture. Work quickly as you don't want the wax to begin to solidify
Once you have pressed any excess on to the new piece of fabric, peel part and hang your completed wrap to dry-it only takes a few minutes
Repeat steps until you are out of fabric and/or mixture.
Recipe from Mountain Rose herbs where you can also buy ingredients needed.
​