Wednesday, October 5, 2011

DIY: Chemical Free Living

I've been thinking about going chemical free for a while now, and as of late I have actually been researching it! I've found ways to make your own deodorant, going shampoo & conditioner free, natural cleaning products, homemade face cleansers, even how to make you own hair spray. So I'm going to share all of that with you today!
First up, how to make your own cleaners. I've found so many recipes and great ideas. I thought I'd share a few of my favorites, but give you some good links to where I got the recipes as well!
Automatic Dishwashing Liquid:
  • 1/2 c. liquid Castile soap (using regular soap can result in too many suds)
  • 1/2 c. water
  • 1/4 c. white vinegar
  • 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
  • several drops tea tree oil or grapefruit seed extract 
Combine ingredients in mason jar and shake. Use 2 tablespoons for each dishwasher load. Can be stored in a squeeze bottle.
Lavender Anti-Bacterial Spray:
  • 1 c. water
  • 20 drops lavender essential oil
Bath, Sink, Tile Cleaner:
(watch out for some bubbling.)
NOTE:  Ideally, mix this one in a SQUIRT bottle, not a SPRAY bottle.  It’s pretty thick and almost a paste.
  • 2/3 c. baking soda
  • 1/2 c. castile soap
  • 2 tbls. vinegar
  • 1/2 c. water
  • a few drops of tea tree oil
Being Creative -  Very cute blog with 2 great recipes for your own dishwasher detergent and laundry detergent.
Macheesmo - This is actually a cooking site, however they have a really great post about 4 basic cleaners you can make.
Moms Aware - This site is dedicated to "living healthy in a toxic world"
Mrs. Meyers If you don't want to make your own cleaners, this is a site that sells a brand of natural cleaner.
Re-Nest - This is a link to 25 DIY Green Cleaning Recipes


Now that your home is clean, it's time to clean yourself. It amazes me how many home made products I found just for yourself! Again, I'm going to share some of my favorites and give you the links to where I found them & you can find even more!

Cleaning Your Face With Oils 
Yes, you heard me correctly, clean your face with oils! Like your hair, the sebum that skin secretes is actually good for your skin. When the skins oils are removed your body's reaction is to make more oil.  

Normal Skin: start with a one-to-one ratio of castor oil and extra virgin olive oil
Acne Prone or Oily Skin: try three parts castor oil to one part extra virgin olive oil
Dry Skin: try one part castor oil to three parts extra virgin olive oil

Now put a quarter size amount in your palm, rub your hand together, and slowly massage it in with your finger tips. Do this while your face is dry and do it for about a minute. Next, wet a washcloth with hot water & put it over your face until it's room temperature. This steams all the crap out of your pores (takes about a minute). now wipe of the oil with your washcloth. No moisturizer is needed!


Make Your Own Deodorant

  • 1/4 c. baking soda
  • 1/4 c. arrowroot powder
  • 4 tbls. coconut oil
  • 10 drops grapefruit essential oil
  • a tin or a jar with a lid to store it in
 In a bowl stir together the dry ingredients, then add the oils gradually until you like the consistency (mix with a fork). Can be stored at room temperature for about 4 - 5 months (or until you run out!)
To apply it, just scoop up a small bit with your finger and hold it against your skin for a few seconds so it melts & rub!


Cure For Dry Scalp
Now, I don't have an issue with dry scalp, but if you do here is an interesting fix.

  • 1/2 oz original formula Listerine
  • 1/2 oz baby oil
Shake it up in a bottle and use cotton balls to apply. Leave on for 5 - 10 minutes & shampoo out. Found this on The Beauty Department

Make Your Own Shampoo & Conditioner
Now, you won't need that Listerine fix if you do this with your hair!
Take an 8oz squeeze bottle and put in a tablespoon of baking soda and fill the rest up with water (That's basically a cup of water per tablespoon of baking powder). Now give it a good shake to dissolve the baking soda. In the shower wet your hair and apply a little bit to your scalp & rinse. You shouldn't need to do this every day and the bottle should last you about a week to 2 weeks. 

Now, for the conditioner you're gonna want to grab another 8 oz bottle & mix 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar & 1 cup of water & shake. Apply to the ends of your hair & let it sit like you would with normal conditioner and rinse.

This method will cause your hair to be GORGEOUS! However there is a slight transition period where your scalp over produces oil (about 2 weeks). So just wear a ponytail those weeks and then you'll get really pretty hair! 

Simple Mom - This is the link to a more in depth look at cleaning your face with oils and goes to explain the benefits as well. It's also where I got the recipe for shampoo & conditioner.
On Just A Couple Acres - This is a blog about a mom who does almost everything natural. But this link takes you to a recipe for homemade hairspray!
Natural Hair Conditioner Recipes - If the cider vinegar rinse isn't for you, here are some other conditioner recipes you may want to try.
Beauty Recipes - This is an entire site dedicated to different beauty recipes.
How About Orange - Cute blog where I got the recipe for the deodorant.
More Facial Cleansers - In case you don't like the other sites I've posted, here is another link to even more face scrub recipes.
Do It Yourself Skin & Hair Care - This is another blog dedicated to natural beauty care. This particular link is to homemade lip scrubs tat you can use if you suffer from sever chapped lips.

I hope this gives you some inspiration to start exploring the life of chemical free living. There are more than 80,000 untested industrial chemicals being used in consumer products today with little to no understanding of how it affects our health. You want to be a human guinea pig? I sure don't!

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