I've been increasingly introducing more natural ways into our home. And not just buying an eco-friendly alternative, but using base ingredients and making them myself. I love using them, I love the simplicity of the routines, and that I have no clutter! These are all of the ingredients we use:
Baking soda (bicarb of soda)
White Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)
Washing Soda
Honey
These things on their own are useful for cleaning:
Hair
Face
Toilet
Shower
Handbasin
Kitchen
All purpose disinfectant
Wooden floor
Windows
Carpets
I buy the largest size available in vinegar and baking soda. In my bathroom I have a spray bottle that is filled with 50/50 water and vinegar and a sprinkle container filled with baking soda. The same goes for my laundry/shower area. These are all I require on a day to day basis.
Hair cleaning routine...
I "no-poo" which means to use no shampoo! This was an amazing thing to me, I was VERY skeptical since I've always lived with what I thought of as greasy hair. It *needed* to be washed daily - in the morning when I woke my hair was manky and lank. What I found was it was actually the shampoos causing the whole problem! This is my hair routine now:
Day 0 - wet hair, mix in a cup 1tsp baking soda and fill the cup half full with shower water, pour over my hair and massage into the roots and letting it run down the shafts of the hair, then rinse out. Then I would put a large squirt (1tsp-1Tbsn) of ACV into the mug, half full with water and pour over my hair (not the front or top) and let it run through the shafts of hair - ACV smooths and closes the hair off to stop static and acts as a conditioner.
Day 1 - wet hair in shower and wash with just the water
Day 2 - wet hair in shower and wash with just the water
Day 3 - Go through the BS and ACV again unless my hair feels not as greasy and go an extra day between washing.
I was amazed at how quickly things adjusted. It did take around 6wks for me to get my routine established and my hair to stabilise - this apparently is quite normal.
This blog has good information on the process with problem solving solutions.
Here is more info about Apple Cider Vinegar.
Face cleansing routine...
I have discovered the joys of using manuka honey for washing my face after reading a thread on www.mothering.com . It is fantastic for cleaning off make up and grease and feels lovely and soft and slightly moisturised afterwards. It doesn't leave a sticky or greasy residue as I first expected it might. All I do is wet my face with warm water using my hands, dip my teaspoon into the honey pot and use about 1/4 tsp (it is actually a LOT) and spread it around my face. It slightly globs together, but starts to spread as it heats up. Then rinse off using my hands only (face cloth would be fine too) and pat dry with the towel. Once a week or so when in the shower I sprinkle a small amount of BS into my hand and give my face a light scrub and rinse. Simple!
Shower/Toilet/Bath/Handbasin cleaning...
I take the shaker bottle that is already in the shower and sprinkle on the base of the shower, scrub and rinse off. In the toilet I sprinkle it around the bowl, scrub and flush then take my spray vinegar bottle and use that to spray the seat and around the porcelain. Bath, I sprinkle, scrub and rinse, handbasin I do the same or if it's just looking spotty but not scummy I will spray with my vinegar water and wipe clean to get a lovely sparkle. Simple!
Cleaning wooden floors...
I just fill up a bucket with hot water and add about 1/2 cup of white vinegar and mop as usual. Simple!
Windows...
I use my spray bottle of water/vinegar to spray on and wipe off (if REALLY dirty first I will give it a wash with eco-dishwash detergent and water first). Simple!
Carpets...
Well we decided to clean our large area mat a few months back. We hired a Rug Doctor but didn't want to use the commercial cleaners. So into the large bucket which we filled with hot water I added a cup of white vinegar and cleaned as usual. It did a pretty good job. Simple!
I have dappled at making my own laundry liquid - it seemed to work ok (or on par with other eco-friendly powders) - however, my machine and clothes started to smell. So need to figure out a way around that. It may involve a really hot wash with commercial powder now and again. But for now I'm back to regular powders...
I also attempted to use BS and washing soda in my dishwasher - but I was having the problem of a smelly machine and dishes and the dishes were coming out quite grimy and a bit greasy still (not just a few stains which didn't bother me).
2 comments:
I've been experimenting with similar ingredients and techniques. I love using baking soda to wash my face, it's the best, most gentle exfoliant. Honey is great as well, very moisturizing. I like to use it in the bath so I can put it on and leave it for a while before rinsing off.
Thanks for including your "no-poo" routine. I've been experimenting, using baking soda and just water, I've used ACV a few times too. But I haven't put them all together, haven't quite gotten a routine down that works. So it's great to find yours, I'll definitely give it a go.
Having a huge smile (I'm nearly 60 after all) growing up all those things were very very common.
My grandfather used to make me put salt on my index finger to 'brush my teeth' every morning.
the only other thing I can add is that a little kerosene on a cloth will clean most soap and copper stains off formica or other shower walls without scratching.
Having a little jar with cloves (open jar!) in your pantry will deter ants forever. They seem to hate it. If you do this you'll nary see an ant again.
When cooking cauli (to stop that dirty sock smell) put a dry end of bread on top of the water - absorbs the smell.
If I think of any more I'll post them for you
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