I hope this blog helps you make better choices, usually surrounded food. Today though, I am going to help you make better choices in keeping a clean kitchen. I will even expand a bit into the entire house including yourself/family. I have been making a lot of the products in my home for about 6 months. At this point, I am still experimenting and using other’s recipes. I spent some time researching and compiling a list of different recipes. There are TONS of websites out there. Some of the recipes included items I was not willing to purchase and some included processes that seemed too complicated to be able to manage long term. Today, I will share the recipe I use and my comments of each. Maybe by next year, I will have adapted these recipes into what I consider the perfect homemade product - because not all are there yet.
Few benefits of making own products:
Few benefits of making own products:
- Most importantly, you control the ingredients
- You are avoiding commercial ingredients that are known to have harmful effects
- It’s cheaper
- Less energy to make
- Less energy to transport to the store for purchase
Once again, the motto I continue to share is do what you can and want to do. Any change you make in your life is better than none.
Okay, so to get started, you need to purchase a baseline starter kit. You will find a lot of the recipes use the same ingredients over and over. I utilize Sams Club or Amazon to purchase most everything because I can do so in bulk to save money. Plus, both places will deliver to my door. I did choose to also buy some cheap equipment, instead of using my good kitchen pieces and because I wanted to keep them separate since one was for food.
Here is what I purchased (or made sure I had):
- Vinegar
- Olive oil
- Almond oil
- Coconut oil
- Distilled water
- Baking soda
- Washing soda
- Borax
- Alcohol
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Glycerin
- Castile liquid soap
- Castile bar soap
- Essential oils
- Beeswax
- Cheap box grater
- Cheap glass bowl
- Cheap spoon
- Cheap measuring cup
- Spray bottles
- Glass jars
Here is what we are currently making and using in our home:
Ingredients:
- 1/4 c. rubbing alcohol (this is what eliminates the streaks)
- 3 - 4 drops dish soap
- Water — enough to fill the 16 oz bottle
- 2 or 3 drops essential oil
Directions:
Mix all the ingredients in a 16 oz plastic spray bottle, give it a shake, and you’re ready to clean.
Cooking For A Better Tomorrow Comments:
I used my homemade dish soap (listed below). I doubled for a large 32oz spray bottle.
Ingredients:
- 50/50 solution of water and vinegar
Directions:
Fill a 32 oz spray bottle.
Cooking For A Better Tomorrow Comments:
No streaks!!
No streaks!!
Ingredients:
- 2 c water
- ½ c distilled white vinegar
- 1 tsp pure castile soap
- ¾ c hydrogen peroxide
- 20 drops tea tree oil
- 20 drops essential oil (lavender bathrooms, lemon kitchen)
Directions:
Fill a 32 oz spray bottle.
Cooking For A Better Tomorrow Comments:
I only do one type of oil - lavender. With all of my homemade products, I make sure to shake well before each use - this one in particular is important.
Ingredients:
- All-purpose cleaner
- Baking soda
Directions:
Spray with all-purpose cleaner, sprinkle with baking soda, scrub with a sponge/brush, then rinse clean.
Cooking For A Better Tomorrow Comments:
I use my all purpose spray from above.
Ingredients:
- 1 c borax
- 1/4 c vinegar
Directions:
Mix together in a cup then pour into toilet. Let sit for 15 min, then scrub.
Cooking For A Better Tomorrow Comments:
I don't measure this, but felt like 1 cup borax was a lot, so use about half of that. Also, I didn't mix together the first time and a large ball formed in the toilet. This does the job, but you won't get the gel consistency of conventional toilet bowl cleaner.
I don't measure this, but felt like 1 cup borax was a lot, so use about half of that. Also, I didn't mix together the first time and a large ball formed in the toilet. This does the job, but you won't get the gel consistency of conventional toilet bowl cleaner.
Ingredients:
- 2 c castile soap
- 6 T water
- 2 T vinegar or lemon juice
- optional essential oils
Directions:
Mix in a glass jar.
Cooking For A Better Tomorrow Comments:
I use vinegar. This is more liquidy than a typical store bought product. I do think it works just as good though. Be cautious when pouring onto dishes, so you don’t use too much. I double this and use citrus castile soap and no essential oils.
Stainless Steel Cleaner
Ingredients:
- Oil
- Vinegar
Directions:
Use a clean cloth with a little bit of oil and make back and forth motions with the grain of the appliance. Repeat with vinegar.
Cooking For A Better Tomorrow Comments:
Works great! If the appliances are really dirty, use a damp rag first . To me this isn't really a cleaner, just eliminates the fingerprints and makes them look pretty.
Works great! If the appliances are really dirty, use a damp rag first . To me this isn't really a cleaner, just eliminates the fingerprints and makes them look pretty.
Floor Cleaner
Ingredients:
Ingredients:
- 1 gallon water
- 1 c vinegar
- Essential oil, few drops
Directions:
Mix in bucket and mop onto floor. Make sure not to saturate floor.
Cooking For A Better Tomorrow Comments:
Safe on wood and tile floors.
Ingredients:
- 1 bar of castile soap finely grated (makes about 1.5 cups)
- 1 c borax
- 1 c washing soda
- 3-5 drops essential oils
Directions:
After finely grating the bar of soap, add it to a bowl along with the borax and washing soda. Whisk together very well to make sure it is all evenly distributed. Add the essential oils (if using) and mix very well to distribute the oil throughout. Put in an airtight container to prevent clumping.Use 2-3 tablespoons per load.
Cooking For A Better Tomorrow Comments:
I use a lavender bar of soap and no essential oils. This is the most tedious product I make. Honestly, it is silly, but I like the look of a glass jar with powdered laundry detergent. Likely, when our baby joins our family, I will be switching to liquid for ease.
Ingredients:
- Vinegar
Directions:
Add to fabric softener laundry compartment.
Cooking For A Better Tomorrow Comments:
My husband was concerned the laundry would smell like vinegar, but it absolutely doesn’t.
Washing Machine Cleaner
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ c of distilled white vinegar
- 1 ½ c of baking soda
Directions:
Pour 1 cup of each directly into the drum. Then, add about ½ cup of vinegar and ½ cup of baking soda into the detergent dispenser.
Cooking For A Better Tomorrow Comments:
My laundry machine recommends doing this on a specific cycle and repeating every month.
Ingredients:
- 1 c distilled or boiled water, cooled
- 1/4 c castile liquid soap
- 1 tsp. vegetable glycerine or glycerine
- 15-30 drops essential oil
Directions:
Mix all together and pour into a foam soap dispenser.
Mix all together and pour into a foam soap dispenser.
Cooking For A Better Tomorrow Comments:
I use citrus castile soap and no oils. This only works with a foam dispenser because of the consistency. I will be looking for a hand soap to use with a regular dispenser soon.
Ingredients:
- 1/3 c sweet almond oil
- 2 T coconut oil
- 2 T olive oil
- 3 T (2 T for pump use) grated beeswax (about 1-1/2 oz.)
- 30-35 drops lavender essential oil
Directions:
Combine the oils in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat just until warm, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add the grated beeswax, stirring until the wax is completely melted. Refrigerate for 5 to 10 minutes to start the oils cooling, then stir in the essential oil (30 drops for less scent, 35 for more). At this point, the cream can be poured into a container (or two containers, if desired) to cool completely.
Cooking For A Better Tomorrow Comments:
I use citrus oil and tripled. More oily than typical lotions. You only need a very small amount which is good because it lasts a long time. It does soak in fast and your hands don’t stay oily. Next time, I am going to whip it with a hand blender.
Ingredients:
- Two parts oil (try adding almond oil for added moisture or peppermint oil for a fresh scent)
- One part beeswax
Directions:
Melt the beeswax in a double boiler, ensuring that the top bowl does not touch the water. Once the wax melted, remove from the heat. Add your oils and as much lipstick as you want (the more lipstick you use, the darker the color will be). Immediately pour the hot mixture into the desired tin. Let it cool overnight before using it.
Cooking For A Better Tomorrow Comments:
I use 2 T almond oil , 1 T beeswax and 1 drop peppermint oil. I multiplied this many times and made multiple small containers. I don't add lipstick colors.
Ingredients:
- 1 c distilled, filtered, or boiled water
- 2-3 drops peppermint essential oil
Directions:
Mix together in a clean container. Shake before each use. Do not swallow. Store in a dark cupboard or medicine cabinet.
Cooking For A Better Tomorrow Comments:
This may be an adjustment for people because you don’t get that strong alcohol flavor.
There is more I would like to do. I have other items I will be transitioning to, after I use up my conventional store bought products:
Room Freshener Sprays
If you aren’t ready to start making your own products, at least reference these two sites from the Environmental Working Group to see what is the best store bought products.
- Skin Deep Database for Cosmetics
- Healthy Cleaning Database for Cleaners
For a few other Earth Day inspired changes, check out my post from last year. I shared simple changes you could make in and around your kitchen. I ended that blog with a couple of goals I had for myself - one start composting and second to start using recycled paper products. While I haven’t starting composting, making my own products wasn’t a goal at that time and took over. I was able to start successfully using 100% recycled toilet paper and paper towels. We also now use cloth napkins most of the time. We do stock a few paper napkins and still are using up our current supply of kleenex. Once those are gone, I will be transitioning to 100% recycled for those as well.
I hope I am leaving you with the motivation to make a difference, one small change at a time!
~Ashley
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