Cleaning Solutions

I found a different version of this on a green cleaning website and tweaked it to better suit our needs. It cleans better than COMET!!!

Toilet Bowl Cleaner:
1/4 C baking soda
1/2 C white distilled vinegar

Directions: Pour into toilet bowl. Let sit for 10-15 minutes (the water level may drop-that's okay). Scrub with toilet brush then flush.

Bath/Shower/Counter tops/Sink Cleaner I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this one!

2T baking soda
1T dish soap
1T white distilled vinegar

Directions: Make a paste using all ingredients. Cut a lemon in half and apply paste to fleshy side. Gradually squeeze lemon as you work in circular motions. Rinse with water.

Wood Polish
1T olive oil
1T water
1 fresh lemon (juiced)

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a resealable container. Shake well until combined. Apply to a soft cloth (like microfiber). Work in a circular motion. Rub thoroughly.

Dishwasher Detergent

It is important to wash dishes in a high temp/sani rinse cycle no matter what kind of detergent you use.

A couple different recipes:

#1
I find that this mixture clumps (the citric acid) but helps decrease the cloudiness of the plastic dishes.
1C Borax
1C Washing Soda
1/2C Citric Acid (at Sprouts in the bilk spices section)
1/2C Kosher Salt
Mix well. Store in an airtight container.


Directions for use:
Add 1T to detergent cup.

#2
1C Borax
1C Washing Soda
1/2C Kosher Salt
Mix well. Store in an airtight container.

Directions for use:
Add 1T to detergent cup. Add 3 drops lemon essential oil.

RINSE AID:

Wait for it.....add white vinegar to your rinse cup (normally where you would put jet dry)

Laundry Detergent

By popular demand here is the recipe for homemade laundry detergent...

3C Borax
2C Baking Soda
2C Washing Soda
2C Ivory bar soap (grated into a powder)


Mix all ingredients well and store in a tightly sealed container.


Directions for use:
Add 1/8C to extra large load. Less for smaller loads


Tips to make it better:
Add apple cider vinegar to a downy ball for the rinse cycle.
Let the soap start to dissolve BEFORE you add clothes.

You will need to use a stain remover for really tough stains (at our house that means food stains) I use Tide Stain Release In Wash Booster liquid. I pour it directly onto the stain. Let sit while you add the detergent, start the water, and add all the other clothes. Add the stained garment to the top of the washer and launder. Make sure to check that the stain has been completely removed before drying.

Diaper Rash

My daughter has EXTREMELY sensitive skin. In order to keep diaper rash from developing is to use cloth diapers and homemade wet wipes. We use disposables when we travel for ease of use. Sometimes the redness appears and we use a diaper rash cream that works great! Simple.Natural. Beautiful.

CLOTH DIAPERS-check out the following:

Store in Scottsdale where we purchased our diapers http://www.zoolikins.com/
 

Brands we use:
http://www.bumgenius.com/

http://www.happyheinys.com/
 

The initial investment is steep but costs are recouped within baby's first year of life. I have never rinsed out a cloth diaper in the toilet. I machine wash and line dry them (I do put them in the dryer on a rainy or cold day). Our wallets and my daughter's back side are all the better for it!

WETWIPES:

I first discovered the recipe for this while visiting Progressive Pioneer I have tweaked it a bit to suit our sensitive skin.

4C hot water

2T olive oil

2T baby wash (we use either Aquafor or  Dr. Bronner's castille soap)

6 drops tea tree essential oil

10 drops lavender essential oil

8 drops calendula essential oil

Combine all ingredients and pour over wipes in their container. Keep covered. Allow to cool before use.

For the wipes you can either use paper towels cut to the size of your container (I prefer the select-a-size cut in thirds) or for reusable wipes cut old receiving blankets into squares. They can be washed and reused as often as needed!

DIAPER RASH CREAM

The most effective over-the-counter creams for us so far have been Aveeno and Boudreaux's Butt Paste^®

I am still looking for a diaper rash cream recipe that is simple, natural, and effective! 

DIAPER RASH BATHSOAK

We soak her in a bath with

1/4 c uncooked rolled oats wrapped in cheesecloth

1T calendua oil

10 drops lavender essential oil

Welcome to my little corner of the blogshpere! I am a busy mom who wants a simple, natural, beautiful life. Things can be so hectic and complicated sometimes. I am choosing to take back my life and consciously make choices to simplify our lives, find realistic and natural ways to care for our bodies and minds, and find/create beauty everywhere I go.Please join me and together we can share a world that is simple natural and beautiful!