So, I have taken a brief hiatus from the blogging world the past few months but definitely not from my Organic all natural lifestyle!! Busy with the Holidays, Birthdays, and family fun but am now back to share some recipes that I love!! They are not for food though, but instead a way to naturally clean your home without paying the ridiculous price tags for 'organic all natural cleaners' that easily run you 4 to 5 dollars per bottle. However, an herbal alternative will cost mere pennies to make. I buy pure essential oils for an average of 3 dollars per half ounce, and since I only use 2 to 20 drops per cleaner (depending on the particular recipe) that half ounce bottle goes a long way indeed!! Other all natural ingredients, such as vinegar, baking soda, water and castile soap are also inexpensive : ))
This will probably be explained between two posts, since this is the rare occasion that BOTH of my two children (2 years old and under) are sound asleep......ahhhh, is this what it's like to actually hear your own thoughts during the daylight hours??? I don't know, but I don' hate eht!! (said with a saucy Columbian accent haha!!! ...don't judge me) O.K., back to the point ;))
This is not just about cost......the REAL reason I switched to all natural organic homemade cleaners is because of the chemicals that were being distributed into my home while I cleaned the floor my baby crawled on, and the toys they put in their mouths!! I used to be addicted to bleach....really, my husband said his eyes burned when I went on my cleaning sprees. Even though I would always open windows and allow venting of the smells, they were still strong. I just didn't realize how DANGEROUS they were to me and my family until just recently. I was a blind cleaner. I purchased what said 'removes dirt and grime in ONE easy application' or 'wipe that mildew right off with just 3 sprays' or 'streak free shine in minutes' but I never turned my products around to read the ingredients.....when I did, I was confused because one, I didn't understand half of the words on the bottle, and two, I thought why is all this necessary when my Grandmother cleaned with vinegar and baking soda for years??!? I then did some research and threw out my harmful products. Let's talk about bleach for a moment... Bleach, or sodium hypochlorite, is a combination of chlorine and sodium hydroxide and is perhaps one of the most difficult commercial cleaning products to relinquish. Technically speaking, household bleach is not considered corrosive or toxic, it is just classified as a skin and eye irritant. (haha, understatement??) It can burn human tissue, internally or externally, especially in small children. In fact, the accidental swallowing of bleach is the MOST FREQUENT received call at Poison Control Centers involving children under the age of six. If household bleach can do such damage then why even keep it around the house when there are soooo many natural and most importantly NON TOXIC solutions for removing stains and keeping your whites, white*
O.K., now I am excited!! I looooove sharing natural recipes whether they be for food or cleaning products, so let's get to the good stuff!!!
Step one: What you'll need : )
white distilled vinegar
baking soda
tea tree essential oil
lavender essential oil
peppermint essential oil
dr. bronner's organic castile soap (LOVE THIS!!!)
the castile soap also comes in many different fragrances for different purposes. I keep tea tree castile soap in my kitchen and bathroom for disinfecting, lavender castile soap in my bathtub for washing, and ultra mild baby castile soap in the kiddies tub for their sensitive body wash* you don't use it full strength. If you did, you would just be wasting money when it is recommended to dilute your castile soap about 60 percent to 40 percent. 40 percent soap, 60 percent water, and you can add some lavender essential oil or citrus oil for added smells and relaxing spa affects. I LOVE cleaning and getting high on natural sweet smelling aromas rather than LITERALLY getting high on bleach. LOL!!
here are my 4 favorite cleaning recipes, hope you decide to try them out : ))
Lauren's Awesome All Purpose Disinfecting Cleaner
(can be used on any surface, kitchen, bathroom, toys, fridge, garbage can, walls, literally anything you can think of....except the floor!! it has a lot of essential oil and you don't want to slip and break your neck, I have another recipe for fabulous floor cleaner!!! ;))
16 oz trigger spray bottle*
1/4 cup dr. bronner's castile soap (whatever scent you decide on)
6 tablespoons Vinegar
10 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil
5 drops Lavender Essential Oil
shake up and fill the rest up with water....that's it!! the tea tree and vinegar are natural disinfectants that work as well as clorox!! when you spray this on, let it sit for a minute to ensure all of the bacteria is killed and harder stains are then SO EASY to just wipe clean : )) this works so well, and smells great!!
regular all purpose cleaner, 3.89
my all natural cleaner that works better with a great smell?? 31 cents.....yea, can you say score!!?? you will also save over 3 dollars for every refill you make : )
Lauren's Fabulous Floor Cleaner
this is great for hard floors!!
1/2 cup vinegar
1 gallon water
1/8 cup dr. bronner's lavender castile soap
mix, mop and glooooow (I know, I know, I crack myself up too ;)) mop and glo floor cleaner, 3.80 our all natural almost organic alternative?? about 8 cents!!! =D
Lauren's Spectacular Soap
(for hand and body) use this in all of your soap dispensers around the house, and in your body wash containers in the bath : ))
8 parts water
2 parts baby mild castile soap (or whatever fragrance you enjoy)
10 drops favorite essential oil (I use lavender and chamomile melon yumm)
That's it!! now this is not a thick cleaner, but your skin will be left so soft and smooth after using castile soap. It really is different than anything I've ever used and I love it! since it is thinner, you just need a small amount on your loofah then create a lather and use as much as you need*
Lauren's Wicked Window Cleaner
This will leave your windows and mirrors streak free!*
16 oz trigger spray bottle
1/2 cup vinegar
1/4 cup lavender castile soap
fill to top with water
shake, spray and wipe down with newspaper to reduce lint being left on your mirrors : ))
QUICK TIPS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD...
-to keep your drains clear and not clogged, pour 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup vinegar down your drains every week*
-if you want THE BEST smelling air freshener without any chemicals being released into your air try this!!
get a pot and put it on the stove.
add 4 whole cinamin sticks
1 orange peel....eat the orange, it's good for you ;))
10 whole cloves
fill to the top with water and let it simmer all day! smells WONDERFUL* just keep refilling the water so it doesn't burn : )
Alright, I hear my son rolling around in his crib, I must venture LoL Next blog I'll explain my laundry, dishes, haircare and body lotion recipes YaY*
Have a blessed day. Put God first, your family second and the earth third*
smile : ))
