Since you asked for recipes and for more feedback, I thought I’d do another post (the first one was long enough already!).
I’m a little hazy on copyright issues and what’s okay to post on a blog (anyone else know?), so I don’t think I’ll post the lip balm recipe from Gail Duff’s Natural Beauty book. However if a couple people e-mailed me, I might be willing to e-mail it. And the deoderant recipe is here, as you know. We have all used the deoderant and think it’s effective so far. And we all like the lip balm.
Here’s the rest:
Alice’s Wonder Spray (all-purpose cleaner) from a pamphlet my mom’s co-op in Oregon put out: dissolve 2 tsp borax in 32 oz hot water (otherwise the spray will be grainy) in a 32 oz spray bottle (we had smaller bottles and just adjusted the recipe accordingly). Add 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar. Add 1/4 cup liquid dish soap and 20 drops essential oil (optional – we had lemon and orange essential oils). Shake ingredients to mix. Note: I think we’ve all used this and love it!
Laundry Detergent recipe from a local mama: Use one bar of grated glycerin soap (melted down with water on the stove to a liquid), 3 gallons of water, one cup Arm & Hammer washing soap, and optional 1/2 cup borax (she didn’t use borax, we did). Mix vigorously for 5 minutes. Use approximately 1/2 to 3/4 cup per load of laundry. Note: at least a couple of us have used this and like it. I’ll try to find out about the rest of the group.
Tub and Tile Cleaner from an article in Organic Style (May 2005) titled “Easy DIY Recipes”: Mix 1 2/3 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup liquid soap (we used liquid dish soap) in a bowl. Dilute with 1/2 cup filtered water and add 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar. Mix with a fork until any lumps are gone and mixture has a pourable consistency (you may need to add more water). Pour into a clean 16 oz squeeze container (the kind with a squirt flip-top lid). Shake well before using; keep the lid tightly closed to prevent the mixture from drying out. Note: at least a couple of us have used this and like it. I’ll try to find out about the rest of the group. I LOVE this tub and tile cleaner myself. It works so well!
Dishwasher Soap from a website on non-toxic home cleaning. Unfortunately I forgot which web site. Mix equal parts of borax and Arm & Hammer washing soda, but increase the washing soda if your water is hard. Note: at least a couple of us have used this and like it. I’ll try to find out about the rest of the group. My dishes got clean and there wasn’t any residue left!
A note about ingredients: the borax, washing soda, distilled white vinegar, and glycerine soap bars are all super cheap and readily available. The borax and washing soda can be found in the laundry section of grocery stores. I always see borax there and sometimes the Arm & Hammer washing soda, although I’ve had to look around for that more. The ingredients for the lip balm and deoderant are a bit more expensive (shea butter, cocoa butter, beeswax, almond oil, etc) but reasonable if you make a bigger batch and go in with friends. I bought much of it through Mountain Rose Herbs, but later saw the the ingredients were also available at our local health food store.
Anyone else have recipes to share? I’m really excited about making my own stuff now!
Okay, here’s the lip balm recipe:
Honey Lip Balm from Gail Duff’s Natural Beauty: Making and Using Pure and Simple Beauty Products: Place 4 tablespoons almond oil and 1 tablespoon beeswax in the top of a double boiler or in a bowl set in a saucepan of water. Melt them gently together on a low heat. If adding optional herbs (1 teaspoon dried marigold flowers or 2 fresh marigold heads, 1/2 teaspoon dried or 2 teaspoons fresh chopped comfrey leaves — we used both fresh marigolds and dried comfrey) do so now and keep the mixture at a simmering point for 15 minutes (the extra 15 minutes isn’t necessary if not adding herbs). Strain into a sterilized pot and add 1 teaspoon honey. Stir until cool. Cover when completely cold. Use within three months.
Hi! My name is Jean and I am mama to two daughters -- a four year old and a newborn. I'm trying to parent in a way that encourages creative expression, imagination, joyfulness, and a love of learning. Thanks for visiting!
Julie said
This summer I used (and loved) insect repellent with essential oils. recipe: http://funmajors.blogspot.com/2008/06/natural-insect-repellent.html
Also, since you were the reason I’m addicted to freezer paper stenciling, I wanted you to see what I finished yesterday: http://funmajors.blogspot.com/2008/08/idhtbptbb.html
anon said
recipes cannot be copyrighted. FYI.
http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl122.html
The Artful Parent said
That’s good to know about the recipes. I’ll post the lip balm recipe when I get a chance — maybe during Maia’s nap.
And Julie, I’ll have to try your insect repellent! We have an assortment of natural (store bought) insect repellents and none seem too effective. We get a lot of mosquitos around us in the summer!
cygnetsmall said
Jean or anyone else reading – Do you know if there alternatives for almond oil in the recipe? I have a super annoying (and life threatening) allergy to tree nuts so I probably would try to stay away from that one. Thanks for sharing all of your resources, I can’t wait to try some of the cleaning combos.
Rachel said
i would dito all that you said… i’m super pleased with the effectiveness of what we made. and it was so fun to make together! i only haven’t used the tub and tile cleaner yet… although my bathrooms have been beckoning them. glad to hear you love it!
a word about the deoderant… i have to admit that it’s not as easy to use as my liquid crystal so i’m finding i’m not using it as often. i have to dig it out of the can and then rub it in my fingers a bit to get it to work, then rub all over my armpits. and i’ve had to get used to the scent. but i am still using, just not as often. it has been effective once i’m willing to make time for the steps.
Christa said
Thanks for the great recipes!
Amy said
@anon, it’s maybe not quite that simple.
From your link: “Mere listings of ingredients as in recipes, formulas, compounds, or prescriptions are not subject to copyright protection. However, when a recipe or formula is accompanied by substantial literary expression in the form of an explanation or directions, or when there is a combination of recipes, as in a cookbook, there may be a basis for copyright protection.”
That said, reproducing a recipe here and there is common blog practice and not likely to incur much legal wrath. Indeed if you cite your source, as you should and as Jean clearly does when possible, it can be good publicity for the book in question.
I also want to put in a plug for a terrific book I’ve been using for 15 years: Clean and Green by Annie Berthold-Bond. She has a few more recent titles out as well. All have great recipes for home cleaning products, and some beauty stuff too.
The Artful Parent said
Molly – i imagine you could try just about any oil for the lip balm.
Amy – thanks for the info. and I’ll have to check out Clean and Green!
Hannah said
I recently tried making laundry detergent with a very similar recipe to the one you posted but I just wanted to share that I found the stove part wasn’t needed. I just added boiling water from the kettle directly to the grated soap in the jug/bottle I was use to store it and it still glooped up and works a treat. I’m quite chuffed that I found a way to make it even more cost effective!
Jessica @ Practical Nourishment said
I use that laundry detergent recipe, and I think the bar of soap and boxes of washing soda and borax have lasted me about 6 months, and now all I need to do for the next 6 months is buy a $1 bar of soap. How cool is that?!
mrspilkington said
Great posts! I’ll add a big plug for Annie Berthold-Bond’s Better Basics for the Home, too. I love that book — everything from cleaning to personal care, to hobbies and crafts included.
Niki said
Thanks for the info, I just found your blog and have some reading to do. I make my own dishwashing and laundry soap. for my dishwashing detergent I add 1 cup of borax and soda as well as 1/4 cup salt. This seems to help with the rinsing. Also fill your rinse agent with vinegar. I have never heard of residue but it really has to do with your water quality.
massageforfamilies said
regarding the almond oil…i agree that pretty much any carrier oil could be used–i would stick with similar viscosity at least so it doesn’t alter the continuity/texture too dramatically. in my own experience i have found that grapeseed oil is about as hypoallergenic as one can get in the semi-natural world. i’m certain there’s a population out there that reacts to it, but of the natural oils available it’s the least reacted to that i have currently found. that being said however, i would advise diluting high-viscosity oils like EVOO with a lighter carrier oil, especially if using as a substitute for a light oil like sweet almond (in my children’s aromatherapy resource it indicates a 10% dilution of high-viscosity carrier oils).
i also agree with the caution. i have many food allergies and thus far do not seem to have an issue with using sweet almond in external applications (or walnut in external applications, granola bars, or a butter spread that i make), but i do seem to react to sesame oil–even as a sub-ingredient in some massage lotions (but not others…wazzup with that? *shrug*). these are all oils whose original form/fruit I react to. follow your instinct and your current knowledge, and if in doubt dig through google for additional info regarding it all.
Ingrid said
I think that the marigolds called for in the lip-balm recipe are probably pot marigolds (Calendula) rather than french marigolds (Tagetes). Calendula is known for its skin-soothing properties, so is nice for lips. (Tagetes is used for treating plantar warts).
The Artful Parent said
Hmm. You’re probably right. It’s too bad I didn’t think of that because I have calendula flowers as well. Next time…