DIY Laundry Detergent

          I have been wanting to make my own laundry detergent for quite some time. Not only to save money but also to wash my clothes without those harsh chemicals, dyes, and perfumes. Also, my young daughter has Eczema from time to time, so using detergent without harsh ingredients can help her symptoms. I started looking at other blogger's recipes before making my own. The consensus seemed to be mostly the same ingredients: Borax, Washing Soda, Baking Soda, and Bar Soap. I knew I wanted to add some essential oils to mine, lemon and orange are recommended because of their cleaning power as well as their fresh scent. Some blogs recommend adding Oxiclean, but because of the ingredients used (concerns for cancer, skin allergies, and environmental problems) I did not want to add that to mine. I recommend using the Environmental Working Group website. They rate products as well as what alternatives to use. Here are list of A-rated laundry additives. If you have young children like I do, I would recommend adding one of these to get those stains out. The Oxiclean Baby Stain Soaker is a much better alternative and from personal use it really works great.








Here are the ingredients I used (feel free to substitute a brand that you prefer):



-Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 3 cups




-Borax 3 cups (This is optional as there are mixed reviews on Borax and it's effects)




- Oxiclean Baby Stain Soaker 1 cup




- Dr. Bronner's Bar Soap 2 bars. It comes in several scents and this mild unscented baby one




- Arm & Hammer Baking Soda 3 cups




- 15-20 drops Lemon essential oil and 15-20 drops Orange essential oil (Lavender or Citrus Fresh are good oils you can use as well)






How to make your own laundry soap:

- Grate the soap with a cheese grater


- Mix the Borax, Washing Soda, and Baking Soda in a large bowl


- Put the grated soap in a food processor and add about 1 cup of the mixture into the processor so the soap won't stick to the blades.


-Turn on the processor and add your essential oils while it's working. That will mix them into the soap nice and even for you.


-Take the mixture out of the processor and add to the large bowl and mix all together.


-Save in a container of your choice, I would recommend glass with a tight lid.


-This makes about a gallon and you only need 1-2 tablespoons per load.




This equals out to only pennies per load or less than $7 for the whole container! Your average laundry soap costs .12-.15 cents per load.


Let me know what you think if you decide to make it yourself! I just started using this so I will update in a later post how I like this homemade detergent.


Happy Oiling!
Amanda

Ready to join me? Click Here and enter Sponsor ID 1933812

Mother's Day Gift Idea: Lemon Sugar Scrub

 Photo Credit: Here

Need a last minute gift idea for mom? How about something you can make yourself that is quick and she will love? Try this easy DIY Lemon Sugar Scrub. It's great for any skin surface that needs exfoliation, especially those feet that have been hiding all winter.

What You Need:
 2 1/2 cups of Sugar
1 cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
10-15 drops of Lemon Essential Oil (you can add any other oils you might like as well)
12 oz Mason Jar

How To Make:
Mix your ingredients together in a bowl. It should form a gritty paste and you can spoon it into your mason jar (make sure it has a lid that seals). Keep in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.

How to Use:
Apply small spoonful-sized amount to any surface you wish to exfoliate and rub for 30 sec-1 min. I suggest doing this right before a shower or bath and you can rinse it off when you're done. You can also use during a manicure or pedicure and remove with a warm, wet towel when finished.

Happy Oiling!
Amanda

Ready to join me? Click Here and enter Sponsor ID 1933812

Seasonal Allergies, Bug Repellent, and Anti-itch Cream

Summer is coming and in Minnesota that means allergies, mosquitos, and bug bites. Have you tried prescription allergy medicine but would prefer a natural alternative? Would you prefer to make your own repellent without harsh chemicals and is also safe for your family and pets? Do you want to make a DIY cream for those itchy bites that you can use on even a young child? Here are some of my favorite recipes for these seasonal concerns.


Seasonal Allergies:


Lavender, Lemon, and Peppermint make a natural anti-histamine. This is great for those seasonal allergies that pop up as soon as the spring flowers do. You can diffuse the 3 oils in your home to rid of those dust mites and it also cleans the air (3-4 drops of each in your diffuser). You can also use these oils topically on your feet or the back of your neck for the sneezing, watery eyes, and nasal issues. If you have a rollerball, you can also mix the oils with grapeseed or almond oil (or another carrier oil). This makes using the oils topically quick and easy when you're getting ready in the morning. I do 10 drops of each oil along with 1/2 a teaspoon of the carrier oil in the rollerball. Roll on your feet or behind your ears and you're good to go.


Mosquito Repellent:


Anyone that lives near me (or anywhere in the Midwest really) knows that Mosquitos are annoying pests that we'd like to avoid in the summer. Here is an easy repellent that you can use on anyone in the family:


-16 oz spray bottle
-15 drops lavender oil
-3-4 Tbsp of vanilla extract
-1/4 cup lemon juice
-Fill the remaining with water


Shake and it's ready to use! Citronella and tea tree oil can also be used if you have those oils.


Spider Repellent:


Did you know that spider's hate peppermint? All you need is a spray bottle with water and add 10-15 drops (make sure it smells minty before using). Then you just need to spray in the cracks and gaps that spiders can sneak into your home. This will keep them away!


Ticks:


Ticks are common in wooded areas around us and we certainly want to keep them off our children and pets. Any of these oils mixed with vodka (Yes, vodka! You can actually use it in any bug repellent you make) and water will work in a spray bottle:


-Rose geranium
-Juniper
-Rosewood
-Thyme
-Grapefruit
-Oregano


I would use at least 15-20 drops of each oil and then shake.


Anti-itch Cream:


Getting bug bites during summer is somewhat unavoidable, so here is a great cream that can relieve the itchiness and inflamed skin:


-1 Tbsp of baking soda (soothes skin)
-1 Tspn of high quality sea salt (reduces inflammation)
-2 Tbsp of fractionated coconut oil (moisturizes irritated skin)
-3-5 drops lavender oil (disinfectant)
-3-5 drops lemon oil (reduces heat and inflammation)
-3-5 drops peppermint oil (cools and soothes itching)


Mix ingredients in glass bowl until it's smooth. Then apply to any areas with bug bites/irritated skin.



Happy Oiling!
Amanda

Ready to join me? Click Here and enter Sponsor ID 1933812

Spring Cleaning

Now that spring is officially here in Minnesota, it's a great time to clean your home. Would you prefer to use non-toxic chemicals when cleaning your home? Young Living has a great line of cleaning products including Thieves Household Cleaner. You can dilute in water or add lemon for a fresh smell. You can also make your own cleaner using Lemon and Citrus Fresh in water. Purification is great to diffuse in your home to get rid of those stinky smells.

Here are some easy DIY using Thieves Household Cleaner:






Happy Oiling!
Amanda

Ready to join me? Click Here and enter Sponsor ID 1933812