Natural Liquid Dish Soap Recipe
Are you looking to save money on cleaning products and work toward living a natural lifestyle, eliminating toxins and chemicals from your everyday products? Do you love the challenge of making your own cleaning products.
If so, you have to try our simple recipe for homemade dish soap. Not the kind that goes into a dishwasher, the kind you squirt into a sink full of water when you’re stuck with the chore of hand-washing the dishes.
Ingredients:
1 ¾ cups boiling water
1 Tbsp borax
1 Tbsp grated bar soap (use homemade soap, castile bar soap, Ivory, or whichever natural bar you prefer)
15-20 drops essential oils, optional (find 100% pure essential oils here)
Directions:
Heat water to boiling.
Combine borax and grated bar soap in a medium bowl. Pour hot water over the mixture. Whisk until the grated soap is completely melted.
Allow mixture to cool on the counter top for 6-8 hours, stirring occasionally. Dish soap will gel upon standing.
Transfer to a squirt bottle, and add essential oils. Shake well to combine.
Now you’re ready to use your liquid dish soap just as you would use any commercial brand!
Monday, June 9, 2014
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Tangerine Gummies for Radiant Skin
Luckily, adding gelatin to your diet and your kids diet is not only easy; it’s delicious! The Gelatin Secret, which goes into detail about how gelatin nourishes each part of our body and includes many recipes, both savory and sweet so you can jumpstart your journey to health right away.
Tangerine Gummies for Radiant Skin
What you’ll need:
1 cup strained (no pulp) tangerine juice (preferably fresh squeezed)
7 Tbsp gelatin (preferably pastured like this one)
4 Tbsp honey (preferably raw)
Silicone molds (these and these are the ones pictured)
Directions:
Bring the juice and honey to a low simmer (don’t let it get too hot as it will kill the probiotic awesomeness of the honey!)
Add the gelatin and mix quickly with an immersion blender or with a whisk and some patience until it’s fully dissolved.
Pour into molds and place in freezer for 20 minutes (for easy transport, place the silicone mold on a cookie sheet).
Take out and enjoy!
Tangerine Gummies for Radiant Skin
What you’ll need:
1 cup strained (no pulp) tangerine juice (preferably fresh squeezed)
7 Tbsp gelatin (preferably pastured like this one)
4 Tbsp honey (preferably raw)
Silicone molds (these and these are the ones pictured)
Directions:
Bring the juice and honey to a low simmer (don’t let it get too hot as it will kill the probiotic awesomeness of the honey!)
Add the gelatin and mix quickly with an immersion blender or with a whisk and some patience until it’s fully dissolved.
Pour into molds and place in freezer for 20 minutes (for easy transport, place the silicone mold on a cookie sheet).
Take out and enjoy!
Natural Glass Cleaner
Sometimes the best things in life are free… or really, really cheap, like this natural glass cleaner recipe. I’ve experimented with many types of natural cleaners and have finally found natural options that are as good (or better) than conventional cleaners.
This natural glass cleaner was a pretty easy recipe to figure out after I got the tip to use vinegar from a neighbor. Apparently, that is what everyone used in past generations and we’ve just been slow to figure it out. What’s old is new again, I suppose…
This cleaner has a somewhat strong smell that completely evaporates once it dries. I prefer to use microfiber cloth to wipe down the windows now, but old newspapers or t-shirts also work. Just avoid paper towels as they tend to leave lint on them.
Natural Glass Cleaner Recipe:
In a 16 oz or bigger spray bottle (or squirt bottle) mix:
1 pint (2 cups) water
2 tablespoons vinegar
10-15 drops essential oil (optional, but helps the vinegar smell)
Shake bottle and spray on windows. Use crumpled newspaper or cotton cloth to wipe off.
NOTE: If you have always used commercial window cleaner in the past, mix a couple drops of liquid castille soap or liquid dish soap in some of this mixture the first time you clean the windows to remove detergent residue.
This natural glass cleaner was a pretty easy recipe to figure out after I got the tip to use vinegar from a neighbor. Apparently, that is what everyone used in past generations and we’ve just been slow to figure it out. What’s old is new again, I suppose…
This cleaner has a somewhat strong smell that completely evaporates once it dries. I prefer to use microfiber cloth to wipe down the windows now, but old newspapers or t-shirts also work. Just avoid paper towels as they tend to leave lint on them.
Natural Glass Cleaner Recipe:
In a 16 oz or bigger spray bottle (or squirt bottle) mix:
1 pint (2 cups) water
2 tablespoons vinegar
10-15 drops essential oil (optional, but helps the vinegar smell)
Shake bottle and spray on windows. Use crumpled newspaper or cotton cloth to wipe off.
NOTE: If you have always used commercial window cleaner in the past, mix a couple drops of liquid castille soap or liquid dish soap in some of this mixture the first time you clean the windows to remove detergent residue.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Homeade Dishwasher Detergent
Dishwasher detergent can be one of the tougher products to find good natural options for. Homemade versions can work, but getting the ratios right is really important.
Homemade Dishwasher Detergent:
Ingredients
2 parts borax
2 parts washing soda
1 part citric acid (this is the kind I used)
1 part salt
essential oils for scent (completely optional)
The upside is that it is a simple and cost effective recipe and you know exactly what it contains. The downside is that it can leave a residue depending on your water, the temperature used, and other factors.Tropical Traditions Dishwasher Detergent:
Another option that I use often is Tropical Traditions Powdered Dish Detergent. It is also all-natural and an enzyme cleaner so it is a much safer option than many store bought dish detergents.
One canister lasts at least a month at our house (often much longer). This one is a little more pricey but it cleans well and lasts longer than many of the other natural options.
Ecover Powder:
Another natural option that works well is Ecover Powder. It is available locally in many places, it cleans well and it isn’t that much more expensive than store bought brands. It was pretty close between Ecover and Tropical Traditions as to which one cleaned better, and I’d use either one.
Another natural brand that I’ve tried that actually gets the dishes clean is Mrs. Myers. It comes in a variety of natural scents and is also available locally in many places. It is more expensive than the other natural options, but it does a good job.
What I do:
I’m all for a DIY option whenever possible, but in the case of dishwasher detergent, finding a homemade option that works with your water quality and dishwasher can be difficult.
If the homemade options haven’t worked for you, I’ve used all three of the other above powdered dish soaps with good results and would use them again. Most often, I use Tropical Traditions, but it is only available online and the other two can often be found locally.
Homemade Dishwasher Detergent:
Ingredients
2 parts borax
2 parts washing soda
1 part citric acid (this is the kind I used)
1 part salt
essential oils for scent (completely optional)
The upside is that it is a simple and cost effective recipe and you know exactly what it contains. The downside is that it can leave a residue depending on your water, the temperature used, and other factors.Tropical Traditions Dishwasher Detergent:
Another option that I use often is Tropical Traditions Powdered Dish Detergent. It is also all-natural and an enzyme cleaner so it is a much safer option than many store bought dish detergents.
One canister lasts at least a month at our house (often much longer). This one is a little more pricey but it cleans well and lasts longer than many of the other natural options.
Ecover Powder:
Another natural option that works well is Ecover Powder. It is available locally in many places, it cleans well and it isn’t that much more expensive than store bought brands. It was pretty close between Ecover and Tropical Traditions as to which one cleaned better, and I’d use either one.
Another natural brand that I’ve tried that actually gets the dishes clean is Mrs. Myers. It comes in a variety of natural scents and is also available locally in many places. It is more expensive than the other natural options, but it does a good job.
What I do:
I’m all for a DIY option whenever possible, but in the case of dishwasher detergent, finding a homemade option that works with your water quality and dishwasher can be difficult.
If the homemade options haven’t worked for you, I’ve used all three of the other above powdered dish soaps with good results and would use them again. Most often, I use Tropical Traditions, but it is only available online and the other two can often be found locally.
Friday, February 21, 2014
Honey Face Wash
Sound strange? So does cleansing your face with oil, but it turns out that they are both natural and effective ways to cleanse skin naturally.
For this method, raw honey must be used. Raw honey has natural anti-bacterial properties and contains enzymes and probiotics that are good for skin. This method can be especially good for acne-prone skin as it doesn’t stop moisture from the skin but does reduce oils and bacteria. (Acne is usually in internal problem though, so it is important to look at diet too!)
Honey is gentler than soaps, which strip the skin of beneficial oils, and it gently nourishes skin. I know a local vet who has even used raw honey to speed skin healing on animals as it helps reduce bacteria and speed healing while protecting the skin from outside disturbances. This idea appears to have some scientific backing, as there are now medical grade ointments (like this one) that use honey for wound and burn healing in humans.
What to Use
I’ve personally tried two different types of honey for facial cleansing:
Manuka Honey
Raw Organic Honey
Both seem to work really well. Manuka honey is considered more cleansing and antibacterial (and has health benefits when used internally) but from what I found, either one works great for skin care (and raw honey is cheaper).
A friend of mine also recommended adding a tiny bit of vitamin C powder (which is also great for skin) and some essential oils for extra anti-bacterial and acne fighting power. Personally, I mix a few drops of lavender and frankincense oils in to the honey I keep in my bathroom.
I also still use the Oil Cleansing Method daily and I use honey for a second wash if needed. Typically, I wash my face at night with the oil cleansing method since it also removes makeup, and wash my face in the morning with the honey method if I use it. I keep a small jar and spoon of honey on my bathroom counter for this purpose….
How to Do it:
Wet face with warm water. Place a small amount of honey in your hands (Usually less than a teaspoon is plenty) and rub your hands together.
Massage in to skin in a circular motion to get all areas of the skin.
Optional: Leave on for 5-10 minutes for deep pore cleansing.
Wash off with warm water and pat dry.
Enjoy the soft skin!
Have you ever washed your face with an unusual ingredient? Share below in the comments!
For this method, raw honey must be used. Raw honey has natural anti-bacterial properties and contains enzymes and probiotics that are good for skin. This method can be especially good for acne-prone skin as it doesn’t stop moisture from the skin but does reduce oils and bacteria. (Acne is usually in internal problem though, so it is important to look at diet too!)
Honey is gentler than soaps, which strip the skin of beneficial oils, and it gently nourishes skin. I know a local vet who has even used raw honey to speed skin healing on animals as it helps reduce bacteria and speed healing while protecting the skin from outside disturbances. This idea appears to have some scientific backing, as there are now medical grade ointments (like this one) that use honey for wound and burn healing in humans.
What to Use
I’ve personally tried two different types of honey for facial cleansing:
Manuka Honey
Raw Organic Honey
Both seem to work really well. Manuka honey is considered more cleansing and antibacterial (and has health benefits when used internally) but from what I found, either one works great for skin care (and raw honey is cheaper).
A friend of mine also recommended adding a tiny bit of vitamin C powder (which is also great for skin) and some essential oils for extra anti-bacterial and acne fighting power. Personally, I mix a few drops of lavender and frankincense oils in to the honey I keep in my bathroom.
I also still use the Oil Cleansing Method daily and I use honey for a second wash if needed. Typically, I wash my face at night with the oil cleansing method since it also removes makeup, and wash my face in the morning with the honey method if I use it. I keep a small jar and spoon of honey on my bathroom counter for this purpose….
How to Do it:
Wet face with warm water. Place a small amount of honey in your hands (Usually less than a teaspoon is plenty) and rub your hands together.
Massage in to skin in a circular motion to get all areas of the skin.
Optional: Leave on for 5-10 minutes for deep pore cleansing.
Wash off with warm water and pat dry.
Enjoy the soft skin!
Have you ever washed your face with an unusual ingredient? Share below in the comments!
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Seven Natural Gift Ideas for Valentine's Day
Homemade Chocolate:
If you are going to do the chocolate thing, why not make some gourmet chocolate that is actually good for you?
This is my favorite homemade recipe made with cocoa butter and raw honey. You can also top with a bit of sea salt for a salted version ,or add a drop of food grade peppermint essential oil for a mint flavor.
This recipe also works really well for making chocolate covered strawberries (or other fruit) or as a magic shell topping for homemade ice cream.
A Creative Date:
I share my 7 top favorite unusual date ideas in this post, but anything that gets you out of the house and breaks up the norm can be fun. In the long run, it will be the creative dates and the time spent together that they remember, not the expensive gifts or dates!
Maca:
For a long time, if we gave store bought gifts at all, they were practical ones that we needed anyway.
Maca is a root (herb) that supports healthy hormone health. It has often been used for hormone balance, to increase libido, to help with infertility, etc. It also is great for boosting energy levels and it is one of the supplements that I take often.
Due to its libido-boosting properties, Maca can make a great Valentine’s day gift idea for men or women. This is the one I use.
Beeswax Candles:
Candles are often given as a gift, but many candles contain harmful chemicals that are released in to the air of your home:
“Regular paraffin candles are petroleum derived and can release chemicals like benzene, toluene, soot and other chemicals into the air. These types of candles do more harm than good for indoor air quality and should be avoided.
Pure Beeswax Candles on the other hand burn with almost no smoke or scent and clean the air by releasing negative ions into the air. These negative ions can bind with toxins and help remove them from the air.
Beeswax candles are often especially helpful for those with asthma or allergies and they are effective at removing common allergens like dust and dander from the air. Beeswax candles also burn more slowly than paraffin candles so they last much longer.
I personally only use beeswax candles in our house. We buy them by the case and our favorites are:
Tea-light beeswax candles
Votive size beeswax candles“
Beeswax candles are a great alternative as they provide the relaxing benefits of a candle as well as air-cleaning benefits.
Lotion Bars:
Lotion bars are a great gift idea for Valentine’s Day. They are completely natural and can be customized for men or women. This winter especially, it has been really cold at our house and any time we’ve started to get dry skin, I turn to the lotion bars.
They are easy to use (apply to dry skin) and less messy than regular lotion. They can also be made in silicon molds in any shape, so you could create a bouquet of lotion bar flowers (with a mold like this one) or stick with a simple bar for guys (like this one).
Salt Lamp:
Another favorite are salt lamps clean the air and create a relaxing orange glow. We use them to purify the air and in hallways at night so kids can see if they have to go to the bathroom (we keep rooms dark).
Salt lamps are also a unique and novel gift that can be useful all year instead of pretty for a day. This is the one we have.
Time Together:
Our go-to gift for most events… uninterrupted time together. With kids, this often just means time watching a movie, but we also make an effort to do activities together when we can.
Do you celebrate Valentine’s day? What are you doing this year?
If you are going to do the chocolate thing, why not make some gourmet chocolate that is actually good for you?
This is my favorite homemade recipe made with cocoa butter and raw honey. You can also top with a bit of sea salt for a salted version ,or add a drop of food grade peppermint essential oil for a mint flavor.
This recipe also works really well for making chocolate covered strawberries (or other fruit) or as a magic shell topping for homemade ice cream.
A Creative Date:
I share my 7 top favorite unusual date ideas in this post, but anything that gets you out of the house and breaks up the norm can be fun. In the long run, it will be the creative dates and the time spent together that they remember, not the expensive gifts or dates!
Maca:
For a long time, if we gave store bought gifts at all, they were practical ones that we needed anyway.
Maca is a root (herb) that supports healthy hormone health. It has often been used for hormone balance, to increase libido, to help with infertility, etc. It also is great for boosting energy levels and it is one of the supplements that I take often.
Due to its libido-boosting properties, Maca can make a great Valentine’s day gift idea for men or women. This is the one I use.
Beeswax Candles:
Candles are often given as a gift, but many candles contain harmful chemicals that are released in to the air of your home:
“Regular paraffin candles are petroleum derived and can release chemicals like benzene, toluene, soot and other chemicals into the air. These types of candles do more harm than good for indoor air quality and should be avoided.
Pure Beeswax Candles on the other hand burn with almost no smoke or scent and clean the air by releasing negative ions into the air. These negative ions can bind with toxins and help remove them from the air.
Beeswax candles are often especially helpful for those with asthma or allergies and they are effective at removing common allergens like dust and dander from the air. Beeswax candles also burn more slowly than paraffin candles so they last much longer.
I personally only use beeswax candles in our house. We buy them by the case and our favorites are:
Tea-light beeswax candles
Votive size beeswax candles“
Beeswax candles are a great alternative as they provide the relaxing benefits of a candle as well as air-cleaning benefits.
Lotion Bars:
Lotion bars are a great gift idea for Valentine’s Day. They are completely natural and can be customized for men or women. This winter especially, it has been really cold at our house and any time we’ve started to get dry skin, I turn to the lotion bars.
They are easy to use (apply to dry skin) and less messy than regular lotion. They can also be made in silicon molds in any shape, so you could create a bouquet of lotion bar flowers (with a mold like this one) or stick with a simple bar for guys (like this one).
Salt Lamp:
Another favorite are salt lamps clean the air and create a relaxing orange glow. We use them to purify the air and in hallways at night so kids can see if they have to go to the bathroom (we keep rooms dark).
Salt lamps are also a unique and novel gift that can be useful all year instead of pretty for a day. This is the one we have.
Time Together:
Our go-to gift for most events… uninterrupted time together. With kids, this often just means time watching a movie, but we also make an effort to do activities together when we can.
Do you celebrate Valentine’s day? What are you doing this year?
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Homemade Healthy Fruit Snacks
We are big fans of Gelatin at our house and we use it in a lot of different ways. These homemade fruit snacks and homemade marshmallows are the kid-favorites in our house, and I can feel good about giving it to them since it is a source of protein and vitamins.
Just like the chewable vitamins recipe, different vitamins can be added to these to make them even more nutritious. The kombucha adds nutrients as well, making these fruit snacks even healthier.
There are really endless ways this recipe could be adapted, and I’ve included our favorite below. If you experiment with different flavors or combinations, please share them below!
These can be made by pouring in to an oiled container or silicon molds. The molds we have are: assorted geometric shapes, dinosaur molds, bugs and flowers and hearts. The recipe fills about 4-5 of these molds, or a medium baking dish (oiled). If you use a baking dish, just cut the fruit snacks once they gel. If you use the molds, stick them in the fridge to harden and in the freezer for 5 minutes before popping them out to make them come out easier.
Homemade Fruit Snacks
Healthy Homemade Fruit Snacks Recipe Homemade Fruit Snacks
Print
Healthy homemade fruit snacks packed with nutrients from gelatin, fruit, kombucha (optional) and juice.
Author: Wellness Mama
Recipe type: Snack
Ingredients
1 cup water (divided)
½ cup (8 tablespoons) gelatin powder
¼ cup honey or maple syrup (optional and to taste)
1 cup kombucha or fruit juice (Here’s how to make Kombucha)
1 cup pureed fruit (strawberries and other berries are our favorite – applesauce will also work) The easiest method I’ve found is to defrost frozen berries and puree them with a blender or immersion blender
Instructions
Note: It is important to have all ingredients ready before beginning as you’ll need to work quickly once you start.
Puree fruit to create a puree the consistency of applesauce or a little thinner. For us, defrosted frozen berries pureed in a blender or food processor work perfectly. Set aside one cup of pureed fruit.
Set aside one cup of kombucha or fruit juice. We prefer homemade kombucha flavored with strawberries for this recipe. (Here is how to make kombucha)
Boil ½ cup water.
Place ½ cup cool water in a medium sized bowl or quart size mason jar.
Add ½ cup gelatin powder and stir quickly to create a paste.
Quickly add the ½ cup boiling water and stir again briskly.
This should form a thick but stirable liquid.
Add the honey or maple syrup and stir.
Add the kombucha/juice and pureed fruit and stir well. You can stir with a spoon or whisk, or use an immersion blender to make it really easy.
Very quickly pour the mixture in to molds or a greased glass baking dish or other greased dish and allow to cool in fridge for 2-3 hours.
Store in fridge in an airtight container for 1-2 weeks.
Enjoy!
Just like the chewable vitamins recipe, different vitamins can be added to these to make them even more nutritious. The kombucha adds nutrients as well, making these fruit snacks even healthier.
There are really endless ways this recipe could be adapted, and I’ve included our favorite below. If you experiment with different flavors or combinations, please share them below!
These can be made by pouring in to an oiled container or silicon molds. The molds we have are: assorted geometric shapes, dinosaur molds, bugs and flowers and hearts. The recipe fills about 4-5 of these molds, or a medium baking dish (oiled). If you use a baking dish, just cut the fruit snacks once they gel. If you use the molds, stick them in the fridge to harden and in the freezer for 5 minutes before popping them out to make them come out easier.
Homemade Fruit Snacks
Healthy Homemade Fruit Snacks Recipe Homemade Fruit Snacks
Healthy homemade fruit snacks packed with nutrients from gelatin, fruit, kombucha (optional) and juice.
Author: Wellness Mama
Recipe type: Snack
Ingredients
1 cup water (divided)
½ cup (8 tablespoons) gelatin powder
¼ cup honey or maple syrup (optional and to taste)
1 cup kombucha or fruit juice (Here’s how to make Kombucha)
1 cup pureed fruit (strawberries and other berries are our favorite – applesauce will also work) The easiest method I’ve found is to defrost frozen berries and puree them with a blender or immersion blender
Instructions
Note: It is important to have all ingredients ready before beginning as you’ll need to work quickly once you start.
Puree fruit to create a puree the consistency of applesauce or a little thinner. For us, defrosted frozen berries pureed in a blender or food processor work perfectly. Set aside one cup of pureed fruit.
Set aside one cup of kombucha or fruit juice. We prefer homemade kombucha flavored with strawberries for this recipe. (Here is how to make kombucha)
Boil ½ cup water.
Place ½ cup cool water in a medium sized bowl or quart size mason jar.
Add ½ cup gelatin powder and stir quickly to create a paste.
Quickly add the ½ cup boiling water and stir again briskly.
This should form a thick but stirable liquid.
Add the honey or maple syrup and stir.
Add the kombucha/juice and pureed fruit and stir well. You can stir with a spoon or whisk, or use an immersion blender to make it really easy.
Very quickly pour the mixture in to molds or a greased glass baking dish or other greased dish and allow to cool in fridge for 2-3 hours.
Store in fridge in an airtight container for 1-2 weeks.
Enjoy!
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