Clean, Green and on Budget

We're finding a really good way to stay on budget and away from nasty chemicals is by making our own cleaning, skin care and hair products.  Today I'll share with you the recipes I use for liquid hand soap, all purpose spray and cream cleaner.

All are super cheap to make and once you've brought things like glycerine, castile soap and essential oils they last for ages, I get my from Go Native.

Liquid Hand Soap
Fills 2 x 250ml Pumps

3T Grated Sunlight Soap or Soap Flakes
350ml Boiling Water
1ml of Essential oil (Lavender, Teatree, Grapefruit, Lemon or Eucalyptus are all good options)
2t Glycerine
2t Witch Hazel or Rose Water

Put soap and boiling water into a bowl and stir.  Leave 5 minutes to dissolve.  Mix in the remaining ingredients and pour into soap pumps immediately, with the lid off.  You need to pour into pump bottles right away or the soap with set and you won't be able to pour it.  Leave for 15 minutes or so to cool slightly then put the pump lids back on.  Give the bottle a good shake every few days to loosen up the soap for easy pumping.

All Purpose Spay
I use a 1L Spray Bottle

White Vinegar

15 Drops Each Teatree Oil, Eucalyptus Oil and Lavender Oil
1T Liquid Soap (I use organic Castile Soap but Sunlight Soap works fine too)
Water

Fill a third of your spray bottle with white vinegar.  Add in oils and liquid soap.  Fill up to the top with water and shake before spraying.  Cleans kitchen benches, stove tops, sinks, highchairs, surfaces, everything pretty much (I find spraying it immediately onto dog puke or spills on the carpet while I get warm water to mop it up helps alot).  If something is really stuck on leave the spray on for 15 minutes or so to do the work for you.  For super powered cleaning us with the Cream Cleaner.


Cream Cleaner

1C Baking Soda
2T Cream of Tartar
20 Drops Peppermint Essential Oil (or any other oil you like, peppermint is a good antiseptic)
1T Castile or Sunlight Liquid Soap
Water

In a large jar mix baking soda, cream of tartar, oil, soap and a couple of tablespoons of water.  Keep adding a little water at a time till it reaches a creamy consistency.  Shake or stir before use.  Apply to a damp cloth and scrub away.  Spray surfaces with All Purpose Spray first if dealing with something extra grimy or greasy.