Home Made Simple

As I've mentioned before, we make our own cleaning/cleansing products for around the house. 
Here are the 'recipes' we are currently using:

*Natural Wipes Solution

• 4c warm water
• 1/4c Olive Oil
• 1/8 All Natural Baby Soap (we use California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo & Bodywash)
• a few drops of Tea Tree Oil
• about 10 drops of Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE)

In large Measuring cup, add ingredients in order listed, then gently whisk to mix. This makes enough for us to put half in a small tub with lid, fill a small spray bottle & a little mini spray bottle (for the diaper bag). Even though the GSE is an antibacterial/antifungal & will help fight bacteria in sitting water, we still try to make a new batch every week. Which usually isn't an issue because we go through it in about that amount of time with 2 kids. {We use with cloth wipes, but can also use with paper towel or infant wash clothes}

*Powdered Dish Washing Detergent

• 1 cup Washing soda or Baking soda
• 1 cup Borax 
• 1/4 cup Kosher salt
• 1/4 cup citric acid (available at Natural Health Food Stores)
• 2 drops dish soap (add with each load before start)
• 1/4 cup vinegar (add with each load before start)

Mix the first 4 ingredients up & store in small jar with lid. Add 1-2 TBS of mixture to detergent compartment along with a maximum of 3 drops of dish soap (we use original Dawn). Then splash 1/2-1c of vinegar to the bottom of the dishwasher & start the machine.

*Laundry Soap

• 3 TBS Borax
• 3 TBS Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
• 2 TBS Original Dawn Dish Soap

Add ingredients to a gallon jug, then pour in 4 cups SUPER HOT water. Let cool. You can stop there & leave it as a 'concentrated' formula, if so use about 1/4 per load. Or you can fill up the jug to the top with water (some bubbles with overflow from the top, thats ok) & use 1/2-1c per load.

When I make the concentrate formula I usually double it.

*Liquid Hand Soap

• Cheese grater (from the dollar store)
• 2 Tablespoons of Liquid Glycerin (found in the band aid section at any drugstore or grocery store)
• 1 - 8 oz bar of soap 
• 1 gallon of water

Grate the entire bar of soap. Fill a pot with 1 gallon of water and add the soap shavings. Add 2 Tablespoons of liquid glycerin & turn the heat to medium/high, stir until the soap dissolves. Leave it alone to cool for at least 10-12 hours. It begins to cloud up after 3-4 hours. After it has cooled completely around 12 hours later it will harden & look like liquid soap. If the soap is harder than it should be you can take some beaters & blend it (if necessary add just a little bit of water until the consistency is more like liquid soap).

*Gentle Household Cleaner

Fill spray bottle with equal parts water & White Vinegar

*Natural Bathroom Cleaner

• 1 tsp Borax
• 1 tsp A & H Washing Soda
• 1/2c White Vinegar
• 2c Hot water
• 15 drops Tea Tree Oil
• 15 drops GSE

Mix first 3 ingredients in large measuring cup, slowly add the water & mix. Allow to cool before pouring into spray bottle.