Great article. Ok, I’m going to make my own laundry soap. Been thinking about it anyway. My mother and grandma always swore by vinegar. I got out of the habit of using it for as many things that it is good for. Thank you for the reminder. I like the smell and love to eat it on many things. I’ve got a’ways to go toward being all organic, but I’m working on it. Thanks for another nudge :o)

Thanks, Shery!  You will love the laundry soap.  My husband is amazed at how wonderfully clean, white, and soft his dress/work shirts are.  Good luck! -Nicole

Thanks for the great ideas!
I use plain baking soda for scouring out the marks in my kitchen sink and the food spatters on my appliances. I just sprinkle it on and use a damp towel to apply pressure.
After reading an article on facial cleansing oils, I have started to use grape seed oil to remove my makeup and cleanse my face in the evening. I placed the oil in a small atomizer bottle and then splash a bit of warm water on my face. I place 3-5 squirts of oil in my palm and then massage it over my face. After running warm water over my wash cloth, I use it to remove the oil/makeup residue. Makes my face feel wonderful! I think that any organic oil would work well.

Janice, thank you for the tips!  Sounds good! -Nicole

Super article – I have done many of the chemical free living items for well, some,  most of my life – grew up making much of what we lived with – got lazy started using prepared products – going to get back to the good life and make products myself. Thanks for the ‘push’ – I am getting right on it. Happy New Year – love Time Sq. – hope y’all did too.

Thanks, Joan!  I think the pendulum is swinging, and people are getting back to the basics.  I find making my own products to be more convenient – when I run out of something,  I can quickly make it again, and with far less expense.  New Years Day was fun, the weather was wonderful and the crowds low.  Thanks for commenting, and happiest of New Year’s to you, too!  -Nicole

If your drains aren’t doing their job in a timely manner, pour 1 cup of baking soda into the drain followed by 1 cup of white vinegar. The drain will foam like the science experiment volcano you made as a kid, but the drain and pipe will smell fresh and clean.

Adrienne, great tip!  Thanks for sharing!  -Nicole

Great article.
I have just started using a steam cleaner on our tile and wooden floors, and its great.
I’m going to try the vinegar in the wash. I was just wondering where do you find the products you listed to make your own detergent and how much of each do you use? As for the skin and what you eat, my daughter has recently gone to college and unfortunately she lives in the dorm and has a meal plan, her face has broken out badly so I can see the connection about what you eat and your skin.
Thanks for the great information.

Thanks, Tami.  I have found all three ingredients to make the laundry soap in both my local Shoprite Grocery and Big Y Grocery chains.  The Fels Naptha bar soap ran me about $1.39/bar.  If you don’t use laundry soap, you can use regular bar soap of your choice, but increase it to 1 whole bar.  Check your local stores laundry aisle, as well as the soap aisle.  Big Y grocery chain here has Mrs. Stewart’s bluing.  If you are still unable to find any of the items listed, all are available at http://www.lehmans.com.

Thanks again for reading! -Nicole

Yeah! I love the Burt’s Bees lip balm so much that I started making my own. I even made some with color this last time. You can do all sorts of all natural things: olive oil/castor oil for face washing, coconut oil for moisturizing, baking soda instead of shampoo, vinegar instead of conditioner and even make your own deodorant from things probably in your kitchen cabinet! Let me know if you want links/recipes for any of these. Also, I do the same for laundry detergent and found that you only need a teaspoon for a load. 🙂

Thanks, Kimberly! For the laundry detergent, factor in how hard your water is and how large a load. The ratio I use works for perfectly for me, but I tend to do very large loads and have very hard well water. For occasions I do delicates or smaller loads I use my smaller amount. 

I’d love to check out those links!  Thanks so much for reading and commenting.  Making your own lip balm – awesome!  -Nicole

I have spray bottles of white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide in my kitchen and in both bathrooms. To clean mirrors without streaking, spray hydrogen peroxide on a clean cloth, then wipe the mirror. This also works great on stainless steel sinks and fixtures. To clean toilets, put 1/4 cup of borax in the bowl, swish with a toilet brush, and let it stand for 30 minutes or more, then scrub. Borax is also good on fiberglass or porcelain (baking soda also works) if you sprinkle it on a damp sponge or cloth and wipe. I use vinegar in the rinse cup of my washer, too. Haven’t used fabric softener for many, many years. I had migraines set off by scented products so eliminated them long ago.

Here is the Laundry Soap recipe I use to make my own: You need: a 5-gallon bucket with a lid (mine is an old kitty litter container I bought for this), one 5-oz. bar Dr. Bronner’s lavender soap, 1/2 bar Fels Naptha, and 1 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda. To make: shred both soaps into a large bowl. Boil 4 cups water and mix it into the soap. Pour all this into the 5-gallon bucket with a lid and add 3 gallons hot water from the tap. Add 1 cup washing soda and mix well. Let sit for 48 hours, stirring once. To use: For a large load put 1/2 cup into your washer when the water starts, stir, then add clothes.

I also spray any non-organic produce I buy with white vinegar then with hydrogen peroxide (order can be reversed). Then rinse well. Removes much surface pesticides.

Thanks for reminding me of that.  I use my spray with the vinegar and water to wash off my produce as well.  I haven’t used hydrogen peroxide in it before.  Thanks for the info, Mary!  -Nicole

I have been making my own cleaning products for almost 2 years but I have not figured out how to clean glass without streaking–thanks for the tip!

I started making my own lotions this last year. I use coconut oil, beeswax and honey. I did not write down the recipe and last time the lotion was kind of sticky because too much honey. Honey is a great moisturizer.

Thanks for reading and for the tip Marci!  Sounds good!  -Nicole

Hi! I just started using vinegar for cleaning last year. It cleans, disinfects and it’s cost efficient! My tip is that I rub olive oil on my cuticles after I wash dishes. It softens and soothes sore cuticles and it’s convenient because it stays in the kitchen. Also, my husband just bought a ionic washing ball a few days ago on e-bay. It works really well. I’m not sure what the ball is made of ( maybe a durable foam ) but it has natural minerals in it. You just toss it in the wash. You don’t use any soaps or detergents. If you are interested or want to learn more, just google "ion washing ball". There are several kinds and all are priced differently. They also all have different usage dates, but ours said it’s good for two years with just washing once a day. My husband said he bought an off-brand and it works great!! Farm Girl Hugs to you! I hope this helps!

Hi Hope!  Thanks for the tips!  I’m definitely going to try out the olive oil!  Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole

I use emu oil on my cuticles at night and after being in a lot of water. I also use emu oil lotion for the softening effect on my hands and feet. It is all nautural and can be gotten online from various sites. I use one in Idaho but there are several. An added benefit is that it is a natural pain reliever for those with arthritis in the hands. Just make sure that the online site does not add any additional chemicals to the oil. Mine is pure emu oil.
Lee

Thank you for the tip, Lee!  I will also pass that on to some fellow knitters I know!  -Nicole

Thanks Nicole for all the tips. There are some that I am sure to try. I have used rubbing alcohol for cleaning the bathroom and really like it. The laundry soap I am going to try as soon as I can. Thanks again.

You’re welcome, Brenda!  Let me know how it goes with the laundry soap.  I really love using it, and am so pleasantly surprised at how clean my laundry gets and for so much less money than ready-made detergents!  Take care, Nicole

That is awesome .  I’ve been wanting to change everything over as well.  I also use organic wear, but its hard to find. Where do you buy yours from?

Hi Whittney,
Thanks for reading.  I have bought the Organic wear at Target, CVS, and most recently at Rite Aid Pharmacies.  Good luck!  -Nicole

Hi Nicole. Love all the tips. I have done so much research on petroleum based products and their other name "mineral oil" . It is horrific for our body and has over 30 other names in products. I love the laundry detergent recipe, but found that Fels-Naptha contains petroleum as well. I did find a similar recipe using castile soap instead, with excellent results. I’m going to give it a try.

Amy, thanks so much for the tip! I didn’t know that about Fels-Naptha. With the recipe I have, you can use "regular" soap as well.  If you do, increase the amount of soap to a whole bar.  -Nicole