Mainstream products are filled with chemicals and other toxins which harm our health. I believe that natural products are an essential that everyone should have access to on a daily basis for both cleaning your home and taking care of your body. I absolutely love to make my own recipes from scratch because not only are they so simple and easy to make but you end up saving so much money and have the advantage of making a bulk amount to last you for months. Many people may choose not to use natural products for various reasons. Either they are not knowledgeable on why they are harmful to our health, they think that natural products are not effective, or they just simply don’t care. However, it is so simple and easy to make your own natural products right in your kitchen with just a few ingredients that you probably already have around your house.

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Cleaning Sprays

Wood Cleaner: This wood cleaning spray is 100% safe for all wooden surfaces and will leave your wood looking clean and polished.

Ingredients: white distilled vinegar, filtered water, orange/cirus essential oil, extra virgin olive oil.

Equipment/Supplies: Funnel, glass spray bottle

Steps:

1. Fill a glass spray bottle up approximately half way with both water and vinegar using your funnel (for easy pouring)
2. Add one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
3. Add 10 drops of orange/citrus essential oil
4. Secure the cap onto the spray bottle and give it a good shake
5. Make sure to shake the bottle every time before you use the spray, the oil will sit on top of the water.

Glass Cleaner: Use this glass cleaning spray to clean mirrors, windows, or any other glass surface in your home. It will leave glass looking shiny and clean.

Ingredients: White distilled vinegar, filtered water, lemon/lemongrass essential oil

Equipment/Supplies: Funnel, glass spray bottle

Steps:

1. Fill a glass spray bottle up approximately half way with both water and vinegar using your funnel (for easy pouring)
2. Add 10 drops of lemon/lemongrass essential oil
3. Secure the cap onto the spray bottle and give it a good shake. That’s it!

Note: We also use the glass cleaner spray as an all purpose spray because it is perfectly safe to use on any and all surfaces.

Detergents

Powdered Detergent: We have been using this in my house lately and it cleans so well and leaves the clothes smelling so fresh.

Ingredients: Washing soda, Borax, castile soap bar, lavender essential oil

Equipment/ Supplies: Large glass jar, wooden spoon/scooper

Steps:

1. Measure out 1 cup of washing soda and 1 cup of borax then add them to the jar.
2. Shred 2 oz of castile soap (4 tablespoons) and add it to the jar.
3. Add your choice of essential oils. I love to add lavender for its cleansing and refreshing properties.
4. Secure the lid onto the jar and give it a good shake to mix everything up. That’s It!

Note: Feel free to double the recipe if you want a larger amount of detergent.

Dishwasher Tablets: Instead of using the mainstream cascade tablets which use artificial dyes and toxic ingredients, these tablets work wonders for your dishes.

Ingredients: Baking soda, lemon juice, washing soda, lemon essential oil

Equipment/Supplies: Glass/stainless steel medium sized bowl, ice cube tray

Steps:

1. Add 1/2 cup of baking soda, washing soda, and salt to the bowl and stir
2. Add 1/4 of lemon juice to the mixture and stir
3. add about 10 drops of lemon essential oil and stir until fully combined
4. Evenly distribute the mixture into the ice cube tray
5. Store in the freezer until fully hardened (1-2 hours)
6. Let them thaw out (30 mins to 1 hour)
7. Store them in a jar or paper bag and now they are ready for use!

BODY

Perfume: This recipe makes for a perfect natural body spray that you can apply on yourself throughout the day. It does not smell too strong or potent like regular perfumes.

Ingredients: Witch Hazel, Filtered water, essential oils/ natural fragrance oils

Equipment/Supplies: Small spray bottle, funnel

Steps:

1. Fill a glass spray bottle up approximately half way with water and the other half with witch hazel.
2. Add between 3- 4 drops of essential oils/natural fragrance oils to the mixture
3. Close the bottle up and give it a good shake. That’s It!

Rosemary Water: This hair spray has so many benefits like promoting hair growth and strength.

Ingredients: Fresh rosemary vines, filtered water

Equipment/Supplies: Stainless steel saucepan, wooden cutting board, sharp knife, measuring cup/funnel

Steps:

1. Pour one cup of water into your saucepan and set it at medium heat.
2. Start by cutting about 2-3 rosemary vines from your plant and chopping them into smaller pieces. (make sure to include both the leaves and stem. do not separate the leaves from the vines)
3. Once the water hits parboil add the rosemary
4. Once the water starts boiling take it off the stove and cover the pot with a lid
5. Let sit for exactly 1 hour
6. After 1 hour the mixture should appear a dark red or maroon
7. Let it cool for about 3o mins before using or put it in fridge for storage.
8. take the mini funnel or measuring cup and pour the mixture into your spray bottle.
9. Now it is ready for use. Enjoy!

Sunscreen: Most mainstream sunscreens are chemical based and even most of the mineral based sunscreens are also unhealthy because they add extra unnecessary ingredients to their formulas. I highly recommend making your own sunscreen so that you know what’s in it. If you prefer to purchase your sunscreen a rule of thumb to follow is to make sure that the ingredients are pronounceable. Look for similar ingredients to my recipe below.

Ingredients: Beeswax pellets, grass fed beef tallow, coconut oil, zinc oxide (non -nano), extra virgin olive oil

Equipment/Supplies: Double boiler, silicone spoon, measuring cup, small glass jars

Steps:

1. Add 1/4 cup of beeswax to double boiler and let it fully melt
2. Add 1/4 cup coconut oil, tallow, olive oil and stir until combined
3. Add 1/4 cup zinc oxide
4. Give everything a good stir until smoothy combined (no chunks)
5. Transfer mixture into a measuring cup
6. Pour into glass jars
7. Let cool until hardened

Note: Make a double boiler by stacking a smaller glass/stainless steel bowl over a larger saucepan.

Insect Repellant: Most mainstream insect repellants are also toxic and use chemicals. If you choose to purchase one please look for one that mostly or only uses essential oils for the ingredients. Look for similar essential oils that I use in my recipe down below.

Ingredients: Witch hazel, filtered water, geranium, lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus, cedarwood, lemongrass, peppermint essential oils

Equipment/Supplies: Small spray bottle, funnel (optional)

Steps:

1. Fill the spray bottle up halfway with water and the other half with witch hazel.
2. Add about 5 drops of each essential oil listed above to the mixture.
3. Close the bottle and give it a good shake. That’s It!

I understand that not everyone is a DIY person. Therefore, I have linked a few of my favorite natural and trusted websites listed below.

https://www.azurestandard.com/

https://www.rowecasaorganics.com/

https://primallypure.com/