SOAP! SOAP!! SOAP!!!
Most cleaners use soap of some kind so making your own soap is one more way to care for your environment and family. I found 2 great recipes that are quick, simple and cheap. One is for a soap that will be used to clean the house an the other is for soap that will clean our body and hair.
1) Simple Soap Recipe (to be used in laundry, dish-detergent, household cleaners)
http://fimby.tougas.net/how-to-make-simple-soap-video-tutorial
2) Camille's Sure-Fire, No Way You Can Lose, Castile Soap Recipe! by Camille Pratt 2000(to be used as is or in shampoo and liquid hand-soap)
Most cleaners use soap of some kind so making your own soap is one more way to care for your environment and family. I found 2 great recipes that are quick, simple and cheap. One is for a soap that will be used to clean the house an the other is for soap that will clean our body and hair.
1) Simple Soap Recipe (to be used in laundry, dish-detergent, household cleaners)
- 48 oz (3 lb) tub of vegetable shortening (Crisco, Trex)
- 6.5 oz lye (100% Caustic Soda)
- 18.5 oz water
http://fimby.tougas.net/how-to-make-simple-soap-video-tutorial
2) Camille's Sure-Fire, No Way You Can Lose, Castile Soap Recipe! by Camille Pratt 2000(to be used as is or in shampoo and liquid hand-soap)
- 48 ounces or 1.5 ltr olive oil
- 6 ounces lye
- 14 ounces water
*Minimum 4 week cure time.
***Observe all standard safety procedures***
*Add lye to water, stirring until all lye is dissolved,
set aside to cool to 90* to 100*
*Heat oils to 90* to 100*
*Slowly pour lye solution into oils, stirring the whole time.
*Stir to thin trace, either by hand or by stick blender or both! ;)
*Once you have reached thin trace, add any FOs/EOs/Botanicals you wish - or nothing!.
*At medium trace, pour into prepared mold cover with cardboard, and
toss a towel on top to provide insulation (if you don't use wood molds - I do)
*Unmold when soap is no longer warm (18 to 24+ hours) and when pressed
with your finger, a slight indention remains.
*Cut Castile right away, as it will harden to a point where you cannot
cut it.
* Minimum 8 week cure time.
Low lather, gentle soap - suitable for even sensitive skin. : )
a) Worktop/ Sink/ Fridge/ Oven-top Cleaner: Sprinkling with baking soda, then scrubbing with a damp cloth or sponge. If you have stains, knead the baking soda and water into a paste and let set for a while before you remove. Salt and Water: If you need a tougher abrasive sprinkle on kosher salt, and scrub with a wet cloth or sponge.
***Observe all standard safety procedures***
*Add lye to water, stirring until all lye is dissolved,
set aside to cool to 90* to 100*
*Heat oils to 90* to 100*
*Slowly pour lye solution into oils, stirring the whole time.
*Stir to thin trace, either by hand or by stick blender or both! ;)
*Once you have reached thin trace, add any FOs/EOs/Botanicals you wish - or nothing!.
*At medium trace, pour into prepared mold cover with cardboard, and
toss a towel on top to provide insulation (if you don't use wood molds - I do)
*Unmold when soap is no longer warm (18 to 24+ hours) and when pressed
with your finger, a slight indention remains.
*Cut Castile right away, as it will harden to a point where you cannot
cut it.
* Minimum 8 week cure time.
Low lather, gentle soap - suitable for even sensitive skin. : )
a) Worktop/ Sink/ Fridge/ Oven-top Cleaner: Sprinkling with baking soda, then scrubbing with a damp cloth or sponge. If you have stains, knead the baking soda and water into a paste and let set for a while before you remove. Salt and Water: If you need a tougher abrasive sprinkle on kosher salt, and scrub with a wet cloth or sponge.
b) General Household Cleaner: Dissolve 1 Tbsp soap flakes (grate your own) in 2 pts warm and add 2 Tsp soda crystals, lemon juice. Keep in a sealed container. OR / AND Half and half White vinegar and water. Pour into a spray bottle and spray on and wipe.
c) Tub & Tiles: Mix together 1/2 c of baking soda, 1 Tbsp of soap flakes (grate your own) with 1/4 c hot water. Scrub the tub and rinse. Keep in a sealed container. OR Baking Soda and Water: Dust surfaces with baking soda, then scrub with a moist sponge or cloth. If you have tougher grime, sprinkle on some kosher salt, and work up some elbow grease. Lemon Juice or Vinegar: Got stains, mildew or grease streaks? Spray or douse with lemon juice or vinegar. Let sit a few minutes, then scrub with a stiff brush.
d) Toilet-bowl: Mix 1/4 c baking soda with 2 Tbsp of white vinegar and apply. Leave to sit for 30 minutes and rinse. Add a little, LITTLE! borax for any stains. CAUTION! when mixing this it will REALLY bubble up so use a large mixing vessel.
e) Silver: Aluminum Foil, Boiling Water, Baking Soda and Salt: Keep your sterling shined with this seemingly magic method. Line your sink or a bucket with aluminum foil, and drop in tarnished silver. Pour in boiling water, a cup of baking soda and a dash of salt. Let sit for a few minutes. The tarnish will transfer from the silver to the foil. Toothpaste: If you can't immerse
your items or are otherwise inclined to polish by hand, rub tarnished silver with toothpaste and a soft cloth. Rinse with warm water and dry. Instead of toothpaste you can substitute a mix made of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water.
f) Copper: Ketchup: To keep your copper pots, pans and accents looking bright and shiny, try rubbing with ketchup.
g) Oven-Cleaner: Baking Soda and Water: Coat the inside of your dirty appliance with a paste made from water and baking soda. Let stand overnight. Then, don gloves and scour off that grime. Make spotless with a moist cloth.
h) Wood-floor Cleaner: Vinegar: Whip up a solution of 1/4 cup white vinegar and 30 ounces of warm water. Put in a recycled spray bottle, then spray on a cotton rag or towel until lightly damp. Then mop your floors, scrubbing away any grime.
i) Windows & Mirrors: White Vinegar, Water and Newspaper: Mix 2 tablespoons of white vinegar with a gallon of water, and dispense into a used spray bottle. Squirt on, then scrub with newspaper, not paper towels, which cause streaking. If you're out of vinegar or don't like its smell, you can substitute undiluted lemon juice or club soda.
j) Disinfectant: Disinfectant: Instead of bleach, make your own disinfectant by mixing 2 cups of water, 3 tablespoons of liquid soap and 20 to 30 drops of tea tree oil. It's easy!
k) Washing Up: Mix 1 heaped tsp soda crystals, 1 heaped tsp of soap flakes (or grated soap), 2 tsp white vinegar and 1 litre of boiling water. Leave to cool and pour into your chosen container. Use like washing up liquid.
THE CREDIT FOR THIS goes to http://www.kidspot.com.au/MySpot-home-Eco-power-7-ingredients-to-transform-your-cleaning-bills+5664+173+article.htm
c) Tub & Tiles: Mix together 1/2 c of baking soda, 1 Tbsp of soap flakes (grate your own) with 1/4 c hot water. Scrub the tub and rinse. Keep in a sealed container. OR Baking Soda and Water: Dust surfaces with baking soda, then scrub with a moist sponge or cloth. If you have tougher grime, sprinkle on some kosher salt, and work up some elbow grease. Lemon Juice or Vinegar: Got stains, mildew or grease streaks? Spray or douse with lemon juice or vinegar. Let sit a few minutes, then scrub with a stiff brush.
d) Toilet-bowl: Mix 1/4 c baking soda with 2 Tbsp of white vinegar and apply. Leave to sit for 30 minutes and rinse. Add a little, LITTLE! borax for any stains. CAUTION! when mixing this it will REALLY bubble up so use a large mixing vessel.
e) Silver: Aluminum Foil, Boiling Water, Baking Soda and Salt: Keep your sterling shined with this seemingly magic method. Line your sink or a bucket with aluminum foil, and drop in tarnished silver. Pour in boiling water, a cup of baking soda and a dash of salt. Let sit for a few minutes. The tarnish will transfer from the silver to the foil. Toothpaste: If you can't immerse
your items or are otherwise inclined to polish by hand, rub tarnished silver with toothpaste and a soft cloth. Rinse with warm water and dry. Instead of toothpaste you can substitute a mix made of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water.
f) Copper: Ketchup: To keep your copper pots, pans and accents looking bright and shiny, try rubbing with ketchup.
g) Oven-Cleaner: Baking Soda and Water: Coat the inside of your dirty appliance with a paste made from water and baking soda. Let stand overnight. Then, don gloves and scour off that grime. Make spotless with a moist cloth.
h) Wood-floor Cleaner: Vinegar: Whip up a solution of 1/4 cup white vinegar and 30 ounces of warm water. Put in a recycled spray bottle, then spray on a cotton rag or towel until lightly damp. Then mop your floors, scrubbing away any grime.
i) Windows & Mirrors: White Vinegar, Water and Newspaper: Mix 2 tablespoons of white vinegar with a gallon of water, and dispense into a used spray bottle. Squirt on, then scrub with newspaper, not paper towels, which cause streaking. If you're out of vinegar or don't like its smell, you can substitute undiluted lemon juice or club soda.
j) Disinfectant: Disinfectant: Instead of bleach, make your own disinfectant by mixing 2 cups of water, 3 tablespoons of liquid soap and 20 to 30 drops of tea tree oil. It's easy!
k) Washing Up: Mix 1 heaped tsp soda crystals, 1 heaped tsp of soap flakes (or grated soap), 2 tsp white vinegar and 1 litre of boiling water. Leave to cool and pour into your chosen container. Use like washing up liquid.
THE CREDIT FOR THIS goes to http://www.kidspot.com.au/MySpot-home-Eco-power-7-ingredients-to-transform-your-cleaning-bills+5664+173+article.htm
