Crafting your own natural household products is a delightful way to reduce chemicals in your home and embrace a more sustainable lifestyle. Not only can this be a fun and educational activity, but it also allows you to tailor your products to your personal preferences and needs. Below, I will share some simple recipes and instructions for making natural soaps, detergents, and herbal remedies.
Natural Soap Recipe
Ingredients:
-
10 oz of coconut oil
-
10 oz of olive oil
-
3 oz of almond oil
-
4 oz of lye (sodium hydroxide)
-
7.5 oz of water
-
Essential oils of choice (for scent)
Instructions:
-
Safety first: Wear gloves and goggles. Work in a well-ventilated area.
-
Lye solution: Slowly add lye to water (never the other way around), and stir until dissolved. Set aside to cool.
-
Oil mixture: Combine coconut, olive, and almond oils in a large pot and heat until they reach about 100°F.
-
Mixing: Once both the lye solution and oils are at similar temperatures (between 95°F-105°F), slowly pour the lye solution into the oils while stirring continuously.
-
Blending: Use an immersion blender to mix until it reaches 'trace' (the mixture thickens to the consistency of pudding).
-
Add scents: Stir in essential oils.
-
Molding: Pour into molds and cover with plastic wrap.
-
Curing: Allow the soap to set for 24 hours, then unmold and cure for 4-6 weeks.
Homemade Laundry Detergent
Ingredients:
-
1 bar of natural soap, grated
-
1 cup of washing soda (sodium carbonate)
-
1 cup of borax
Instructions:
-
Grate soap: Use a cheese grater to grate the soap bar.
-
Mix ingredients: Combine grated soap, washing soda, and borax.
-
Use: For a regular load of laundry, use 1-2 tablespoons of the detergent mix.
Herbal Remedies: Calendula Salve
Ingredients:
-
1 cup of calendula-infused oil (infuse dried calendula petals in a carrier oil like olive or almond oil for 4-6 weeks)
-
1/4 cup of beeswax pellets
Instructions:
-
Infuse oil: Prepare the calendula-infused oil in advance.
-
Melting beeswax: In a double boiler, gently melt beeswax into the infused oil.
-
Mixing: Stir the mixture until well combined.
-
Pouring: Carefully pour the mixture into small jars or tins.
-
Setting: Allow it to cool and set before capping the containers.
Safety and Tips
-
When working with lye, always add lye to water, not water to lye, to prevent a volatile reaction.
-
Customize your products with your favorite essential oils or herbs, keeping in mind any allergies or skin sensitivities.
-
Always label your homemade products, especially if you're giving them as gifts, so people are aware of the ingredients.
-
By making your own natural household products, you not only create a healthier environment for your home but also gain the satisfaction of self-sufficiency. Enjoy the process of experimenting and finding the blends and ingredients that work best for you!