Teaching Others About Homemade Cleaning Products

This week I was invited to a local MOPS group to speak about homemade cleaning products.  I was surprised to find so many women eager to learn alternative ways to clean their homes.  We covered everything from floors, bathrooms, laundry to everything in between. 

 In the picture above I am holding a bottle of essential oils talking about the artificial perfumes that are put into products that make us think something is clean.  

The items I brought with me to the class include: vinegar, borax, super washing soda, baking soda, a spray bottle with a vinegar water mix, Fels-Naptha soap, a reusable mop pad, microfiber cloth, rags (instead of paper towels and disposable wipes), essential oils, and gloves.  Before the girls left, they filled their own spray bottle with a vinegar and water mixture (1/2 cup vinegar to 5 cups water) and took home a microfiber cloth.  This is the handout the girls received with recipes to make at home.

Nylon Rope Never Breaks

Sunny days have been pretty irregular this month so laundry is done in spurts when the clothesline can be used. There is something satisfying about drying laundry outside and I just love the feel of clean, air-dried sheets on the bed.  Many people complain about the "crunchy" feel of towels dried on the clothesline but we are definitely not going to use fabric softener.  For one thing, we don't need added synthetic perfumes in fabric rubbing against our skin; and second, it's kinda creepy knowing that fabric softener contains a lot of ingredients that make fabric cling-free and wrinkle-free.  I don't want all that stuff embedded in my clothing and towels.

Yesterday I was hanging up the few remaining items in the basket when all of a sudden SNAP!  The freshly washed laundry was now lying on the just mowed grass.  The nylon rope that has held the clothesline up for 18 months has finally broke and according to my father in law, "Nylon rope never breaks!"  Well, it does after 18 months in the sun and rain. How did we remedy the problem?  We grabbed a thicker rope from the barn that the previous owner left behind.

(Hopefully there isn't chicken manure under all of that washed laundry!)

Back in business!

The old man on the tree is speechless about the whole endeavor but I think he likes the whole bandanna look from the rope (hint: the mouth is missing...)

Uses for Dryer Lint

Dryer lint is one of those things that I started saving.  Yes, I know it's weird, but I actually started a bag specifically for lint.  I read recently that I should store lint in a tin can or glass container, but right now it's in an old plastic bag in the laundry room cupboard.  Because lint is easily combustible, it is recommended that you clean out your dryer vent on a yearly basis.  Cleaning out excess lint also increases the efficiency of your dryer, leading to shorter dryer periods and less energy consumption.  To clean the dryer vent, I pull the dryer several feet away from the wall, disconnect the vent hose from the dryer, stretch the hose, and blow the hose out with an air compressor (or leaf blower).  I also blow out the dryer vent from the inside of the dryer.

I started collecting lint in October (because of course I use a clothes line in the summer), and in 3 months I collected this much.

There are many uses for dryer lint.  One of my friends makes her own paper with lint which is super impressive!!  Click on the pictures below to see her cards.

I did a quick Google search for other dryer lint uses and here's what I found: 

• Fire starter
• Paper
• Packing material
• Spin it into thread and knit or crochet with it
• Spread it in the yard for the birds (Depends on the detergents you use)
• Make clay with it
• Put it in your compost pile
• Craft projects
• Plant mulch

And for a little humor... (click to enlarge)

Homemade Conditioner

After using my homemade shampoo for about 6 months, I decided to try homemade conditioner.  I found a random assortment of recipes online and decided to give two recipes a try.  I didn't keep track of where the recipes come from, otherwise I would give credit to those who originally provided me the idea!

Recipe 1:  
Vinegar Rinse:
4 cups very hot water
3/4 cup vinegar
~2 T each dried rosemary & chamomile

Tie the herbs in a cheescloth bag and combine with other ingredients in a bowl.  Cover and let steep overnight.  In the morning, remove the herb bag.  To use, work in up to a cup of the vinegar after you shampoo and rinse well.

I use 1/2 cup vinegar and that's enough for me.  Surprisingly my hair doesn't smell like vinegar!  I am really surprised at how tangle-free my hair is immediately after the shower and how soft it feels!

Everything is ready to combine...

Steep the herbs...

In the morning I add the cool mixture into an empty dishsoap bottle and store in the shower.

Recipe 2:

1 1/3 cups water

Xanthan gum (1/2 tsp for gel; 1/4 tsp for conditioner)

Guar gum (1/2 tsp for gel; 1/4 tsp for conditioner)

2 tsp. oil (canola, olive, jojoba)

Scents (optional)

I used a clear mason jar when mixing everything so I could see the process.  I then transferred the finished product into an old conditioner bottle. 

Instructions: Measure the water into the jar and sprinkle the gums into the jar, shaking vigorously after each sprinkle to avoid clumps.  If you get clumps, smash them with a utensil against the side of the jar to break them up.  After I finished everything, I removed the few remaining clumps.  Next, add the oil and shake the jar to incorporate it really well.  You want it mixed in well enough so you don't see a layer of oil sitting on the top.  

*Adjust the oil content to your liking.  If you find it too oily, reduce the oil amount; more if you have dry hair. 

Homemade Vinegar

I attended a vinegar making class at the Hollywood Library on Oct. 23rd.  Author, Jean Johnson, of Hippie kitchen : a measurefree vegetarian cookbook taught the class.  She also has a blog: Measure Free Hippie Cook.  Jean is one of those people who light up the room.  She spoke with enthusiasm and inspired everyone!  I sum up a lot of what I learned from the class below:

-To make homemade vinegar, you need a mother culture.  This "mother" will multiply in your solution and you can divide it whenever you start another batch (kinda like sour dough starter).  Only a speck of "mother" is enough to inoculate an entire jar. Jean mentioned that when she was a young girl (in the 60's), all vinegar purchased at the store had "mother" in it.  She remembers seeing the hazy, filmy, layer resting on the bottom of the jug.  When pasteurization became wide-spread, the "mothers" were killed under the high heat.  Each attendee at the class was given a "mother" to start their own vinegar at home.  If you don't know someone with homemade vinegar, then you can get some mother from unpasteurized vinegar from the grocery store.

-To make vinegar, you only need peelings and cores from fruit.  Apple, pear, and pineapple peelings are excellent.  Since I have only made vinegar with pears and apples, I don't have an inclusive list of fruit, sorry.

-Just to be on the safe side, don't use homemade vinegar for canning or preserving.  Botulism is not something to mess with, and when pickling, the acidity levels need to be spot on!

-Once the vinegar is to your liking, you can add raspberries, herbs, and other flavorings.  I haven't done this, but I suppose you would add the fruit or herb and let it marinate for a few weeks.

-You can use the vinegar for cooking and cleaning.

How to make vinegar: 
-Sterilize the jar you will be using.  Any jar will do, but select a jar that will leave about a 1 inch head space when full.
-Add fruit peelings and cores.  Do not include bruises or wormy spots---they can taint the flavor.
-Add enough water to cover the fruit and then some.
-Add the "mother" to the jar.
-Add sugar to the jar if you prefer.  Sugar will speed up the fermentation process but it's not necessary.  The sugar in the fruit should be enough.  The sugar will probably add a little flavor too.
-Cover the jar with cheesecloth and put a rubber band around the rim.  To keep fruit flies out, be sure to overlap your cheesecloth layers or use a t-shirt if you don't have cheesecloth.  Airflow is important here---without it, you can't make vinegar.
-Set the jar in a dark place where there is adequate airflow with temperatures between 65-80 degrees.  I leave mine on the counter behind my mixer because I don't have any other place in my house that is out of the way and receives adequate air flow.
-When the fruit darkens (about 3-4 weeks), remove the fruit and let the mixture sit with "mother" all alone.
-When is the vinegar finished and ready to use?  That all depends on how strong you like your vinegar.  Jean says 6 months or so.  She knows hers is finished by how it tastes.
-Mother can be removed once the vinegar is finished or it can be left in the jar.
-If you remove the mother from the finished vinegar, it can be stored in a mason jar in the refrigerator with a little vinegar in it so it doesn't dry out.

I started out with one apple core and a little mother in a quart mason jar...  

Then I decided to make a large amount of vinegar by using the squished apples from the cider press. 

Here is the finished vinegar!

This is what the mother looks like.  It's kind of like a Kombucha pad. 

What can I do with vinegar?  I am constantly learning about things I can do with vinegar.  My main use is for cleaning.  I use it on my tile and hardwood floors, countertops, mirrors, windows, walls, etc.  I mix 1/2 cup vinegar with 5 cups warm water.  I always dilute it and it seems to work just fine.  


Ironically, one week before I took the vinegar class, a Yahoo headline was all about vinegar.  I listed the article's uses for vinegar below, but for more detailed information about each item, go here. 

• Condition hair
• Kill weeds
• Remove underarm stains
• Soften fabrics
• Remedy sore throats
• Deter ants
• Soak sore muscles
• Freshen air
• Remove stickers
• Cure hiccups
• Clean crusty paintbrushes
• Dissolve rust
• Eliminate stale odors
• Remove mineral deposits
• Neutralize spice in foods
• Prolong the life of cut flowers
• Clean glass, plastic, chrome, and floors
• Treat fungal infections
• Tenderize and kill bacteria in meat
• Open drains and freshen garbage disposals

Homemade Shampoo

Another step to simply my life and make it more chemical-free, I decided to make my own shampoo.  Surprisingly I found a lot of information about this, here's the recipe I decided to use:

Shampoo Recipe:

·         One quart water

·         Herbs

·         4 ounces castile soap flakes

Bring the water to a boil. Turn off the heat and pour over herbs.  Steep at least 20 minutes.  Strain herbs & pour tea over the soap flakes. Stir until the soap flakes dissolve. Once the mixture has cooled, store it in a bottle.

On the left is 4 ounces of shredded castile soap.  Shredding the soap is important because it will dissolve easily in the water.  On the right is 4 grams of lavender which was about 1/8 cup.  Most recipes I found didn't specify how much herbs to use so I used up all the leftover lavender from 3 years ago.  In the end, I found it to be the perfect amount. 

I forgot to take a picture of the next step, but it's pretty straight forward: pour boiling water over the lavender flowers.  After the lavender steeped in the boiling water for 20 minutes, I strained out the lavender buds using a funnel with a cloth filter.  A strainer would do just fine, but I don't have one. 

 After the lavender buds are strained, I add the shredded castile soap.  Notice I am using a wooden spoon to help dissolve the soap.  This is the same wooden spoon I use for making soap--it is not used for food.  If you don't have a designated wooden soap spoon, then I suggest using a plastic or metal spoon. 

Once all of the soap flakes are dissolved (be patient, this make take 15 minutes), pour into containers.  I used empty bottles I had in the cupboard.  I would like to use glass instead of plastic but I have this horrifying image of broken glass in the batch tub.  Homemade shampoo has a water consistency at first, but give it a few weeks and it will thicken up.  In the meantime though, use a small plastic cup (I used the cap from a Pepto Bismol container), fill it up half way, and then dump it over your head.

How well does it work?  GREAT!!  I was able to use this homemade shampoo for a couple months before I needed a boost of Nature's Path brand every 2 weeks.  The homemade stuff doesn't thoroughly strip the hair like the commercial stuff, so I need an extra boost every now and then.  And for those who are curious,  I take a shower every other day.  

What about homemade conditioner?  Don't worry, I will be making that once my store-boughten bottles are gone.  Stay tuned!  

Below are different hair types and recommended herbs to use:

Normal Hair: Horsetail, red clover, crushed lavender flowers, rosemary
        -if blond:  chamomile & marigold

Oily: Rosemary, mint, nettle leaves, sage, crushed lavender flowers, indigo root, burdock, tea tree leaves, lemon grass, orris root, comfrey leaves
       -add to shampoo base: jojoba oil

Dry: Comfrey root or leaf, red clover, crushed orange flowers, crushed lavender flowers, elder flowers,
        -add to shampoo base:  jojoba oil  
        -if blond: chamomile & marigold

Light Hair: Use light colored herbs like marigold & chamomile,

Dark Hair: Rosemary

Gray Hair: Nettle, sage, rosemary, plus any herbs recommended for your hair type

Make hair bright: Chamomile

Make hair shiny: Rosemary

Hair loss: Rosemary, crushed lavender leaves, tea tree leaves, sage, nettle, basil

Dandruff: Nettle, comfrey leaves, birch and/or white willow barks, peppermint, lemongrass

Homemade Soap

I decided to embark on a new adventure of making soap! Nine years ago I made my first batch and decided to revisit this hobby.  The reason for making soap goes beyond the bathroom sink; I will use it to make shampoo & conditioner and laundry soap.  To make shampoo, I need castile soap, which is basically a soap made with 100% olive oil.

When learning a new skill, there are always lessons to be learned.  The first batch of castile soap didn't turn out quite right.  I didn't begin stirring the lye and oil mixture until the temperatures were around 102 degrees.  I also stirred the mixture with a wooden spoon trying to do it the "old fashioned way."  After an hour of continuous stirring, I used an electric stick blender.  I learned that if the temperature gets too low before the mixture reaches this magic stage called "trace," it won't saponify correctly.  (Basically, the chemical reaction doesn't happen correctly and you don't get soap.)  So, in the end, my first batch is a bit too alkaline and not suitable for the skin, but I can still use it for laundry soap.  For the second batch, I began stirring when the temperature was 118 and I used a stick blender at the very beginning.  The soap turned out perfectly.

From the picture on the left, you can see the difference between the two bars.  The bar on the left is from the first batch (it looks sort of white and crumbly), and the bar on the right is from the second batch that turned out correctly.  The second picture is a bar from my third batch which includes: palm oil, coconut oil, olive oil, lavender flowers, and lavender essential oil.  The lavender bar is used for the bathroom sink and shower.

Castile Soap Recipe:
2 lb. olive oil
4 oz. lye
12 oz. water

toothpaste

The last tube of toothpaste met the garbage can last week.  I've been doing some research about homemade toothpaste and thought I'd give it a try.  Like most things, I'm willing to at least try something before eliminating the possibility.  I got this recipe from the Oxray Farm Blog that I watch.  


I've been using the toothpaste for a week now and have a difficult describing what it tastes like.  The best comparison I have is eating vanilla yogurt for years and then eating plain yogurt----going from super sweet to super tart.   It took a lot of convincing to use this stuff the first week.  The ironic thing about this homemade toothpaste is that my teeth actually feel cleaner after I brush.  My teeth feel super smooth!  I can get used to the sour taste and lack of bubbles, but I really miss the minty fresh feel that conventional toothpaste leaves in the mouth after brushing.

Recipe:

almost 1/4 c. baking soda
almost 1/4 c. coconut oil
4+ drops of peppermint essential oil (more or less as needed)
about 1.5 Tablespoons of honey
1.5 teaspoons hydrogen peroxide

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

This is a recipe I found online.  My goal is to find a do-it-yourself solution to common disposable items in the home.  This is my first time making dishwasher detergent and I can't tell the difference between this mix of ingredients and other name brands such as Seventh Generation, BioKleen, and Ecover.  We use our dishwasher about once each week so this jar will last probably a year. 

Recipe:

• 3 cups borax
• 3 cup washing soda
• 1 1/2 cup citric acid
• 1 1/2 cup kosher salt

This recipe fills my one gallon jar about half full.  I use a small plastic scoop for filling the dishwasher. I found this random scoop in my laundry cupboard.  A lid from a laundry detergent bottle or yogurt container would work just fine too.


**Update 3-27-2011**  The jar I used didn't have an airtight seal---moisture got inside the jar which caused the powder to harden into one big rock.  It took about an hour to chip away at this mass using a welding rod, but eventually I loosened it all up and transfered it to a better container with a tighter lid.  Word of advice: use a container with a tight seal for storage!

A word about phosphate-free detergents: 

In the past couple of years, there has been some hype about phosphates in detergents.  I have been told that when they enter a natural waterway such as a stream, the phosphates absorb a high volume of oxygen in the water which increases algae growth.  The reduction in oxygen creates an unbalanced ecosystem for fish and other oxygen-breathing organisms.  Here in Portland, our sewer often overflows into our waterways when there is an abundance of rain.  Even when phosphates enter modern wastewater treatment systems, breaking down phosphates is a very complicated process and nearly impossible to accomplish.  I have been using phosphate-free detergents for years and haven't noticed any difference in the outcome.  I don't have a lot of "whites" to wash, so the extra cleaning power that phosphates provides doesn't really matter to me.  I would attempt to explain what the chemical properties of phosphates are, but I find it best to just quote what I've been finding online: 

 "One important function of phosphates in detergents is to enable the cleaning components of the

detergent to act, by preventing interference by the “hardness” of water (mineral ions). Even in soft water, this is necessary because of calcium and magnesium ions in soils and dirt. This function is termed “builder”.  Phosphates also maintain the correct pH for cleaning components to act, in particular the high pH necessary to ensure sanitisation (killing of bacteria) in dishwashers."  source

Do dishwashers really save energy?

I'm not convinced that dishwashers save electricity and water.  I find literature and ads that say dishwashers are the better choice over hand-washing.  Could these "fact givers" be salesman in disguise trying to sell products?  

There are two main points to consider: 

1. The hot water demand while hand-washing is a significantly shorter time period than the dishwasher---thus saving energy.  I can complete a load of dishes by hand in 30 minutes or less, whereas my dishwasher takes about 2 hours. Any time during that 2 hours, I can turn on the kitchen faucet and have instant hot water which tells me the water heater is getting constant demand for 2 hours vs. 30 minutes. 

2. Let's look at the entire lifecycle of the dishwasher.  The lifecycle is a close analysis of the resources that go into a product, transportation, production, assembly, distribution, use, and where it goes when it's useful life is finished.  Basically a cradle to grave analysis.  So what if washing dishes by hand uses 4 gallons of water vs. a dishwasher that uses 3; look at the big picture, not just the number of gallons used.  I doubt the entire lifecycle of a dishwasher is included in any of those literature brochures... 


**Ironically, this very question was recently answered in the monthly newsletter we receive from our electric provider.  My question about thermostat settings was also answered.  

Making Liquid Laundry Detergent

I attended a laundry class a few months ago hosted by a friend who makes soap.  The class sounds silly, but it felt like I was re-connecting with my roots.  The class took place in a small boutique clothing store and a handful of women attended.  The instructed had her laundry products displayed on a large cutting table and stood under a row of spot lights.  We all sat on the edge of seat, listening with earnest as the teacher talked about laundry.  It made me think of the movie, "Calendar Girls" and the Women's Institute Chapter meetings.

I was absolutely stunned that I didn't know very much about laundry.  At the class, I learned about spin cycles, detergents, water temperature, sorting clothes properly, and how to make my own laundry detergent. I decided to finally make some homemade laundry detergent today!  When looking at the "ingredients" for the detergent, I was a bit skeptical that not much is used to make 1 gallon of detergent!  If this is all it takes, then WOW! I'll never spend big $$ on the phosphate free Seventh Generation, Mrs. Meyers, or BioKleen stuff!!

Recipe:
1 cup hot tap water
1.5 oz grated bar soap
1/4 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
2 T 20 Mule Team Borax
essential oils (optional)

Add soap flakes to saucepan with water.  Stir over med-low heat until melted.  Fill a 1 gallon jug half full with hot tap water.  Add melted soap, washing soda, and borax.  Stir well until all powder is dissolved.  Fill bucket to top with more hot water.  Stir, cover, and let sit overnight to thicken.  Shake before each use.  Optionally, add a few drops of essential oil.  Use 1 oz. per load in a front-loading washing machine.

Adapted from www.duggarfamily.com/recipes

Bye Bye Smelly Towels

Do your towels, and washcloths ever emit that stinky smell that never goes away despite continuous washing?  This moldy, musty smell has mystified me for years and I finally decided to find out why they smell, and most importantly, how to get rid of the smell.  I contacted my Busy Bea soapmaking friend and asked for her advice.  Here is her response:

Things that lead to smelly washcloths: not hanging them to air dry before tossing them in the hamper or leaving them crumpled up around the bath and laundry room and too much laundry soap. Remember that if they already have un-rinsed bath soap on them when they go into the wash you're adding to your overall soap content of the wash.

At this point I would recommend doing a load of just washcloths and towels in very, very hot water with a half cup of washing soda or borax or both or one and then the other. You might have to do it more than once to really get rid of the soap build up. It's like stripping cloth diapers that have gotten stinky from too much soap build up. After that if you still have an odor I'd wash them with a few ounces of Bac Out and then call it a day other than cutting down on your soap usage.

I always wash towels and such in hot water to prevent this, but sometimes it still happens with dishcloths anyway. I usually use a non-soap surfactant called Basic H on my dishes, but once in a while we'll use reg dish soap for a few days until my dishcloths start smelling again and I remember why I don't use dish soap!



Taking Kristina's advice, I decided to try Borax because that is what I have on-hand.  I put a 1/2 cup Borax in the washing machine with my towels and washcloths.  I used the Deep Clean Sanitary Cycle which uses super hot water for both washing and rinsing.  The entire cycle takes 2 hours!

The results:  NO SMELL!  I couldn't believe it!  By finding a solution to the smell, I have increased the longevity of my towels, and therefore, fewer have to be cut up and used as rags.  Thank you Kristina & thank you Borax!

Cleaning & Food Preservation Logs

After several summers of keeping careful track of all my food canning adventures, I decided to organize them properly into a binder.  In the past, they were on the computer which is not conveniently located in my kitchen where it is most needed.

I don't consider myself super artistic but consider this worthy to brag about!  I created a unique page for each fruit, meat, and vegetable that I preserve.  Each of these pages has hand-drawn food on a piece of cardstock paper.  I even reserved a space for my husband's soda making experiments and my someday mead making adventures.  Each section (or chapter) contains recipes, specific canning instructions for that particular fruit or vegetable, and notes from each year's crop production, price per pound, and suggestions for the following year.  I typed this information up so it was a little more organized; but in the future, I will just hand-write my notes.  This project seems a little tedious, but I've been meaning to get it finished for years.  It took several evenings to complete the binder with 14 separate sections; but it looks beautiful and it's one more random project checked off my "to do list!"  I was so inspired with the canning log that I decided to make one for cleaning recipes & soap making!