This month in our 12 months of greening challenge we are aiming to increase the number of things we make from scratch rather than buying. From food, clothing, and gifts to hygiene and 'beauty' products and things needed in the garden/home. Why? Homemade means we can control the ingredients/materials, using Eco-friendly or recycled as much as possible. We tend to buy ingredients in bulk meaning less packaging. The items made are what we want and we know the work put in, so we use them more mindfully. And as a bonus, the products are better for us, cheaper, and we have a real sense of achievement and being in control of our life.
We've already started on this journey of course, cooking most things from scratch and making all of our gifts and many things for around the home, but this month is just an added challenge to see how far we can go.
Today I thought I would take you to the bathroom and talk about what I've made and my future plans.
Soap
I made my first batch of soap in March, simply following Rhonda's recipe but I added some oats. It's nice soap, but the oats annoy us. We've nearly run out, so I made a second batch on the weekend, this time infusing the olive oil with calendula and adding about 20 drops of pure lavender oil. The molding worked better this time too - can't wait to use it!
My 'no poo' routine
I haven't washed my hair with shampoo for months. I won't regale you with the whole story, but I will tell you my current routine which works really well for me. I only need to wash my hair about every 5 days. In between, I either give it a rinse, or use a shower cap and give it a good brush. On hair washing mornings, when I make my morning cuppa I also make a brew with dried rosemary and lemon verbena leaves from my garden. This brews while I have breaky, then I strain the leaves and add a splash of white vinegar* - and this is my conditioning rinse finished. I have a bottle of water mixed with a few spoonfuls of bicarb in the shower to wash my hair with - this lasts me ages and just needs a shake before I use it. In the shower I pour some bicarb mix onto my roots and rub until it feels slippery, then rinse out. At the end of my shower I pour all of the rosemary brew over the ends of my hair - I don't rinse itout. My hair is happy, healthy and shiny and the routine is so cheap and easy. As a bonus, the reduced shampoo and conditioner in the shower means less soapy scum all over the inside of the glass shower cubicle!
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* I know most people use Apple cider vinegar for this, but I didn't have any the first time I made it, so I just used white. By the time I remembered to look for ACV at the shops, my routine was working so well I decided not to muck with it. White vinegar is also something I always have and it's cheap!
Hairspray
I use hairspray when I do my hair for special occasions or performing. I had run out of the horrible chemical in a spraycan variety, so made some on the weekend, vaguely using this recipe. I tossed about 6 squeezed orange halves into a pot (leftovers from making a cake), covered them with water and brought it to the boil. I boiled until the liquid had reduced to about a cup. The strained liquid (which tasted like weak orange cordial) was then allowed to cool, and mixed with 1/4 cup of vodka and some lavender oil. Does it work? Sure does! It's not a super strong hold, but good enough and it smells nice too.
Calendula salve
I made some of this using Christine's recipe a few weeks ago. Lovely for my sore winter hands and the eczema spots in our home.
Toothpaste, Deodorant and more on the To-Do List
These are the next items on my to-do list. I have seen a few recipes around, and would love your thoughts. It would be good if I could make toothpaste to put it in a pump pack so it is neat and easy to use for the kids.
I am going to try making a roll on and a manly spray deodorant for Stu. I don't like the idea of the stick deodorants. I plan to try these recipes (the spray one here and this roll on) and will let you know how I go.
There are a few others in my list to try - a facial toner, hair gel for Stu and lip balm to name a few. I like the idea of a wholly homemade bathroom (and medicine cabinet?). I would love to hear about other people's experiments - even failed ones!
We've already started on this journey of course, cooking most things from scratch and making all of our gifts and many things for around the home, but this month is just an added challenge to see how far we can go.
Today I thought I would take you to the bathroom and talk about what I've made and my future plans.
Soap
I made my first batch of soap in March, simply following Rhonda's recipe but I added some oats. It's nice soap, but the oats annoy us. We've nearly run out, so I made a second batch on the weekend, this time infusing the olive oil with calendula and adding about 20 drops of pure lavender oil. The molding worked better this time too - can't wait to use it!
.jpg) |
| The white rectangular bar is one of the remaining bars from the first batch The wedge and small hearts are the beautiful new calendula batch. |
I haven't washed my hair with shampoo for months. I won't regale you with the whole story, but I will tell you my current routine which works really well for me. I only need to wash my hair about every 5 days. In between, I either give it a rinse, or use a shower cap and give it a good brush. On hair washing mornings, when I make my morning cuppa I also make a brew with dried rosemary and lemon verbena leaves from my garden. This brews while I have breaky, then I strain the leaves and add a splash of white vinegar* - and this is my conditioning rinse finished. I have a bottle of water mixed with a few spoonfuls of bicarb in the shower to wash my hair with - this lasts me ages and just needs a shake before I use it. In the shower I pour some bicarb mix onto my roots and rub until it feels slippery, then rinse out. At the end of my shower I pour all of the rosemary brew over the ends of my hair - I don't rinse itout. My hair is happy, healthy and shiny and the routine is so cheap and easy. As a bonus, the reduced shampoo and conditioner in the shower means less soapy scum all over the inside of the glass shower cubicle!
.jpg)
* I know most people use Apple cider vinegar for this, but I didn't have any the first time I made it, so I just used white. By the time I remembered to look for ACV at the shops, my routine was working so well I decided not to muck with it. White vinegar is also something I always have and it's cheap!
Hairspray
I use hairspray when I do my hair for special occasions or performing. I had run out of the horrible chemical in a spraycan variety, so made some on the weekend, vaguely using this recipe. I tossed about 6 squeezed orange halves into a pot (leftovers from making a cake), covered them with water and brought it to the boil. I boiled until the liquid had reduced to about a cup. The strained liquid (which tasted like weak orange cordial) was then allowed to cool, and mixed with 1/4 cup of vodka and some lavender oil. Does it work? Sure does! It's not a super strong hold, but good enough and it smells nice too.
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| Love my all natural bathroom shelf! |
Calendula salve
I made some of this using Christine's recipe a few weeks ago. Lovely for my sore winter hands and the eczema spots in our home.
Toothpaste, Deodorant and more on the To-Do List
These are the next items on my to-do list. I have seen a few recipes around, and would love your thoughts. It would be good if I could make toothpaste to put it in a pump pack so it is neat and easy to use for the kids.
I am going to try making a roll on and a manly spray deodorant for Stu. I don't like the idea of the stick deodorants. I plan to try these recipes (the spray one here and this roll on) and will let you know how I go.
There are a few others in my list to try - a facial toner, hair gel for Stu and lip balm to name a few. I like the idea of a wholly homemade bathroom (and medicine cabinet?). I would love to hear about other people's experiments - even failed ones!
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