Clean - Literally

I realize I’m quite random with this blog, this is me in real life!  Just when you get accustomed to my “deeper” ramblings on life a post like this comes along.  I’ve had quite a few people ask me about my homemade cleaning and personal care recipes so I thought I’d put them here.  I really want you to understand that I am not a crazy, crunchy, won’t put anything toxic on my body or anywhere near my children kind of person.  I have not done extensive research on parabens or SLS or anything of the like, I don’t have time for that!  I am not an expert on any of this stuff so don’t come after me if these don’t work for you.  Here are my requirements when it comes to the things I clean my body or my home with: 

•               easy to make
•        uses ingredients I can easily find
•        it works
•          it’s cheap

If it’s natural, better for my skin, better for the environment, non-toxic, etc. then that’s a bonus I’ll gladly take!  Trust me when I say I’ve tried about everything I’ve come across, and these are the things that have worked for me and fit my requirements.  I’ll separate this subject into 2 separate posts and start today with my personal care items by walking you through my day.

When I first wake up, I swish with about 1 tsp of coconut oil for 20 minutes or until everybody wakes up and expects me to talk to them.  I love starting my morning off with “what’s in your mouth?”  “what are you doing?”  and my favorite, “mom, talk a me!”   It’s called oil pulling, you can google it for all the specifics.  I’ve only recently started doing this in an attempt to remineralize a cavity the dentist is saying will probably require a crown.  I’ll let you know if it works.   

After that, I brush with a paste made from coconut oil, baking soda, xylitol and peppermint essential oil.  I just mix the baking soda and coconut oil until it forms a nice paste and then add the xylitol and peppermint oil to taste.   I certainly don’t want to get into a discussion about fluoride or why I do or don’t use it, but I’ve used this homemade version for quite a while now.  I just recently went to the dentist after a 6 year hiatus (gross, I know).  While I did have a couple cavities (hence the oil pulling experiment), the hygienist went on and on about how great my teeth looked, how little plaque there was, etc.  She was amazed I hadn’t had a cleaning in so long.  That’s enough encouragement for me to continue using my homemade concoction!

In the shower I always use glycerin soap from Glisten Naturals (shameless plug).   Glycerin soap is a humectant which means it seals in the moisture instead of stripping it like commercial soap.  The organic glycerin soap doesn’t contain any harsh, toxic ingredients and is great for everyone in your family.  It’s extra cheap for me because I help make it J  But we’ve recently added a line that will make it affordable for you, too!  Check us out at www.glistennaturals.com.  (End shameless plug).

I wash my hair every 5 days with a very diluted (20:1 ratio) water and castile soap.  I can do this because I’ve already transitioned my hair when I did the no-poo with baking soda.  My scalp no longer experiences the drying effects of washing with shampoo every day and stays cleaner, longer.   I’ll write a post soon updating you on that.  I rinse with a half and half mixture of apple cider vinegar and water. 

After my shower, I slather on coconut oil from face to toes as my moisturizer.  Love this stuff!  As for deodorant, I alternate between storebought whatever’s cheapest and a paste made out of, you guessed it, baking soda and coconut oil.  For some reason, this paste sometimes gives me a rash, but I know deodorant is very toxic so I try to use the homemade version as much as possible.  And yes, I brush my teeth with basically the same thing I put under my armpits J  I don’t keep them in the same jar, though, I’m not that dirty hippie!

I use Bare Minerals foundation but everything else is just the cheap stuff.  At night, I wash my face with coconut oil mixed with a couple drops of eucalyptus oil.  I massage it in my face and then put a hot washcloth over my face to draw out the dirt and junk.  I keep the washcloth on for about 30 seconds, rinse with hot water and put it back on my face.  I don’t scrub, just gently wipe, and then massage the leftover oil in my face.  I love this oil cleansing method!  You can google that, too, there’s lots of ways people suggest to do it.  It doesn’t make my face greasy, the coconut oil absorbs right in and leaves my face clean and moisturized. 

There you have it.  I love that my medicine cabinet is basically empty of all commercial stuff.  It has coconut oil, baking soda and some essential oils.  Talk about cheap and easy!  I don’t spend hours mixing things, either.  When I run out it takes a couple minutes to replenish.  And when I travel I just take along a small jar of coconut oil and a baggy of baking soda.  I’m really just a simple gal!  I buy my coconut oil from Tropical Traditions or through the local Bountiful Baskets co-op (www.bountifulbaskets.org)  and my baking soda in a very large bag at Sams Club.  Both items are inexpensive and last a long time.  I usually order my castile soap on Amazon, but you can find it at Target or even your local grocery store.  It seems expensive, but a large bottle which is usually about $14 lasts me at least 6 months with the small amount I use.   Way less than I was spending on scalp-healing shampoos before!

I’m sure you are all so interested in my beauty routine (insert sarcasm) but stay tuned for my cleaning routines!