Making your own cleaning products?

[Nik]

Anyone have experience with making your own washing, cleaning, etc products? E.g., toothpaste, soap, shampoo, something for clothes, etc...

Please, do share! :D

[Trishsgate]

http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/15/how-to-make-your-own-laundry-detergent-and-save-big-money/

http://www.colormekevin.com/soap/howtomakesoap.htm

http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howtos/ht/toothpaste.htm

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/1990-07-01/Natural-Housecleaning.aspx excerpt below
Believe it or not, you can handle all your day-to-day cleaning with just seven easily available, inexpensive, environmentally benign substances. Baking soda, washing soda, soap flakes, oil soap, vinegar, borax and ammonia will take care of just about any mess

Just google what you want to learn and some pages will come up. From there you can decide what is best for you.
Hope this helps and gets you started on your way.
Love and Peace

[Phtha]

Great thread.
I have quit using anything that has a harmful chemical in it
Unfortunately that means I have quit using pretty much everything that is on
the grocery store shelves. :mfr_lol:

Anyone have experience with or information on Borax? I've heard it was an all natural cleaner. I just bought a box of it and there were no ebil chemical smells. Seemed alright to me....

[historycircus]

Borax is a poison. Do not touch it, or inhale it.

Peace

[Trishsgate]

Yes, borax is another good one.
I have this list that I found on the net and I use.
Vinegar— naturally cleans like an all-purpose cleaner. It is a great natural cleaning product as well as a disinfectant and deodorizer. Always test on an areas. Improperly diluted vinegar is acidic and can eat away at tile grout. Never use on marble surfaces. The smell disappears when it dries. Helps break down detergent in laundry. Use it to clean coffeepots, glass, paintbrushes, grout, windows and fireplaces.
WhiteVinegar - cuts grease, removes mildew, odors, some stains and wax build-up.
Lemon Juice – Another natural substance used to clean your home. Can go bad after 2 weeks.
Baking Soda – Cleaning agent even after used up as fridge deodorizer. Cleans, deodorizes, softens water, scours. I also use it as a health aid but people with health problems may need to check into this.
Soap – unscented natural soap in liquid form, flakes, powders or bars is biodegradable and will clean just about anything.
Borax - cleans, deodorizes, disinfects, softens, cleans wallpaper, painted walls and floors.
Washing Soda is sodium carbonate decahydrate, a mineral. Washing soda cuts grease, removes stains, cleans wall, tiles, sinks and tubs. Caution as washing soda can irritate mucous membranes. Do not use on aluminum.
Ethanol or 100 proof Alcohol & water - is an excellent disinfectant.
Cornstarch - can be used to clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets and rugs.
Citrus Solvent - cleans paint brushes, oil and grease, some stains.
Murphy’s Oil Soap, Bar Keeper’s Friend & Bon Ami are other supplies.

Have some more but have to find them first.

[Baggywrinkle]

Throw your shampoo and expensive body washes away.
Take the no shampoo challenge!

I did it and have not looked back for a year and a half now.
My wife hasn't put me out and my job hasn't fired me (yet)
http://www.smh.com.au/news/richard-glover/the-no-shampoo-challenge/2007/03/22/1174153246888.html

[Bigfatfurrytexan]

Vinegar. That is the best thing that you can use to clean if you can tolerate the odor.

a 50-50 mix of vinegar and water will clean just about everything (try it on your LCD monitor while turned off...especially if you are a smoker. it will disolve the tar on your screen and make it spiffy).

Baking soda is what i use to deodorize.

But there are some things i won't live without. For instance, Dawn soap. That is the best soap known to man. Put a little in your wash to help disolve oils. I have seen people use it to disolve the oils in the bilge pump housing on their boats. Works like magic.

[Trishsgate]

Sorry for not including this with the above on borax, etc.
As with any material such as lye, borax, amonia, etc. safety gear should be used in handling these products. I use rubber gloves, safety masks and goggles using, mixing, and making these products.


Toxicity
Borax, sodium tetraborate decahydrate, is not acutely toxic. [6] Its LD50 (median lethal dose) score is tested at 2.66 g/kg in rats. [7] This does not mean that it is safe, merely that a significant dose of the chemical is needed to cause severe symptoms or death. Simple exposure can cause respiratory and skin irritation. Ingestion may cause gastrointestinal distress including nausea, persistent vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Effects on the vascular system and brain include headaches and lethargy, but are less frequent. "In severe poisonings, a beefy red skin rash affecting palms, soles, buttocks and scrotum has been described. With severe poisoning, erythematous and exfoliative rash, unconsciousness, respiratory depression, and renal failure." [8]

A reassessment of boric acid/borax by the United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Pesticide Programs found potential developmental toxicity (especially effects on the testes).[9] Boric acid solutions used as an eye wash or on abraded skin are known to be especially toxic to infants, especially after repeated use because of its slow elimination rate.[10]

[Nik]

Great replies so far! Thanks all!

I have used lemons to wash body and hair in the past - and enjoyed it! My flat mate thought I was going nuts (more than usual :D ).

How about something to brush your teeth with?

[Baggywrinkle]

We have been making our own laundry detergent for a
year now.

Borax:Washing Soda:salt:cheap bar soap (fels naptha)
1:1:1/2:1/2 bar ...that is WASHING soda not baking soda Sodium Carbonate as opposed to sodium bicarbonate. It is caustic to the skin. That is why your oma wore rubber gloves back in the day.

delete the bar soap and you have dish washing detergent.
It does not work as well as cascade....

We made our own tooth paste for a while. Baking soda
glycerin, salt, flavoring (peppermint oil). It didn't last we
are back to cheap walmart toothpaste. We figure our brains are already fried from the fluoride...

Throw your deodorant away. A sponge bath works.

[Nik]

Throw your deodorant away. A sponge bath works.

I never use deo. ;)

[OceanWinds]

Great Posts!

One thing no one has mentioned yet is h2o2, hydrogen peroxide. I was amazed when I started using it. Its not the cheapest, but its an excellent disinfectant.

I remember I used to use bleach to clean the toilet because I was taught in school, and by my parents that it was the best way to disinfect. When I switched to h202 I was amazed at how my toilet bubbled... and the toilet brush bubbled too.

I spray my kitchen sink and counters with diluted 35% food grade h202. And clean the toilet with it... and I will never go back.

[Trishsgate]

Great Posts!

One thing no one has mentioned yet is h2o2, hydrogen peroxide. I was amazed when I started using it. Its not the cheapest, but its an excellent disinfectant.

I remember I used to use bleach to clean the toilet because I was taught in school, and by my parents that it was the best way to disinfect. When I switched to h202 I was amazed at how my toilet bubbled... and the toilet brush bubbled too.

I spray my kitchen sink and counters with diluted 35% food grade h202. And clean the toilet with it... and I will never go back.


Yes I use this as well it is great, good for blood stains as well. Thanks for the add-on.

[Bigfatfurrytexan]

Great replies so far! Thanks all!

I have used lemons to wash body and hair in the past - and enjoyed it! My flat mate thought I was going nuts (more than usual :D ).

How about something to brush your teeth with?

baking soda and water (something without flouride) mixed to a paste consistency.

[OceanWinds]

Yes I use this as well it is great, good for blood stains as well. Thanks for the add-on.

YES! I figured that one out on my own... got some blood on my fav shorts, and tried everything. Then I used h202 and the blood turned white... after that I used some soap and the blood came right out, no trace of it left. Amazing stuff h202.

[OceanWinds]

I use oil of oregano or peppermint oil to brush my teeth with.

[chelmostef]

Soap plants:

Soapwort:
Best of the soap plants, prized for cleaning delicate fabrics. Crush it in warm or boil for liquid soap.

Horse chestnut:
not as good as soapwort but more common, mildly antiseptic. Crush the leaves in warm water.

Chickweed:
Like horse chestnut, contains saponin and can be used as soap but is inferior to the other two.

A hazel twig crushed untill it frays for brush and wood ash for tooth paste. I have to admit I have not tried this, but is recommended in a survival guide.

[border xer]

I know this is about making cleaning products but Lush is a good place to buy natural shampoos and soaps. I suppose if you take a note of the ingredients they use then you can use that as guide to try make your own. Also, there has been a new environmentally friendly range of domestic cleaning products which I buy from my local Oxfam shop. Again, take a note of the ingredients and see if you can make something similar

[OceanWinds]

anyone know what to use in a steam cleaner.... I am going to steam clean my car today and want it clean... but not chemically

[Norval]

Try the vinegar, , ,

[angelite]

Mix baking soda and salt and put in a jar with a lid sprinkle on wet toothbrush and use to bush your teeth.
This will clean and whiten your teeth better than any toothpaste.

[Nenuphar]

I also recommend investing in a bottle of tea tree oil. This does double duty as a great ingredient in natural cleaning products AND is important to have in your medicine cabinet. It has a nice, clean smell and is a powerful anti-bacterial. I put a few drops in with my laundry and also use it when making scouring powder.

Simple scouring powder:
1 box baking powder
3 or 4 Tbsp borax
6-8 drops tea tree oil

...can be used on counter tops, in the bathtub/sink, toilet bowl, etc... I never use commercial scouring powder any more.

Nenuphar

[MargueriteBee]

https://www.ezoetic.com/p-665-maggies-soap-nuts.aspx

I use soap nuts for everything. You can make dish soap, etc. from them.

[Peace of Mine]

I have looked EVERYWHERE for the washing soda. Anybody got a good lead on where to buy it?

Plain old baking soda is excellent as a toothpaste, and as a scouring agent. I use a container with holes in the lid, and shake on what I need for countertops, bathroom, wherever.

Do the soap nuts really work well for laundry???

[Anchor]

Second the tea tree oil suggestion - you can add some of it to your toothpast formula too for a funky brushing experience.

Eucalyptus Oil is another worthwhile investment. It is good on tar and sticky residues. You know the ones, left behind when you peel the labels off of stuff! (Not that this will be happening a lot in the scenario's being considered here :) )

[whitecrow]

Anyone have experience with making your own washing, cleaning, etc products? E.g., toothpaste, soap, shampoo, something for clothes, etc...

Please, do share! :D


I am a soapmaker. I make all-natural herbal soaps using simple ingredients. I also make my own laundry detergent, toothpaste, aftershave, and household cleaners.

I make furniture polishes and finishes and lip balms. Tattoo balm, too.

You can make your own cleaners that do a better job than the commercial ones, without dumping chemicals in your body or down the drain. And you will save a huge amount of money. You will be using your resources to help yourself and your friends instead of some big corp.

I'd be glad to post an online class in soapmaking. I've written about it and taught it for years. It's easy and fun.

I've made my own toothpaste for 20+ years. I have not seen a dentist in 12 years - no need. Even a filling that fell out 4 or 5 years ago has given me no trouble.

Basically I use baking soda and tea tree oil. You can mix these two ingredients so that you have a paste and use this all by itself. However this is the way I make it now:

First I buy an ounce of powdered myrrh resin and dissolve it in 100-proof Smirnoff vodka. This takes a few days, shaking the bottle each day. When as much resin has dissolved in the alcohol as it will hold, I pour the vodka through a coffee filter to remove any particles, and into a bowl of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). This I let sit for a couple days until the alcohol is pretty much evaporated, so that I have a bowl of bicarb that is saturated with myrrh. Then I add my tea tree oil to make up the paste, and I also add a couple tablespoons of vegetable glycerin. This sweetens up the taste and gives it a nicer texture.

You can make a pound of this for the price of a couple tubes of Crest. Store it in a covered bowl until you're ready to use it. I keep a little in a small jar next to my toothbrush.

Laundry detergent is easy, and costs pennies:

You can make your own soap - plain coconut oil and 0% lye discount would work - or pick up a bar of Fels Naptha for about $1.69 in the laundry aisle. Grate the soap fine. Add 1-1/2 cups each of powdered borax and washing soda (sodium carbonate). It only takes a couple tablespoons of this mix to do a load. If you can't find sodium carbonate you can use sodium bicarb. Washing soda can sometimes be found in the laundry aisle, but more and more the stores don't stock it. Arm & Hammer is the usual brand, just like baking soda. It's also used to adjust the pH of pools, so you can find it in pool supply store. MalWart sells it under the name pH Plus.

Leave out the grated bar soap, and you have dishwasher powder. If your hard water creates a scum, use white vinegar in the rinse water.

More to come if the interest is there.

[Nik]

Several people mentioned the use of Borax... any alternatives?

[Quinn134t]

AS far as surface cleaners, I do not buy any at all any more. For general cleaning, I use a spray bottle of water with two capfuls of bleach in it.

For other cleaning, I use a spray bottle of water with a fourth cup of regular vinegar. This cleans and deodorizes better than the expensive fabric deopdorants. The vinegar smell evaporates, and gets rid of any oders.

Tooth paste, baking soda with a little salt mixed with it.

Mouthwash, diluted Hydrogen Peroxide with water.

[whitecrow]

Soap plants...

And for those in the Southwest, the traditional Native shampoo is yucca root. Yucca root is also a delicious starchy vegetable, far more nutritious than potatoes.

[Alexandra]

:original:

[Baggywrinkle]

I have looked EVERYWHERE for the washing soda. Anybody got a good lead on where to buy it?



call 1-800-524-1328 to find a store locally that carries it

or twist their arm to stock it for you

or order it mail order from these folks

http://www.soapsgonebuy.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=AH1001&Show=ExtInfo

[Baggywrinkle]

This has been done for centuries and if you do not keep your head and scalp clean you will have lots of company. Actually a regular eco-system happening there. Then you will be taking the anti-lice challenge.

Sorry, until you have tried it you don't have a clue what
you are talking about. Send me a pm and I'll be happy
to give you the run down on lice/scabies transmission and treatment privately. That is what I do in my day job.

Some folks who took the challenge weren't happy with it because their hair was too long/too oily. My hair is kept military short - I cut my own hair btw - and a vigorous
brushing massage in the shower is sufficient. The first month is miserable while your body adjusts. I've been a year and a half now and my wife approves :biggrin2:

My wife gave it a go and quit after two weeks because of the itching (remember the first month was miserable). She did say her hair looked fabulous. Since then she has not tried again, but has backed
off from every other day to once a week. She says the more you do it the more you need to do it.
That is the whole point!

This was an excellent example of the programming you've been subjected to which keeps you in the matrix
as a good little consumer. It made me really begin to wonder what else I'd been LIED TO about

Here is the forum at ABC.au where the challenge was held and folks talked about their results
http://www2b.abc.net.au/tmb/Client/Message.aspx?b=49&t=3&a=0&ps=20&m=349&dm=2&p=1

[Alexandra]

[:original:

[Nik]

Probably also a matter of mentality. If you do it as a religious (??) belief, conviction, or some sort of social statement - who knows what the results may be... If you do it with a clear mind and the intention to simply purify your body, it may work really well.

I am trying it right now - 3rd week after being reminded with the above message. ;)

[Bonnie]

Great replies so far! Thanks all!

I have used lemons to wash body and hair in the past - and enjoyed it! My flat mate thought I was going nuts (more than usual :D ).

How about something to brush your teeth with?

You can use baking soda to brush your teeth, as well. The taste is not great, but I have read it does a good job of cleaning teeth.

[ucan]

I've heard that a simple mix of Soap and Lemon Juice is a suitable shampoo replacement as soap on it's own does not leave hair in a good condition, especially long hair. Could anyone elaborate on this?

Personally I haven't used chemical soaps or shampoo's for a number of years - I've heard that shower gel type products alter the PH of skin and can cause a premature hatching of the worms that live naturally in our skin, sounds wild I know - but I've noticed many benefits in myself including my natural smell and general health by not using chemical washing products - Could anyone elaborate on this also?

@whitecrow - I'm very interested in knowing more about these skills...

I highly recommend "Lush" & "Neals Yard" products.

[whitecrow]

I have looked EVERYWHERE for the washing soda. Anybody got a good lead on where to buy it?

If you can't find it in the laundry aisle, try a pool supply store. It is also used to adjust the pH of water. MalWart sells it under the name pH Plus.

[MargueriteBee]

I made the laundry soap from Borax, Washing Soda and Ivory soap. It worked out well and the towels came out sparkling clean. I do recommend you mix and bottle up outside as it does have a smell.