Confession: I hate cleaning the oven and stove.
Alas, it must be done.
I would like, however, to propose that it no longer has to be done with poison. Continue reading “Step-by-Step Toxin-Free Living Week 3”
Tag: baking soda
DIY Staples + Pricing
One of the biggest issues I hear when it comes to living this toxin-free lifestyle are the upfront costs.
We’ve already nailed down how much each of our toxic products cost (minus doctor visits for what it does to our bodies), and we’ve added that into our budget, so how do we make the switch without breaking the bank?
What’s even harder to figure out is how we’re going to front this cost while still buying the toxic products as we wait to gather the non-toxic.
I’ve created this list of what is used the very most in common recipes and some average pricing that comes along with it, so you can budget out how to get started on this cleaner, healthier life.
DIY Staples + Pricing
1.) Coconut oil: $15 for 32 oz.
I get the big tub because this is such a necessity for so many recipes. I also use it for cooking or popping popcorn, so it makes sense. Also, every time I pull it out, I only need a couple tablespoons, so it lasts a good, long while.
2.) Beeswax: $15
First, let me give you some advice.
You may see an opportunity to save some money by getting the beeswax bars. Save yourself! Don’t do it!
My friend, Laurie and I got a good laugh out of our frustration from trying to slowly chip away at and shave a block of beeswax once, and while it was surely funny, in the end it was something that wouldn’t have been quite so hilarious if I was in my own kitchen trying to make it just another part of my day. Trust me. Get the pellets.
I also find this to be such a great money saver because again, I can get so many uses out of this beeswax bag, and the recipes make so much that I save a ton in comparison to buying any in-store organic or toxin-free options! For example, 3 tbs. of beeswax will make 30 tubes of chapstick. Talk about savings!
3.) Baking Soda: $5
Oh my goodness, do I ever use the heck out of baking soda!
However, it’s only a small amount at a time, so this 4 lb. bag really lasts a good, long time!
4.) Shea Butter: $12
Shea butter, how I love you. I only use such a small amount in recipes that stretch for so long that I maybe only buy shea once or twice a year!
5.) Castile Soap: $16
Again, I use such a small amount each time, but the products I make with it last so long that I come out ahead every time!
TOTAL: $63
Recipes Using the Staples
Sun Lotion
Three Ingredient Lotion
Self Tanner/Bronzer
Non-Toxic Handsoap
Deodorant
Dishwasher Detergent
Powerful Grease-Cutting Dish Soap
Laundry Detergent
Fabric Softener
Baby Wipes
Makeup Remover
Best Chapstick Ever!
Face Wash
Shaving Gel
Real Life Uses
As I shared in my Step-By-Step Toxin-Free Living guide, I choose to mix my DIY with in-store and Young Living purchases.
I do this for both convenience as well as current needs.
For example, having all the ingredients I need for sun lotion (screen) is super important to me with two little boys and skin myself that burns easily. I hate running out and getting to the store just to find the toxin-free options are sold out or way over priced.
On the flip side, I cannot find a conditioner in the store or in DIY form yet that can match Young Living’s Lavender Mint conditioner. Seven months into this 10 oz. bottle with my horse’s tail-like head of hair, I’m shocked at how well it’s stretched, so why not earn 25% back with a 24% discount on a product that I love?
Finally, I choose to buy something like shampoo because I’ve yet to find one that fits my crazy hair like this one. However I do make sure I use my ewg.org app. each time I pick up a new bottle just to make sure it hasn’t undergone any changes in formula that will make it toxic.
Final Note
These are simply the staples. The ingredients that we use time and again.
Of course there will be others that come up often like washing soda for cleaning or vitamin E for skincare, but my advice no matter what is this: go at your own pace.
Not sure where to start?
Step-by-Step Toxin-Free Living Week 2
In the coming weeks, we will dive into cost-effective and toxin-free ways to clean your home.
Along the way, we will throw out some of the most harmful products in your cabinets.
This week we will tackle one that will cover lots of bases: Multi-Purpose Cleaner.
BEST OVERALL PICK
While I will provide other DIY options, Thieves Household Cleaner is my number one, overall pick because I have seen its power first-hand and know for a fact that it will never be altered in a way that makes it toxic.
The best part about Thieves Household Cleaner is that you will see it as an option for the next several weeks.
This means that you will be able to ditch tons of bottles by the end of this series to not only make your home safer, but to save you tons of money!
IN-STORE OPTIONS
I always try my best to give both in-store as well as DIY options.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t anything clean enough for me to add in this post when it comes to in-store multi-purpose cleaner.
Feel free to check out other ewg.org rated “A” multi-purpose cleaners that are already put together, but the washing soda is the only option without any possible harm.
POWERFUL + SIMPLE DIY OPTIONS
Below are three DIY options for you.
DIY 1
The first is the easiest, and my choice for our family.
Thieves (concentrated) Household Cleaner comes in two different sizes. 14.4 and 64 oz. In the small bottle, you can make 30+ spray bottles of multi-purpose spray! Just one more reason why this is my top pick!
Recipe
Fill a 16 oz. glass spray bottle, and add 1 capful of Thieves Household Cleaner.
That’s it! Enjoy!
DIY 2
The second DIY option is still easy and only takes a few ingredients.
When it comes to adding in essential oils, I chose Lemon and Purification because they are known for cutting grease and creating an overall seriously clean surface.
Recipe
In a 16 oz. glass spray bottle, add the following:
Warm water almost to the bottom of the neck. Leave room for the other ingredients.
1/2 tsp. washing soda
1 tsp. liquid Castile soap
4 drops Young Living Lemon essential oil
4 drops Young Living Purification essential oil blend
DIY 3
The third and final recipe is one I like if I’m in a pinch because it calls for staples from my pantry that I always have on hand at a moment’s notice.
Again, I have chosen the essential oils because oils, and for multi-purpose cleaner use especially, make a typical recipe super powered!
Recipe
1TBS baking soda
1C warm water (from tap is fine)
Mix all three in a 16 oz. glass spray bottle to dissolve the baking soda. Once cooled, add 4 drops Young Living Lemon essential oil and 4 drops Young Living Purification essential oil blend.
Real Life Use
It does make it easy to always choose Thieves Household Cleaner with my 24% discount. Pouring one capful into a bottle full of water? It doesn’t get much easier than that for toxin-free living!
It’s just so practical and (as you’ll see in the coming weeks) useful throughout our home.
How to Get Thieves Household Cleaner
You have three options for how to get this cleaner in your home.
Option 1: Retail
Click the following link to be taken to a page to buy oils: Young Living Oils: Retail. You’ll choose the “Retail” or full price option, search Thieves Household Cleaner, choose which size bottle you want, and check out.
Option 2: Basic Starter Kit 24% Discount
The basic starter kit is $45.
It comes with an essential oil blend called Stress Away, a Thieves Household Cleaner sample, and two packets of a wellness drink called Ningxia Red.
You will get your own login and password to shop whenever you feel like it at a 24% discount.
No obligations to buy-ever.
Option 3: Premium Starter Kit 24% Discount
The Premium Starter Kit is $160.
It comes with the following:
- Diffuser
- Premium Essential Oils Collection;
- Lavender 5-ml (sleep, cleaning, skin support)
- Peppermint Vitality™ 5-ml (digestion, energy, tension support)
- Lemon Vitality™ 5-ml (cleaning, purifying, immune support)
- Copaiba Vitality™ 5-ml (overall wellness, intensifies other oils)
- Frankincense 5-ml (grounding, wellness, immune support)
- Thieves® Vitality™ 5-ml (immune support)
- Citrus Fresh™ 5-ml (smells, immune support, digestion)
- Raven™ 5-ml (respiratory support)
- DiGize™ Vitality™ 5-ml (digestive support)
- PanAway® 5-ml (muscle support)
- Stress Away™ 5-ml (emotional support)
- AromaGlide™ Roller Fitment
- Thieves Household Cleaner 1-oz. sample
- 2 NingXia Red® 2-oz. samples
You still have no obligation to buy. You still enjoy your discount.
However, I chose this route because it was the fastest way to toxin-free living. You’ll notice this week I’ve added oils as well as last week to my DIY recipes.
That’s because they kick the cleaning power up in a big way!
Please feel free to join me on Facebook at Grace Blossoms Non-Toxic Living for extra guidance and ideas as we head into week three. I’ll also be posting on Instagram @grace_blossoms_blog with tips in my feed as well with ways to use the weekly guide in my InstaStories!
I hope you are as blessed by this week’s switch as our family has been.
See you next week!
~Andrea 🙂
WEEK 3: Oven Cleaner>>>>>
Non-Toxic Fabric Softener
We’ve all seen those Pins that boast the many uses of dryer sheets.
Our baseboards are clean, our hair never has flyaways, and our dogs never smell like rain.
Unfortunately, there is one major piece of information missing. Continue reading “Non-Toxic Fabric Softener”