My Chemical Free Home

Seriously some nights I go to bed and can't sleep, as blog ideas run through my head! I mentally write them while I toss and turn, wasting precious sleeping time. So I thought I'd spend tonight getting them down... only, I can't remember what any of them were! I mean, sure, if I brush my teeth and go to bed I'll remember, but then I'm back to square one.

Seriously, I need to cut down on my use of the exclamation mark. Sometimes I read past blogs and it seems I have lost the full stop. It cheapens the sentences that really need it! LOL

Ohhh thats right! I was going to list out the changes I have made towards a chemical free household. I thought going chemical free would be a total pain, but it has been so gradual that it hardly feels like anything has changed!

So here goes...

Deodorant: Body Crystal stick from Coles. Supposed to last 12 months... SCORE! It really does seem to work, too. I can usually smell myself when I really reek, and that hasn't happened for ages! I also find that I stink less when I forget to put it on (like, compared to when I forgot to put on my old deodorant). Not sure why that is, maybe it lasts longer?? Whatever I"m loving it!

Toothpaste: FAIL. Still using Aldi brand. Remind me to get onto that.

Moisturiser: Billy Goat Soap Moisturiser (AWESOME!!!!)




Soap: Billy Goat Soap

Baby bath: Moogoo, although it contains Phenoxethanol so will change to Billy Baby Body Wash when it runs out.

Nappy Rash Cream: Natures Child Bottom Balm

Sunscreen: FAIL. Still Banana Boat. Will change to Wotnot sunscreen in Summer.

Shampoo and Conditioner: Miessence ... mmm smells good!

Hand Soap: FAIL. Aldi brand. Any ideas? Hopefully not expensive ones??

Washing: Wild Soapnuts. I heart these little berries! Do yourself a favour and use them. Just do it. You'll save a buttload in washing powder costs!

Disinfectant: White Vinegar, although I am guilty of the occasional spritz of Pine-O-Clean on Butterfly's high chair. Will kick that habit when the bottle runs out.

Toilet Cleaner: White Vinegar

Floor Cleaner (mopping): White Vinegar

Dishwashing liquid: Earth's Choice Dishwashing liquid. I don't use much of this because we have a dishwasher...

Dishwasher Powder: Eco Store... seriously, this 1kg bottle will last you AGES!! I was beggining to think it was a magic bottle that never ran out, but, alas, probably 6 months of use finally finished it off! Again, save yourself some serious cash!

Oven and Hot Plates: White Vinegar and Bicarb

Shower and Bath: White Vinegar and Bicarb

Hubby's Shaving Cream and Deodorant: Still the usual toxic crap. He seems to think I'm a fruitloop... I'll change these eventually, baby steps for the skeptic!

Ridding yourself from the nasties in commercial body and cleaning products seems a mammoth task. Its not. Don't focus on changing everything at once, just research one thing at a time. Some things will cost you more money. My Miessence Shampoo almost gives me a heart attack every time I have to pay for it! But as you can see, good ol' vinegar has replaced most of my cleaning products, so I save a bundle there. I'd say I am still saving money, even though some things are pretty exy. I'll go back now, and colour the things GREEN if they save me money, RED if they are more expensive. K?

It it worth doing. I never used to worry about the things I put on my body, but the ingredients in everyday products are DISGUSTING!! Cancer causing, hormone disrupting, artificial junk. There has to be a reason Prostate Cancer is on the rise? A reason every second child has ADHD? I'm going to be on the safe side... I mean, how can you go wrong with natural ingredients? And they smell so purrrrdy...

What are your favourite natural products? Feel free to guest blog if your home is totally chemical free!

Lets NOT and say we did

OK, so I feel compelled to share a recipe for laundry liquid that is cheap and eco friendly. Although, really, with Wild Soapnuts and Eco balls being so economical, could any of us REALLY be assed making it??

Clothes washing Soap

Ingredients:
1 cake pure soap (125g) or 3 cups soap flakes
1 large cup of washing soda
3 x 9 litre buckets (or a GIANT container!)

Grate or cut the soap into small peices. Add to 1 - 2 litres of water in an old saucepan and bring to the boil. Mash with a potato masher as it comes to the boil. You don't need to wait until the soap is completely dissolved.

Dissolve 1 large cup of washing soda in 1 - 2 litres of hot water in a bucket. Add the soap mixture while still hot.

Using an old strainer, strain the liquid soap into the soda solution. It HAS to be done in this order. Save the left over soap bits in a bit of water for next time.

Divide the solution equally between your 3 buckets and slowly fill each bucket with cold water. Mix with a wooden spoon. This will set into a soft gel which can be used in your washing machine in cold water. For better results, dissolve in hot water first.

Use 2 -3 large cups of this mixture per wash (or more if a large load)

This mixture is good for presoaking clothes (hear that Bronwyn???)

This laundry solution is suitable for front loading and top loading machines.

This was adapted from BARBARA LORD'S GREEN CLEANER. Get it guys, it is such a handy reference!

I am a total Wild Soapnuts convert, so I can't see me getting around to making this any time soon... if you give it a burl, let us know how ya go??

My baby is awake after only 20 minutes sleep... little monkey... so I must go!

Have a great weekend guys, don't forget to comment on my last blog for your chance to WIN WILD SOAPNUTS!!!!

Peace




My snotty nosed wakey girl!