15 Best Cleaning Recipes For Your House

Stock your cleaning caddy with a 32-ounce bottle of liquid castile soap to make these 15 DIY household cleaning products. Unscented soap is the best option, as you can make a variety of products and use essential oils to add your own scent (optional).

Nearly all the recipes listed here use liquid soap with the exception of the laundry soap powder which uses soap in bar form.

1. DIY All-Purpose Cleaning Spray

This all-purpose spray makes cleaning up a breeze! I just don’t use this as a window cleaner as it can sometimes streak, but it’s great on counters, appliances, tables, and more.

If you have hard water you might see white deposits left over on the surface. There are two ways to avoid this: use distilled water instead of tap water to make this cleaner or wipe up the spray with a damp cloth after cleaning.

DIY All Purpose Cleaner Recipe

Add 2 tablespoons of castile soap to 2 cups of distilled water in a spray bottle and go! You can also add essential oils to your cleaner. I like peppermint or orange essential oil, or use about 15 drops of your favorite essential oil.

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2. Reusable Cleaning Wipes

I love the reusable cleaning wipes recipe from Lisa Bronner’s blog. Mix together 1 1/2 cups distilled water and 1 tablespoon of castile soap and 20 drops tea tree oil. Add a cut up shirt (for DIY rags) or small cleaning towels to a jar, add the castile soap solution, and add a lid. Pull a wipe at a time from the jar and wipe counters, floors, and other surfaces.

3. Toilet Bowl Cleaner 

No one really likes scrubbing toilets, but it has to be done. To really get at tough stains, make your own toilet bowl cleaner with baking soda and castile soap. Baking soda deodorizes and removes tough stains while the castile soap removes dirt and bacteria from the surface of the toilet bowl.

DIY Toilet Bowl Cleaner Recipe

Equal parts baking soda and castile soap are diluted in a cup of water and a bit of essential oils. Use this toilet bowl cleaner to lift stains, deodorize, and remove bacteria and dirt.

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4. Hand Soap

I love making my own liquid hand soap. It’s super easy to make: equal parts water (distilled is best) and castile soap. Add to a soap dispenser bottle and it’s ready to use: add soap to wet hands and create suds as you rub your hands together. Use a foaming soap bottle for the best lather.

Castile soap is highly concentrated and intended to be diluted, making it the best natural hand soap that’s budget-friendly, too.

DIY Foaming Hand Soap Recipe

Make your own foaming hand soap with just two ingredients: equal parts concentrated castile soap and water.

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5. Tub and Sink Cleaner (Scouring Scrub)

This is my favorite way to use castile soap for cleaning!

This scrubbing cleaner is great in the bathroom and also in the kitchen sink. Think of this as a homemade soft scrub natural alternative. You can even use this cleaner on dirty kitchen or bathroom grout: dip an old toothbrush in the mixture, then scrub and watch the brightening and cleaning magic!

Homemade Scouring Scrub Recipe

1 cup of baking soda is mixed with ¼ cup of castile soap to make a thick paste that brightens, deodorizes, and lifts dirt, grease, and bacteria from surfaces. Simply take out a little scoop and scrub it into your sink, tub, or tile grout, then rinse with water.

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6. Floor Cleaner

If you aren’t a fan of vinegar for cleaning hard floors, castile soap to the rescue! This floor cleaner takes seconds to make: just hot water and castile soap. The soap helps lift dirt and bacteria from hard floor surfaces. Dip your mop in the solution and watch your floors sparkle without toxins.

Floor Cleaner Recipe

You only need 2 tablespoons of castile soap in a 2 gallon bucket of warm water. I like to add pine essential oil for nostalgia purposes, or use a few drops of essential oil of choice.

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7. Dusting Spray

One of the best ways to avoid toxic chemicals and synthetic ingredients is to make your own dusting spray. I like to spray this on a dusting cloth and not directly on surfaces to ensure I’m not using too much. A little goes a long way.

Dusting Spray Recipe

Just a touch of castile soap (2 teaspoons), 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and 1 cup of water is all you need to make this DIY recipe. Add a few drops of lemon essential oil, if desired.

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8. Stain Remover

My kids aren’t the only ones who get food and grass stains on their clothes…oops! I’ve tried so called “natural stain removers” from the store and none of them have truly wowed me. So I created a stain remover spray that truly removes stains and costs just pennies to make.

Homemade Stain Remover Recipe

Castile soap does the hard work of loosening stains and then hydrogen peroxide comes in and brightens fabric back up. A great way to pre-treat stains before washing. Simply spray on a stain, scrub, let rest, then wash.

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9. Bathroom Cleaner

You can certainly use the all-purpose spray mentioned above, but I like to add a little bit more to my bathroom spray for an extra boost of cleaning power. To do this, combine baking soda, water, and castile soap for a deodorizing, germ-fighting blend.

All-In-One Bathroom Cleaner Recipe

Add 2 tablespoons of castile soap to 2 cups of distilled water and 1 tablespoon of baking soda. I also increase the essential oils here as tea tree oil can have antibacterial properties that are perfect in this room.

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10. Clean Cutting Boards

Cutting boards are the workhorses of the kitchen. I use a quick squirt of castile soap to help scrub away any visible stains and lift bacteria on my cutting boards. And castile soap is really safe to use on eating and food preparation surfaces.

11. Dishes

There are a lot of blogs and articles out there that mention using castile soap as a dish soap. It’s perfectly fine if you want to use it, and it will work to get dishes clean. To do this, fill the sink with water and add a few squirts of castile soap.

However, in my own experience, I just don’t find that it cuts grease well. I prefer to reach for Sal’s Suds (castile soap’s big brother) when I make my own dish soap. It’s safe and non-toxic, but the chemical makeup means it is a detergent rather than a soap, which is why it works to cut grease on dishes.

12. Liquid Laundry Soap Detergent

Combine borax, washing soda, and liquid castile soap with water to make a money-saving laundry detergent replacement. Add to a load of dirty laundry and watch the soap lift dirt, stains, and stinky odors.

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap Detergent Recipe

Brightens, lifts dirt and fresh stains, and deodorizes. Combine castile soap, washing soda, borax, and water to make this liquid laundry soap. Use between 2 tablespoons and 1/4 cup of soap per load of laundry.

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13. Laundry Soap Powder

If you prefer a powder laundry soap, shred two bars of castile soap (using a cheese grater or food processor) and combine with washing soda to make an effective laundry detergent that’s best used in warm water. If you don’t want to use borax, make a borax-free laundry soap powder with castile soap and salt.

Homemade Powder Laundry Soap Recipe

Made in just five minutes! Shred two bars of castile soap in a food processor or with a cheese grater, then add borax and washing soda.

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14. Produce Wash

Use castile soap to clean vegetables!  Add 1 tablespoon castile soap to 1 gallon of cold water. Add the veggies and fruit, then swish them around in the mixture. Allow to rest for a few minutes in the soapy mixture, then rinse with fresh water and dry.

15. Makeup Brush Cleaner

Breaking out lately? It could be due to dirty makeup brushes that spread dirt and oils on the face. Give your makeup brushes a natural clean with a homemade makeup brush cleaner.

DIY Makeup Brush Cleaner Tutorial

Add a couple drops of soap to a bowl, along with water and witch hazel. Place makeup brushes in the solution and soak for a few minutes. Rinse with water and dry.

MAKE THIS RECIPE

Cleaning Mistakes to Avoid

When cleaning with castile soap it’s important to avoid mistakes that are commonly promoted online and on Pinterest.

1. Never Mix Castile Soap and Acidic Ingredients: Things like vinegar and lemon juice (acidic ingredients) don’t mix with castile soap (a base ingredient). I shared the science behind this in 4 Cleaning Ingredients to Avoid Combining. This is such a popular combination online that leaves behind an oily mess!

2. Castile Soap and Hard Water Warning: If you use a mixture of castile soap and hard water, it will leave behind a white residue on surfaces. This residue can easily be rinsed off with water or a vinegar spray. The easiest way to avoid this is to use distilled water (found in the water section of the store) in castile soap cleaning recipes.

Need more ideas? Learn how to use this soap beyond cleaning with 24 Brilliant Castile Soap Uses for Home and Body. A few of my favorite uses: makeup remover wipes, plant spray, shaving cream, and honey face wash.

More Cleaning Recipes

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Simple Homemade Fabric Softener (4 Ways)

14 Best Natural and Non-Toxic Laundry Detergents

Simple DIY Homemade Candles for Beginners

19 Frugal Natural Cleaning Hacks With Baking Soda

The post Cleaning With Castile Soap (15 How to Use Recipes & Tips) appeared first on Live Simply.

Live Simply is all about keeping things simple, so I don’t want to give you the wrong idea. You don’t need to make and use 8 different cleaners in your kitchen. I use an all-purpose spray to clean most of the surfaces in my home, from my kitchen counters to dusty shelves and bathrooms.

We all have different preferences and cleaning needs, so an all-purpose spray may not work for your every cleaning need, particularly when it comes to tricky areas of the kitchen like the oven or a greasy sink. There are also other areas of kitchen cleaning to think about, like dishes and the floor. Today’s list is intended to cover every surface and cleaning need in the kitchen. Customize this list based on your own needs.

8 Homemade Cleaners For The Kitchen

Below, you’ll find what I consider to be the best of the best homemade kitchen cleaning products. Here are the cleaners we’re going to talk about and how to use them…

1. All Purpose Vinegar Cleaner: All surfaces (except marble, granite, and stone surfaces).
2. Stainless Steel and and Glass Cleaner: All stainless and glass surfaces in the kitchen and throughout the home.
3. Kitchen Sink Scrub Paste: Dirty, greasy sinks. May also be used in the bathroom on tile, tubs, and sinks.
4. Kitchen Sink Scouring Powder: An easy sprinkle-on powder for dirty, greasy sinks. This is great for a quick-fix clean that can also be used on bathroom tubs and sinks and in the toilet.
5. Dirty Oven Scrub: For all my overachiever friends who love to clean their oven. I see you and have mad respect for you.
6. DIY Dish Soap: When you need to hand wash dishes, plus suggestions for store-bought dishwasher options.
7. Granite Cleaner: For granite countertops.
8. Mop Solution for Kitchen Floors: Clean hard kitchen floors and all hard floors in the home with 2 homemade floor cleaner options.

Okay, so there’s the rundown of products. Now let’s talk about how to make each of these homemade kitchen cleaners…

1. All Purpose Cleaner 

This is the one product that literally does it all: counters, appliances, inside the fridge, the oven and stove-top, cabinets, and open shelving. If you don’t have a stone countertop (such as marble or granite), vinegar is my preference. If you have a speciality countertop, castile soap may be a better option.

• For an all purpose vinegar cleaner, combine 1 cup distilled water, 1 cup white vinegar or homemade orange vinegar, 15-20 drops essential oil of choice (if desired). Add all the ingredients to a glass spray bottle.
• For an all purpose cleaner without vinegar, add 2 cups distilled water to a glass spray bottle, followed by 2 tablespoons liquid castile soap or 1 teaspoon Sal Suds and 15-20 drops essential oil of choice (if desired).
• If you prefer the store-bought route, check out this post with my top non-toxic all purpose cleaner suggestions.

2. Stainless Steel and Glass Cleaner

If you make vinegar all purpose cleaner, use it to clean and polish glass surfaces (such as kitchen windows) and most stainless steel surfaces. If you’re using an all purpose cleaner made with castile soap or Sal Suds, you’ll need to use something else as the soap can leave behind a cloudy film on glass and stainless.

• Make a glass and stainless steel cleaner by combining 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol and 1/3 cup white vinegar in a 16-ounce spray bottle, then top off the bottle with distilled water. If you’d prefer to not use rubbing alcohol, skip it and use 1/2 cup of vinegar instead. Spray on a glass surface and wipe with a microfiber cloth.

3. Kitchen Sink Scrub Paste

My kitchen sink is constantly in use between dishes and dirty hands. A homemade scrub not only strips away build up from dirt and grease, but also shines, deodorizes, and freshens the surface. This scrub also works wonderfully in tubs and bathroom sinks.

• Make a sink scrub cleaner by combining 1 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup liquid castile soap or Sal Suds, and 1 tablespoon hydrogen peroxide. Stir until the ingredients resemble a thick paste. If you want a thinner paste, add more soap or water (distilled water if storing the cleaner, tap water is fine if this is a one-time, immediate use product). Use the paste immeadiately after combining or store for later. If storing the cleaner for future cleaning needs, spoon the paste into a jar (such as a wide-mouth mason jar or Weck jar) and seal the jar. This cleaner will harden when exposed to air for a prolonged period of time. Use an amber jar or something that won’t allow light to seep through if using hydrogen peroxide in the paste and storing for later use. It’s also important to leave room at the top of the jar for expansion. The cleaner will expand within the first 24 hours. Store for up to 1 month.

4. Kitchen Sink Scouring Powder

If you don’t want to make a scrub (above), but need something to clean a greasy or dirty sink, this powder is the easiest solution. Simply sprinkle baking soda over the kitchen sink surface, then use a wet cloth or scrub brush to scrub away the dirt and grease. So easy! Check out this Instagram video to see this trick in action.

5. Dirty Oven Scrub 

Confession: I can’t remember the last time I cleaned my oven. If you want to clean your oven, you can either use the sink scrub recipe or make an oven cleaner.

• Make an oven cleaner by combining 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/3 cup water, and 1 tablespoon liquid castile soap or Sal Suds in a bowl. Use a sponge to apply the scrub to the interior of the oven. Let the scrub rest for at least 30 minutes, longer for a dirty oven. Dip a sponge in a bowl of warm water, wipe the oven, then repeat. Change the water frequently. A scrub brush may be needed for tough grease stains. Once the scrub is completely rinsed from the oven, spray vinegar (or an all-purpose vinegar cleaner) in the oven. Wipe the oven with a damp cloth. Without the vinegar spray the baking soda may leave behind a chalk-like powder (safe, but annoying).

6. DIY Dish Soap 

I’ve made both dish soap and dishwasher soap, but I’ve found that I much prefer to go the store-bought route with my dishwasher soap and just stick to homemade dish soap. I’m not sure I’d actually call this dish soap “homemade” since there’s no soap-making involved. Instead, I use Sal Suds (which is super tough on dirt and grease, castile soap’s big brother) in its diluted form with a bit of vinegar to make dishes sparkle and shine. If you prefer to go store-bought with dish soap and dishwasher soap, here are my favorite brands.

• Make a DIY dish soap by combining 1/2 cup distilled water, 1/2 cup Sal Suds, and 1 tablespoon white vinegar in a soap dispenser. Shake the bottle to combine the ingredients and use on a dish cloth, sponge, or directly in water.

7. Granite Cleaner 

If you prefer to make a cleaner just for granite countertops (since vinegar is a no-no on stone surfaces), you can make your own with just a few ingredients.

• Make granite cleaner by combining 1/3 cup rubbing alcohol and 5 drops tea tree essential oil (optional) in a 16-ounce spray bottle. Then top off with distilled water and 1/2 teaspoon liquid castile soap. Shake the bottle before each use.

8. Mop Solution for Kitchen Floors

Finally, the kitchen floor…the place where all the dirt and crumbs end up. There are two ways to make a mop solution for hard floors in the kitchen (and both solutions can be used throughout the home), either with vinegar or with castile soap. I’ll share both recipes below…

• Make a vinegar floor cleaner, combine 2 gallons hot water, 1/2 cup white vinegar, 5 drops essential oil (optional) in a bucket. Use a mop or cloth to clean kitchen floors. 
• Make a castile soap floor cleaner, combine 2 gallons hot water, 2 tablespoons liquid castile soap, 5 drops essential oil (optional) in a bucket. Use a mop or cloth to clean kitchen floors.

Natural Cleaning Kitchen Tips

Here are 3 other areas to clean in your kitchen and natural solutions for these areas.

How to Naturally Clean Cutting Boards 

Skip the bleach and use this natural method instead. Learn how to naturally clean cutting boards…

How to Naturally Clean the Dishwasher

If you’re like me, you probably don’t think about cleaning your dishwasher often. But it’s important to give this area a clean every so often. Learn how to naturally clean the dishwasher…

How to Naturally Clean Your Fridge & Keep Odors Away

The fridge can harbor all sorts of bacterial growth and odors. Here’s how to clean your fridge and keep odors away.

The post The 8 Best Homemade Cleaners For The Kitchen appeared first on Live Simply.

Before we start, I created the Natural Cleaning Challenge to help you easily ditch toxic cleaners and start using natural cleaning products in just 5 days. This challenge is completely free and packed full of helpful information. Over 5 days, via email, I’ll walk you through what to avoid in cleaning products (even the “natural” and “green” ones can have icky ingredients so I’ll give you the tools to see through the marketing gimmicks), how to stock a natural cleaning caddy, and a few essential DIY cleaning recipes.

11 Natural Cleaning Product Swaps Anyone Can Make Today

The 11 swaps on today’s list are designed to serve as a guide for everyone making the switch to natural cleaning products, whether you’re just starting out or have already made some swaps. Why focus on making these natural product swaps? Most of the products on this list are products that many people use the home on a regular basis. Since they’re a “regular” product, this means they’re being sprayed, poured, and burned (like candles) on a daily or weekly basis.

Swap 1: Air Fresheners

Add essential oils to homemade cleaning products, add an essential oil or blend of different essential oils to an essential oil diffuser (this is my favorite), create a simmer pot on the stove-top using rosemary, cinnamon sticks, orange peels and water then simmer the mixture on a low simmer (do not leave unattended). If you’re new to essential oils, check out this podcast episode on essential oils 101.

Swap 2: Scented Candles

Make beeswax or soy candles (use this slow-cooker method, make candles on the stove-top, or make super easy taper candles) or buy 100% beeswax or soy candles that are unscented or use essential oils for a scent.

Swap 3: Fragranced Laundry Detergents

Use fragrance-free laundry soap, choose a brand that uses essential oils for scent and fully discloses ingredients (my favorite non-toxic laundry soap brands), or make your own laundry soap (try this liquid laundry soap recipe or this powder soap recipe).

Swap 4: Bleach

Use a homemade bleach alternative for whitening garments, for surfaces use an all purpose cleaner spray (I love this vinegar all purpose cleaner or this no-vinegar all purpose cleaner), and for the toilet use this homemade toilet bowl cleaner.

Swap 5: Store-Bought All Purpose Cleaner

Make your own all purpose cleaner with either castile soap or vinegar. It’s one of the easiest DIY swaps you can make to clean a variety of surfaces.

For an all purpose vinegar cleaner, combine 1 cup distilled water, 1 cup white vinegar or homemade orange vinegar, 15-20 drops essential oil of choice (if desired). Add all the ingredients to a glass spray bottle. For an all purpose cleaner without vinegar, add 2 cups distilled water to a glass spray bottle, followed by 2 tablespoons liquid castile soap or 1 teaspoon Sal Suds and 15-20 drops essential oil of choice (if desired). If you prefer the store-bought route, check out this post for my top non-toxic all purpose cleaner suggestions.

Swap 6: Windex

Use a spray made with rubbing alcohol, vinegar, and distilled water to clean windows, mirrors, and even stainless surfaces. Make a glass and mirror cleaner by combining 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol and 1/3 cup white vinegar in a 16-ounce spray bottle, then top off the bottle with distilled water. If you’d prefer to not use rubbing alcohol, skip it and use 1/2 cup of vinegar instead. Spray on a glass surface and wipe with a microfiber cloth.

Swap 7: Easy Off Oven Cleaner

Use a combo of castile soap and baking soda. Mix the ingredients together until they form a paste, then use a sponge to apply the mixture to the interior surface of the oven. Let the mixture rest for 30 minutes or a few hours, then use a wet cloth to rinse the surface and follow up by spraying the surface with vinegar and wiping clean until all residue has been removed.

Swap 8: Pledge or PineSol Floor Cleaner

Fill a bucket with water and castile soap or vinegar to wash hard floors. Here’s my favorite hard floor cleaner with vinegar and my favorite hard floor cleaner with castile soap.

Swap 9: Dawn Dish Soap

Make a Sal Suds dish soap or castile soap dish soap or use a non-toxic brand (such as Seventh Generation–> here’s a list of my favorite non-toxic dish soap and dishwasher options).

Swap 10: Cascade Dishwasher Detergent

Use a non-toxic brand (such as Ecover or Better Life–> here’s a list of my favorite non-toxic options) or make your own (I share a recipe in DIY Natural Cleaning).

Swap 11: Dryer Sheets

Use fragrance-free dryer sheets (Seventh Generation is a good option) or wool dryer balls (make dryer balls or buy dryer balls). If you have an issue with static, which is common with polyester clothing, add a safety pin to a wool dryer ball to reduce this static.

I know a lot of people also use fabric softener. Choose a fabric softener that’s fragrance free or go the homemade route by making laundry softener salts or use vinegar.

7 Cleaning Ingredients to Avoid

In the US, cleaning companies are not required to disclose all of their ingredients (only active ingredients or “ingredients of known concern”). And the US Government doesn’t test cleaning products and doesn’t mandate that companies test them either. This all leads to a lot of confusion about cleaning products. I’ve compiled a list of 7 main cleaning ingredients to avoid to help you make informed choices about cleaning products. Check out that post here: 7 Cleaning Product Ingredients to Avoid.

The post 11 Natural Cleaning Product Swaps Anyone Can Make appeared first on Live Simply.

Back in 2014, I shared a DIY liquid hand soap recipe. Today, that post has over 290 comments and is internet famous. One of the most asked questions is “How do you make foaming soap out of liquid soap?” Today, I’ll show you just how easy it is to turn a liquid soap into your very own DIY foaming hand soap! 

Why make your own foaming hand soap?

If you want to ditch toxins and use natural products, the first place to start is with the products you use every single day. Make changes to the products touching your skin and circulating in your home the most often. (11 natural cleaning swaps anyone can make…)

One of the top ingredients to avoid in cleaning and skincare products is “fragrance.” This sneaky word isn’t a single ingredient; rather, “fragrance” can be made up of thousands of different chemicals, some of which are of known concern, like phthalates. What makes fragrance so tricky is that companies are not required to disclose the ingredients that make their “fragrance” due to trade secret laws. This is why you’ll only find the word “parfum” or “fragrance” listed on the ingredient list. Fragrance can be found in most store-bought hand soaps.

Another concern, particularly with hand soap is the use of triclosan. According to a release by the FDA, Antibacterial Soap, You Can Skip It, Use Plain Water, “Many liquid soaps labeled antibacterial contain triclosan, an ingredient of concern to many environmental, academic and regulatory groups. Animal studies have shown that triclosan alters the way some hormones work in the body and raises potential concerns for the effects of use in humans. We don’t yet know how triclosan affects humans and more research is needed.”

I’m going to use caution and avoid the use of commercial soaps for hand washing in our home. 

An easy way to ditch toxins, like fragrance and triclosan, is to pick up a bottle of castile soap. What is castile soap? 

Castile soap isn’t a new fad. It’s been around since the 11th century and was first made in the Aleppo of the Levant region (modern day Syria). The Crusaders learned about this soap which was, eventually, duplicated in Europe without success. That is, until a region in Spain (called Castile) was able to get the recipe right and successfully made what we know today as “castile soap.” The soap became popular with Spanish royalty and eventually by the 1500’s made its way to England. 

Castile soap is…

• Super Versatile: Castile soap is super versatile. You can make both cleaning and body products with castile soap. Explore 7 money-saving ways to use castile soap.
• Inexpensive: You can purchase a 32-ounce bottle of castile soap for about $17. Yes, this is more expensive than a bottle of foaming hand soap, but it will last you for months and make multiple refills of foaming hand soap! Castile soap is highly concentrated so a little bit goes a long way and it’s designed to be diluted. 
• Non-Toxic: Castile soap is made with easy to recognize, simple, non-toxic ingredients. This is why you can use it on your skin and home surfaces.

There are many different brands of liquid castile soap available. I personally use Dr. Bronner’s unscented castile soap for making foaming hand soap and liquid hand soap.

How do you make homemade foaming hand soap?

It’s incredibly easy to make your own foaming hand soap. If you’re new to natural cleaners and skincare products, this DIY recipe is a great place to start because it’s so easy to make and only requires 2 simple ingredients. 

Foaming Hand Soap Ingredients

• Foaming hand soap pump container: Reuse a foaming hand soap container or purchase a new reusable foaming hand soap bottle from Amazon or your favorite home store, like this. Look for an 8 ounce, 12 ounce, or 16 ounce bottle. 
• 1 cup liquid castile soap: Any scent variety. I personally use unscented. 
• 1 Tablespoon nourishing carrier oil: Any kind of nourishing skincare oil: olive oil, grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, or sweet almond oil. This is optional. Castile soap can dry out hands on its own so I like to add a nourishing carrier oil for the moisturizing benefits. Stay away from virgin coconut oil (the stuff used for cooking) since it will clog a soap dispenser. Alternatively, you can use vitamin E oil or vegetable glycerin.
• Few drops of essential oil (optional): Choose your favorite essential oil, like Lavender, tea tree, peppermint, citrus, etc. if you’d like to add a natural scent that also adds beneficial cleaning properties. (Benefits of using essential oils for cleaning.) 
• 1 cup water: Distilled water is best for longevity and safety. Distilled water (or water that’s been boiled for 15 minutes and cooled) removes bacteria, impurities, and contaminants. If you choose to use tap water, you’ll need to use the soap very quickly, within a week or two. For this reason, I recommend going with distilled water as the soap will safely keep for about a month.

Instructions

• Add water to a foaming hand soap pump, followed by the liquid castile soap, carrier oil of choice, and essential oil. 
• Place the lid on the foaming hand soap bottle and shake to combine the ingredients. 
• Pump the soap on your hands and lather. (Yes, this hand soap will lather thanks to the foaming hand soap dispenser!)

How do you make foaming soap out of liquid soap?

If you have a natural hand soap that you just love, but would like to convert that liquid soap to a foaming hand soap, you’ll simply need to purchase a foaming hand soap container. Add the liquid soap to the foaming hand soap dispenser and you now have your own foaming hand wash! If the soap is super thick, you may need to dilute it with water.

What makes foaming soap foam?

If you’ve read my post on how to make hand soap, you’ll notice the ingredients are the same. The only difference between liquid hand soap and foaming hand soap is the bottled used to dispense the soap.

The soap container is what takes a liquid soap to foaming and even increases the lather for a natural hand soap like castile soap. You can also make DIY foaming body wash using liquid castile soap and a foaming soap dispenser container. 

Favorite refillable foaming hand soap bottles:

• Mason Jar Glass Dispenser: If you love the mason jar look and you’re looking for a glass bottle, this is the best option. Try this 16-ounce dispenser with labels or this 16-ounce dispenser.
• Plastic Dispenser: If you have kids using this hand soap in the bathroom or kitchen, a plastic container may work best. Try this 12-ounce dispenser or this 8-ounce dispenser. I’ve seen people drop a couple of Lego pieces at the bottom of the container for a fun “kid touch.” 
• Mason Jar Foaming Dispenser Tops: If you have extra mason jars sitting in your pantry, turn one of those mason jars into a soap dispenser by adding a foaming top like this.

Print

DIY Foaming Hand Soap

Can you make your own DIY foaming hand soap? Yes and you only need a couple of ingredients to do so! Easy, non-toxic, and super effective!

Keyword DIY hand soap, foaming hand soap, homemade hand soap

Servings 16 ounces

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1 cup water distilled water is the best
• 1 cup liquid castile soap any variety of castile soap, scented or unscented
• 1 TB olive oil almond oil, grapeseed oil, vegetable glycerin, or jojoba oil (optional)
• essential oil (optional for scent), just a few drops of your favorite essential oil: lavender, citrus, peppermint, etc.

Special Equipment

• 1 foaming soap dispenser

Instructions

• To a foaming soap dispenser, add the water first (to prevent bubbles) then the liquid castile soap followed by the oil. Shake the ingredients together.
• Shake the soap dispenser before using, then squirt a small amount on your hands as needed, rinsing with water.
• If you use distilled water, the soap will last at least a month. If you use tap water, use quickly within a week or two.

Notes

The idea is equal parts water and castile soap. Adjust the amounts according to the size soap dispenser you're using, reducing the oil as needed. 

What type of soap dispenser should you use? 

A foaming soap dispenser must be used. You can refill an old foaming hand soap dispenser, like a Mrs. Meyers bottle, or buy a new bottle off Amazon or a home store. Either option works, just be sure it's a foaming soap dispenser. My favorite foaming hand soap dispensers:

• Mason Jar Glass Dispenser: If you love the mason jar look and you're looking for a glass bottle, this is the best option. Try this 16-ounce dispenser with labels or this 16-ounce dispenser.
• Plastic Dispenser: If you have kids using this hand soap, a plastic container may work best for you. Try this 12-ounce dispenser or this 8-ounce dispenser.

4 More Ways to Use Liquid Castile Soap

• DIY Foaming Body Wash
• Homemade Honey Face Wash 
• How to Make Homemade All-Purpose Surface Spray
• Homemade Dusting Spray

The post How to Make Your Own Foaming Hand Soap in 2 Easy Steps appeared first on Live Simply.

When my family first started our natural living journey, we didn’t have the financial means to purchase lots of different products and ingredients. Money was definitely tight as a single income family. In an effort to maintain both my mental sanity and our financial stability, I had to figure out how to make the switch from toxic products to more natural options. My solution was a simple one: Embrace this makeover as a journey. A slow, steady journey; swapping one product at a time.

I personally believe the best products to start with are the ones most often used. For me, this meant first swapping my daily face cleanser, toner, moisturizer, body soap, toothpaste, all-purpose cleaner, dish soap, and eventually makeup for more natural options.Slowly, as my old (toxic) products ran out, I would search for replacements. 

A few years ago, this process was difficult, since there weren’t a lot of options for “more natural” products like dishwasher soap, laundry soap, makeup, etc. This meant that I had to come up with homemade solutions for some of these products. I’ve shared many of these solutions here on the blog, in my cleaning book, and will be sharing more in my upcoming body book (Natural Body Care Simplified, coming December 2017).  

When I first started this journey, I wanted someone to walk alongside me. Someone who had walked the same path I was currently traveling down. Someone who could come alongside me and say, “Hey, you’re looking for a more natural replacement for ______? Cool! Here’s what I’ve tried and loved.” My desire is to be that someone for you. And I would love if you would also be that someone for me. Together, we can share about the swaps we’re making, what we’ve tried, and the products we’re using and loving.

This is the first post in a monthly series called, Switching to Natural Products. Each month I’ll round up some of the products I’ve tested and enjoyed using in a particular category. Some of the categories will be home-based and others will relate to body care.

First up, let’s talk about cleaning the dishes. We all have them, and we all need some sort of soap to get them clean. Today, I’m going to share my favorite products, based on what I’ve tried. This isn’t an exhaustive list of every option available. If I try new products in the future, I’ll be sure to update this list.

I’ve provided some information about where to source each product, along with the Environmental Working Group’s rating for the product. You’ll notice that most brands make both fragrance-free and scented versions of the same product. The fragrance-free options almost always receive a better/cleaner score from the EWG.

Tablet Option: Ecover Automatic Dishwasher Tablets 

Ecover makes several good cleaning products, including an automatic dishwasher tablet. The tablets are available at most health food stores (including whole Foods) and online. One box, containing 25 tablets, costs roughly $6-8.

Environmental Working Group Score: B, due to fragrance (citrus, yellow box). There’s also a fragrance-free option (blue box). 

Tablet Option: Seventh Generation Free & Clear Dishwasher Detergent Packs 

Seventh Generation products are sold even in conventional grocery stores, so if you’re looking to make a switch today (and don’t have a health food store in your area or a desire to order online) this is a good option. The powder soap is wrapped in a seal, which makes the packs easy to use–just like a tablet. One package, containing 45 packs, costs roughly $9.

Environmental Working Group Score: A

Powder Option: Biokleen Automatic Free & Clear Dish Powder

I haven’t used this dishwasher powder in a while (I prefer a tablet option). When I needed the product for the photos in this post, I went to Amazon, found the product, and clicked the purchase button. I didn’t realize that I accidentally purchased the citrus-scented powder versus the fragrance-free (Free & Clear) option. The scented version receives a C from the Environmental Working Group. The fragrance-free option receives an A. Both containers are blue and white, so make sure you look for the words “Free & Clear” on the label. This option can be found at some health food stores and online. A 32-ounce container costs roughly $13.

Environmental Working Group Score: A

Gel Option: Better Life Naturally Crumb-Crushing Dishwasher Gel 

I discovered this company while searching for natural dishwasher gel options on Amazon, and I was impressed with the A rating from the EWG. We tend to stay away from dishwasher gel (Dustin doesn’t think it works very well), but this one was impressive. It actually worked, even with our hard water. The gel is sold online, and possibly in some health food stores. A 30-ounce bottle costs roughly $11.

Environmental Working Group Score: A

Do-It-Yourself Dish Soap

The key ingredient in this do-it-yourself option is Sal Suds, castile soap’s super strong brother. Castile soap doesn’t provide enough grease-fighting power (in my opinion) to make a good dish soap, so Sal Suds is a great alternative. Sal Suds is highly concentrated so it needs to be diluted. All you need to add is water, and I also like to add a bit of vinegar to help with the rinse and shine. A 32-ounce bottle of Sal Suds costs roughly $13.

Environmental Working Group Score: A

Ecover Dish Soap 

As mentioned before, Ecover may be found at most health food stores, including Whole Foods. I’ve found that a lot of “more natural” brands are only available online, which is great if you have time to order a product, but it’s also nice to have an in-store option. One 25-ounce bottle costs roughly $4.

Environmental Working Group Score: A (fragrance-free option), B (many of the scented options)

I’d love to hear from you in the comment section. Tell me what you’re working on swapping in your home, what you’ve already swapped, what you want to swap in the future, and any products you particularly love (or don’t love).

The post The Best Natural Dish Soap and Dishwasher Soap Products appeared first on Live Simply.

Honestly, I never once thought that making such drastic food changes would later lead to an entire overhaul of my cleaning and bodycare routines. Even though that wasn’t ever my goal–a complete lifestyle overhaul–it happened slowly over time, and the transition was quite natural. Literally, natural.

As I began to overhaul my cleaning products, I realized that there was very little information “out there” (whether it be in books or via the online world) about the practical “how to” of natural cleaning. Sure, I could easily find a recipe to make an all-purpose cleaner, but I also needed more “how to” to make natural cleaning practical…

How exactly can I get my cutting boards clean without bleach?

What about my toilet? Yuck! How do I get my toilets clean and odorless without the help of those famous scrubbing bubbles? 

What about my kitchen sink? How do I clean and disinfect my kitchen sink without that metallic green can? 

So many questions and so few answers.

Over the past couple of years, I’ve researched and tested the answers to these questions in my own home. Because I truly believe that natural cleaning is doable, but most of us just need to be empowered with the practical how-to’s of cleaning. The kind of how-to’s that break down using salt to clean a cutting board or sink, and the practical side of getting an oven or dishwasher clean. That, my friend, is where natural ingredients meet our practical need for getting an entire home clean. Well, relatively clean. #kids #dogs

Today, we’re going to dive into another very practical natural cleaning how-to by focusing on cleaning the dishwasher.

It probably sounds a bit crazy to clean a dishwasher, right?!

Isn’t a dishwasher the tool we use to clean dishes, silverware, and pots and pans? Why does a tool designed to clean need to be cleaned?

I hear ya! I felt this way, too. But here’s the thing: the dishwasher is probably the hardest working large appliance in the entire kitchen, besides the oven. On any given day, the dishwasher can be exposed to everything from grease to food particles. Day after day of this kind of exposure can lead to a major germ and bacteria party that puts the best college parties to shame. All of this exposure means that you need to give the dishwasher a bit of cleaning TLC every so often.

I clean our dishwasher once a month. Sometimes, I’ll clean it every two or three months, just because life gets busy. When our dishwasher receives extra cleaning TLC, I’ve noticed that it works better. My theory is that even if you can only dedicate one day (which takes about 30 minutes of time) a year to cleaning your dishwasher, your dishwasher will thank you.

And one side note. If you don’t have a dishwasher, then you’ll probably want to skip this how-to tutorial and head over to my How to Naturally Clean Your Kitchen Sink post, since your sink probably needs a bit of extra TLC due to all the hand-washing.

Step One: Clean the Filter 

What You’ll Need: White Vinegar +  Sal Suds, or a natural dish soap + Hot water

If you didn’t read your dishwasher manual (raises hand), then you may not know that there’s an important part, actually two, at the bottom of your dishwasher basin. Let me introduce you to the filter. This guy has the very special job of catching food, sand, dirt, and anything else that may rinse off your dishes and silverware. If you’ve noticed that there are food particles on your dishes, and they just aren’t fully clean when you remove them from a wash cycle, then your filter is probably blocked and screaming out for some cleaning TLC.

To remove your filter, simply lift it out of its home at the bottom of your dishwasher, and then remove the mesh filter. Discard any loose food in the trash, and then fill your sink with hot water, so the water is just high enough to submerge the filters, and then add some white vinegar. I usually add about 1/2 of vinegar and a few drops of Sal Suds (I don’t recommend using castile soap), depending on how dirty the filters are. You could probably get away with just using Sal Suds, if you want to conserve on vinegar. Let the filters soak for about 30 minutes, and then gently scrub them with a scrub brush, or sponge, under hot water. Gentle is key!! Do not break the filter. If you don’t have time to soak the parts, then simply spray them with vinegar and/or wash them with hot soapy water. The goal is a clean, grease-less filter.

Once the filter is clean, place the filter back in the dishwasher. Before doing this, you may want to check in the hole of the filter to make sure there isn’t any food stuck down there.

Step Two: Clean the Dishwasher 

What You’ll Need: All-Purpose Vinegar Spray + 1 cup White Vinegar 

Now that the filter is clean, let’s crash the germ and bacteria party that’s currently taking place in your dishwasher!

First, use the vinegar spray to spray down the racks of your dishwasher. Use a scrub brush to scrub the racks. If the exterior gasket looks gross, gently scrub it or wipe it down with a sponge.

With the filter back in place, pour 1 cup of white vinegar in the bottom of your dishwasher. If you’d like to add a few drops of grapefruit, lemon, orange, or even tea tree essential oil before pouring the vinegar in the basin, go ahead and add it to the vinegar. Now close the door on your dishwasher, and run it through a full cleaning cycle.

That’s it!

If your dishwasher could send you a giant heart emoji text right now, it would. Just know that your dishwasher is extremely thankful for the natural cleaning TLC. It promises to work extra hard for you!

While I’m caring for the dishwasher, I spray the outside with All-Purpose Vinegar Spray, and then wipe the exterior clean with a microfiber cloth.

PS: This is how I clean my dishwasher. As always, whether you’re using store-bought cleaners or do-it-yourself products, it’s always best to do your own research and consult your appliance manual.

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There are so many amazing benefits to enjoying a real food lifestyle (AKA: getting back to great-great grandma’s food). While the benefits may be numerous, there’s always one big drawback to this lifestyle: dishes!

Dirty dishes, and lots of them, are just a way of life for a real food family. Sure, eating processed food means dirty dishes will accumulate in the sink, but usually this means just a few plates or a bowl (for that boxed cereal or toaster “pastry”). Enjoying “real food” means a family must stock basic ingredients and turn those ingredients into wholesome and delicious meals. This means bowls, skillets, knives, cutting boards, and whisks will be dirtied in the process.

Here’s where natural living and real food merge together when it comes to tackling those dishes…

If enjoying real food means cooking and sometimes baking (PS: Did you make the blueberry muffins yet? Just one bowl is required.), a good grease-cutting, hard-working, nothing-left-behind dish soap is a major necessity. And this is where the dilemma begins…

Should I purchase the blue dish soap? It gets a D rating from the EWG.

Should I try out every “more natural” store-bought dish soap until I find one that gets the job done?

Should I try to make a do-it-yourself soap?

What about just castile soap? It seems to work on just about everything in my house.

Friend, I’m not here to answer those questions for you. I hope to provide you with a little insight, through today’s recipe post, into what I’m currently using to clean my mountain-like pile of daily dishes.

The truth is, what’s best for you and your family is a decision that you need to make, whether this means sourcing a cleaner store-bought soap (check out the EWG for the best rated “cleaner” dish soap options) or making a do-it-yourself dish soap. But know this: There are effective dish soap alternatives to the low-graded (according to the EWG) dish soaps that sit in so many American homes, and a do-it-yourself soap is a great alternative option.

Last year I shared a dish soap recipe on the blog titled, Easy Dish Soap. That recipe truly is easy to make, but after months and months of making that soap, I decided there must be an even easier way to make dish soap, a super easy dish soap.

The key ingredient in my first dish soap recipe is Sal Suds, castile soap’s big and super strong brother. With that ingredient, I started to experiment with different combinations, and finally discovered just about the simplest dish soap formula that can be made at home. Simple and effective dish soap that takes less than one minute to make? Yes, please!!!

Let’s take a look at the 3 ingredients in this DIY dish soap…

Sal Suds:  Sal Suds is Dr. Bronner’s tougher version of soap, although its chemical makeup makes it a detergent, not a soap (which is why it works so well to cut grease). Sal Suds is formulated to conquer tough cleaning projects, like sticky grease and stubborn dirt. Sal Suds is a hot topic in the natural community, so it remains a product that some people use and others stay away from. What’s all the fuss about? Sal Suds receives an A grade on the Environmental Working Group’s website. You can also read more about the big SLS debate on Lisa Bronner’s blog.

Sal Suds is highly concentrated, so it’s diluted in this recipe with water. You’re welcome to play around with a water to Sal Suds ratio that yields the best results for your dishes. I’ve found that a 1:1 ratio works best for me.

Castile soap doesn’t provide enough grease-cutting power to be considered an effective dish soap, in my opinion. If you’d like to try using castile soap in this recipe, then you’ll want to leave out the vinegar, but again, I don’t believe you’re going to get the grease-fighting power most people look for in a good dish soap.

Vinegar:  Yep, good ol’ white vinegar. Unlike castile soap, Sal Suds may be combined with vinegar (another reason why Sal Suds is a great cleaning ingredient). We have really hard water, which means we deal with a lot of spotting on our dishes, even when we used the blue dish soap. I’ve found the vinegar in this recipe works like a rinse-aid to reduce some of the spotting that may occur from hard water. You’re welcome to leave this ingredient out of the recipe, but I personally prefer to add it.

Moisturizing Oil:  This is another optional ingredient. Since this dish soap sits next to our sink, it’s also used as a hand soap on occasion, and particularly when Dustin’s been working in the garage (hello, dirty and greasy hands). I like to add a skin-loving oil to this soap to help take away the harsh soap feel since it’s being used on our bare hands. Water and oil don’t mix, so this oil rests on top of the dish soap until we shake the soap dispenser.

The color of your oil will change the color of your final product. If you use a deep yellow oil, like jojoba or olive oil, then your soap will have a slight yellow hue. If you use something like fractionated coconut oil, then your soap will remain clear. In the future, I’d like to play around with adding aloe vera gel (probably a couple of tablespoons) or vitamin E oil (probably a teaspoon) instead of the oil.

I may not be able to help you tackle that pile of glorious dishes (just think of the amazing food that you’ve made with those dishes!), but I can share my dish soap recipe to help you get those dishes squeaky clean.

Print

Super Easy DIY Dish Soap: 3 Ingredients

Here’s where natural living and real food merge together when it comes to tackling those dishes.

Course DIY

Cuisine Body

Keyword Dish Soap

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 cup

Author Kristin Marr

Equipment

• 1 8-ounce soap dispenser or 16-ounce soap dispenser

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup distilled water
• 1 TB white distilled vinegar optional
• 1/2 cup Sal Suds This ingredient is also available at most health food stores.
• 1 TB jojoba oil or other moisturizing oil: sweet almond, fractionated coconut oil, or olive oil, optional

Special Equipment:

• large soap dispenser

Instructions

• Pour the water and vinegar (if using) into a soap dispenser (like this).
• Shake the bottle to combine the ingredients. Add the Sal Suds and oil (if using), and gently shake the bottle again to combine the ingredients. There may be bubbles at the top of the dish soap after shaking the bottle. This is completely normal.

Notes

Distilled (sold in stores) or boiled and cooled water is best to use for water-based do-it-yourself projects. Tap water should be boiled for 15 minutes. From my personal experience, clean tap water is okay for short-term use products. Please use your discretion and think about how long you’ll be using a product before adding the water.

Just using Sal Suds and water will make an awesome dish soap. The vinegar and oil are completely optional, depending on if you need an extra something to conquer hard water (vinegar), or if you’ll be using the soap on your hands (oil–also see my note about experimenting with aloe vera and vitamin E above the recipe). Some folks may find Sal Suds is a bit too tough on the skin, even with the oil addition.

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The post Super Easy DIY Dish Soap: 3 Ingredients (The Best “Homemade” Dish Soap Recipe) appeared first on Live Simply.

“Sorry, Mama!”

Those were the two words I heard as I walked from the hallway into the bathroom where the kids were taking a bath.

“What happened, Piper?”

“I dumped out your shampoo!”

I looked at Piper and Londyn splashing around in the tub now filled with shampoo bubbles, “Why did you dump out the shampoo?”

“We wanted bubbles, but it’s okay, you can make more, Mama!”

It was at that moment that the act of Piper dumping my expensive, store-bought (more natural) shampoo in the bath-tub quickly fled from my thoughts as I chuckled about his comment, “It’s okay, you can make more, Mama!”

I chuckled about this simplified life that’s become so normal to him. One where toothpaste comes in a clear, reusable tube and body wash comes from a mason jar. I’m excited (and if I’m honest, a bit nervous) about his first year of kindergarten next year. “Mrs. Jones, why is this hand soap blue?” or “It’s okay, Mrs. Jones, my mom can make some hand sanitizer for you!” You know, totally normal five year-old stuff. Maybe Mrs. Jones and I should have a talk before the big first day?

Now, on to the DIY or as Piper would say, “You can make more, Mama” project of the day.

I think you’re going to love today’s DIY as it’s become one of the most requested homemade recipes around Live Simply. Today is finally the day for DIY Dish Soap! So gather the supplies and fire-up the stove-top, we’re going to make an effective homemade dish soap that’s tough on germs and grease. In other words, this stuff actually works!

First, let’s take a look at the ingredients…

1. Washing Soda: Just like baking soda, washing soda has the cleaning power to cut tough dirt, stains, and even grease. Not only does this ingredient take care of the unwanted stains and grease,  it also deodorizes. That Tupperware of two week-old spaghetti is no match for this stain-fighting and deodorizing ingredient.

2. Borax: This ingredient has been highly debated in the natural community. Some believe this ingredient is toxic, while others, like myself, hold strong to the belief that borax is just as natural as baking soda. If you’re on the fence about this ingredient, I highly recommend reading this well-researched article from Wellness Mama. Then, add this ingredient to your homemade dish soap for its grease-fighting power. Borax also helps to fight against hard water spots and residue.

3. Sal Suds: One of my favorite multipurpose DIY ingredients. Castile soap is a concentrated vegetable-based soap with easy to recognize ingredients.  I use castile soap for everything from  homemade laundry detergent to hand soap and face wash. While I love castile soap, I purchase castile soap’s cousin, Sal Suds, for tough cleaning jobs. Sal Suds is tougher on grease and stubborn stains than castile soap.

4. Essential Oils: Peppermint and tea tree essential oils are known for their natural cleaning power (antibacterial and antiseptic) which is why both are added to this recipe. Peppermint essential oil also adds an amazing fresh scent to this soap.

5. Optional Ingredients: I like to add glycerin and a nourishing oil to this dish soap recipe for moisturizing benefits. Trust me, your hands will thank you! You can add these ingredients or skip them, either way you’ll still create an effective dish soap.

This DIY Dish Soap can easily be doubled or even tripled, if desired. I suggest first trying this recipe and testing it out to see if you like homemade dish soap, as we all have our preferences when it comes to cleaning products.

Before I leave, remember, if your kids decide to enjoy an afternoon of bubbles in the sink, “You can always make more, Mama!” thanks to this super easy DIY Dish Soap recipe.

Print

Easy DIY Dish Soap

I think you’re going to love today’s DIY as it’s become one of the most requested homemade recipes around Live Simply. Today is finally the day for DIY Dish Soap! So gather the supplies and fire-up the stove-top, we’re going to make an effective homemade dish soap that’s tough on germs and grease. In other words, this stuff actually works!

Course DIY

Cuisine Cleaning

Keyword Dish Soap

Prep Time 1 minute minute

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 6 minutes minutes

Servings 18 oz

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 2 TB borax
• 1 TB washing soda
• 1 1/4 cups water
• 3/4 cup Sal Suds
• 15-20 drops peppermint essential oil
• 15-20 drops tea tree essential oil

Optional:

• 1/2 TB skin-nourishing oil jojoba, almond, olive oil, etc. If you'll be using this soap with bare hands.

Instructions

• In a saucepan, heat the the water just until it reaches a boiling point. Turn off the heat and add the washing soda and borax, stirring to dissolve. Let the mixture cool for 3-5 minutes, just until warm, but no longer hot.
• Add the Sal Suds and and essential oils to the water mixture. Vigorously whisk the ingredients together.
• Use a funnel to pour the dish soap into a soap dispenser (I found one at IKEA). The soap may separate after sitting for 24 hours. If this happens, vigorously shake the soap bottle until the ingredients are combined.

When you introduce water into a product without a preservative you always run the risk of introducing bacteria, so use water-based products quickly.

Don’t want to “cook” your dish soap? I love this no-cook recipe as well.

Hard Water Note: If you have hard water, like myself, this soap will clean and remove all the germies (including grease), however, it’s not a 100% spotless formula. This means when you hold up glasses in the light you may see some dry water spots (although the Borax helps to reduce the amount you would see with other homemade dish soap recipes). Ah yes, the curse and blessing of mineral-rich, hard water. Even with store-bought soap I have an issue with water spots.

The post Easy DIY Dish Soap appeared first on Live Simply.

If a prize were to be given to the “world’s greatest dad,” I know just the man to win.

Okay, so maybe I’m a tad bit biased, but my father would certainly be a top qualifier. While not perfect (I’m sure he’ll agree), he’s the kind of man that makes the word “father” a warm, cozy feeling of nostalgic memories.

Growing up, my mom worked the weekends at the local hospital which meant my dad was on mommy/daddy duty every Saturday and Sunday. He did his very best to provide me with the weekend adventures every young girl dreams of: trips to Home Depot and the dump yard. (Seriously, I enjoyed every moment of our weekend trips.) And he always made Saturday mornings extra special with Bisquick pancakes and syrup (we didn’t know about real food just yet).

One of my most vivid memories of our weekends together will always be hand-washing. Silly, right? But, it’s true.

My dad was all about hand-washing! In the early 90’s little bottles of on-the-go soap weren’t available, but that didn’t stop my dad. Hand-washing was a habit he intended to instill in me. Along with flossing and brushing my teeth (probably due to his large investment in my pearly whites). Braces are not cheap, folks!

I still have happy thoughts when I look at a bottle of yellow Dial soap. Nostalgia!

Life is different from when I was five. I’ve learned pancake syrup isn’t real (sorry!), but maple syrup is pure heaven. I’ve also discovered pancakes can still be enjoyed every Saturday, made from a delicious homemade recipe versus a yellow box. Of course, with a switch to homemade, I’ve also discovered that orange soap is far from “healthy” or enjoyable (desert-dry hands anyone?).

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not all about natural perfection. But when a natural alternative is as easy as mixing a few simple ingredients in a jar and calling it a day, I’m all over it!

Homemade liquid hand soap is one of the simplest natural recipes you can make. In fact, it really doesn’t even need a recipe, but I’ll give you one. Homemade hand soap is a bit different in consistency (watery) from the orange thick soap my dad regularly squirted on my hands, but it does the job just the same, if not better.

So, suds up the kids and share the hand-washing love. My dad will thank you!

How to Make Homemade Hand Soap Video

Print

DIY Liquid Hand Soap

Homemade liquid hand soap is one of the simplest natural recipes you can make. In fact, it really doesn’t even need a recipe, but I’ll give you one.

Course DIY

Cuisine Body

Keyword Hand Soap

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup castile soap liquid
• 1/2 cup distilled water
• 1 TB vitamin E oil (optional)
• 1 TB sweet almond oil or olive oil or jojoba oil (optional)
• 15 drops tea tree essential oil optional
• 5-10 drops lavender essential oil optional

Instructions

• In a mason jar or recycled soap dispenser, add the water first (to prevent bubbles) then the liquid castile soap, followed by the oils. Shake the ingredients together.
• Shake the soap dispenser before using, then squirt a small amount on your hands as needed, rinsing with water.

Video

Notes

You don't have to use the essential oils. You're welcome to skip the essential oils or experiment with other options (lemon, grapefruit, peppermint, etc.). 

The oil and vitamin E are added to moisturize the skin. You're welcome to skip these ingredients. Any oil will work: olive oil, avocado oil, skincare oils, etc. The oil won't blend with the water, so you'll need to gently shake the soap before use. 

Castile soap is a plant-based soap made from vegetable oils (olive, coconut, palm) and plant oils. There are several reasons why castile soap is awesome…

• Super Versatile: You can make cleaning and body products with the same soap.
• Inexpensive: A 32-ounce bottle of castile soap will cost $17. Yes, this is more expensive than a bottle of all-purpose cleaner, but it will last you for months! Castile soap is highly concentrated so a little bit goes a long way.
• Non-Toxic: Castile soap is made with easy to recognize, simple, non-toxic ingredients. This is why you can use it on your skin and the surfaces in your home.

When you introduce water into a product without a preservative you always run the risk of introducing bacteria, so use water-based products quickly. If you don't have distilled water, use filtered water and use the soap quickly. 

The “where to buy” links provide you with information on the products I use to make this soap and many other DIYs.

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