Feb
8
2007
8
2007
All Natural
Filed under: Green Cleaning, Green Living, Homemaking, Organic
Photo credit: Flickr/strph
Hello friends. I apologize for being gone for so long! It’s been a crazy couple of weeks…we are still getting settled, my mom flew in from Des Moines and was here all week, we don’t have a consistent Internet connection, and well, I’ve been busy living life. Please don’t fret if I’m not “keeping up” with my blog. I have lots of ideas…but not a lot of free time. Thanks for your patience!
I’d like to share a few of my thoughts on cleaning products…both for home and for body. The cleaning product industry is BIG business. Just walk into Target or any drugstore and count how many items you have to choose from to clean your floor. Or you face. Or you toilet. It’s madness. Even the natural cleaning market is easy to get sucked into. There is a better way!
Natural Home
About a year ago, I decided that I wanted my house to be completely safe…and I didn’t want to spend a lot of money doing it. I gave away all of my old cleaners…Lysol, Clorox Wipes, 409 spray, etc. It was amazing how much space I had under my sinks and in my closets after they were gone. I replaced it all with a simple spray bottle of vinegar, water, Dr. Bronner’s, and essential oils. I use this mixture as a multi-purpose spray for everything. For windows, I use straight vinegar and wipe with newspapers. For scrubbing the counter, sinks, tubs, and toilet, I use baking soda and essential oils.
I love letting Bella help me clean now (and she loves it too) because I know there is nothing that could hurt her. She sprays and I wipe…we’re a great team. There is no way I would have ever let her help when I was using traditional cleaners. I have noticed that I am much more sensitive to the harsh smell of cleansers now that I don’t use them. I usually have to tell hotel staff to not clean the bathroom while we are there because the chemicals are much to strong.
When you make the change to natural cleansers, the first thing you might notice is that they don’t “smell clean” like you are used to. There is no bleach smell. No chlorine. No watery eyes, itchy skin…no turning the fans on and opening the windows. You may get a slight vinegar scent, but it fades quickly. The smell of the cleaner is not what cleans…don’t be deceived 
I also think that we, as a culture, have become so phobic about germs, etc. There is no need for artificial anti-bacterial soaps, sprays, etc. They actually hurt your body’s natural ability to fight bacteria. Plain ‘ol soap and water is the best defense again spreading germs.
Adding essential oils to your cleansers is so fun…because you can choose your scents! I especially like tea tree oil for it’s natural anti-bacterial power and lavender for it’s soothing scent. Lemon, peppermint, rosemary, and sweet orange are also high on my list. The sky is the limit…there are so many options.
I stick with a very basic concoction…I just fill a spray bottle up about 1/4 way with white vinegar, add a little Dr. Bronner’s (so many scents to choose from there as well), add my essential oils (just a few drops) and fill the rest up with water. That’s it. Simple. One bottle.
If you need a “recipe”, check out this site. And more here. They have everything from furniture polish to drain cleaner to air fresheners.
I use a natural soap for washing dishes. I will be switching to my own mixture for laundry soon. Here are the recipes I am checking out. Baking soda is an amazing help in the laundry room and everywhere else. Being that we don’t use bleach, our whites tend to look a little dingy. Sunning is a great natural way to bleach things. Even in the winter, you can lay or hang things in sunny windows. We don’t have a dishwasher right now…but please be aware that traditional dishwasher detergent is one of the most poisonous items in your home. Go natural!
There is a huge market for all natural cleansers…but they are SUPER expensive. I do purchase them sometimes…but there really isn’t a need. If you read the ingredients, you will see that all it is is exactly what you can make at home. You can make wonderful, inexpensive cleansers for pennies.
Natural Body
Shampoos and conditioners have insane amounts of disgusting things in them. I can hardly believe that our government allows us to purchase some of these items and put them on our delicate bodies! Some of the main ingredients to avoid are sodium laurel sulfate and any parabens. Yucky!
Your skin is your largest organ and it drinks in everything you put on it. I like the rule “If you can’t eat it, don’t put it on your body!”. You can check your own beauty products here. There are 8 ingredients/chemicals that have been outlawed in America, but over 1,000 that have been outlawed in Europe. I urge you to do your own research on the ingredients in your makeup, shampoos, soaps, etc. If you aren’t scared, alarmed, and angered…something is wrong with you. However, if you have trouble believing it…it might be because there are billions of dollars spent on commercials to tell you otherwise. You will find contradictory information on everything, but you have to think for yourself and make the best decision for you and your family. There is a lot of money at stake…if everyone switched to natural body care, the beauty product business would be in a lot of trouble. I’m sure someone is making sure that doesn’t happen. It’s always about the bottom line.
What are the options? Natural shampoos and conditioners. Pure bar soaps for shampoo or body. Many people go without soap altogether because it’s so drying. Hot water and a wash cloth work great. Pure toothpastes (fluoride is poisonous …I’m not crazy…do your research). You can use baking soda for toothpaste, flavored with essential oils. You can use Dr. Bronner’s to brush your teeth as well…it’s very sudsy, but it works. The other (and I think better) option is to go completely natural and use baking soda to “wash” your hair and apple cider vinegar to rinse. You can also use honey and other foods to condition. It’s wonderful.
As for face washing routines…I use the oil method. I’m sure many of you have heard of it or use the same thing. Basically, you wash your face with oil…because oil dissolves oil. It’s the best face cleansing “system” I’ve ever used…and I’ve tried MANY. My skin is acne prone and oily and this really helps to keep blackheads under control. Here is how you do it:
- Combine 1 part extra virgin olive oil (organic is best because pesticides are concentrated in fats) to 1 part castor oil and add whatever essential oils you want. I like tea tree oil and lavender. Store it in an airtight glass container. If your skin is super oil, you may want to increase the amount of castor oil…to keep it lighter.
- Tie all your hair back and have a wash cloth handy. Pour a liberal amount of the oil mixture into your hand and then start massaging it onto your face. Think of it as a mini-facial. Massage the oil into your skin for 30 seconds – 1 minute.
- Wet the wash cloth with STEAMING hot water. Ring it out and lay it on your face. When it cools, do it again. And again. You’re steaming out the impurities. Just be sure to make the water as hot as you can stand. Sometimes I’ll just sit on the bathroom floor with the wash cloth on my face and enjoy my facial.
- Rinse the wash cloth out and use it to wipe the oil off of your face. Be sure to get all of it…especially on the jaw and hairline. This is the part that exfoliates…your skin will be silky smooth!
- Splash more hot water on your face and pat dry.
- Use extra moisturizer after your done if you want…you can just use a small drop of the oil and rub it in your hands and then on your face as well.
I was hesitant to use this at first because I thought it would make my face more oily, but it doesn’t at all. It’s wonderful and my skin is amazingly soft and glowing. It does take more time and energy, but it’s worth it.
Another wonderful, cleansing practice is dry brushing. I first heard of it when I was on my raw food kick last summer, and I love it. Check it out.
It’s really easy to make your own lip balm, lotions, salves, etc. But if you want to buy them…one of my favorite sources is Prairieland Herbs. I have met the mother and daughter who make and sell the products and they are wonderful. I love the lotion bars and the cheek gloss. The soaps that they sell on the site are amazing too.
The only mainstream brand I will buy is Aubrey Organics (if I do buy something…which is not very often). All of my research shows that they are the purest and “cleanest” brand out there.
Please be aware that the phrase “natural” is not regulated by the FDA. Any company can put “natural” in their advertising and get away with it. Even many of the brands you can find at Whole Foods, Wild Oats, and your local health food store contain the ingredients I have told you about. Be sure to read labels…and then read them again! If it’s a long list of unpronounceable ingredients…don’t buy it!
There is a lot of information here…and it can be a bit overwhelming. Try not to become cynical…it’s easy to just dismiss it and say “well, everything is toxic…who cares?!”. But please consider how many times a day you put on that chemical lip gloss, and the 12 gels and lotions and concoctions when you’re getting ready in the morning. Every day…for your entire life. There are so many cancerous chemicals that we willingly put on our bodies. Educating yourself is the first step.
Go check out your bathroom right now…and make the choice to go natural!
Posted by Sara @ 10:13 pm | Leave a Comment
18
2007
Your last two posts have been so awesome! Thanks for all the great insight! We’re slowly but surely making good changes around our house…
P.S. What kind of art supplies do you use with Bella? I used to be a preschool teacher and now I have a toddler and have been thinking a lot about what kind of stuff I am exposing her to while “creating”. Would love to hear your thoughts on this! Thanks!
19
2007
Sarah,
I ordered Sals Suds from Dr. Bronners and the first ingredient is sodium laurel sulfate. What now?
22
2007
About the toothpaste… My aunt once told me that her dentist told her that toothpaste wasn’t necessary. He said, that just brushing with the brush is good enough. Think about it though, what did they use years ago? NOTHING. I also heard that just eating apples will naturally clean your teeth.
23
2007
Apples have TONS of natural sugars in them that will cause cavities if you don’t brush – but eating them DOES make your teeth feel less plaque-y
25
2007
Love this post. Just found your blog. I have used a lot of these methods, including not using any shampoo on my hair at all and just using water and my fingertips to get my scalp clean.
26
2007
I started using the olive oil cleansing method on my face the day you posted this, and my skin feels wonderful! I use just olive oil with a little lavender EO as well because that’s what I have, but I may mix it with some castor oil when I remember to buy some.
Ds is 2, and we’ve been using Burt’s Bees toothpaste for kids which he really likes, but our co-op said Burt’s Bees is discontinuing their entire toothpaste line, so we need to figure something else out before the tube we have now runs out.
Someone asked about what to use to wash little ones’ hair. We very rarely wash ds’s hair. I mean, it’s not even once a week and you can’t tell! It always looks clean. We wet it down when it’s sticking straight up (sometimes!) but that’s it. I don’t think kids need to have soap used on their skin and hair very often. I wonder if we keep up with not washing his hair much if he will ever need to, you know?
Anyway, as always thanks for the great post and ideas!
26
2007
Sara – just wanted you to know that because of your posts, I’ve started using all-natural deodorant, facial care, shampoo/conditioner, and lotion, and my skin is thanking me!
28
2007
I don’t how many of you have heard of this, but I take oatmeal (raw and organic) and grind it up in the blender until it is a fine powder. Then, using hot water, I scrub my face with it. It is a GREAT scrub- very easy on my skin, never dries it out and sloughs off dead skin gently. I have done this since I was 13 and my face at 38 is still very clear, soft, and rosy. I learned this from a natural beauty book and since I did not have money for store bought facial cleansers and makeup when I was a teenager, I used this and some vinegar and water as astringent and my skin stayed in great shape.
28
2007
I use cocout oil to wash my face. sometimes I mix it with raw honey and oatmea. it’s great is you have combination oily and dry skin like I do. I’m also acne prone. the only thing I’ve ever found to help.we also use pretty much the same household cleanerds as you. good to know I’m not alone in that! my ideal is to not rely on anything premade. that way I feel more self suffient and don’t need to feel like I can’t think of alternatives on my own. money isn’t always readily available. money aand ability to buy whatever whenever really makes us kinda stupid – not able to think on our own. what if I can’t afford toothpaste? will my teeth fall out? LOL ykwim…
13
2007
Hey, great post! You have some great ideas and hints here.
Thanks for using my photo, too! I’m glad it was what you needed for your article.
26
2007
Sara,
I’ve been using the oil cleansing method for about a month now, and I love it! But…I still use my old moisturizer because it contains an SPF (along with SLS, etc…bummer). Any suggestions on sunscreen? What do you use on Bella? Thank you SO much!
2
2007
Here’s a question — what is the most natural way to bring -cooked- food to work. Plastic is bad. Have you used any other containers that are packable, and heatable? or is the mr. bento good for keeping food warm for 5 hours?
15
2007
Okay…wow. I’ve made a big change in my life this week. I freecycled all my cleansers and use vinegar/water/tea tree. I just washed my hair with Dr. Bronner’s for the first time (switching from Herbal Essences…appartently it’s not so “herbal” ha) and I got the funky hair syndrome. So I rinsed my hair with plain white vinegar…and MAN. I’ve started using the oil method for my face and it’s never looked so good! It’s hilarious to me that God gave us everything we need and with science we have messed it all up! My HAIR looks great… my skin looks great. and now I’m not terrified that my son is going to get into the 409 or something. Thanks for showing me the light.
I’m also seriously considering some compacting. We’re broke anyway, so I don’t spend a whole lot, but we have a lot of STUFF.
Thanks for your help.
15
2007
Whitney…
Yay! What a huge step…that’s awesome! I never really liked Dr. Bronner’s for my hair until I had dreads…it’s very drying. You might switch to just using baking soda or using a shampoo bar and then use apple cider vinegar…it has a better chemical make-up I think for a conditioner. Not sure why…but that is what everyone recommends. Congrats!
20
2007
I’ve been cleaning with vinegar, baking soda, lemon, etc for some time but had NEVER thought to add essential oils! Thanks for the tip!
27
2007
Sara, I recently found your blog and this particular entry on green cleaning was awesome! I went out and bought some Dr. Bronners and started cleaning my house with an all-purpose solution of H2o, vinegar, Dr. Bronners and peppermint oil. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! I had my baby on my back in a wrap the whole time and didn’t have to worry about fumes. I’m actually excited to clean my house now.
26
2009
Hi Sara,
I hope you and your family are enoying of good health. Thank you for all this wonderful information. I’m following your facial ritual and I love it. Thanks, Liliana♥
26
2009
Sara,
I forgot to include my question, What brand do buy when you shopping for essential oils? Thank you much, Liliana♥
20
2009
I am excited to try the oil cleansing system! This post really encouraged me to keep finding more natural ways to clean our home and our bodies!
11
2010
oh i wish i have baby skin again, i always envy that smooth glowing baby skin~-’
29
2010
baby skin is definitely the softest and smoothest skin*.~