Project / Natural Cleaning

This weekend I washed my first load of laundry with a homemade liquid detergent. What started as a bit of research into natural cleaning products for a possible project for my Mom’s cleaning business, turned into a push to make my own natural blends at home.

My research revealed that most detergents are now petroleum based, rather than plant based as soap once was. This means I’ve been making my own little oil spill every time I wash dishes or take a shower. Castile soaps- which are the base for the majority of the natural cleaning blends- are plant based, made from coconut or olive oil, are biodegradable and made of renewable resources.

It turns out that most of the ingredients to make cleaners are easily found at the grocery store if not already in your pantry (as shown above from left to right- borax, baking soda, castile soap, white vinegar, and various essential oils). You can make batches as large or small as you want in your own containers, and get to choose what scents to add to your mixes, rather than getting stuck with some weird concoction companies think smells like clean (thyme + lemongrass, really?).

I found a great little book that has blends for every cleaning need possible, from detergents to wood floors to serious tub cleaning formulas. It’s small and portable, well designed and super informative. If you have any inclination to clean naturally, I highly recommend grabbing The Naturally Clean Home, by Karyn Siegel-Maier.

I look forward to making more blends, as well as working on some fun label designs for the bottle. YAY for natural cleaning, I feel less toxic already!


Resources:

The Naturally Clean Home, by Karyn Siegel-Maier
If it’s not available at a local bookstore, you can always find it on Amazon.

Real Simple Room-by room cleaning naturally guide
A nice interactive slideshow with some good suggestions.

How to Make a non-toxic cleaning kit
A good starter with a shopping list and a few useful blends.