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All Love Notions Sewing Patterns are digital downloads, you may print them at home or send to a copy shop. A physical pattern will not be mailed to you.
The Ballad Blouse is the perfect addition to your spring and summer wardrobe. This design is meant for woven fabrics with drape and features a functional button-down placket with an easy to wear silhouette that gives you plenty of ease at the waist and hips.
The real star of this pattern is the detail at the front shoulder. Sew this blouse with either shirring or gathering each time you make it!
Ballad Blouse Features:

Meant for woven fabrics with drape

Five sleeve options: sleeveless, short sleeve with cuff, puff with ties, flutter and bishop

Full bust option

Two shoulder options: gathers or shirring

Video to walk you through the more complex parts

Sizes: XS-5X (See Size Charts here)

Skill Level: Intermediate
Pattern Formats Included:

Print at home for US letter & A4 paper, trimless format with layers

Large format file for copy shop printing. This file will print on 4 A0 (33″ x 46″) size sheets. Be sure to instruct your printer to print actual size in black and white on their cheapest paper. We recommend PDFPlotting for printing the large format files.

A projector file is also included for those using projector technology

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Sew a button down shirt with Love Notions' Ballad Blouse. With five sleeve options, and shirred or gathered details you will love this woven blouse.

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This Pattern has sewing instruction in English language.
This Pattern is for woven Fabric, the length of the top is low hip length. No Zipper or closure needed. this top is designed a little loose for using every day on summer. The pattern has neckline facing for both front and back. So easy to sew and beginners friendly.

Required Fabric: 1m x1.47m width of fabric

This listing is a PDF pattern for you to print yourself. Sizes from XS to XXXL.
Product feature:
- High quality PDF file.
- Instant download.
- 8.5"x11" paper size.
- Include the pattern for size XS to XXXL each size comes in different files.
- PDF sewing instruction.

Download Instruction:
Access your file immediately after Purchas from your Etsy account. Etsy will email you the link to downlead the file.

If you have any question about the order and your download please message me, You can find me on YouTube by searching "Happy Stitches".

Thank you for your order.

Learn more about this item

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Pdf V Neck Top Women Sewing Pattern Pdf Summer Comfy Top for - Etsy UK

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This Patterns & Blueprints item by HappyStitchesCA has 155 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from United States. Listed on 10 Jul, 2023

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Perfect for those who sew professionally or as a hobby, we offer a fully comprehensive sewing pattern and template printing service.

Sewing Pattern Printing Online

The Netprinter Online Pattern Printing Service has been set up to provide a quick streamlined online service for sewing enthusiasts that need 24 hour, 7 day a week upload capability to print large patterns in one piece.

We print all sewing patterns onto 80gsm stock, A3 & A4 are printed on 120gsm.

Each print is scale checked where possible.

Get started with your pattern printing

To get started with ordering your sewing pattern printing online upload your file/s by either clicking upload files or drag & drop, select your options and proceed to the checkout.

We accept PDF or JPEG file formats, please make sure the file is to scale to the paper size.

If you are an aspiring sewing pattern designer looking for information on how to design your patterns do take a look at The Sewing Directory's comprehensive guide here

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A sewing pattern printing service for both designers and stitchers, who need 24 hour, 7 day a week upload capability to print large patterns in one piece.

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Description

A gown up take on the perennial pinafore. Make up in light fabric and wear as a sun dress on warmer days or pair with a polo neck or long sleeve T for cooler ones. Suitable for work wear or leisure, it's extremely versatile, with two pockets for extra practicality. The comfortable semi fitted style makes it an easy to wear and flattering item.

This pattern also comes with a free tutorial video that takes you through all stages of construction. You can view the video before buying the pattern if you'd like to get more detail about construction - just scroll to the bottom of the page.

Sizing

UK: 8 - 30.

US: 4-26. EU: 34-56.

Scroll down for the sizing chart.

All sizes are included in your purchase, so there's no need to worry about selecting the correct size to buy.

Suggested Fabrics

Mid-weight to heavy wovens, linen, cotton, denim.

Fabric Requirements

115cm width fabric: 3.0m

150cm width fabric: 2.2m

Notions

Thread, interfacing and 8 buttons.

Skill Level

Intermediate

Finished Garment Length

1.07m shoulder to hem.

About Our Patterns

Our patterns are printed on high quality paper rather than tissue paper, making them much more re-usable and less likely to tear. Patterns are packaged in a sturdy re-usable string and washer envelope and come with a clearly written and illustrated instruction booklet, along with a QR code that will take you directly to the corresponding YouTube video tutorial.

Our tutorial videos all features chapter marks, allowing you to jump directly to specific construction steps without needing to search through the video manually. They also contain useful hints and tips from the Sussex Seamstress herself. Tutorials are produced with the maker in mind, and are to-the-point and informative.

Format

This is a paper pattern, we aim to ship patterns within 1-2 working days.

If you would prefer a PDF digital download pattern you can order it here: Portsmouth Pinafore Download Pattern

Want a 10% Discount? Join our mailing list

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Portsmouth Women's Pinafore Dress Sewing Pattern, with Pockets, Sizes 8-30 - Sussex Seamstress Sewing Patterns

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A gown up take on the classic pinafore. Make up in light fabric and wear as a sun dress on warmer days or pair with a polo neck or long sleeve T for cooler ones. Suitable for work wear or leisure, it's extremely versatile, with two pockets for extra practicality.

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For the creation of perfect pinafores, beautiful bridal gowns and simple sheaths, our dress fabric range has something to match every one of your requirements. No matter what your pattern or the volume of fabric you require for your next project, our wide range of different fashionable, dress fabrics has something that will fit your needs and ensure the perfect finish.

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No matter the occasion or colour you're matching, our wide range of dress fabric will fit your needs & ensure the perfect finish. London based- fast UK shipping!

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Designer Deadstock & Ethical Fabrics Sold By The Meter. Shop Linens, Viscoses, Cottons, Jerseys, Italian Wools, Cupro, Corduroys and more

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Free Women's Pajama Pants Pattern (+ Download PDF)

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Hello peeps. I'm proud to announce my first PDF sewing pattern - pajama pants for women. And it's free! Sign up for my newsletter here and download the pattern. Make sure you download 2 files - the pattern and instructions.

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https://5outof4.com/product/effie-woven-pajama-pants/

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Description

Step right up, Step right up! It's time for the Effie Pajama Pants! These pajama pants are quick and easy and sure to please.

The Effie Pajama Pants include:

Sizes XXS-5XL (see last image for size chart)

Mid-rise

2.5″, 5″, 7″, 9″, Capri, and Pants

Fold over elastic waistband

On-seam pockets

Separate download for a professional tutorial featuring drawings and photos.

AS ALWAYS...

This listing is for a downloaded PDF sewing pattern, NOT a finished product. Your download should immediately pop up after purchasing, but you can also log into your account at any time and download the package again. Your downloads will include a professionally drawn pattern with trimless pages (now with diamond corner markers) and layers.

The pattern pieces included are formatted for 8.5×11, A4 (typically outside of the US), A0 printers, and projector files. Please remember to NOT use the A4 pattern unless you are located outside of the US and own an A4 printer and A4 paper. The A0 pattern is specifically designed for large format printing. You have permission from 5 out of 4 Patterns to have this pattern printed at your local copy shop.

The separate tutorial download includes hyperlinks to help you navigate to whichever options you're interested in doing. It also includes professionally drawn images for each tutorial step as well as pictures for steps that might be a little tricky. We take great pains to make the tutorial as clear as possible!

The Effie Pajama Pants pattern includes sizes XXS-5XL and is based on our women's size chart. The size chart and fabric requirements are listed in the last image.

Please don't hesitate to contact me via email (info@5outof4.com) if you have any questions. We'd love to see you in our Facebook group, Pinterest, and on Instagram too!

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Effie Woven Pajama Pants - 5 out of 4 Patterns

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PDF sewing pattern for the relaxed fit Effie Pajama Pants for women in sizes XXS-5XL. Quick, easy, and FREE woven pajama pants!

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Use Brown Parcel Paper To Wrap Christmas Presents - Miss Thrifty

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Use Brown Parcel Paper To Wrap Christmas Presents - Miss Thrifty

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Miss Thrifty

This is how I wrap my presents every year: I like how it looks, and I also like saving money on Christmas wrapping paper.

When you tot up the costs of Christmas gift-buying, it is easy to forget to include the costs of Christmas gift-wrapping. It adds up though, the cost of the shiny sparkly wrapping paper and ribbon and gift tags and so on. In my experience, this additional cost is felt all the more acutely when your £2.99 roll of shiny sparkly stuff turns out to be roughly £2.89 of gift-wrap roll insert, with enough paper to wrap no more than a few gifts. And let's not mention that year you thought you'd cleaned up in the discount store, with an armful of bargain-basement Christmas wrapping paper, only to find once you got home that it was so thin, you could see the presents through it...

Instead, this is what I do. Every year I go to the Post Office and I buy a 6-metre long roll of brown parcel wrap.

It's cheap. Take a look here on the Post Office website: at the time of writing, a 6-metre roll of brown parcel paper is just 65p. I've linked to the Post Office website because if you have a lot of gifts to wrap, you can go all out here: at the time of writing, the website also sells 35-metre rolls for £3.49. I am tempted to invest: a 35-metre roll would last me for many Christmases to come...

Brown paper rolls are also available from supermarkets such as Tesco ( here) and Asda ( here), but tend to be more expensive: around the £2.00 - £2.50 mark.

It's strong. After all, it is made for wrapping parcels. Brown parcel wrap is sturdy: it doesn't tear easily and, in my experience, it is easier to wrap presents neatly using thick brown paper than it is using low-end gift-wrap, which can be flimsy and fragile.

It's long - oh so long! To put it into context: that single 6-metre roll of brown parcel wraps as many presents as one of the 3-packs of 2-metre roll sold in shops up and down the UK. Parcel paper has no cardboard insert so, although it looks like a small roll, it goes on and on...

Then I make it look pretty. This is easy to do, even if you aren't a crafty type. First, I wrap the presents. Next, Thrifty Kid and I stamp the paper with gold ink, or whatever else he has knocking around in his craft set.

If you need to buy a suitable stamp, by the way, there are a a couple of thrifty options. At this time of year, craft magazines often have them as freebies on the covers. If you don't want to splash out on a craft mag, you can make a stamp for free: find a pencil with an unused rubber on the end, and use that to make polka dot patterns.

Finally, tie with string or ribbon. In the picture above, I've used a ball of string. Other years, I have used free ribbons, collecting them in a pot throughout the year. (It always surprises me how the jar is full by the end of the year, with slips and lengths of ribbon from gifts, delivery boxes and so on.)

One last thing I like about brown paper gift wrap? Zero waste. All the paper and string offcuts can go straight into the composter.
What's not to love, eh?
Here's some parcel paper-wrapped Christmas presents from a previous year when we made most of our Christmas presents, which you can read about here.

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Use Brown Parcel Paper To Wrap Christmas Presents - Miss Thrifty

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Miss Thrifty This is how I wrap my presents every year: I like how it looks, and I also like saving money on Christmas wrapping paper. When you tot up the costs of Christmas gift-buying, it is easy to forget to include the costs of Christmas gift-wrapping.

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Splosh is the clever new way to buy your home essentials. We're great value, really convenient and best of all there's no plastic waste.

bottles saved from bins!

we believe refilling is better than recycling

Order full bottles from our great range of cruelty free home and personal care products.

When you're running low, order refills online - and we'll deliver them to your door for free.

Subscribe...and relax! You'll never run out of refills again. Even better, you've stopped binning bottles.

explore our natural range

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let's protect our planet

We've all seen shocking images of plastic pollution - and every plastic bottle brought at a supermarket makes the problem worse. But it doesn't have to be this way. Send your used Splosh pouches back to us, we re-use or upcycle them into new products and voila! Together we've eliminated all plastic waste.

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Our app makes everything really easy. Order what you need with just a few taps and manage your subscriptions too so you never run out.

Subscribe to your favourite Splosh products and save 10%! Our subscriptions are easy to pause, amend or cancel.

a word from our customers

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Splosh is the clever new way to buy your home essentials. We're great value, really convenient and best of all there's no plastic waste. bottles saved from bins! we believe refilling is better than recycling Order full bottles from our great range of cruelty free home and personal care products.

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Beeswax Food Wrap DIY | Moral Fibres - UK Eco Green Blog

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Beeswax Food Wrap DIY | Moral Fibres - UK Eco Green Blog

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Hello! It's been a little while since I shared a DIY with you, but today I want to share my beeswax food wrap DIY. It's a great alternative to using cling film, tin foil or plastic tupperware to store food in, and really easy to make.

We actually cut our cling film and tin foil usage a long time ago. We switched to using parchment paper to wrap our food in before popping it in the fridge or freezer, or storing food in glass jars or tupperware tubs.

All of this has been doing the job pretty well, but I've been trying to find an alternative to parchment paper as I'd like to be able to not buy so many single use products, like parchment paper. I also wanted to find a way to transport my lunch without the need for bulky tupperware tubs. Those things are a pain to carry around all day! So, lo and behold, the answer I was looking for: the beeswax food wrap!

I had seen some pretty nice ones for sale online, but the statutory maternity pay I'm on at the moment sadly doesn't quite stretch to beeswax wraps. I had some fabric scraps leftover from an old craft project, and some beeswax pellets left over from making beeswax candles, so decided to try my hand at making my own. How hard could it be? Turns out: not very hard at all.

Beeswax Food Wrap DIY

You will need

Freshly washed and dried fabric scraps - a variety of sizes.

Beeswax pellets (affiliate link)

A silicon basting brush

Oven tray

Tongs

Method

Preheat your oven to 85°C.

Lay your piece of fabric flat on your oven tray. Sprinkle the fabric liberally with your beeswax pellets.

Place in the oven for around 5 minutes, until the beeswax has all melted. Keep an eye on it the whole time to avoid burning.

Once all the beeswax has melted remove the tray from the oven and quickly use your silicone basting brush to evenly distribute the beeswax. The beeswax will start to set as soon as you take it out of the oven so you want to do this bit very quickly.

As soon as you've done this use the tongs to remove the fabric and hang it up to dry. It will take only minutes to set and then it's ready for use.

If you find you've got too much beeswax on your fabric then simply place back in the oven for a few minutes until the beeswax has melted. Then brush down with your silicon brush again.

To remove the beeswax from your oven tray and basting brush wash in hot water.

How to use beeswax wraps

You can use beeswax wraps in practically any way you see fit - for example wrapping cheese. Just wrap the cheese in the wrap and use the heat from your hands to seal the ends. Got a leftover bowl of food? Simply place a beeswax wrap on top and again, using the heat from your hands, seal the wrap around the edges. The uses are endless!

See my some notes on usage below for some more handy hints.

Beeswax Snack Pouches

My eldest daughter loves the little snack boxes of raisins. I've found it's cheaper and less wasteful on the packaging front to buy a big 1 kg bag of raisins and make my own little snack packs of raisins using the beeswax food wraps and a bit of origami.

1. Take a square of beeswax coated fabric and fold diagonally, as in picture two.

2. Fold down the left hand corner, as in picture 3.

3. Fold down the left hand corner like in picture 4, lining up the edge with the previous fold.

4. Fold down the triangle that's sticking up at the top.

5. Flip it over and fold down the other triangle.

Open it up and fill with raisins or any other snack of your choice

To seal, fold down the flap on the side that doesn't have any folds in it, and you're good to go!

Beeswax Wraps Usage Tips

The most important thing to remember is beeswax melts at a low-ish temperature - the melting point of beeswax is around 62°C to 64°C, so any use that is going to be around or above that temperature is a big no no. Think cold.

With that in mind, wash your beexwax food wrap in cold soapy water using a gentle eco friendly washing up liquid, like Ecover, Bio D or Method. Avoid using alcohol based washing up liquid as it can degrade your beeswax. Leave to air dry, and don't leave it on your radiator to dry!

Don't put your wraps in your dishwasher or washing machine. And definitely not your tumble drier!

Like cling film, your beeswax wrap is for food storage only - don't use it in your oven or microwave. The beeswax will melt and will leave a big mess that won't be fun to clean up.

I wouldn't let your beeswax food wrap come in direct contact with raw meat, as you can't wash your wrap in hot water or sterilise it. If you want to store raw meat using your wrap, I would put the meat in a bowl and use the wrap to cover the bowl.

Don't use your wrap directly on to hot food. Let the food cool first before wrapping it.

You can freeze your fabric wraps. I wouldn't use it for long term freezer storage though - only for food you plan on freezing in the short term. I would suggest no longer than one month.

When your beeswax food wrap stops losing the ability to fold, simply wash and re-wax it in the same manner as above.

Have fun making these wraps - it's really good fun!

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Beeswax Food Wrap DIY | Moral Fibres - UK Eco Green Blog

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Hello! It's been a little while since I shared a DIY with you, but today I want to share my beeswax food wrap DIY. It's a great alternative to using cling film, tin foil or plastic tupperware to store food in, and really easy to make.

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Ethical shopping guide to dishwasher detergent, from Ethical Consumer

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Ethical shopping guide to dishwasher detergent, from Ethical Consumer

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Related Content

Ethical issues in the cleaning sector

Last updated: March 2017

Machines that do dishes ...
Ethical Consumer takes a closer look at dishwasher detergents to see how they scrub up under inspection.
Although still seen by some as a luxury product, dishwashers are becoming increasingly common in UK households, helping to solve the age old argument of who does the dishes ... and replacing it with the equally vexing problem of who stacks the dishwasher.

Phosphates

The biggest development since we covered dishwasher detergent back in 2012 is that phosphates are no longer an issue. Phosphates (and phosphonates) are water softeners, but their release into waterways can lead to algal blooms that stifle fish and other aquatic life.

These issues came to public attention in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when lakes and rivers in the US turned bright green with algae. Public pressure mounted to remove them. In subsequent decades, various US states - and some countries - passed regulations to limit their use. The European Union followed suit in 2013 in laundry detergents.

Since 2017, the EU severely limited the amount of phosphates permitted in household dishwasher detergent to no more than 0.3 grams per standard dose.[1] Commercial dishwasher detergents are not covered by the ban.

Of course, some manufacturers, like Ecover and Bio-D (see our Q&A with Bio-D), have been phosphate-free from when they started making dishwasher detergent because they were aware of the issues. They did not wait for the EU ban.

In terms of pollution in the home, the chemicals present in dishwasher detergents can enter the body via two primary routes; inhalation of the steam released when a dishwasher is opened after a cycle, or residue left on the ostensibly clean dishes following washing.

According to Pat Thomas writing in the Ecologist, "some automatic dishwashing detergents contain dry chlorine that is activated when mixed with the water in the dishwasher. This means that when you open the dishwasher, chlorine fumes are released in the steam that leaks out. These can cause eye irritation and difficulty breathing, especially for those with respiratory problems."

The chlorine-free dishwasher detergents in our guide are:
Most automatic dishwashing detergents are either irritants or corrosives. They are made with strong petroleum-based detergents and a strong alkali. Skin irritation or burns may occur following exposure to dissolved detergents. Hence the corrosive symbols on the packets.

It's possible that the thin coating of dishwasher chemicals left on kitchenware and cutlery can be ingested when the items are used.

Toxic chemicals

We have rated all the companies for their toxic chemicals policies. The companies which received a best rating had a policy because they had banned the use of parabens, phthalates and triclosan (see our feature on toxic chemicals for why we have chosen these chemicals) were:

Bio-D, Faith in Nature, Earth Friendly, Lilly's Eco Clean.

Animal testing

Although the testing of cosmetics on animals has been banned in the EU, this is not the case everywhere else in the world. The EU's REACH legislation has also complicated the issue.

Ethical Consumer rates all companies selling cosmetics on their animal testing policy. Companies will score a best rating if they have a policy not to test on animals, have a fixed cut-off date (a date after which none of their products or ingredients will have been tested on animals), and are not selling to markets, such as China, where animal testing of products is required by law.

Bio-D, Faith in Nature, Earth friendly, Ecozone, Lilly's Eco Clean, Astonish, Simply and Ecover all received our best rating for animal testing.

Palm oil and palm oil derivatives have become an important component in many personal care products.

The new 'PO' column on our scoretables shows how all the companies rank on their palm oil policy and practice. You can see the expanded score table if you are a logged in subscriber by clicking on the orange 'More Detail' box.

The only company which was palm oil free across all its products was Earth Friendly Products.

Aside from changes designed to improve their effectiveness at washing, dishwasher detergents have also become increasingly fragranced in recent years - a trend reflected throughout the household cleaning industry.

Generally manufacturers aim for fresh, invigorating smells. Ironically the chemicals used to create these intensely natural and supposedly clean scents tend to have been derived from somewhat less appetizing petrochemicals.

Manufacturers aren't legally obliged to specify which of these compounds are actually in the fragrances they use. What is known is that many of the chemicals used in this process are part of the phthalates group.

Phthalate exposure has been linked to disruption of the hormone system including early puberty in girls, a risk factor for later-life breast cancer.

Several phthalates have been banned in the EU but not all, including diethyl phthalate (DEP) which is used in fragrances. Because the chemical constituents of 'fragrance' or 'parfum' do not have to be listed on labels, one way to avoid phthalates altogether is to go for fragrance-free products or those free of synthetic fragrances.

Bio-D, Faith in Nature, Earth Friendly Products, Ecozone, Sonett, Sodasan, Lilly's Eco Clean do not use phthalates in any of their products.

Read our feature on the Ecover controversy over its use of synthetic biology.

Make your own

To avoid the long list of toxic chemicals that goes into many off-the-shelf detergents, you could make your own. See our feature on DIY cleaning kits for recipes for a whole range of household cleaning products. Dri Pak sell ingredients like bicarbonate of soda and borax substitute if you want to make your own.

Two companies, Sonett and Sodasan, both had EcoCert and EcoGarantie labels. EcoCert is a French organic label originally applied to food products but more recently certifying the ingredients of cosmetics and household products. EcoGarantie is a Belgium-based trademark for 'sustainable commodities'. According to the Austrian consumer label comparison website, www.bewusstkaufen.at , the EcoGarantie label appears to be weaker than the EcoCert label, which covers a wider range of criteria.

For dishwasher detergent, EcoCert prohibits Chlorine-based products or chlorinated derivatives, as well as Formalin, Ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA), Genetically modified products, Ammonia-based products, Phosphate and phosphonate-based products.

EcoGarantie permits inorganic chlorine chemistry as long as biodegradable molecules are used, it respects the naturally active substances and allows a good management of the waste and of the energy consumption. Organic chlorine chemistry is prohibited.

Company Profile

The best selling dishwasher detergent, Finish, is owned by Reckitt Benckiser, a UK household giant and maker of Dettol and Durex.

In South Korea over 100 people are said to have died after using Oxy humidifier disinfectants made by Reckitt Benckiser between 2001 and 2011. A coalition of civic and consumer groups, as well as the families of the victims, initiated a boycott of the company's products in April 2016. Prosecutors are investigating allegations that Reckitt knew about the possible danger of the chemical used in the disinfectants, ignored consumer complaints, and paid off university researchers to fabricate toxicity results in a study in its favour.

Reckitt apologised and agreed to pay £300 million in compensation. In January 2017, the former executive of Oxy Reckitt, Shin Hyun-woo, was found guilty of accidental homicide and falsely advertising the deadly product as being safe even for children, and was jailed for seven years. Three other research and development employees were also convicted and jailed. The current head of Reckitt Benckiser Korea and the group's CEO remain in position.
Want to know more?
If you want to find out detailed information about a company and more about its ethical rating, then click on a brand name in the Score table.

This information is reserved for subscribers only. Don't miss out, become a subscriber today.

References
1 EU Regulation No. 259/2012 14 March 2012

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Ethical shopping guide to dishwasher detergent, from Ethical Consumer

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Ethical issues in the cleaning sector Last updated: March 2017 Ethical Consumer takes a closer look at dishwasher detergents to see how they scrub up under inspection. Although still seen by some as a luxury product, dishwashers are becoming increasingly common in UK households, helping to solve the age old argument of who does the dishes ...

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For the Simple Life | Pronounce | Scratch Mommy

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For the Simple Life | Pronounce | Scratch Mommy

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For the Simple Life | Pronounce | Scratch Mommy

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Soda Crystals | Hydrated Soda Ash | Washing Soda

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Soda Crystals | Hydrated Soda Ash | Washing Soda

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applications for cleaning with Soda Crystals, from putting dry crystals onto a greasy floor and sweeping them around, to making up a hot or cold solution or slurry

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Resuable gift wrap - in fabric | Medium Crackle fabric wrap - Neon Pink

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Resuable gift wrap - in fabric | Medium Crackle fabric wrap - Neon Pink

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Crackle Wrap: Neon Pink - Medium (48cm x 48cm sheet)

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Reusable gift wrap from Wrag Wrap - the ethical alternative to wrapping paper. The Crackle Wrap wraps like paper and sounds like it too. Create a professionally wrapped gift in seconds with the integrated fastening cord and button. Medium Crackle Wrap in Neon Pink - Christmas Winter Trees print.

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How To Make Homemade Beeswax Wraps - Gypsy Soul

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How To Make Homemade Beeswax Wraps - Gypsy Soul

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Bio Latest Posts bennrobin Latest posts by bennrobin (see all)

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Homemade Cocoa Body Butter Recipe | Everything's Peachy

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Homemade Cocoa Body Butter Recipe | Everything's Peachy

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I have to say I'm pretty pleased with this body butter! It makes a good amount, is really easy to make and is very effective. The bonus is that the ingredients are all known for being seriously nourishing to skin, so you know you're doing yourself a world of good each time you apply. It feels so lovely to smooth on after a bath, shower or shaving, and I've been so excited every evening to hurry home and slather this all over my body before bed.

I usually use a simple carrier oil to moisturise my body, such as almond oil or grapeseed. However, with the nights drawing in and the weather getting colder, I felt like I needed something a little heavier that will replenish my dry skin after a long day.

I used to be obsessed with the Palmer's cocoa butter moisturiser - it moisturises so well and smells delicious. The problem with store-bought moisturisers, however, is that they tend to contain a lot of chemicals, metals and potential irritants, and only actually a tiny amount of the powerful, natural plant ingredients boasted on the packaging. Hence, I decided to try and recreate my own, natural version of the Palmer's cocoa butter, using raw, unprocessed ingredients without all the nasties.

NOTE: This recipe was inspired by model Adela Capova, whose 'Preggers Body Butter' she claims got her through pregnancy with no stretch marks. I can't vouch for this as hers uses slightly different ingredients (shea butter and argan oil). But it did get me thinking about what this magical formula could do!
To make my own, I also took inspiration from this recipe byWellness Mama.

Ingredients

1 cup raw, organic cocoa butter (I used )
1/2 cupcoconut oil
1/2 cup carrier/base oil (I used almond, my go-to for everything!)
OPTIONAL: 10-30 drops essential oil of your choice

Method

1. If using a combination of essential oils, put the drops into a bowl to infuse for around 3 hours.

2. Melt down the cocoa butter and coconut oil until they are in liquid form. I do this by placing them in a bowl and then setting that in a bowl or pan of hot water for a few minutes.

3. Mix all the ingredients and together and put into the freezer for about half an hour.

4. Once the mixture has started to set but is NOT completely solid, blend or whip to get the desired consistency you want. I thought my Nutribullet would be ideal for this but it wasn't. I found hand whipping was easier and gave a much better result.

5. Store the butter in 1-2 glass jars. It doesn't need to be kept in the fridge, making it perfect for your bathroom cupboard.

Plenty of Skin Benefits

Instead of cocoa butter, you can use shea butter or mango butter for equally nourishing benefits. I chose cocoa butter because it's known to be incredibly moisturising to the skin and of course I wanted that chocolatey smell.

You can also use any base oil you want in place of the almond. I have found almond oil is the best for me - its high in vitamin E so great for the skin, and is versatile, so can be used in lots of different ways. However, argan oil and avocado oil are great options too.

I omitted the essential oils this time around as they are mostly for aroma purposes. If you need inspiration though, I think peppermint, lavender or a citrus like lemon or orange would be great and really work with this.

So that's it! Everything you need to make your own hydrating body elixir. Have you tried any of the alternatives? I'd love to know how they turned out, so please leave your feedback in the comments below. 🙂

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I have to say I'm pretty pleased with this body butter! It makes a good amount, is really easy to make and is very effective. The bonus is that the ingredients are all known for being seriously nourishing to skin, so you know you're doing yourself a world of good each time you apply.

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Homemade Body Butter Cream Recipe (Lavender) - iSaveA2Z.com

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Homemade Body Butter Cream Recipe (Lavender) - iSaveA2Z.com

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Check out our newest recipe for a homemade Body Butter Cream recipe in Lavender!! The season is upon us for that horrible dry skin and this homemade body butter cream can help! This will moisturize and soften your skin like nothing I've ever tried before. It works wonders for this time of year.

This homemade lavender body butter cream recipe would make a perfect gift idea too. I love making homemade beauty products that are all natural! These gifts are perfect for friends, relatives, teachers, pregnant Moms etc... This recipe is perfect for anyone with sensitive skin.

Making the gift is easy. We love using our 100% Raw Shea butter. In this recipe we used Lavender Oil but you can use any of your favorite essential oils. Once it's made all you have to do is add it to a cute little mason jar and decorate it with a fun ribbon. We have even included some Free Lavender Body Butter Cream Printable Labels for you. Print them on easy peel labels.

We used the liquid dyes in purple color to give this homemade body butter cream it's color. These are the same types of dye colors you use in homemade soaps. You can purchase just the primary colors and mix equal parts of red and blue to make the color purple. I've also heard you can use regular food coloring but I haven't tried that yet myself.

I had a heck of a time trying to find the right sized jar for this gift. You don't want it to be too big and you don't want it to be too small either. I found the wide mouth half pint mason jars work just perfect. Do yourself a favor and order them online because they are super hard to find in the stores. If you are lucky you may find some jars at the dollar store but it's hit or miss and they almost never have something you want right when you want it. You know what I mean right?!

Some people also call this recipe a whipped body butter cream. When you whip it with the mixer it creates a super light lotion that's amazing!

Here are a few photos of our process:

Here are a few other recipes that you may be interested in if you like to give gifts in a jar!

Homemade Coffee Sugar Scrub Recipe In a Jar

Homemade Peppermint Sugar Scrub Recipe In a Jar

Mary Kay's Satin Hands Copycat Sugar Scrub recipe In a Jar

Brown Sugar Scrub Recipe In a Jar

Easy Lemon Sugar Scrub Recipe In a Jar

All of our Sugar Scrub recipes are extremely popular and worth trying!

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Homemade Body Butter Cream Recipe (Lavender) - iSaveA2Z.com

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Homemade Body Butter Cream Recipe Check out our newest recipe for a homemade Body Butter Cream recipe in Lavender!! The season is upon us for that horrible dry skin and this homemade body butter cream can help! This will moisturize and soften your skin like nothing I've ever tried before.

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DIY Pre Shave Oil: Follow This And Never Pay Full Price EVER Again

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DIY Pre Shave Oil: Follow This And Never Pay Full Price EVER Again

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Let's face it, pre shave oil is absolutely terrific and can be a great way to add in an extra layer of moisture, lubrication, and ultimately comfort into your shave routine.

Sure there are definitely some men that have their reservations about its use within the morning ritual, but we here at Tools of Men absolutely love using this stuff on a regular basis.

Whether its shaving your face on a regular basis or even shaving your head completely bald, pre shave oil gives an extra level of comfort and smoothness that just simply can't be realized when using a regular old shaving cream or razor - making your own pre shave oil recipe just makes the deal even sweeter.

Now when it comes to picking up a pre shave oil, sure you can definitely pick it up from your favorite boutique store OR you can make it yourself.

Of course, when it comes to anything in life, the whole DIY route is naturally going to be cheaper. However, while you are effectively absorbing the labor and marketing costs, you gain so much more appreciation for the product that is ultimately being made and eventually applied to your skin.

I don't know about you, but knowing every single ingredient that goes into a product and consequently using the product is far more enriching than just clicking a few buttons and having it delivered to your door with two day shipping (not to mention having just as good - if not better - quality than some of the self proclaimed "premium" brands out there).

Now don't get me wrong, convenience is great, but well, I am not made of money, so whenever I see there is a great opportunity to save a few bucks especially when it comes to mens grooming supplies I jump at the opportunity.

Therefore in this post, I am going to outline exactly how you can create your very own pre shave oil for a fraction of the cost.

So how cheap?

Well just a quick search, I found all sorts of pre shave oils, ranging from a budget $7 to the "premium" brand costing upwards of $25.

What's crazy is that when looking at all these brands ingredients list, they are consisting of the basic core ingredients that makes up any sort of pre shave oil.

They all contain carrier oils, essential oils, and (in some cases) vitamin oils, which I will cover a bit more extensively in just a moment.

But first, lets take a look at the cost break down of the premium and budget pre shave oils:

As you can see the difference in cost charted is quite substantial. I mean who wouldn't pick the $7 oil over the $25 oil any day of the week? Especially if the core ingredients are the same.

While that is all fine and dandy, how does a DIY pre shave oil weigh into this?

Well before I show the cost on a per ounce basis, there is one thing that we have to be completely up front and honest about, and that is that the initial cost for a DIY pre shave oil is going to be a bit more than should you even buy the luxury bottle off the shelf.

But if you think about it, that does make sense. For instance if you were to brew your own beer, you would have to pay for all the carboys, grains, yeast, hops, etc of which would cost WAY more than should you go to the local watering hole and pick up a pint. However the amount of beer that you would yield from that batch (i.e. several cases), is WAY more than you would ever get should you go to the local bar or grocery store to pick up a six pack.

What's the point of all this?

Pre shave oil is very much like brewing your own beer, the upfront costs might sting a bit at the beginning, but the long term savings are going to far outweigh the initial costs.

So how much savings?

Well check this out, if you were to use a couple carrier oils, essential oil, and pay for the amber bottles to store your product in, here's the cost breakdown on a per ounce basis:

Great savings, right?

So now that you can see this will directly help your bottom line on your pre shave oil costs, we are going to break down how exactly you can start to make this at home.

We will be going over the carrier oils, essential oils, some of the prep work that is necessary to get you off the ground, in addition we will also give you a few pre shave recipes to get you start (hint: we will actually give you FREE access to an entire database full of recipes), and so much more! Let's get started on crafting your very first pre shave oil:

The Base of Any Great Pre Shave Oil Comes From The Carrier Oil

Of all the pre shave oil ingredients, by and far the most important one is going to be the carrier oil. From the budget to the high end premium pre shave oils, carrier oils will typically make up about 90%+ of the product.

Carrier oils themselves make for a terrific lubrication which makes shaving a whole lot more comfortable, but also provide a plethora of skin care benefits as well.

Before I dive into any of the details, its important to know just how many carrier oils there really are out there. Here is a helpful list of some of the more popular oils out there:

The most important aspect of a carrier oil in a pre shave oil is the moisture that it provides to your skin. As you pass a razor of your face (head, or any other body part), if the skin is not well moisturized, it is very much prone to being nicked due to dryness.

In addition to the pliability of your skin, another key consideration prior to shaving is making sure that the hair follicles are a bit more softer and swollen along with opening up the pores making it much easier for the razor to cut the follicle. This is one of the reasons why taking a hot shower is highly recommended before doing your morning shave routine.

One of the most commonly used carrier oils found within a pre shave oil is going to be castor oil. Castor oil has been used in beauty and pharmaceutical products for many years and has recently seen a resurgence, especially in people who like to make their own products (men and women alike) at a fraction of the cost.

A product like castor oil is great at providing a base lubrication for the pre shave oil as its a completely all natural oil derived from the castor oil plant ( botanical name: Ricinus communis).

Besides just being a lubricant for a pre shave oil, castor oil naturally contains undecylenic acid which is used to treat skin infections, prevent itchiness of the skin, burning, irritation, and more.

But not only does it help to reduce general skin irritation, it also acts as a natural antiseptic. Which is hugely beneficial if you are prone to acne or any sort of razor bumps after shaving.

While we outlined just the core benefits of castor oil, you can easily find the benefits (or a carrier oil with specific benefits) of any carrier oil through a quick Google query like any of the ones below:

"[INSERT CARRIER OIL NAME]" + benefits

"[INSERT CARRIER OIL NAME]" + skin care benefits

"[INSERT CARRIER OIL NAME]" + hair benefits

"[INSERT CARRIER OIL NAME]" + disinfectant

"[INSERT CARRIER OIL NAME]" + vitamin A

"[INSERT CARRIER OIL NAME]" + prevent acne

"[INSERT CARRIER OIL NAME]" + germicidal

"[INSERT CARRIER OIL NAME]" + undecylenic acid

While we talked extensively about carrier oils, we also need to cover another very critical oil of any pre shave oil - essential oils.

Essential Oils Provide The Fragrance and an Extra Layer of Benefits

While one might think that this ingredient is critical to any pre shave oil - essential oils, well, aren't actually essential to your pre shave oil recipe.

In fact, there are many men that might just use castor or a combination of a few different carrier oils as their pre shave oil, and that is completely fine!

However, unless you are on a really restricted budget, you should definitely consider incorporating an essential oil into your DIY pre shave oil.

Essential oils can provide an awesome, yet subtle fragrance to any pre shave oil that can either complement your cologne, or just simply give you a nice scent for a couple of ours.

The combination of scents that you can get from an essential oil is really endless as there are several out there to choose from:

Whether you want a pre shave oil that smells like orange, cinnamon, sandalwood or pine, theres an essential oil that you can use that is out there for you.

A word of caution though when it comes to essential oils. These oils themselves are quite potent and will only make up a small portion of you pre shave oil (less than 10%).

Generally speaking, when trying out an oil for the first time, we recommend only doing a few drops of essential oils at first and then gradually add more if desired. The reason for this is that in some instances, to much essential oil can cause skin irritation, which goes directly counter to the reason on why you would want to use a pre shave oil in the first place.

Also we recommend trying out an oil like tea tree oil, pine, cedar or sandalwood as these generally are a bit less likely to cause any sort of skin irritation. Typically if you are to have any irritation it may come from essential oils that are derived from citruses such as lemon, grapefruit, orange, etc.

Also when testing out your pre shave oil for the first time, we always recommend doing an allergy test. So just rub a little bit behind your ear or on the inside of your elbow and see if any irritability occurs.

With all this apprehension about essential oils listed above, you think no one would want to use them right?

Wrong!

In fact many essential oils come with their own set of benefits that are far above and beyond what you could come to expect within a carrier oil. For instance, one of the staple scents that you see in many types of high quality shaving creams is the use of the sandalwood essential oil.

Sandalwood, of which is extremely popular in many of the high quality shaving creams on the market is a natural cicatrisant. A cicatrisant, if you are not aware, is when a product naturally helps heal and sooth the skin. In addition to soothing the skin, a cicatrisant also helps repair scar tissue as well.

That's not all, sandalwood is also a natural disinfectant. Like castor oil, sandalwood will do a great job in clearing out excess dirt and grime from your pores making for a less likelihood of razor burn and general skin irritation to occur when you finish shaving.

Simply put, some essential oils can do a terrific job in providing an extra layer of comfort in addition to the carrier oils that are found within the pre shave oil.

Of course if you want to find more benefits to some of the essential oils listed above, be sure to do a quick search within Google to find some great articles for each essential oil on the market. A few search queries to get you started are as follows:

"[INSERT ESSENTIAL OIL NAME]" + benefits

"[INSERT ESSENTIAL OIL NAME]" + skin care benefits

"[INSERT ESSENTIAL OIL NAME]" + disinfectant

"[INSERT ESSENTIAL OIL NAME]" + vitamin A

"[INSERT ESSENTIAL OIL NAME]" + prevent acne

"[INSERT ESSENTIAL OIL NAME]" + cicatrisant

Vitamin Oils Are A Secret Weapon Used By The Luxury Pre Shave Oil Companies

One thing that you just simply don't see enough of within pre shave oils, and especially those that are cheaper is the use of Vitamin Oils.

The reason for this is that vitamin oils actually are a bit costly (not as much as essential oils but more than carrier oils on a cost per ounce basis).

Oils like Vitamin E oil unlock a plethora of benefits in addition to all the great stuff you are going to be getting from the carrier and essential oils.

Vitamin E helps to actually prevent and ward off wrinkles due to its natural ability to boost collagen production which helps ensure that your skin stays elastic for longer.

In addition to boosting collagen production, Vitamin E also speeds up cell regeneration that ultimately helps with new skin growth.

Also if you are getting a bit up there in age, wrinkles aren't your only worry, Vitamin E also naturally helps to lighten brown spots helping them to become a bit less noticeable.

Sure these might be more age specific to the older readers, there are some really good benefits of using a Vitamin E oil for the readers on the other end of the spectrum.

By and far the biggest benefit derived from Vitamin E oil is going to be its ability to naturally soften your skin and make it incredibly smooth. So if you are going for the ultimate close shave and a face that makes your face feel incredibly soft afterwards, you will definitely want to add a few drops of Vitamin E oil to your pre shave oil for maximum comfort.

Getting The Right Equipment For Production and Storage

Many men may think that just a jelly jar that is lying around the house would make for a good container to store your pre shave oil in, unfortunately though, its probably not.

While I love being thrifty as well by saving a few pennies whenever possible, the storage container of your pre shave oil is key to its long term use and ultimate shelf life.

You will notice that many pre shave oils come in amber bottles - and there is good reason for this.

Amber bottles are used for a variety of high end beauty products (and beer!) to block out the harmful UV rays given off from lights. The reason why this is important is that the amber glass actually protects the integrity and structure of the oils contained within pre shave oil in tact.

With long exposure under UV rays, the oils will begin to lose all their great benefits in the first place. In addition to losing all the skin care benefits that we talked so extensively about above, essential oils will also start to lose a bit of their fragrance as well.

While essential oils wont keep their fragrance forever, amber bottles can at the very least help lengthen it a bit more.

As far as the type of amber bottle to get, the choice really is up to you. Typically you will see a few varieties to choose from. One of the most popular one will be with a dropper included (our favorite), bottles with just a screw top, and lastly amber bottles with an orifice reducer.

Regardless of the bottle type that you choose its critical that you also pick up pipettes in addition to the bottles.

Pipettes are extraordinarily cheap and will help further preserve the scents and structure of each one of your core ingredients.

This is important because as you experiment with your pre shave oils, you don't want to reuse the same pipette in different essential oils and carrier oils. Prolonged reuse of the same pipette will cross contaminate your oils and will "muddy" the scents.

Much like if you were painting a picture and never rinsed or reused the same brush time and time again, your pictures colors will start to turn brown and the final project will look very muted.

So spend the extra couple of bucks and pick up the pipettes, especially if you are a heavy user of pre shave oil and will be making your own batch time and time again.

As we stressed on earlier of picking up amber bottles to store your pre shave oil in, its equally critical to make sure that you also purchase carrier, essential, and vitamin oils that are also stored in amber bottles as well.

While you will know the age of your pre shave oil, you will likely have no idea the age of the carrier oil that you pick up. As the old adage goes, garbage in/garbage out, the same holds true when selecting a carrier oil.

There is simply know way of knowing how long that carrier oil has sat under harmful UV rays at the warehouse before you bought it. Sure you could buy the oil from a vendor with high turnover (i.e. Amazon), but still there is just simply no way you can verify the age of the product. So with that being said - shop smart and pick up the oil that comes in an amber bottle.

Ultimately Making Your Pre Shave Oil

Once you have all your ingredients, bottles, and pipettes set, there are a few things that you will want to do ahead of time.

Given that this is a product that we will be putting on our face prior to shaving (and perhaps even after you are done shaving), we recommend that you sterilize your amber bottles ahead of time.

To sterilize the bottles simply pour a pot of water and place it on the oven and then place your bottles into the water and then bring to a boil.

You want to make sure that you follow the steps above, otherwise placing cold/room temperature bottles into a pot of boiling water may cause your amber bottles to crack due to the rapid temperature adjustment.

Once they have been boiling for a few minutes, you will want to very carefully take out the bottles with tongs. Tongs with rubber ends will work better than metal as the rubber acts as a great grip on glass bottles.

After you have removed the bottles from the water let them air dry either on a kitchen draining board or a clean linen cloth. Paper towels may experience some shedding making for small paper fibers likely to end up in your final product.

As we have a few recipes outlined below, making the oil is extremely straight forward. Just simply place all the measured amounts of oils into the bottle (make sure you don't cross contaminate your oils - so use one pipette for each oil), give it a gentle shake to mix them up and you are set!

A Few Recipes To Get You Started

Just like our beard oil and beard balm recipe posts, we are absolutely delighted to add to our ever expanding database of DIY recipes for all sorts of mens products with the addition of pre shave oil recipes. Here are a select few to get you started on your very own pre shave oil:

Classic Barbershop Pre Shave Oil

20ml Castor Oil

10ml Olive Oil

5ml Vitamin E Oil

10 drops Sandalwood Oil

Woodsy Pre Shave Oil

15ml Castor Oil

15ml Jojoba Oil

4 drops Tea Tree Oil

4 drops Pine Oil

Festive Holiday Pre Shave Oil

15ml Sweet Almond Oil

15ml Argan Oil

5 drops Nutmeg essential oil

2 drops Vanilla absolute essential oil

3 drops Bay essential oil

Unlocking The Joys Of Creating Your Own Pre Shave Oil
If you are a tinkerer like myself, you will likely love creating your own pre shave oil right away.

Its fun to get your hands dirty and create something that is valuable and that will also save you a bundle of money in the long run. Sure the whole concept of creating your first pre shave oil might be a bit daunting at first, but after a few tries, you will join the league of men that love doing this stuff all the time.

To even better demonstrate this, here are just how a few others from around the web love making their own pre shave oil themselves (these men are unaffiliated with this site):

The Shopping List To Get You Started

While we covered extensively everything that is involved to create your very own pre shave oil, here is a shopping list of some pre-qualified products that will help you get started on the right path to creating your very own do-it-yourself pre shave oil:

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DIY Pre Shave Oil: Follow This And Never Pay Full Price EVER Again

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Let's face it, pre shave oil is absolutely terrific and can be a great way to add in an extra layer of moisture, lubrication, and ultimately comfort into your shave routine. Sure there are definitely some men that have their reservations about its use within the morning ritual, but we here at Tools of Men absolutely love using this stuff on a regular basis.

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Do you want to know how to make homemade lotion bars? These homemade lotion bars are super easy to make! These homemade lotion bars are made with all natural, non-toxic ingredients that are super soothing to dry winter skin too!

The benefits of tallow for our skin are numerous! So for a homemade lotion bar, tallow is a great choice as one of the ingredients. But I also have added some very special essential oils to this particular homemade lotion bar recipe which are great for soothing winter skin: Lavender and Melrose! The other thing that is great about these homemade lotion bars is that they are travel friendly! No goopy lotions to deal with - just a nice homemade lotion bar you rub on your hands. You can easily store this homemade lotion bar in a tin in your purse or pack in your toiletry bag for a trip!

So let's get to the recipe for these easy homemade lotion bars, shall we?!

Homemade Lotion Bars
(makes about 12 lotion bars)
Ingredients

Directions

Using a glass bowl set over a simmering pot of water, gently melt beeswax, coconut oil/tallow, and shea butter. Stir ingredients until melted.
Remove from heat. Add essential oils and optional Vitamin E. Stir until blended, then pour into a mold. I like to use silicon molds.

Allow the mixture to cool until firm before removing from molds. You can place them in the fridge to speed things up a bit.
These bars will stay good for up to 6 months. Store in an airtight container ( I love these tins).

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Do you want to know how to make homemade lotion bars? These homemade lotion bars are super easy to make! These homemade lotion bars are made with all natural, non-toxic ingredients that are super soothing to dry winter skin too! The benefits of tallow for our skin are numerous!

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Beauty Archives | Page 7 of 11 | Wellness Mama®

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Beauty Archives | Page 7 of 11 | Wellness Mama®

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Beauty Archives | Page 7 of 11 | Wellness Mama®

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Conventional beauty products contain harmful chemicals and additives. These natural beauty recipes are alternatives to popular products and contain beneficial ingredients for your skin.

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Click above image for a full list of product reviews.
If you are a business and would like to get in contact in regards to a sponsored post or collaboration, via Jottiesjournal.com or on Instagram @jottiesjournal, please fill in the form below, thank you.

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Click above image for a full list of product reviews. If you are a business and would like to get in contact in regards to a sponsored post or collaboration, via Jottiesjournal.com or on Instagram @jottiesjournal, please fill in the form below, thank you.

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How to Save Money by Making Your Own Cleaning Products |

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How to Save Money by Making Your Own Cleaning Products |

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Making your own Cleaning Products

You may find yourself attached to a few favourite cleaning products that make your house squeaky clean, but a wonderful way to save some money and do the environment a massive favour at the same time is making your own cleaning products.

Luckily, a lot of the ingredients you need for your homemade cleaning products are items that may be lurking in your kitchen cabinets. And, if you have a few essential oils around the house already, great!

If not, these can be easily found in places like Boots or Holland and Barrett for a few pounds each. You only need one or two and they will last you a while (and make your house smell divine!)

My favourite essential oils to use for cleaning include lavender, eucalyptus, tea tree, sweet orange and lemon, so these are the ones we feature today, but go for whatever scent/s you like.

Whatever you use will make your house smell amazing, but with many essential oils also having anti-bacterial properties, they'll give your countertops and floors etc. a good clean at the same time. DIY cleaning products can work just as effectively as commercial, chemically-laden products, but they are a lot kinder on the pocket and the planet. Read on for some of our favourite recipes and give them a try yourself. You won't regret it!

Amazing All-Purpose Cleaner

What you'll need:

1 tsp borax

1/2 tsp washing soda (you can find this on amazon and in larger supermarkets)

1 tsb liquid castile soap

2 cups of warm water

10 drops of essential oil of your choice - great choices are lemon, lavender or sweet orange

How to make:

Place the borax, washing soda, castile soap and essential oils in a spray bottle (the bottles you need for your homemade products can be found in garden centres and some home goods shops, or online).

Add the warm water (distilled is best, but if you don't have it just make sure you boil the water first and then leave it to cool for a bit).

Put the lid on the bottle and give it a good shake. Et voila! It's really that simple. Use the spray as needed on kitchen and bathroom countertops and anywhere else you would use an all-purpose cleaner.

Fabulous Floor Cleaner

This is a great recipe for a grubby kitchen floor, but it'll work well on any floor that needs a good clean.

What you'll need:

* 2-3 litres of hot water
* A dollop of dishwashing liquid
* 60ml of vinegar
* A couple of shakes of washing soda
* A few drops of tea tree oil (this is the best essential oil for a deep clean, but you can use another oil instead if you prefer)

How to make:

Place everything in a big bucket and give it a good stir with your mop.

Soak the floor with your mop and leave it for about 10 minutes to let the cleaner work its magic.

Give the floor a mop and marvel at how clean it looks!

If you have any stubborn marks on the floor that won't shift, try buffing them away with a little eucalyptus oil on a clean white cloth.

Gorgeous Glass Cleaner

This gentle cleaner works wonderfully on windows and mirrors. To buff it in, use a microfiber cloth to avoid streakiness (or even a bit of newspaper if you don't have a cloth).

If you have detergent marks on your glass, consider adding a little castile soap to the following ingredients to get rid of the residue.

What you'll need:

* 16 fl oz of room temp. water (preferably distilled)
* 2 tbsps of vinegar
* 10 drops essential oils of your choice. Lemon is a great choice to help cut the unpleasant vinegar scent (which quickly dissipates!)

How to make:

Place the ingredients into a spray bottle and give it a good shake. And that's it!

Terrific Toilet Cleaner

This simple recipe will make your toilet look spotless and smell divine! What more can you ask for?!

What you'll need:

* 2 fl oz liquid castile soap
* 14 oz water
* 2 tbsps bicarbonate of soda
* 8-10 drops of essential oils (again, tea tree oil is a good bet here)

How to make:

Simply add all the ingredients to a large squirty bottle and give it a gentle shake.
To use, squirt the cleaner into the toilet bowl as needed and use a brush to scrub the toilet bowl clean.

Oh my gosh! Oven Cleaner

Conventional oven cleaners are not only pricey, they are also full of toxic nasties and so are best avoided.
Luckily, it's easy to make your own oven cleaner at home that is safe to breath in and a fraction of the cost of the shop-bought version!

What you'll need:

* 1 tbsp dishwashing liquid
* 180g bicarbonate of soda
* 5 drops of essential oil of your choice
* 60ml white vinegar
* Water as needed to make a thick paste

How to make:

Pop your ingredients into a bowl and give them a good stir. The mix should be thick but still spreadable.
Spread the mix all over your oven using a brush - an old pastry brush will work wonderfully for this job!
Leave the mix on overnight. You may see it foam up, but don't be alarmed; the mix is simply doing its job of lifting up the dirt and grime.
Fill your second bowl with water and use it to scrub your oven.
You may need to do this a few times to get all the dirt off but it'll be worth it once you see how lovely and clean your kitchen looks - and you didn't have to open all the windows and make sure the cat is in a different room to make it happen!

Remarkable Rug and Carpet Deodoriser

What you'll need:

* 225g of bicarbonate of soda
* 10 drops of your favourite essential oil

How to make:

Add the ingredients to a bowl and blend them together using a wooden spoon (essential oils can react with metal, so be sure that it's wooden). Pop the mix into an airtight container.
When you want to deodorize your rugs or carpets, simply shake a light layer of the mixture evenly over the top and let it sit for 15 minutes before you vacuum it off. Your carpets will smell nice, as will your house!
Now it's over to you! Have you dabbled with DIY cleaning products? Are there any you come back to time and time again because they're so effective? If so, we'd love to hear from you!

Guest post from MoneyNuggets

It is fantastic to have a guest post from a friend who can create amazing content that I would struggle to write. A huge thanks goes to Moneynuggets for sharing this fabulous information about home made cleaning products. I have also written a post for their website, which was published today too. Collaboration is good and allows us to share expertise and advice with our audience. M oneyNuggets is a career and personal finance blog for women who want to take charge of their finances and secure their future. Their goal is to empower women through financial education.

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How to Save Money by Making Your Own Cleaning Products |

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You may find yourself attached to a few favourite cleaning products that make your house squeaky clean, but a wonderful way to save some money and do the environment a massive favour at the same time is making your own cleaning products.

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house and home Archives - Happy Hooligans

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house and home Archives - Happy Hooligans

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house and home Archives - Happy Hooligans

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Crafts and Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

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So, you're moving. Fun! No, wait. The opposite of that. Moving sucks, but there are things you can do to make it suck maybe a little less.

If you can, start early. Don't think, "Oh, my move is ages away. There's nothing I can do this soon." That is not good thinking. That is the kind of thinking that leaves you crying in the middle of your half-packed kitchen an hour before you have to load up the truck. If you know you're moving start now. Yes, right fucking now.

Gather supplies. Don't worry if you can't acquire ten zillion boxes all at once. For now, make sure you have at least a few boxes, some large garbage bags, a few permanent markers, packing tape, paper for wrapping breakables, more garbage bags, and plenty of water. Seriously. Stay hydrated.

Figure out your system. Lots of people will tell you to color code your boxes, or make a master list of box numbers and what's in each one. However, we live in the real world where that kind of bullshit is just not going to happen. You do want to know what's in your boxes, though, so my personal system is to write the room the box goes in on the outside of the box, and then a quick inventory of what's in it, right on the box. So, rather than ten boxes that say "Kitchen," your boxes will say, "Kitchen: gadgets drawer, plastic containers, wine accessories," and "Kitchen: wine glasses and sangria pitcher." Or whatever.

Because you've so awesomely started as early as you can, you can actually sort through stuff as you pack. DO NOT PACK ANYTHING THAT YOU KNOW YOU WILL NOT WANT OR USE. Do not move what will eventually become garbage. Toss, recycle, or donate those things that will not be coming with you to your new place.

Start with the stuff you don't use often. If you can survive without it until your move, pack it up.

You can pack dishes and glasses and such before the last minute. Leave out one set of dishes, silverware, and glasses for each person in your household and pack the rest. In your final packing hours, pack all of that into one box and label it so you know to open it first so you have something to eat off of in your new place.

Work methodically. Start in one room, with one surface, shelf, or cabinet, and pack until the box is full and ready to be sealed and labeled. If you jump around a lot, you're going to get frustrated and overwhelmed.

Garbage bags work great for soft goods (pillows, clothes, whatnot); HOWEVER, make sure that they are clearly marked so they don't end up in the trash. If you can get your hands on clear bags, even better.

TAKE BREAKS. Let me repeat that. TAKE BREAKS. Moving is overwhelming and shitty, so make sure you're taking care of yourself throughout the process.

Once a box is packed, taped, and labeled, move it to a designated spot that's near where the boxes will exit your current home. No sense in moving stuff twice.

Clean as you go. Once you have an area packed up, clean it, so you don't have a last minute, total-home cleaning frenzy.

Work on packing every single day. Even if your move is far away, make it a goal to pack one box or work for 20 minutes every day. When you start missing days, it's really hard to get back into the habit.

This is pretty common advice, but in case you haven't heard it yet, pack a box that's all the stuff you'll need when you first arrive in your new place. Cleaning supplies, toilet paper, shower curtain liner, sheets, soap, etc. You don't want to have to be tearing through boxes looking for that stuff after you've just moved. Trust me.

Once you've moved, unpack as thoroughly as possible. Avoid having boxes that stay unpacked for two years after you've moved. Just like when you were packing, work every day on unpacking. Aim for a box a day, and that means fully empty it, and break down and recycle or store the box.

You can do this. It's a totally shitty process, but everyone goes through it, and if you're prepared and give yourself time and a system, you'll survive it. But you have to start now. Right now.

No, seriously. Right fucking now.

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So, you're moving. Fun! No, wait. The opposite of that. Moving sucks, but there are things you can do to make it suck maybe a little less. If you can, start early. Don't think, "Oh, my move is ages away. There's nothing I can do this soon." That is not good thinking.

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For the Love of Clean – The Science and Simplicity of Cleaning Your Home

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For the Love of Clean – The Science and Simplicity of Cleaning Your Home

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Get Started Here!

Household chemicals can be dangerous if used or mixed improperly. We've outlined the most common dangerous chemical reactions that can occur with cleaning products.
Read More

What does that even mean?

Smurfpee? BKF? Strip? Deep clean?
Not sure what any of this stuff means? Take a look at our glossary in Lingo Love for all the answers.
Read More

Uh oh! Now what do I do?

Have kids, pets or both? Check out this section for tips on how to clean those emergency spills and accidents.
Read More

Hi Everyone!
We have some very exciting news! It is now March, and that means spring is right around the corner, and spring cleaning is starting to sneak up on us.

In order to celebrate spring and help you get the right tools for your spring cleaning endeavors, we will be hosting our Spring into Cleaning Giveaway! Please join us March 17-20 for some fabulous prizes.

-The Laundry Love & Cleaning Science Admin Team

Welcome everyone! Are you looking for ways to simplify your life and keep your home clean? Do you have kids, pets, or both, and need help cleaning up a big mess? Well then, you're in the right place!

Click around the site to explore our exciting content. Not only have we compiled tips for the proper cleaning of many things in your home, we've included the science for why it works!

Please take the time to read through our section titled Safety Love. Household cleaning chemicals can be dangerous if not used properly, and we want to keep you, your family, and your stuff safe!

-The Laundry Love & Cleaning Science Admin Team

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Household chemicals can be dangerous if used or mixed improperly. We've outlined the most common dangerous chemical reactions that can occur with cleaning products. Read More Smurfpee? BKF? Strip? Deep clean? Not sure what any of this stuff means? Take a look at our glossary in Lingo Love for all the answers.

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Green Cleaning Ingredients You Should Never Mix - Bren Did

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Green Cleaning Ingredients You Should Never Mix - Bren Did

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Cleaning supplies made from from all-natural green cleaning ingredients such as vinegar, baking soda, Castile soap and hydrogen peroxide are amazing! In the correct combinations these green cleaning ingredients can leave your whole house sparkling (for only a few cents) while eliminating the need for toxic household chemicals.
Unfortunately...
Many natural DIY cleaner recipes found online combine ingredients that should NEVER be combined.

Some of the combinations simply neutralize one another, killing their cleaning power and wasting your money... while other combinations can produce dangerous reaction that can damage your lungs or home surfaces.

Ineffective Green Cleaning Ingredients

There are three green cleaning ingredient combinations that should NEVER be used in one DIY cleaning recipe. Learn about these ineffective combinations:

1. Hydrogen Peroxide + Vinegar = Peracetic Acid

Hydrogen peroxide and vinegar are both great natural cleaners and sanitizers, BUT combining them in a container creates a corrosive acid.

The risk: Bodily damage and/or damage to household surfaces. Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide create an acid when combined. Peracetic acid can irritate your skin, eyes, and respiratory system and can be corrosive to household surfaces.

How to use them effectively: You can use hydrogen peroxide and vinegar while cleaning, but always think of them as one-two punches...NEVER mix them into a cleaning solution bottle!

When I want to disinfect I simply screw a spray top onto my hydrogen peroxide bottle and another spray top onto my white vinegar bottle. I then spray and wipe with one cleaner and then the other. (This makes a great bathroom disinfecting cleaner when kiddos are sick.)

If you want a disinfecting cleaner you can mix and store in a bottle safely, try my Lemon Infused Disinfectant Spray Cleaner recipe or Natural Fabric and Room Refresher recipe (it doubles as a surface disinfectant) both disinfect the whole house!

2. Baking Soda + Vinegar = Water and Sodium Acetate

Baking soda and vinegar are a bubbling combination, BUT those bubbles are not doing any deep cleaning.

The risk: Wasting your money. Baking soda is basic while vinegar is acidic, their reaction produces water and sodium acetate. This is an ineffective homemade cleaning solution of water with a tiny amount of salt in it.

How to use them effectively: Don't waste your time cleaning with an ineffective cleanser! Instead use baking soda as a scouring agent to clean ovens, sinks, and bathrooms and simply rinse with tap water.

Use the vinegar as a scum busting glass cleaner or as an odor neutralizer. My favorite glass cleaner recipe combines vinegar and vodka to make your glass surfaces sparkle!

(Want to learn more about baking soda and vinegar? Read Why You Should Never Use Baking Soda and Vinegar to Clean Clogged Drains. If you are looking for a green drain cleaner check out How to Naturally Clean a Clogged Drain. I test and explain several green drain cleaning methods!)

3. Castile Soap + Vinegar = Gunk

Castile Soap and vinegar are versatile green ingredients with many uses, BUT combined in one cleaner they actually make your home dirtier.

The risk: Wasting money and time. Castile soap is basic while vinegar is acidic. When you combine the two you get a reaction that breaks down or unsaponifies the Castile soap, tuning it back out to its original oils. The mixture looks like a white, curdled gunk.

Instead of getting a great cleaner you are spreading ineffective gunk all over. Castile soap is expensive, don't waste it!

How to use them effectively: Do not combine Castile soap with acids (including lemon juice and vinegar). Instead, use the soap first and use vinegar as a rinse agent in your washing machine, dishwasher, or cleaning rinse water.

I use Castile soap in my Borax free homemade laundry detergent and liquid laundry detergent followed by my easy homemade fabric softener. It also works great in this laundry stain treater.

Clean your home naturally and effectively by avoiding these ingredient combinations. Don't be too hard on yourself if you have made any of these green cleaning mistakes, it is a learning process!

Get More "Dirt" on Green Cleaning Ingredients

I used to clean my disposal and drains with baking soda and vinegar. Whoops! Read How to Naturally Clean a Clogged Drain to see the green methods that work much better.

Some green cleaning recipes combine hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. This combination should never be stored in a closed container because it can explode, leak, or spray all over when opened. Learn why in Natural All Purpose Cleaner.

The next time you find a new DIY cleaner that you're not sure about stop by the Bren Did Facebook page and ask, I love trying new green cleaners!
Like my green cleaning tutorials? Sign up for my newsletter below and never miss a thing!

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Green Cleaning Ingredients You Should Never Mix

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Cleaning supplies made from from all-natural green cleaning ingredients such as vinegar, baking soda, Castile soap and hydrogen peroxide are amazing! In the correct combinations these green cleaning ingredients can leave your whole house sparkling (for only a few cents) while eliminating the need for toxic household chemicals. Unfortunately...

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DIY Zero Waste Dishwasher Powder That Actually Works! – eco boost

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DIY Zero Waste Dishwasher Powder That Actually Works! – eco boost

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I feel like I've finally hit that sweet spot of zero waste living. More bulk offerings are cropping up around London (I even found organic dried pasta sold loose this week!) meaning it's easier to find things without packaging, I've reduced our waste down to a few food scraps and I have FINALLY MANAGED TO MAKE A DIY DISHWASHER POWDER THAT ACTUALLY WORKS FOR ONCE! (insert godly music).

You know the struggle has been real if you've followed this blog or my YouTube channel for any length of time. I couldn't find any dishwasher tablets, especially eco friendlier ones that didn't come wrapped in plastic. Homemade dishwasher tablets were a massive fail as finding washing soda/soda crystals anywhere without plastic is pretty tricky here in the UK. No Arm & Hammer Washing Soda in a box for us! And I think the guy at Drik Pak who sell them in large plastic bags was getting tired of my constant email requests for a change of packaging.

I had attempted to make my own washing soda by heating bicarbonate of soda in the oven on a low temp for several hours which that trusty ol' source, the internet says can be done... I'm not entirely sure what I had at the end of it. Was it actually washing soda? (see below for UPDATE). The results were crumbly home made tablets that left everything coated in a white film and not very clean. More recently I had settled on using a large bulk bottle of Faith In Nature Dishwasher Gel... which works but still comes in plastic. Have I bored you enough yet?

Then, I found a soda crystals aka washing soda option that comes packaged in a cardboard box* instead of a plastic bag, with a small metal spout that can be easily removed. Both parts can be recycled. I decided to give some DIY recipes another go, starting with DIY dishwasher detergent. And with it being Plastic Free July, what better time to start. Could this be third PFJ time lucky?

I ordered a couple of boxes of Soda Crystals by Ecodoo from BigGreenSmile.com* and followed up with an email requesting no plastic packaging to which they replied confirming there would be none.

The soda crystals arrived in a repurposed brown cardboard box with brown paper tape and inside they were wrapped with a compostable food waste bag made from potato starch. My mother-in-law uses these for her food waste collection so I set it to one side to take to her. Better than plastic, but would have preferred a brown paper bag. I'm not a fan of compostable starch bags. I'll make sure I request that next time instead.

**UPDATE**

I have since found that I CAN make washing soda from bicarbonate of soda! I simply changed the temperature setting to 200 C (not F - as the instructions online I had followed suggested). Simply sprinkle bicarb/baking soda on to a tray and heat in the over on 200 C for about 30 mins to 1 hour until the colour turns duller/grey-ish and the texture is more grainy than powdery. It works!

I even bought some pH testing strips to compare this homemade powder to the box of Ecodoo Soda Crystal.... and they were exactly the same level! I'm pleased to say I have since used DIY washing soda in place of the Ecodoo ones in a box and it still cleans everything in the dishwasher really well.

DISHWASHER POWDER RECIPE

To make the dishwasher powder I mixed:
4 cups of soda crystals/washing soda * (some people use 2 cups of borax and 2 cups of washing soda instead) 1 cup of citric acid * (also available in a cardboard box with metal spout by Ecodoo * or most hardware shops sell it in a simple cardboard box by Dri Pak *) 1 cup of salt (I used sea salt that I bought from bulk)
Store in an air tight container such as a glass jar and sprinkle into the tablet chamber in the dishwasher when needed.

I also added vinegar to the rinse aid. Et voilà!

The results were surprisingly good. I've used this about 7-8 times already and each time the plates, glasses, cutlery etc have come out looking squeaky clean. Only once did they have a slight white film, which I simply polished off with a dry tea towel to reveal very shiny surfaces underneath. Perhaps I forgot to add vinegar to the rinse aid that time. Who knows?

**UPDATE** - SEPTEMBER 2017

Recently, we had a dishwasher service guy take a look at our machine as it had been playing up for several months (long before we started using my DIY dishwasher powder, might I add!). He cleaned out a pipe and also said we should run the dishwasher empty, then after half an hour, open it and pour in a cup of vinegar, and close the door and let it finish the cycle. The inside of our dishwasher after doing this, looked incredible! So shiny!

He recommended doing this once a month. How awesome that he was pro-vinegar and not insisting we buy some chemical laden product? Times, they are a-changing!

We also took a look at the manual - if you think getting married brings you closer as a couple, try setting your dishwasher via the manual instructions together....

It turns out our dishwasher can be set to suit the hardness of the local water. Who even knew that? We clearly didn't, and because we live in a rented flat I had kinda assumed everyone before us may have set it up correctly. So we played with the settings to suit a harder water level. London innit...

The machine is now working beautifully and I am so impressed with the DIY dishwasher powder! Two months on and it's still cleaning like a charm.

I have also started making an effective DIY laundry powder. I'll share that real soon! Domestic Goddess Awards... here I come! 😉

NOTE: Please remember that everyone's dishwasher and local water softness/hardness will be different so what has worked for me, may not work the same for you. Give it a go if you fancy and if it isn't up to scratch, don't give up! If there's one thing I've learned with zero waste, it's to keep exploring, keep experimenting and keep trying.... it's worth it in the end.

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DIY Zero Waste Dishwasher Powder That Actually Works!

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I feel like I've finally hit that sweet spot of zero waste living. More bulk offerings are cropping up around London (I even found organic dried pasta sold loose this week!) meaning it's easier to find things without packaging, I've reduced our waste down to a few food scraps and I have FINALLY MANAGED TO MAKE A DIY DISHWASHER POWDER THAT ACTUALLY WORKS FOR ONCE!

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Eco living: how to make natural spray cleaners - Telegraph

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Eco living: how to make natural spray cleaners - Telegraph

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Lemon and lavender: Lemon and bicarbonate of soda are classic cleaning partners, the acid of the lemon and the alkali of the bicarb producing vigorous fizzing. Lavender essential oil not only smells divine but is a natural bactericide. Squeeze the juice of three lemons into a mixing jug and add three teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda. When the fizzing dies down, add one drop of washing-up liquid, three drops of lavender essential oil and enough water to top the bottle (around one part lemon mixture to two parts water). Stir well and use immediately.

Verdict: A sublime natural scent of lemons and lavender made this spray a real joy to use. I made it in around three minutes at a cost of about 97 pence. It works well for wiping down lightly soiled work surfaces and dining tables but is not heavy-duty enough for tea and wine stains.

Recipe Two

Vinegar, rosemary and tea tree oil: Pop a sprig of rosemary into a saucepan and add about 150ml of white wine vinegar. Bring to the boil, remove from heat and leave to steep until the vinegar is cool. Add three teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda, one drop of washing‑up liquid and about three drops of tea tree oil. Stir and pour into spray bottle.

Verdict: This both smells, and behaves in, a more businesslike manner. The astringent properties of the rosemary and antiseptic and antibacterial properties of the tea tree oil mean that this packs a powerful cleaning punch. The tea tree oil has a clean, camphorous scent and masks the vinegar. The spray was more effective than the lavender and lemon mixture at removing cooking stains from my white melamine work surface. It even made short work of the build-up of grease and over-boiled coffee residue on the gas hob. Use cheap supermarket white wine vinegar and it comes out at around 87 pence.

Recipe Three

Vinegar, borax substitute and rose geranium oil:

Borax, a mineral compound, has been used for centuries as a cleaning agent. However it is an irritant and was recently listed as a Substance of Very High Concern on the European Union's list of restricted chemicals. Borax substitute is chemically similar to the mineral, but less of an irritant and is a compound of sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate.

Essentially it is a more powerful version of bicarbonate of soda. I bought mine from Summer Naturals ( summernaturals.co.uk) at £3.09 for 1kg, which will last me about 10 years.

Rose geranium oil is a natural deodorant as well as being slightly astringent and antiseptic but you can choose whichever essential oil you like best. Sweet orange oil works well here too.

Mix two heaped teaspoons of borax substitute with about 100ml of white wine vinegar in a jug large enough to contain the quite fierce fizzing that ensues. Add one drop of washing-up liquid, the essential oil of your choice and top up with warm water.

Verdict: The most powerful of the three spray cleaners, and I used it successfully all over the house, including the bathrooms. It is also the cheapest, costing less than about 60 pence to make, but you do need to order the borax substitute in advance.

All three are cheap, effective natural substitutes to shop-bought spray cleaners and if you keep the spray bottles, you will also save on plastic over the years. No more Mr Muscle.

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Eco living: how to make natural spray cleaners

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Lemon and lavender: Lemon and bicarbonate of soda are classic cleaning partners, the acid of the lemon and the alkali of the bicarb producing vigorous fizzing. Lavender essential oil not only smells divine but is a natural bactericide. Squeeze the juice of three lemons into a mixing jug and add three teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda.

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Home made eco friendly cleaning spray - Saving money every day

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Home made eco friendly cleaning spray - Saving money every day

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I dumped the Mr Sheen years ago and I have been using a mixture of vinegar and water to clean surfaces and furniture. It is very cheap and effective. I have also on occasion used bicarbonate of soda to scrub the bathroom. However, until now I haven't really explored any recipes for a home made eco friendly cleaner such as this one.

A home made eco friendly cleaning spray

I hate the idea of living in a house filled with chemicals and the damage that they do to the environment, but I can't afford the expensive eco-friendly cleaning products you find in the supermarket or health food shop.

Over the years a mixture of being very busy and laziness has meant that my cleaning cupboard has started to fill up with standard cleaners. I have bathroom cleaners, bleach, window cleaners, carpet cleaners, oven cleaners....what happened to my green credentials?! My cupboard is full of chemical cocktails in a sea of plastic bottles. Enough is enough!

As I run out of each cleaner I am going to experiment with a cheaper, greener home made alternative. The first has been a general purpose spray cleaner that I have so far used successfully in the kitchen and bathroom as well as the kitchen work surfaces.

This is extremely cheap and easy to make. I put it in an old spray bottle so less plastic waste too! I reckon it cost about 60p for a litre and I have loads of borax substitute left that should last ages.

Orange general household cleaner

An old spray bottle, washed out
2 heaped tsp borax substitute
4 or 5 drops of orange essential oil
100ml white vinegar
warm water

Use a large jug as this fizzes when you add the vinegar to the borax substitute. Start by mixing them together as much as you can. Add your orange oil and top up to the litre mark with warm water. Keep stirring until the borax substitute is dissolved, pour into your spray bottle and get cleaning!

I got my white vinegar from Asda for about 39p and the oil and borax substitute came from Summer Naturals.

Does anyone have some tried and tested eco friendly cleaning spray recipes they would like to share?

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Home made eco friendly cleaning spray - Saving money every day

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I dumped the Mr Sheen years ago and I have been using a mixture of vinegar and water to clean surfaces and furniture. It is very cheap and effective. I have also on occasion used bicarbonate of soda to scrub the bathroom.

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We are currently on week 7 of 8 and this week's Friday Focus is in a room of your choice!

(week 7 is your chance to pay extra attention to anywhere in your home that needs it!)
Hi! I believe that there's more to life than housework! But we still have to do it on a daily basis! It is part of being a grown-up! I'll show you how to get it done fast so you can concentrate on getting on with the fun stuff! TOMM (The Organised Mum Method) is a realistic and manageable way to keep on top of your home without having to sacrifice time and FUN! If you want to have a home that looks great, have weekends that are free of housework AND still have time in the week to get on with the stuff that you actually enjoy ... then you are in the right place. I hope you like it here. I don't take myself too seriously, am up for a laugh and am always around if you have a question. ❤️ Below is a breakdown of how The Organised Mum Method works ... however, if you are in need of an emergency intervention and your home has been somewhat neglected recently then get up to speed with The 1 Week Bootcamp. After this, your home will be prepped and ready to start The Organised Mum Method. The full cleaning routine can be downloaded (FOR FREE) HERE So How Does it Work? There are 3 levels of jobs: Level 1: Everyday Jobs I'm Gem 🙂 I'm going to help you get the housework sorted in super quick time. You'll be so happy that you found this blog (it will revolutionise the way you look at housework) that you will want to be my best mate and buy me presents (I like Champagne).
These never change and are the same every day. This is the minimum that needs to be done in order to maintain an orderly home. This is supposed to be a quick top-level tidy - It should take no longer than 15 minutes. These are not included in your 30 mins because it is assumed that you are doing some (if not all of them) already ... these jobs come with the territory of being an adult!

Quick floor clean of main living areas. This obviously depends on what floors you have (carpets, tiles or wood floors). If you have hard flooring mop at least once a week.

1 load of laundry

Quick clean of bathrooms, this includes a mop of the floors at least once a week.

Make beds

Level 2: Day Specific Tasks - THE 30 MINUTES!
A little word on bathrooms... bathrooms are included in your level 1 jobs but you don't have to do the same thing in there every day. Make sure you change it up so that all areas of the bathroom are getting attention. So, for example, one day you might tackle the floors and another day you might do the mirror and sink (I do clean the toilet daily though).
Wednesday: Entrance Hall and stairs Level 3: Friday Focus - THE SECRET BEHIND TOMM
Each day is assigned specific jobs. These won't change so you will always know that Thursday is kitchen day and Monday is living room day (I have been using this method for 12 years - That makes me feel old! And I know the days off by heart now). This will allow you to move your focus around the home, making sure that everywhere gets dealt with every week. Spend no more than 30 minutes on these - it doesn't matter if you don't get everything done, you will be back in the same area on the same day next week! And remember the longer you follow the method, the cleaner your house will become and it will be easier and quicker to clean! When you first start, look at the list of jobs as a pick and mix and start with the most urgent first, then work your way through. Pretty soon you'll be smashing through it!

Friday: Focus day - see next tier.
Week 6: Week 8: Garden/Outside Space Don't forget to follow along with TeamTOMM on Instagram and Facebook, where I post daily and am around to answer any questions you might have 🙂 AND for those of you who like to have a good old dance when you do your housework (I mean who doesn't?!) then I upload a new playlist every day on my YouTube channel. You will find them under playlists! What are you waiting for? Go and Rock The Housework! Entrance Hall and Stairs
In order to make sure your home gets a deep clean in all areas on a regular basis there is Friday Focus.

Each Friday we concentrate on a different area of the home making sure that the jobs that need doing less frequently, such as cleaning the oven (hate that job!), get done regularly too. There is an 8-week cycle for this. Again only spend 30 minutes on this.

So there you have it The Organised Mum Method. I hope it helps you to keep your home organised and a pleasure to live in!

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrO0XdfeN6s We are currently on week 7 of 8 and this week's Friday Focus is in a room of your choice! (week 7 is your chance to pay extra attention to anywhere in your home that needs it!) Hi! I'm Gem 🙂 I'm going to help you get the housework sorted in super quick time.

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Homemade Wood Cleaner (it's wood polish, too!) | Scratch Mommy

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Homemade Wood Cleaner (it's wood polish, too!) | Scratch Mommy

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Kids and nice stuff don't mix. I mean, like not at all. When I was expecting my first child, we were gifted an amazing highchair that is made of beautiful solid wood and pulls right up to the table. I loved it because it meant our little ones could eat with us at the table instead of being stuck all by themselves in a highchair with a plastic tray.
...I now get why the plastic trays exist.
With our highchair, our little ones have to eat their food directly on the table which makes such a mess that I have to clean the table multiple times a day. I tried putting placemats down (which are promptly thrown to the floor), only offering food on plates or in bowls (the food never stays in them), and even tried only offering non-messy foods (infants can make anything a sticky mess). Nothing worked, so eating straight off the table was the only option.

Between art projects, , mealtimes, and other activities that always seem to surround the table, It gets pretty messy and needs to be cleaned often. starting seedlings But the more I clean the table with soap, the more worn the wood looks. Wood cleaners and polishes work great for restoring the wood, but they're often quite toxic. Now that my youngest is nearing 2 she is much better about using a placemat and eating from a plate, but there is still plenty of food that gets chewed up, placed on the wood table, and often chewed again! Since my toddler still eats right off the table it's especially concerning what might be in the wood polish (and subsequently, going into her food and then her body). So I came up with a recipe that is safe, natural, and really works to clean and condition wood.

Each ingredient has it's own part in making this recipe both safe and effective. So, let's dig into and dissect the ingredients in this homemade wood cleaner recipe...

Olive Oil

Olive oil is used to shine, moisturize, and protect the wood. Many people use mineral oil instead of olive oil, but I choose not to. Mineral oil is a petroleum product so it's not natural or sustainable. Mineral oil does last longer than olive oil but making smaller batches of cleaner can fix that problem easily. Learn more about different carrier oils that you could use in this recipe.

White Vinegar (or ACV)

Vinegar cuts through the greasy, grimy, yuckiness that gets stuck to the table after meals. It's also mildly disinfecting. If you are using this on dark woods you can use apple cider vinegar.

Lemon Juice

Also a mild disinfectant, lemon juice adds a nice fresh scent to your new homemade wood cleaner.

Vegetable Glycerin

Vegetable glycerin helps make the wood shine and keeps the shine longer. Although vegetable glycerin is optional in this recipe, I highly recommend it. In fact, Scratch Mommy Founder Jess loves using vegetable glycerin in many of her DIY recipes (and in her Pronounce Skincare product line, too).

Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender and lemon juice are a fantabulous combination for a subtle clean scent.

Knowing the finish of your wood is important in deciding how to care for the table. Many tables manufactured recently are a hard surfaced wood finish so you can use this recipe as often as you like.

Oil and wax finished tables need a more gentle cleaning routine. Usually just a simple soft cloth can remove dust and debris, while you should wet it for tougher messes.

Our table is an oiled wood table. Dusting gently with a damp cloth is usually enough but since I have to scratch dried food off of it often(!), I have to do a little more. I use this recipe to clean the table and if the wood looks worn afterwards I add some pure olive oil and let it soak into the wood.

This safe, non-toxic recipe is so easy to make and I bet you have all of the ingredients laying around already!

Shop Scratch Mommy Founder Jess's skincare line - Pronounce Skincare® - for the finest in handcrafted skincare solutions. Created with certified organic ingredients that you can always... pronounce!

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Homemade Wood Cleaner (it's wood polish, too!) | Scratch Mommy

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Kids and nice stuff don't mix. I mean, like not at all. When I was expecting my first child, we were gifted an amazing highchair that is made of beautiful solid wood and pulls right up to the table.

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Homemade Dusting Spray and Wood Polish - Nourishing Joy

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Homemade Dusting Spray and Wood Polish - Nourishing Joy

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Despite what some may think when they walk into my house on any given afternoon, I actually really like to clean.

(It's just the having to do lots of it every day that gets a little tiresome.)

One of the tasks I enjoy most is dusting. Perhaps it was because my mother taught me how to be a stickler and derive satisfaction from getting every piece of furniture completely clean. Or perhaps it's just because the house simply looks and smells cleaner when I'm done.

Whatever the reason, I enjoy it.

The problem is, however, that I haven't always had the right tools to get the job done right. Either the dusting spray has left the furniture surface greasy or tacky, or has smelled noxious. And even when I did find a "natural" spray I liked, it cost a pretty penny.

So (as usual), I set about on a mission to figure out a homemade version. And (as usual) I started by flipping over my favorite products and looking at their ingredients.

I must say, this is one of the homemade products that I am MOST pleased with. I've been using it for a number of years now and even with various grubby toddler hands and lots of life happening in our house, the surfaces polish up beautifully without any residues.

Which reminds me - please check out these wood care notes. In doing the research for this recipe, I learned that there's more to wood care than one might think!

Wood: Making It Shine - from Dr. Bronner's

Mineral Oil vs. Olive Oil in Wood Care (see the comments of this post) - from Amy Bayliss

Homemade Dusting Spray
You can make a simpler dusting spray with just olive oil and vinegar (and essential oils, if desired). See below for details.
¾ cup water
1 T olive oil
2 T vodka (or white vinegar)
2 T white vinegar
1 T liquid glycerin (optional) - see where to buy glycerin
30-40 drops essential oil (clove, orange, lemon, etc)
¼ teaspoon xanthan gum - see where to buy xanthan gum
½ teaspoon emulsifying wax, melted - see where to buy emulsifying wax

Place the water, olive oil, vodka, vinegar, glycerin, and essential oils in a blender and blend on high. While the motor is still running, add in the xanthan gum and emulsifying wax. Process for 10-15 seconds until slightly thickened.

Pour into a spritz bottle and use once a week.

Lasts up to 3 months.

Homemade Dusting Spray - Simplified Version

3/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
30-40 drops essential oil, optional (clove, orange, lemon, etc)

Place in a large spray bottle and shake vigorously. Spray directly on furniture (being careful of overspray) and buff with a clean, dry cloth.

The Ingredients

Olive Oil - Olive oil shines the wood and protects it. Olive oil has been used for millenia in this capacity, but some would argue that mineral oil should be used instead so that there's no chance of rancidity. As usual, my opinion falls in the camp of "whichever option is more naturally derived and requires less processing is the best one." Olives can be pressed by hand - mineral oil requires multiple industrial cleaners to extract and clean it from the crude oil brought up out of the earth. Therefore, I choose the former. You may choose the latter - it's up to you (and I won't think less of you for it).

Vodka - Vodka is the secret weapon in many of my favorite cleaning recipes, and in this case, is present to cut through grease and grime on the wood surface, then evaporates quickly so there's no residue and no streaks.

White vinegar - White vinegar also cuts through grease and grime residues. It also acts as a mild disinfectant.

Liquid glycerin - Glycerin is an optional ingredient, but one that I really like to include whenever possible because it leaves a nicer shine on varnished and painted wood and I find it buffs more easily.

Essential oil (clove, orange, lemon, etc) - These are present merely for scent. They will certainly also impart whatever beneficial properties are inherent to that specific essential oil, but the purpose here is to make your home smell lovely and clean... in a natural, non-toxic way!

Xanthan gum - Xanthan gum is a thickener so that the homemade dusting spray has the same lovely viscosity as store-bought dusting sprays.

Emulsifying wax - This is present for two reasons: one, it acts as a binder so that the ingredients stay homogenous once they're all blended together, and two, to provide a very slight protective coating on the wood. Waxes have long been used to seal and protect and the small amount here just fills in surface scuffs and scratches to give a smoother, glossier, protected finish.

And why emulsifying wax rather than beeswax? Well, they both work, but beeswax doesn't firm up as nicely and is thus just slightly tacky. Beeswax is sometimes easier to source though, so it is an acceptable option.

Like to make your own cleaners?

Check out a few of our other favorites:
Homemade Bleach
Homemade Bathtub Scrub (with a surprising secret ingredient)

Homemade Glass and Mirror Cleaner - oh, yeah. I haven't published this one yet. Soon - it's absolutely lovely! In the meantime, it's available in my e-book, Clean, Naturally!

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Homemade Dusting Spray and Wood Polish - Nourishing Joy

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Despite what some may think when they walk into my house on any given afternoon, I actually really like to clean. (It's just the having to do lots of it every day that gets a little tiresome.) One of the tasks I enjoy most is dusting.

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Believe it or not, most of us have almost all the ingredients we need to make some healthier cleaners right at home, saving us time and money. Some of the products you should always have around include baking soda, white vinegar, bleach, dish soap, hydrogen peroxide, cornstarch, Dawn Dish Detergent (the blue original version), and spray bottles.

NOTE: Unless otherwise noted, always use the Original Dawn (the blue one) when the recipe calls for that specific one.

Do not substitute other dish soaps. And when a recipe refers to vinegar, it's white vinegar.

REMINDER: Always, always label the contents of the bottles. If you are using leftover bottles, try to remove the original label. Another option is to buy brand new bottles, which are very inexpensive at grocery stores, drug stores, retail stores like Target and Wal-Mart, and dollar stores.

Multi-Purpose Cleaner

Mix together 1 part vinegar and 1 part warm water, along with ½ part of baking soda. If you want it scented, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil.

Stain Removers

Stain Remover #1
If you have pets or kids, you'll especially appreciate these stain removal recipes. Mix together 2 parts hydrogen peroxide with ¼ part baking soda. Mix well and pour into a spray bottle (a funnel helps here). Spray on the stain and let sit for a few minutes before scrubbing with a rag or brush. (We love wire bristle brush sets).

Let dry. Repeat for really bad or old stains.
Stain Remover #2
Mix together 2 parts of Hydrogen Peroxide and 1 part Dawn Dish Detergent. Mix together in a spray bottle. Spray generously on the stain. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Scrub with a towel or scrubbing brush, blot with paper towels, and let dry.

Disinfectant Spray

Mix equal parts vinegar and water. Add several drops of essential oil (whichever scent you like). Mix well in a spray bottle. Did you know essential oils have antibacterial properties? Spray on whatever you need to disinfect and wipe clean.

Window Cleaner

Need to clean windows and mirrors? Try this instead of the well-known retail options. Mix together ¼ cup vinegar, 2 ½ cups water and ½ teaspoon of Dawn Dish Detergent. Mix together in a spray bottle. If you want a scented cleaner, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil.

Garbage Disposal Cleaner

For regular cleaning and maintenance, make sure to run your disposal every day or at least every other day. To freshen the disposal, put in ½ of a lemon. You can even use one you've already juiced. Turn on the disposal with the lemon in it and run until the lemon is completely broken down.

Also, add a few ice cubes into the garbage disposal about once or twice a week and turn on the disposal until the ice is broken down. The ice will help dislodge any food particles that are stuck in the blades. Run the tap water for 30-60 seconds afterward.

To clean the disposal, follow the recipe for drain cleaner, below.

Drain Cleaner, Clog Remover, Drain Freshener

Pour 1 cup of baking soda into the drain.

Add 1 cup of distilled vinegar. You'll see lots of foaming as the vinegar interacts with the baking soda. Let it sit for 30 minutes and don't use it at all. After 30 minutes, pour down 1 cup of boiling water (or run very hot water for 15 to 30 seconds). For stubborn clogs, you may need to repeat.

Air Cleaner and Purifier

Did you know there are actually household plants that clean the air?

It's a simple, natural way to purify the air in your home. All you have to do is water them when needed. When staging, plants are also a great accessory or décor item that stagers and agents recommend. It's always good to have fresh plants or flowers in your home. So, household plants do triple duty. They are pretty to look at, work great as staging accessories that you can also take with you, and they purify the air.

Bathroom Freshener

Finally, here's a bonus tip for making your bathroom smell fresh and clean. Add several drops of your favorite essential oil on the cardboard section of your paper towel roll. What we use is really a matter of preference. But remember, for staging you want fresh, clean, neutral scents. w recommend something like lavender or vanilla.

These are just a few simple, inexpensive recipes for homemade cleaners. These are especially great for staging because they won't leave that chemical smell in your home.

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Believe it or not, most of us have almost all the ingredients we need to make some healthier cleaners right at home, saving us time and money. Some of the products you should always have around include baking soda, white vinegar, bleach, dish soap, hydrogen peroxide, cornstarch, Dawn Dish Detergent (the blue original version), and spray bottles.