Homemade Air Freshener

Homemade Air Freshener

I have been thinking for quite awhile about making some air freshener, but I did not get around to make any. It is very handy for a family with small children, specially if you are still potty training a couple of the babies.

So today needing a gift for a birthday, I got the courage to make a batch. So far, I have to admit it smells and looks good.

Materials needed:

Small jars (I have plenty of babyfood bottles, so I used those. A good way to recycle ;) )

Wooden spatula (I used waxing sticks)

Measuring spoon 

Ingredients:

Unflavored Gelatin (I use Knox gelatin)

Food coloring

Water

Essential oil (I used lavender )

Preparation:

I put my bottles out and open the tops (don't through the caps away, you will need those). I opened my gelatin packages and emptied one in each bottle. 

Then poured 60ml of boiled water (had just boiled in teakettle) in each bottle and quickly stirred the gelatin in the boiled water (if you can get all the gelatin mixed, it would be good. I got some lumps in the water, I could not melt all the gelatin in the water. I think next time I might use a small whisk or fork for mixing). 

I put three drops of food coloring in each bottle and stirred. And added 60ml of cold water in each bottle and stirred some more with spatula. 

As you can see from the picture, there are some lumps in the liquid. 

Since the mix is not too hot and not hard, it is the best time to add the essential oil. I added 10 drops of lavender in each bottle. Then I placed my bottles on a tray and put them in the fridge as I needed them to cool off and get jellied sooner (the upcoming party in about 2 hours).  You can just let them sit over night and it would be jellied in the morning and ready to use.

Now you can see, the mix is jellied and staying in its place, put the cap back and package it however your want it. I just wrapped a strip of gift wrap around the bottle to make it more presentable. 

When you want to use it, you can just make holes on the cap for the scent to spread around your bathroom etc or you can just take the cap off.

Homemade Lotion

As part of my DIY and 'green' project, I made my very first lotion at home and it was not as hard or time consuming as I had assumed.

Ingredients:
Beeswax 1ounce
2 TBSP Organic Shea Butter
2 TBSP Organic Coconut Oil
2 TBSP Organic Olive Oil
1 TBSP Vitamin E
40 drops essential oil of your choice (I used Lavender)

Direction:
In a pot melt beeswax. Then add your oils and once they have are mixed, take your mix off the heat and add your vitamin E. At the end you add your essential oil and mix well and pour it in container of your choice and let it cool down all the way before putting your skin.

I have bought all my products from iHerb.com (gift code: CHG895). 

Hardwood Floor Cleaner

Natural Hardwood Floor Natural Cleaner

Using professional products is an effective option for cleaning and maintaining surface-finished wood floors; but, it is possible to use a natural hardwood floor cleaner as well. A natural solution, made at home, is non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and effective. While some substances can cause dullness, or eventually ruin the finish, a homemade recipe using warm water and essential oils will clean and disinfect, without harming the wood or surface.


Vinegar and Lemon for Cleaning Hardwood Flooring

A simple, natural, and effective homemade wood floor cleaner is made from diluting one half cup of vinegar in one gallon of warm water. With an excellent finish, a natural hardwood floor cleaner made with vinegar, or lemon juice, will probably be fine. Over time however, a highly acidic substance may have a negative effect. Acids can wear down the finish, causing a dull floor. Be careful when using this solution on surface-finished floors, and never use on wax hardwood floors. Always mop up any moisture after cleaning.


Oil as a Natural Hardwood Floor Cleaner

Olive oil or vegetable oil can also be used to clean and add luster to a hardwood floor. Either mix equal parts of olive oil and vinegar, or two parts oil to one part of lemon juice. Using a small amount, rub into the entire surface with a dry mop. When finished, go over the entire floor with a clean cloth. The negative of using oil is that over time it can build-up on the surface of the floor, making professional treatment more difficult. Also, be careful of a slippery, oily surface.


Essential Oil Homemade Wood Floor Cleaner

Using essential oils to make a homemade wood floor cleaner offers a natural, eco-friendly product, with no negative repercussions for long-term use. Essential oils are inherently antibacterial, and unlike vinegar, they smell beautifully. As they are highly concentrated, only use a very small amount. Eight to ten drops of essential oil is sufficient for one gallon of warm water. Lemon, eucalyptus, and lavender all work well as cleansing essential oils, although other kinds can be used.

Clean a floor with this natural solution with a damp mop, making sure no excess water is used. Buff the surface after cleaning to ensure there is no moisture remaining, and to enhance shine. To preserve hardwood, do this treatment after sweeping or vacuuming weekly, or every two weeks, depending on how much a floor is used.

Article from here

Dish Soap

Homemade Liquid Dish Soap

A natural, liquid homemade dish soap is easy to make with simple household ingredients!
Why make your own? Cheaper, less packaging waste and you’ll know exactly what it is made from. After all, you eat from your dishes!

Natural Dish Soap Recipe #1:
liquid Castile soap
water
2-5 drops essential oil of choice*
*Some essential oils options are lavender, lemon, cinnamon, clove, peppermint, tea tree, etc. This is optional and purely for scent – though all of these essential oils do also have anti-septic properties. Purchase a concentrated liquid castile soap which will be dilluted with water in equal parts.

Natural Dish Soap Recipe #2:
1/2 cup grated soap
3 cups hot water
2-5 drops essential oil of choice (optional)
Grate a bar of natural castile soap with a vegetable peeler and add to hot water (boil on stove if necessary) to dissolve.

Tough, Grease Cutting Dish Washing Recipe
1/2 bar shaved castile soap
1/4 cup baking soda
1 tablespoon washing soda
1 quart of hot water
The washing soda (sodium carbonate) makes this solution more caustic and helps to cut grease.

What, no suds?

None of these basic natural recipes will yield a sudsy soap. Why? Because suds aren’t necessary to clean anything. In fact, they actually make soap less effective because it becomes harder to rinse off from a surface. Suds in commercial soaps are from the surfectants that are added because consumers like suds. People think that suds = soap that works. Not true, don’t be duped by this! Not only are surfectants not necessary to clean, they are often nasty chemicals…sodium lauryl sulfate to name a common one.


The recipe is taken from here