Going Chemical Free(ish)

My husband gets really bad allergies, so a few years ago I decided I would do a little research on things that I could be doing to help him out. I stumbled upon some blogs about chemical free living-which at the time was a completely foreign idea to me! I decided that I wanted to try this, within reason and slowly switching things over. Nothing too drastic, but just trying to do more homemade cleaners and illuminating some of the chemicals from our home! I also decided this would be a lot more budget friendly which sold me even more! 

My first homemade cleaner was laundry detergent - which we loved from the first time I made it and have never used store bought detergent again! 

Well one day several months later, I found the cleaning section at Dollar Tree a little too appealing and I bought a lot of household cleaners! As I began to use them, i realized I didn't really like the way any of them smelled, even noticed getting headaches when cleaning, and decided that as soon as I ran out of that supply, i was going to start making my own. 

One evening, while trying to finish up some all-purpose cleaner, it splashed in my eye {OUCCCCHHH!!!} and I ended up in a Walk - In clinic with an entire IV being drained through my eye. We had called poison control and after describing the symptoms and after flushing it with water for an hour - they suggested us go to the ER.

That was all it took to officially end my relationship with store bought cleaners. Especially knowing that there will soon be a little one running around the house - I couldn't stand the thought of him/her getting into any of those chemicals! I emptied every bottle of my Dollar Tree cleaners that next day and began making my own.

I have experimented a lot with different recipes and will continue to, but this was my first All-Purpose cleaner that I made, and I have really liked it! 

I have read that it is better to buy new bottles that have not had chemicals in them at all, but for me it made the most sense to just clean the bottles I already had and let them soak in hot water for a few hours then air dry. I figured that was good enough! 

 I painted over that label, {wanting no reminders of the lovely effects of chemical cleaners} and wrote down exactly what I had put in the bottle! This ended up being very helpful when I ran out, I knew exactly what to put back in.

I am not a huge fan of the smell of vinegar, however, I am getting more used to it and the essential oils really do help. I have noticed that pretty much as soon as the solution has dried, I don't smell the vinegar and everything feels super clean and the only scent that is left is from the essential oils!

I have mostly used this in the kitchen, but a few times in the bathrooms as well.

I have a lot of other cleaners I want to try and will hopefully be doing soon! 

Get rid of ants - chemical free!

We went on a wonderful one night staycation this weekend in McKinney, TX! If you ever get a chance to spend time there, you should! Wonderful restaurants, shops, and adorable down town area! Plus several antique stores - ahhh love!

We got back to realize that ants had taken over one wall in our bathroom! Since trying to simplify and go chemical free{ish} I decided to try to get rid of them without harsh chemicals! 

I mixed Borax with maple syrup and rubbed just a little bit on the wall in the middle of their 'path'

BORAX

MAPLE SYRUP 

{mix until becomes a paste}

Just to ensure that they saw the mixture, I cut the top off of a muffin liner, put the borax - maple syrup mixture in it, and placed that on the floor under them! [In the future I don't even think this will be necessary - they never even made their way down to the floor]

Literally within an hour those little boogers were gone, and have yet to return! 

I think the maple syrup draws the ants in and the borax illuminates them! 

I had no idea this would be so successful, but definitely keeping this in mind for future ant invasions!!!! 

homemade laundry detergent

Making my own laundry detergent is something that I find so much joy in! Its actually fun to do, and it saves SO much money! I have only made it 3 times in a year (5 gallons each time) and the ingredients I bought will last MANY more!!!!

I use a 5 gallon bucket that I bought at Lowe's! 

Ingredients

• 4 cups boiling water
• 1 soap bar (I use Zote, but have seen Fels Naptha or Ivory soap used)
• 1 cup Washing Soda
• 1/4 cup Borax
• 60 drops Lavender essential oil (I've seen recipes where they use lemon oil, grapefruit, clove--Really the possibilities are endless depending on your own personal preference)

What to do: 

• Grate the soap bar using a cheese grater. 
• Slowly add the soap flakes to the boiling water in a saucepan! The slower you add it the quicker it will all melt. Stir until it is all melted.
• Once melted...fill the 5 gallon bucket 3/4ths with hot water.
• Add the melted soap mixture, the washing soda and borax and stir until all is mixed and dissolved.
• Finish filling the bucket with hot water.
• Let it sit over night, the next day stir the mixture then add in the essential oils and stir one last time! 

You are ready to go! For top load washing machines, use 1 cup for front load use 1/2 cup per load! 

I have a smaller container that I use to make it easier. I fill the small container and use that when doing laundry. That way I can shake it before each use and make sure it is all mixed well, plus it is just easier to work with than a 5 gallon bucket!