It's easy bein' green. I have started making my own laundry detergent and fabric softener (thanks, Anna!), which brings me weird satisfaction, and have made my own household cleansers for awhile now. I would recommend viewing An Inconvenient Truth ( http://www.climatecrisis.net/) even if you are decidedly not an Al Gore fan (I would fall into this category).
Recipes for environmentally responsible cleansers (very inexpensive--much more so than store-bought; prevents development of superviruses), taken from Martha Stewart Living and http://www.modcottage.com/:
All Purpose Cleanser
2 c water
2 T liquid dish soap
several drops tea tree (melaleuca) oil, available at Wal-Mart and most drugstores
Mix in a spray bottle.
Mold Reducer, Toilet Bowl Deodorizer
2 w water
2 t tea tree oil
Mix in a spray bottle. Spray liberally and leave 20 min. before flushing.
Window Cleaner
2 c water
1/4 c vinegar
Mix in a spray bottle.
Laundry Detergent
1 bar Fels Naptha, grated (I use my cheese grater!)
1 c washing soda
1 c Borax
Mix together. Use 1 T per load; 2 T for large or heavily soiled loads (definitely my family).
Fabric Softener
white vinegar
20-30 drops essential oil (we love lavender!)
Kids' educational stuff. I am a hopeless addict. Sites I (and my kids) like right now: http://www.kidsites.com/, http://www.kids.nationalgeographic.com/, http://www.starfall.com/, even http://pbskids.org/caillou for creative fun with them. (And I wouldn't do Baden justice without mentioning http://disneygo.com/disneypictures/cars. Where would he be without Lightning McQueen?) My not-so-aha! recent find was Mardel, with all the guilty pleasures an education-loving mother could find.
Correspondence. I love sending/receiving handwritten notes! Of course, writing in general makes me sigh with contentment.
Reading. I have to keep this under control! I read because I like to read and because I like to write. Do not miss: Desiring God, Sacred Marriage, The Poisonwood Bible. John would add Safely Home.
Ceramics. This is a new thing, partially because of this little local pottery studio I found that really has phenomenal prices and a godly owner. If you live in Little Rock and want to paint/make some pottery, check out JFF Ceramics in Alexander.
Anything creative, including cooking, calligraphy, making cards, frosting the perfect birthday cake for my children.
Not dropping the ball. With this many kids and this little time, I have to really focus on being responsible! Aaah! (There was an old woman who lived in a shoe...) People who succeed in my stage of life, besides having God carry them (!), are often creative and administrative.
3 comments:
Thanks for the info on the cleaners- here's to hopin' to not only add that to my "to do" list, but to actually getting it done.
Hee Hee!! Love the blog.
I *heart* tea tree oil...and I made some natural insect repellent with EOs earlier this summer: http://funmajors.blogspot.com/2008/06/natural-insect-repellent.html
I'm curious about your laundry detergent - do you only use 2T, or add it along with your normal amt? And, what is Fels Naptha? When do you add the fabric softner to the clothes - like normal, during the rinse cycle? How much do you use?
and one last thing - have you seen this post? http://artfulparent.wordpress.com/2008/08/01/an-im-not-a-dirty-hippie-party/ and the follow up: http://artfulparent.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/natural-products-follow-up/
I made the dishwasher formula (only to use WAAAAY too much - bubbles were floating out of my kitchen.) Make sure to only fill the container 1/2 full. Jean told me in an email that she only fills hers about 1/4 full.
I want to make the deodorant (b.c of family history with alzehimers). I've almost stopped wearing the store bought stuff (I don't sweat much and try to stay inside!) OK - that's all...for now. :)
scratch the Q re: Fels Naptha. I googled. :)
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