Heart Full – Shine the light

I finally found it! Borax! Just about all the DIY recipes I read about called for Borax. For the most part, I’d been substituting Arm & Hammer’s Super Washing Soda for Borax, but I preferred the recommended stuff. Despite what they say online, it’s not readily available in every supermarket. I had to visit three, and endure my husbands’ dubious looks, “you know … borax is what they put IN detergents NOT sold seperately.” But it is, and I finally found mine. NYCYogini’s clean and green line is back on track.

Not all DIY’s are created equal. Through some trial and error I’ve found some great green recipes, which hopefully will help you start greening your life too!

For the Home….

Carpet Cleaner
All Purpose Cleaner
(hand) Washing Detergent

For the yogini in you…

Soothing Sugar Exfoliant

Baking Soda for the Carpet from repair-home
Sprinkle the baking soda on the carpet and mist the area with hot water. If it’s a really tough stain or odor, apply a lot of baking soda and scrub with a stiff brush. Leave the baking soda on to soak and work it’s magic, then vacuum it. Rinse the area with water and use the wet vacuum to drink up the water.

All Purpose Cleaner: By all purpose, I mean *all purpose*. I’ve used the recipe to clean everything from the cooking grime in my kitchen (oven, counters, and all), to my algae hotbed bathroom.

– 1/4  cup Washing Soda ( you can use baking soda– for softer scrub)

– 1/8 cup of Vinegar

– Squeeze fresh lemon

Other good recipes I’ve found — and will likely try at some point:

• Green Choices General resource for green non-toxic house hold products
• Real Simple - Good recommendations for what can be used to clean what.
• Main Street DIY - Planning on trying their laundry detergent recipe.

Washing Detergent (hand) inspired from TipNut

1 part baking / washing soda
1 part borax
2 part water (tipnut suggests just 1 part)
Squeeze a nice slice of fresh lemon (tipnut suggests essential oil)
1-2 drops of tea tree essential oil for disinfectant (my own)

Mix thoroughly

Soothin’ Sugar Exfoliant

It doesn’t just take away all those dead cells, it polishes our skin, making it summery and sumptous!

– 1 Cup Brown Sugar
– 1/2 Cup Sweetened Almond Oil
– 1 tsp Vitamin E (I cut open a couple Vitamin E liquid gel caps)
– 2-4 drops of Lavender Essential Oil

• Mix the almond oil with sugar according to your preference and skin type.
• You can substitute the almond oil for pure sesame oil (not roasted). extra virgin olive oil, vegetable oil or any other oil you like that is suitable for the skin.  I prefer almond oil, benefits of almond oil .
• The Vitamin E is optional but it’s good nourishment.
• You can add a little honey for dry skin.

Other recipes I’m planning on trying, DIY Safe Cosmetics.