Although it may not feel like it, spring is here! I have been using some of my extra time during this quarantine to do some spring cleaning, cleaning out drawers and closets, and paring down, donating things we don’t need or use.
I always love the smell after spring cleaning…the windows are open and I can smell the sweet scent of the hyacinths in the air blowing through and the fresh, clean smell of the lemon and orange oils from my homemade cleaners. I prefer to use chemical-free cleaners in our home and so I make my own. One of the most important staples I keep around for making homemade cleaners is 20 Mule Team Borax.
What is Heck is Borax?
Borax, also known as sodium tetraborate, is a white, powdery mineral mined from dried up lakes. Because it is a completely natural mineral, it is no more toxic than baking soda when used properly.
I first came across this magic mineral when I had my first child. My son had been put on soy formula and the stains were terrible to get out! I was talking about this with my grandmother one day while visiting her with the baby. She suggested pre-soaking in borax and water solution before washing. I asked her, “What the heck is borax?” My grandmother goes to the laundry room and comes back with a box of 20 Mule Team Borax. She was a cleaning lady for many years and also made her own natural cleaners.
I picked some up later that day. It was kind of hard to find in the laundry aisle at the store because it was shoved way back on a bottom shelf. I tried it that very night and was AMAZED at how well it worked! Why had I never heard of this before?
After it worked so well for removing the formula stains on the baby’s clothing, I was hooked! The box had a few other common uses printed on the back to clean rusty cooktops, remove mold and mildew stains and dissolve sticky messes. I had to know more…what else could I be using this for?
5 Great Uses for Borax
While Borax can be used for a myriad of household cleaning and deodorizing, here are FIVE ways to use borax around your home.
Use as a deodorizer- Borax powder can be used to deodorize carpets, stinky sneakers, garbage cans, refrigerators, mattresses, and garbage disposals,
Use to remove rust and limescale on tile, porcelain, cookware, and stainless steel. Because of its abrasive qualities, borax is a wonderful cleaner for bathrooms and kitchens.
Use outdoors to deter common pests like ants, fleas, water bugs, roaches, and other pesky insects. Borax can also be sprinkled around the base of fruit trees to enrich the soil, used as a weed killer, or used to scrub your outdoor furniture in the spring.
Use as a rinse agent in the dishwasher instead of the expensive and toxin-filled alternatives to prevent spots on glassware.
Use as a laundry booster. Borax can be used to boost the power of traditional laundry soap or can also be used to make your own detergent. Works well on stains too!
Using Borax Around My Home
I love that borax is so multi-purpose and also safe for my family. I use it as a laundry detergent booster as suggested on the box, but I utilize it for so many other applications around my home.
Borax works fantastically on those crusty, stove burners to clean grease and cooking spills.
With borax, white vinegar and a little elbow grease, this stovetop is gleaming!
I also use borax to combat insects that sneak their way into the house in the spring like ants. Mix 1/2 cup of sugar, 1.5 tbsp borax, and 1.5 cups warm water. Soak some cotton balls in the mixture and place in corners of the room, windowsills, cabinets, and counters to keep ants away.
Another way I use borax at home is to make a natural weed killer to spray the cracks of my driveway and sidewalk. This mixture is extremely easy to make and can be applied once yearly. I apply in the spring for best results. Dissolve 10 oz. of borax into 4 oz of warm water. Once the borax is dissolved into the warm water, mix into a home and garden sprayer and add 2.5 gallons more water. Do not use around flower beds or vegetable gardens.
Cleaning with Caution
Although borax is a naturally occurring mineral with low toxicity, it can still be absorbed through the skin causing mild skin irritation. As with any other cleaning substance, using gloves and following directions, along with heeding package warnings, is always recommended.
Conclusion
Cleaning with natural ingredients is not as difficult or time-intensive as one may think. Natural cleaners are just as effective and much less toxic! Making your own natural cleaners with borax and other household staples like white vinegar, baking soda, or salt are budget-friendly and eco-friendly too! If you haven’t heard of borax, give it a try! I have given you [at least] five great ways to try it in your home while spring cleaning!
I have seen a plethora of articles about self-care, but this one is a little different…I feel an obligation to write my own self-care post to remind you that self-care is not just sitting around relaxing and pampering yourself.
There IS a difference between relaxing and laziness.
As important as taking the time to care for your mental health is, there is a line between taking time to relax and recharge and being just plain lazy. I know when we are stuck at home, it’s easy to lose track of what day it is. It feels like all you do is cook and eat. Getting stuck in a rut, binge-watching and ordering in is extremely easy with this extended period of time at home, but get off of your couch already!
I don’t mean to sound insensitive, but I see some people falling apart, spending much of their time arguing with strangers on Facebook, watching every season of every show on Netflix, constantly checking statistics and news on COVID-19, being depressed about being stuck at home or sleeping these weeks away.
Grandma says…
Makes me think of what Grandma would have said…I can hear her now. “Suck it up buttercup and get moving.” She was an extremely strong woman and mentor for me. My grandmother was a mother to 9 children, 8 of them boys. She was married to an alcoholic for many years who would spend his time after work in the bar till closing time. He was angry and abusive. She could have easily been swept up in her situation. But that was not her way. She was strong and stubborn. And she sucked it up and got moving. She left that man and moved on with her children. I often think of her and what she would do when I am struggling with something.
Do YOU!
You can only sit on your couch for so long in those same clothes you’ve been wearing for days and binge Netflix or scroll through your social media feeds. Don’t get me wrong, I have taken a couple of hours here and there or even a day to relax and recharge. We are going into the third week of the stay at home order in my area and the boredom with the lack of activity has set in…just because we are stuck at home doesn’t mean we cannot still be motivated and productive!
This is me (and Grandma too) telling you to get up off of your couch already and motivate yourself! Now is the perfect time to be forming better habits, reading and writing more, learning a language or skill, planning and goal setting, diving into your passions, spending time with your children, accomplishing projects and so much more! Plant a windowsill garden, experiment with essential oils, clean out your pantry or closet, make a homemade face mask, organize your workspace, clean the garage, or start a journal. The possibilities are endless!
Stop reading all of those coronavirus and COVID-19 articles and worrying yourself to death! Stop ranting on Facebook and aggravating yourself! These things will not be of any benefit and will only help to make you miserable…
Choose to be more motivated and the happiness will follow! When you are on social media, choose to send out positive vibes and comments, connecting with others! Connect with family and friends through phone and video calls! DO SOMETHING! Your body AND MIND will thank you.
You will be amazed at how much better you will feel if you use this time to get some exercise, expand your mind, and accomplish some of those things on your to-do list!
If you have been using your time wisely and doing something inspirational, educational, or productive, I would love to hear about it!
Drop it in the comments or send me an email! Bonus points for photos 🙂
You might already be taking steps to reduce the waste your household produces… But there are those few areas where waste just seems to be unavoidable. The truth is, you probably just haven’t been exposed to the alternatives. Dental care can be one of those high waste areas, so let’s tackle it right now!
Consider all the toothbrushes, tubes of toothpaste, and containers of floss that a single person throws out every year – including the plastic packaging that these products come in. Then scale it up to the amount of people living in your country and you quickly realize that dental care is a significant contributor to our global waste problem.
The good news is: the solutions are here, and they are readily available! Below are easy to implement alternatives that will drastically reduce the waste footprint of your oral care routine.
The Problem With Conventional Toothpaste
Regular toothpaste tubes contain a mix of plastics and aluminum, which makes them unsuitable for recycling. Thankfully, dental care companies are starting to feel the push from consumers asking for more sustainable alternatives. In response, Colgate rolled out a new recyclable toothpaste tube in early 2020. The tube has been under development for years and is available through Colgate’s new Smile For Good toothpaste. The paste itself contains fewer ingredients than most conventional toothpastes and is certified vegan.
Problem solved? Not completely… Current recycling technologies generally depend on a stream of relatively clean plastic. So for the empty tube to actually stay out of a landfill, you will have to cut it open and clean out any residual toothpaste. Even so, the tube can get pulled out from the recycling stream by unknowing workers who mistake it for a regular, unrecyclable tube.
Crushing It Sustainably
A low-waste alternative is toothpaste tablets. These are dry pills that are crushed in between your teeth and turn into a foamy toothpaste in your mouth. Several different brands of toothpaste tablets are available on the market, including Crush & Brush which come in glass containers, disclose all their ingredients and are cruelty-free. The tablets are particularly useful for traveling: Conventional travel-sized toothpaste tubes are extremely wasteful and their regular-sized equivalents are usually not allowed in carry-on luggage on flights. The solid tablets, on the other hand, do not raise issues with airport security.
Make Your Own!
If you prefer to get creative and want to be in charge of selecting your toothpaste ingredients yourself, you can also mix your own toothpaste at home. However, be sure to run the ingredients by your dentist and use care to avoid harsh or overly abrasive materials.
Since the beneficial effects of brushing your teeth depend much more on your toothbrush and on proper brushing technique rather than on your toothpaste composition, you can get away with very simplistic toothpaste recipes. Here are a few ingredients to consider:
Coconut oil naturally has antimicrobial properties and can form a great base for your toothpaste
Baking soda combats the acidity in cavities and can act as a mild abrasive for removing scale
Spices are an easy and safe way to add flavor to your toothpaste
Do not add fluoride to your homemade toothpaste since it has to be very carefully dosed to avoid adverse effects.
Zero Waste Floss
Floss is a frustrating item based on the ratio of packaging to the amount of actual product. Luckily, there are some zero waste floss brands commercially available. Be aware though, that most of them are based on silk – which is produced by boiling silkworms alive. Among the few silk-free options are FLOSSPOT Gold (available in Canada and the US) as well as the bamboo floss by Earth’s Tribe (available in Australia).
Some people also recommend using an oral irrigator such as a WaterPik as a way to reduce your need for synthetic floss. However, I would advise to use caution. While oral irrigators have other beneficial effects for dental health, they do not serve as a full replacement for regular flossing.
Biodegradable Toothbrushes
Toothbrushes are another source of plastic commonly accepted as a necessary evil. That is far from correct since there is a large variety of biodegradable, safe and hygienic toothbrushes commercially available. I personally use and can recommend Lavish Essential’s bamboo & charcoal toothbrushes.
Be Resourceful
From interdental brushes with bamboo handles to recipes for homemade mouthwash, the internet is full of low waste alternatives to commonly used products. Most of them are very easy to implement in your daily routine – others may require a little bit of adjustment. But with the amount of options available, there are no excuses not to make waste-smart choices when it comes to dental care. The cumulative effect over a lifetime is well worth the switch.
Welcome Ellie!
Ellie Auras is a sustainability coach and waste reduction, advocate. She writes about all topics related to the sustainable lifestyle and businesses on her blog Greensplained.com. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date on everything Green.
Are you curious about essential oils? If so, this is a great place to be! As an avid user of essential oils, I have been amazed by how practicing aromatherapy with oils has been able to calm and balance me at times when nothing else seemed to work. I love to diffuse essential oils and experiment with blending different oil tinctures. I will give you a little background on the history of essential oils along with a few tips about using essential oils for beginners and some recipes too!
History of Essential Oils
Although essential oils have been used for thousands of years, the first recorded use of oils goes as far back as the 11th century, where aromatic and medicinal oils and ointments were sold and traded across India, Persia, and Egypt and then later migrated into Greece and Rome.
Essential oils, typically named for the plant they are derived from, are extracted from the flowers, leaves, woods, and roots of fragrant and healing plants like mint and lavender. Oils can be harvested by several different methods, but the most common method of obtaining essential oils uses a distillation process to sort-of “milk” the pure oils from the glands of the plants.
Uses for Essential Oils
Essential oils are used in 3 ways:
As fragrance in cosmetics, perfumes, soaps, cleaners and detergents, and other industrial products
As flavoring in baked items, candy, meat, soft drinks, and other food and drink items
As pharmaceuticals for aromatherapy, also in some dental products and medicines
Oils for Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is the practice of using our sense of smell, in this case with essential oils, to promote physical and emotional health and wellness. Dispersing oils into the air with a diffuser for inhalation, mixing a tincture for topical application in a massage oil or roller bottle, or adding several drops of essential oils to your bath water are all wonderful ways to implement aromatherapy with oils.
Essential oils are great for aromatherapy because the different fragrances stimulate the olfactory nerve in your brain. Have you ever gotten a whiff of a familiar fragrance and all of the sudden a memory or feeling you had forgotten about comes flooding back? This is because the olfactory nerve is part of the limbic system which controls memory, learning, and emotion.
Diffuser Blends
Here are a few of my favorite blends for diffusing oils at home. Just add water to your diffuser’s fill line then add pure essential oils!
When blending oils for topical application on the skin either in a roller bottle or in a massage lotion, you should use a carrier oil. Carrier oils are used to dilute pure essential oils and reduce allergic skin reactions, sensitization, and phototoxicity. They also do not evaporate easily so they stay on skin longer and allow for more absorption. Carrier oils are usually un- or lightly scented so as not to distract or change the scent you are blending. Rosehip, coconut, almond, and jojoba oils are common carrier oils, but there are several others you may use depending on your personal preference.
Dilution
The standard dilution rate varies for babies, children, and adults. A 1% dilution is recommended for children over the age of two, while a range of 2-3% dilution is suitable for use in children 2-10 and adults. This is because children have thinner, more porous skin. A good guideline to follow is to use one drop of essential oil for each teaspoon of carrier oil. When using essential oils on infants under 2 years old, I use a 0.10%-0.20% dilution rate. This figures to approximately 1-2 drops of essential oil per 1 oz (6 tsp.) Here is a great resource for best practices for using essential oils on babies and children from Nourishing Joy.
My Favorite Essential Oil Blend Recipes
I use almond or coconut oil as a carrier oil, but you may have another that you prefer. All recipes below are for blending approx. 4% dilution in a 10 oz roller bottle. (These blends can be used in a diffuser as well!)
2 tsp carrier oil 2 drops Lavender 2 drops Clary Sage 1 drop Ylang-ylang 1 drop Bergamot
(See Pin-able version at the bottom of post!)
Other Oil Remedies
Essential oils can be used in a variety of ways to enrich your life, health, and well-being. For instance, did you know lavender oil is great for dabbing on bug bites to relieve itching and swelling? Or that applying a dab of peppermint oil on each temple can relieve a headache? These and other common oil remedies can be a great alternative to pharmaceutical “fixes” which sometimes come along with a list of terrifying side effects.
DO Try This at Home!
Here are a few quick tips for you beginners:
*Some oils can be used “neat” (meaning they are safe to be applied onto the skin without a carrier oil) and some cannot.
*Test on a small area of skin for allergies
*Use only PURE essential oils
*Heed blending recommendations, especially when mixing oils for use on babies and children.
I encourage you to expand your knowledge of essential oils and have fun experimenting with your own blends!
Try the Simply Earth Essential Oils Box!
I just received my Simply Earth April Box and it is FULL of great stuff! The box contained 6 essential oil recipes for mixing and diffusing, several roller and tincture bottles, and coconut and almond oils. I love that this box has everything I need to mix the 6 included recipes and even came with pre-printed labels too!
Save $50 on Simply Earth with coupon code: AMANDAC5016
Still curious about essential oils? Check out these great essential oil resources and books for beginners!
DISCLAIMER: I am no expert!
Use caution when mixing oils, especially for use on children. Follow the recommended blending ratios. You may experience irritation, rash or allergies if used improperly.
Please consult a health professional if you experience any adverse side effects.
ANOTHER GUEST BLOG POST COMING NEXT WEEK! STAY TUNED FOR SUSTAINABLE ORAL CARE WITH ELLIE FROM GREENSPLAINED!
Ellie Auras is a sustainability coach and waste reduction, advocate. She writes about all topics related to the sustainable lifestyle and businesses on her blog Greensplained.com. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date on everything Green.
Beach vacations and travel may not be an option with social distancing, but we can still get outside and get some fresh air and vitamin D. Regular sun exposure is the simplest and most natural way to get vitamin D. The recommended daily allowance of vitamin D for an adult is 800-1000 IU. Doctors recommend a diet rich in vitamin D foods along with 5-15 minutes of unprotected midday sun several times per week; more if you have darker skin or live further from the equator where the sun’s rays are not as strong. Forty percent of people are deficient in vitamin D.
Chemical vs Mineral Sunscreen
Chemical Sunscreen
Chemical UV filter sunscreens contain toxins such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, homosalate, and octocrylene to aid in absorbing the sun’s rays safely but are then absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream. These chemicals can also be inadvertently passed to babies through the breastmilk of nursing mothers. Potential side effects of these toxins in chemical sunscreens include neurological, hormonal and reproductive problems or inflammation in the brain causing cognitive impairment.
Mineral Sunscreen
Mineral sunscreen reflects the sun’s UV rays instead of absorbing them like chemical sunscreen. The active ingredient in mineral sunscreen is usually titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. Mineral sunscreens are considered safer than the toxin-filled chemical sunscreens but can leave a residue on the skin, making it feel sticky.
BEWARE of products advertised as “pure” and “natural”!
The terminology and symbols on the ingredient panel of sunscreen and other health and beauty products can be difficult to translate. Some products may be advertised as “Natural” or “Pure” but can still contain toxic ingredients. There is little to no regulation on the labeling of products this way. Learn ways to decode these labels by educating yourself on labeling terms and symbols or using an app like EWG‘s Healthy Living app.
My Top 4 Mineral Sunscreen Picks:
*Kiss My Face Kids Defense Continuous Sunscreen Spray, SPF 50
*Supergoop 100% Mineral Sunscreen Mist, SPF 30
*ATTITUDE Mineral Baby and Kids Sunscreen Lotion, Fragrance-free, SPF 30
*Love Sun Body Natural Mineral Sunscreen, Fragrance-free, SPF 50
For other safe, toxin-free sunscreens, check out EWG’s 2019 Guide to Sunscreens. And watch for the 2020 Edition coming soon!
Choose wisely!
Just because we are practicing social distancing doesn’t mean we can’t get out in the fresh air! But don’t forget to protect yourself and your little ones from the sun AND from harsh toxins and chemicals by choosing a clean, mineral-based sunscreen. I have filled you in on my favorites and I would love to hear what your favorites are too! Share your favorites in the comments!
When I started to transition products in our home to more natural options, I found all of the logos and terms on the back of cleaning and personal care products to be extremely confusing! I had purchased a “natural” deodorant online that was advertised as aluminum-free. Much to my surprise, when I scanned the barcode on the new deodorant before using, I discovered this “natural” deodorant contains triclosan. Triclosan is a harmful toxin added to many deodorants, soaps, detergents, and toothpastes. It is used for its antibacterial and antifungal properties. Triclosan has been linked to endocrine and thyroid malfunction, reproductive toxicity, weakening of the immune system, and can cause allergies, asthma, and eczema in young children when exposed at an early age. Needless to say, I chucked this “natural” deodorant and opted for a cleaner one. But I learned an important lesson, just because something says 100% organic does NOT mean it is 100% non-toxic.
Natural, Organic, Vegan, and Clean Products: Definitions
Familiarizing yourself with the proper terminology can help you avoid mistakes like I made above when purchasing your own non-toxic replacement products. These terms have different meanings and are not interchangeable…a product that is 100% vegan is not necessarily clean and toxin-free.
When a product is labeled as organic, this means the plant or animal was grown or raised without the use of chemicals, hormones, and antibiotics. Organic beauty products and cleaners are only required to have a very small percentage of an organic ingredient to be “organic”.
The vegan logo certifies products do not contain animal extracts or by-products in both the ingredients and the manufacturing process, but there are no legal regulations on products labeled as vegan. These products may still contain toxins such as artificial fragrances.
Products labeled as “natural” follow along the same lines as organic in the sense that there is only a marginal amount of naturally-sourced, plant-based, or mineral ingredients. Natural products could also have a shorter shelf life since they do not contain toxic synthetic preservatives.
Finally, there are “clean” products. Clean products will generally be free of sulfates, silicone, phthalates, parabens, pesticides, petroleum and petroleum derivatives, and artificial dyes and fragrances. In my opinion, clean products are the best choices to make when replacing toxic beauty and hygiene products.
Deciphering Product Labels
Labels can be deceiving with tons of logos and symbols. It can be difficult to know what the meanings of all of these are. Ingredients are typically listed from highest concentration to lowest. Translating some of the names of these ingredients can be mind-boggling. Luckily we live in the age of Google. If you are questioning a product or its ingredients, look it up! There is so much information literally at your fingertips.
Logos to Look For
The Soil Association Organic Logo – This logo certifies a product is sourced and manufactured using sustainable and organically-farmed ingredients. It also means the product is not tested on animals and is free from harsh chemicals, as well as, artificial dyes and fragrances. You will see this label on products produced and sold in the UK.
The Public Health and Safety Organization founded NSF International in the 1960s. NSF is an independent organization and has developed rigorous product standards including 140 currently active public health statutes. The NSF symbol, which is internationally recognized, can be found on all kinds of products from small appliances and personal care products to food and drink and so much more.
Takeaways
Labels can be confusing. Be wary of products marked as “natural” or “organic” because, again, there are no real regulations regarding the labeling of these products. Products labeled as organic or natural may still contain toxins like triclosan and artificial fragrances. Also, pay close attention when purchasing products online unless it is a product you have used and trust. Research your products before buying if you are unsure to avoid wasting money on products you will not use.
I also recommend using an app [yes, again] to help scan products to easily decode beauty and cleaning product labels. I cannot stress enough how easy an app like EWG‘s Healthy Living or INCI‘s Think Dirty will make your product choices and your life!
***SO EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE OUR FIRST GUEST BLOGGER!!! ***
I am proud to introduce Gabi, the owner of C6 Beauty, a Düsseldorf based blog dedicated to the art of zero waste and natural beauty. Before dedicating herself to being a blogger, she spent many years studying chemistry and also obtained a doctorate. It was through this education and scientific knowledge that she became passionate about creating her own homemade products. She loves to study what’s behind every single ingredient and discover its benefits, and is always happy to share what she’s learned!
Welcome Gabi and watch for her post later this week!
