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Don’t want to go out of your way to replace your everyday household products with new ones from the store?
That's alright, because you don’t have to!
Sustainability doesn’t have to be inaccessible, and it starts from the comfort of your own home. That’s right. You get to decide what goes in your home, and we’ll show you how. Down below we've put together a list of eco-friendly substitutes for the 5 most essential household products that you can make yourself. And the best part? They use common and affordable ingredients that you probably own already!
1. Eco-Friendly Shampoo
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There are many natural DIY shampoo recipes online, but our favorite only requires a can of coconut milk and 3/4 cups of aloe vera gel. Mix both ingredients together, while adding a few drops of essential oils if you want to, before pouring them into ice-cube trays and storing them in the freezer for a few hours until they freeze. Then use one cube each time you wash your hair, preferably with a cider vinegar rinse. Each batch lasts several weeks, making it very cost-effective.
However, this shampoo isn’t good for people prone to oily or greasy hair. No shampoo works perfectly for everyone, so we recommend looking into your options to find a shampoo recipe that works for you!
And if you want a conditioner to pair with the shampoo, you can also mix a can of coconut milk with a tablespoon of liquid honey and a tablespoon of olive oil into a container. But if you’re using the shampoo too, it might not be necessary. Always use good judgment.
2. Eco-Friendly Body Wash
Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay
This body wash recipe you can follow at home uses honey as a main ingredient, which is known for its antibacterial and antifungal properties, making it both a healthy and organic choice for your daily shower needs. Thoroughly mix together 2/3 cups of liquid castile soap, 1/4 cups of liquefied raw honey, a teaspoon of Vitamin E oil, 2 teaspoons of oil and 50-60 drops of essential oils (both oils are up to your preference). Then, pour it into a bottle and you have body wash that can last a year.
3. Eco-Friendly Liquid Hand Soap
These recipes for liquid hand soap offer a variety of base options. We recommend mixing 1/2 a cup of coconut oil or liquid glycerin with 1/2 a cup of distilled water and shake well. Feel free to add a few drops of essential oils. Then, fill up an empty soap dispenser with the mixture and you’re all set! You can still keep making more afterwards, and reusing a soap dispenser means less plastic waste, meaning you just did double the work for half the effort – and likely, money as well. Doesn’t that feel great?
4. Eco-Friendly Dishwashing Detergent
Creating your own eco-friendly detergent is easy! Just mix 1 cup of borax, 1 cup of washing or baking soda, 1/2 a cup of citric acid, and 1/2 a cup of kosher salt to give it a little more of a scrubbing kick. Once it’s thoroughly mixed, pop the concoction into an empty container. It may clump because of the citric acid, so it’s advised to add 1/2-1 teaspoon of citric acid to each dishwasher load instead of the detergent itself. Then, if you’re using a dishwasher, you can use white vinegar as the rinsing aid.
5. Eco-Friendly Toothpaste
Image by Daniel Albany from Pixabay
And last but not least, you can also make your own organic toothpaste at home! Heat 1/2 a cup of coconut oil until it’s slightly softened, then add 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda, 2 small packets of stevia powder (an equivalent amount of white sugar or agave nectar also works) and 15-20 drops of peppermint oil. Then once it’s completely cooled, you’ll have a fresh batch of eco-friendly toothpaste to go with your eco-friendly toothbrush! As with most of the others above, it’s best to store this mixture in a reused container in a cool place.
Living eco-friendly doesn't have to be something difficult or unattainable. It's very possible for you. You just have to get a little creative!
With love and compassion,
Team Karunaki