green home goods

Natural Floor and Tile Cleaner

Floor Cleaners can contain nitrobenzene, propane, butane, and turpentine. These chemicals can be carcinogens, reproductive toxins, central nervous system toxins (especially in the case of nitrobenzene), skin irritants, eye irritants, and can cause kidney problems.  (Source)

RECIPE (Natural Wood Floor Cleaner):

1/2 of a cup of White Vinegar

1 tsp of vegetable oil

A few drops of an essential oil (optional- this is for scent.)

DIRECTIONS:

Mix 

Rub gently into floor boards

RECIPE (Natural All-Purpose Floor Cleaner):

One part Vinegar

One part water

DIRECTIONS:

Dampen mop and add water and vinegar mixture. 

Mop well. 

Wood Cleaner:

Wood cleaner contains both petroleum solvents and mineral spirits which are both neurotoxins. These chemicals have also been known to cause severe eye and skin irritation, narcosis and kidney injury.

(source)

Recipe-

Ingredients:

- 10 drops of orange essential oil (optional)

- 30 drops of lemon essential oil

- 1/3 cup (2 & 2/3 ounces) of coconut or grape seed oil

- 1/2 cup (4 ounces) of distilled water

- 1 spray bottle

Steps:

1. Measure oil and water into a container.

2. Mix together.

3. Pour into spray bottle.

4. Shake.

5. Use on any wood surface.

Glass Cleaner

Glass Cleaners contain ammonia and coal tar dyes which are strong skin irritants. Many glass cleaners also contain butyl cellusolve (which is a neurotoxin), alcohol, naphtha, and glycol ethers. If the cleaner is an aerosol, chemicals in the form of small particles are more likely to be inhales or come in contact with your eyes, which causes irritation. 

Ironically most people have found that works just as effectively as water.

(source)

Recipe:

Vinegar and water:

Ingredients-

- Distilled white vinegar

- Distilled water

- Spray bottle

Steps:

1. Put equal parts vinegar and equal parts water into a spray bottle.

2. Mix together.

3. Spray onto glass surface and wipe with a lint-free clothe.

*For extra dirty windows use soapy water.

All-Purpose Cleaner

All-Purpose Cleaners can contain many harmful chemicals such as ammonia, sodium hypochlorite, trisodium phosphate, and/or ehtylene glycol monobutyl acetate. These chemicals can be irritants to the skin, eyes, and nose. They are also poisonous if ingested. This is a common problem as some all-purpose cleaners are sweetly scented, which can attract animals. (Source)

RECIPE:

1/4 of a cup of liquid organic Castile soap

water

Tea Tree oil (Optional- this is added for its anti-bacterial qualities)

one large Spray Bottle

DIRECTIONS:

Fill the spray bottle 3/4 of the way full with water

Add the liquid castile soap-make sure to pour slowly, so it doesn't create bubbles. 

Tooth Whitening Powder

Most tooth-whitening products contain cabramine peroxide, urea peroxide, and hydrogen peroxide, which are used to bleach or whiten teeth. Hydrogen peroxide is a suspected neurotoxin and endocrine disruptor. (Source)

RECIPE:

2 tbs of bentonite clay

2 tbs of baking soda

1 tbs of finely ground, organic sage leaf

1 tbs xylitol (optional - for sweetening)

1/2 tbs of pure sea salt

15-20 drops of essential peppermint oil

Airtight storage container

DIRECTIONS:

Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix with a non-metal spoon. 

Drip the essential oils into the mixture and stir well. 

transfer into the airtight container and store in a cool, dry place.

to use, dip your toothbrush in the powder before brushing your teeth. 

Aftershave

Most ingredients in aftershave are not harmful to skin, as aftershave is designed to reduce irritation. However, the heavy fragrances used in aftershaves can be irritating to the skin, and contain carcinogenic chemicals. Diethyl phthalate, which is used in aftershaves to prolong fragrances, has been shown to lower sperm count. 

RECIPE:

2 cups of Witch Hazel extract

1 ounce of Rum

Zest from 1 organic orange

1 Cinnamon stick

3-5 Cloves

3-5 whole Allspice

1/2 tsp of vegetable glycerin (optional, but helpful for those with sensitive skin)

1/2 tsp of aloe vera (optional, but helpful for those with sensitive skin)

Bay West Indies essential oil

1 pint jar 

1+ dark bottles 

DIRECTIONS:

Grate the orange peel to get its zest. 

Break up the cinnamon stick. 

Add the orange zest, the cinnamon stick, the cloves, and the allspice in the jar. 

Add the aloe vera and vegetable glycerine. 

Add the rum. 

Add the witch hazel distillate. 

Add 25-40 drops of the West Bay Indies Essential oil. 

Cover it tightly and shake well. 

Store for 4-6 weeks, shaking it well once everyday. 

Shaving Cream

Most shaving creams are a mixture of synthetic chemicals. Some of theses chemicals, such as TEA or PEG 90-M, can be contaminated with chemicals such as dioxide or 1,4-dioxane, which are known or suspected carcinogens. Propylene glycol, used to moisturize skin in shaving creams, is a known skin irritant. Isobutane, which is used as a propellant in many shaving cream cans, is often contaminated with butadiene, which is a carcinogen. Preservatives of shaving creams often contain hormone-disrupting parabens. 

RECIPE:

4 tbs of solid Shea butter

3 tbs of Coconut oil

2 tbs of Sweet Almond oil

10-12 drops of Lavender essential oil (this is optional)

An air-tight container ( such as a mason jar) for storage

DIRECTIONS:

Melt the shea butter and coconut oil together in a double boiler (you can use a glass bowl over a pot of simmering water) over low heat. Occasionally stir. 

Once melted and mixed together, remove from the heat. 

Add the essential oil and Sweet Almond oil and mix in. 

Store in a refrigerator until hardened. 

Remove from the fridge and mix until it has reached a frosting-like consistency. 

Hand Sanitizer

Hand sanitizers usually contain some type of alcohol, chlorine, and triclosan. Chlorine can irritate skin and cause it to dry, while triclosan is similar to DDT and PCB's in that is can accumulate in unsafe levels in fatty tissue and cause harm to organs and bodily functions.                      (Source)

RECIPE:

Isopropyl alcohol

Food-grade aloe vera gel

an Organic essential oil of your choice for scent

A bottle or container for storage

DIRECTIONS:

Fill the bottle/storage container 2/3 of the way full with aloe vera gel. 

 Fill the rest with the isopropyl alcohol. 

Fabric Softener

Commercial fabric softeners regularly contain quartanary ammonium compounds and/or imidazolidynil, which can release formaldehyde, a carcinogen. They can also cause headaches. Long exposure to fabric softeners has been shown to cause chronic fatigue and migraines among other symptoms. 

RECIPE:

3 cups of distilled white vinegar

15-20 drops of an essential oil of your choice (lavender is suggested)

1/4 of a cup of rubbing alcohol

2 tbs of dried lavender buds ( this is optional) 

1 quart-sized mason jar for storage

DIRECTIONS:

Pour the vinegar, then rubbing alcohol, then essential oil in the jar to emulsify. 

Laundry Spot Remover

Many commercial laundry stain removers contain bezene, toluene, and xylene, which are all neurotoxins. The may also contain chlorine, which can irritate skin, and/or formaldehyde, which is a carcinogen.                    (Source)

RECIPE:

1 1/2 cups of water

1/4 of a cup of liquid castile soap

1/4 of a cup of vegetable glycerin

5-10 drops of Lemon essential oil

a glass spray/plastic squeeze bottle

DIRECTIONS:

Mix all the ingredients well.

Hairspray

Commercial hairsprays contain many harmful chemicals used as propelling agents, such as isobutane (a suspected carcinogen), and others such as propane or butadine. Polyvinylpyrrolidone is used to coat hair and keep it in place, and is classified as a medium health priority. Other hazardous ingredients, such as parabens (which are carcinogenic), are used as preservatives.                                                  (Source)

RECIPE:

2 tsp of granulated sugar

1/2 a cup of water

A couple drops of vodka (this is optional- it is for preservation)

A fine mist spray bottle

DIRECTIONS:

Mix the water and sugar in a saucepan. Bring the water to a gentle boil and mix until all the sugar has dissolved into the water. 

Add the few drops of vodka before pouring the mixture into the spray bottle 

Store in a refrigerator.

Sweet Honey Almond Goats Milk Soap

Most soaps on the market today are anti-bacterial, and many people buy them without realizing this. Anti-bacterial soaps are not essentially better at protecting against illness, and they often contain harmful chemicals such as triclosan and triclocarbon. Triclosan is chlorinated aromatc hydrocarbon, similar to PCB's or DDT. When mixed with tap water, it can form chloroform, which is a carcinogen and a nervous system depressant. Triclosan can accumulate in fatty tissue and disrupt reproductive systems, it has also been found in unsafe levels in the breast milk of women. Many other DIY soap recipes require lye, which is a toxin, and when ingested frequently causes death, especially in young children.                                                                                                     (Source)

RECIPE:

10 ounces of goats milk melt-and-pour soap base

About 1/4 cup of organic oats

2 tbs of organic honey

50 drops of Sweet Almond Essential oil ( 5 for each once of soap base)

2 vitamin e capsules

Soap mold

DIRECTIONS:

Cut the soap base up into cubes, and place in a glass (or another microwave-safe kind) bowl to melt.

Cook the soap base for 30-second intervals in the microwave until melted. Cover when cooking if desired. 

Mix in the oats.

Mix in the essential oils

Break open the vitamin e capsules, and pour the oil in. 

Mix in the honey once the vitamin e oil has been mixed in.