A loofah sponge probably conjures up images of rough, exfoliating fibers for bath time, but there’s really so much more to this vegetable. (That’s right, it’s a veggie.)

“Loofah,” also known as loofa, luffa or sponge gourd, is something most folks buy in the beauty aisle, but you can actually grow it at home.

Believe it or note, a loofah sponge comes from a vining plant in the gourd family. (It’s more formally known as Cucurbitaceae, which also includes summer and winter squash, pumpkin, watermelon, cucumber, melon and hard-shelled gourds.)

Loofahs, or luffas, can be grown from seeds as annuals in the United States, though they need a long season to mature into long-wearing sponges.

Buying a Loofah

Lots of stores sell natural loofah sponges in either their original cylindrical shape or shaped into scouring pads or body mitts. Whatever shape you choose, here’s what to look for:

• The fibers should give slightly when you squeeze them. When dry, loofah fiber is pretty stiff, but it should not crack.
• Avoid any packages full of broken fibers.
• If you’re lucky, your local farmers market may sell locally grown, organic, unbleached loofah sponges. These appear more of a light tan hue compared to the pale tan of bleached, commercial sponges.
• Reject any that have black patches and/or smell musty. They could trigger black mold symptoms.
• The fiber is easy to cut, so you can buy big ones and divide them into multiple scrubbers, based on what you want to use them for.

How to Use

Never used a loofah sponge? No worries.

Here’s how to work one into your hygiene and cleaning routines. (Just be sure to use separate ones for cleaning versus bathing.)

• Wet your loofah sponge with warm water to soften it, add a little bit of soap or the natural cleaning product of your choice, and exfoliate or scrub away, using small, circular motions. (Gentle pressure is enough to clear away dead skin cells.)
• Avoid extra tender skin and anywhere that’s uncomfortable.
• A nice loofah sponge may just be the perfect way to get the most out of a healthy commercial or homemade body wash or goat milk soap.
• If you make your own soap, you can put slices of clean, dry loofah sponge in your soap molds when you pour it. This creates attractive and useful soaps with built-in scrubbers.

Health Benefits and Environmental Perks

The tough, rounded fibers that make up a loofah sponge are perfect for deeply exfoliating your skin without damaging it. Include exfoliation in your natural skin care routine to create fresher, smoother and younger-looking skin.

Using a loofah sponge to gently exfoliate also:

• Removes built-up oils and dirt particles clogging your pores, allowing them to contract and look smaller
• Helps reduce breakouts — use a home remedy for acne
• Removes dead skin cells, which can make your skin look patchy and your makeup cake up, accentuating wrinkles
• Opens the skin up so it can absorb other skin care products faster and more completely

Emerging research suggests loofah could serve as a natural, more affordable material for wound care, too. Dried loofah even served as a skin substitute in an animal study, helping the test subjects heal during wound care.

Vegan and Plastic-Free

If scrubbing with something that was once a live animal (a natural sea sponge) creeps you out, loofah sponges could be your new all-natural, renewable sponge. Clean it, and toss it into your DIY compost pile when it’s worn out!

Loofah Sponge Safety

Rinse your sponge with clear water after every use, squeeze it as dry as possible and hang it to dry. Don’t keep it in the shower to dry, as moist conditions will likely promote bacteria growth.

Like any other sponge or washcloth, the longer it stays moist, the more likely assorted bacteria and fungi are to set up shop and raise a (large) family.

If you’ve been scrubbing your skin with your loofah sponge, you’re also adding trapped skin cells to the mix, giving the unwanted critters breakfast in bed, so to speak. You wouldn’t keep using a washcloth for months without tossing it in the washing machine periodically, and you shouldn’t do it with a natural loofah sponge either.

Once or twice a week, toss your sponge in the dishwasher on high heat for disinfections, or soak it in a diluted pure essential oils solution for five minutes, rinse well and hang it up to dry.

If you can hang it outside in the sunshine, that’s the best thing, as ultraviolet light is a very effective germ killer. If your loofah gets moldy-looking or musty-smelling, it’s time to toss it in the compost and start using a new one.

Most people plan on replacing one they use for exfoliating every three or four weeks. If it still looks and smells good at that point, you can always downgrade it to scrubbing the floor or the car, but don’t play Russian roulette with your skin’s health.

How to Grow Your Own Loofah Sponge

One of the best things about loofah sponges is you can grow your own. For the price one sponge, you can get a packet of seeds and grow a year’s supply if you have a garden with a sunny trellis or even a big planter.

Choosing Seeds

Loofahs are grown from seeds, so that’s what you need to get started. Two closely related gourds, Luffa aegyptiaca (commonly known as angled luffa, ridged luffa, Chinese okra or vegetable gourd) and L. acutangula, also sometimes labeled L. cylindrica (commonly known as smooth luffa, Egyptian luffa or dishrag gourd), are both sold as loofah.

When you buy a packet of “luffa” seed, it may not specify which you are getting. The two kinds are used pretty much interchangeably, so you don’t need to sweat the details.

Both are vigorous — as in at least 20 to 30 feet long — annual vines with showy yellow flowers.

How the fruit looks depends a bit on the type you plant. Angled luffa fruit have lengthwise ridges separated by deep groves. Smooth luffa fruit only have shallow creases running the length of the fruit.

Depending on the cultivar, fruit can be anywhere from eight inches to 24 inches long at maturity. If you have a choice, the smooth luffa is a better shape for sponges.

Planting Loofah Seeds

A luffa seed can take up to 150 or even 200 warm days to sprout, grow into a vine, flower and produce a ready-to-harvest sponge, so most gardeners in zones 6 or lower start luffa seeds indoors in six-inch pots about four to six weeks before the last probable spring frost. Gardeners in higher zones can plant seeds directly in the soil or an outdoor container once the weather is warm in late spring.

The soil – not the air — temperature needs to be at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit for good germination. Don’t jump the gun, or the seeds will rot rather than grow.

What Loofah Plants Need to Grow

• Luffa vines need full sun, lots of room to ramble (or a large trellis to grow up … a garden shed they can climb over works)
• Rich soil
• A consistent supply of water, but not soggy, waterlogged soil
• Compost (beware of human sewage sludge in compost)

Growing Tips

• Germination can take up to 14 days, so patience is a must
• Before planting, soak seeds overnight in a glass of water to speed germination
• Plant three or four seeds a few inches apart in a group, pushing them ¾-inch deep into the soil
• Space groups three to six feet apart
• Once the plants are a foot tall, cut off less vigorous seedlings at ground level, leaving just the strongest one or two per group to grow

Caring for Loofah Vines

• Keep the weeds under control by pulling them or covering the area with organic mulch.
• Water the plants deeply if there is no rain for a few days or if the leaves wilt.
• Once the flowers start to appear, you may notice that some have tiny green gourds attached to them, and some don’t. This is normal: Gourds have male and female flowers. The female ones have tiny gourds that will develop if the flower is pollinated. The male ones exist only to create pollen and die.
• If you have flowers with tiny gourds, but the gourds just shrivel up after the flower closes, you may not have enough bees or wild pollinators working your vine. In that case, you can play bee by plucking a male flower (no tiny gourd under it) that just opened and rubbing its dusty, pollen center against the sticky protrusion inside the center of any female flowers that opened that day.

Harvesting Loofah Sponges

If sponges are your aim, you’re going to leave the gourds on the vine all season until the green skin fades to yellow. After that, they brown and start to dry out.

Ripening gourds lose weight, the skin gets dry and separated from the insides, and they may even rattle when you shake them. The longer a mature luffa can stay on the vine, the more fibers will develop and the tougher those fibers will be.

Gourds harvested too early will have thin, fragile fibers that will just break and crumble when you try to peel and use them.

Once a luffa gourd is dry and the skin pops or cracks when you squeeze it, you can pick it and peel it immediately or store it in a dry place to do later.

If frost threatens, pick the most mature gourds, and peel them immediately. Crack and peel off as much of the skin as possible, and shake out the seeds. (If the seeds are plump and the gourd was very dry and mature, save some of them to plant next spring.)

Soaking a partially peeled luffa overnight can help loosen stubborn skin bits. Wash the sap out of your sponge under running water or in a bucket of water. Allow to dry thoroughly before storing.

Can You Eat Loofah?

While we may think “sponge,” folks in much of the world think “yum” when it comes to loofah. No, I’m not suggesting you try eating a loofah sponge, but rather the flower buds, flowers and small, immature gourds.

Luffa flowers are much like squash flowers. As for the baby luffas, they’re a little firmer than zucchini when cooked but taste pretty much the same and are equally adept at soaking up the flavors of whatever you cook them in. Young luffas are traditionally stir-fried, breaded and deep-fried; added to curries and stews; and turned into chutney. Flowers can be stuffed and cooked like squash blossoms.

Health Aspects of Eating Vegetable Luffa

In many Asian countries, young luffa gourds are revered for more than their taste and nutrition. They’re actually a traditional remedy for a wide range of health issues, including eye and heart health, preventing blood sugar imbalances, and easing muscle and joint discomfort, to name a few.

A few scientific studies suggest young luffas contain some unique antioxidants, cancer-fighting compounds and anti-inflammatory compounds, which may explain their long history as a traditional remedy.

Growing Luffas for Eating

Plant and grow luffas for eating just as you would if your primary aim was sponges, except you don’t have to rush to plant in the spring. Why? You can expect to harvest your first tender gourds in as little as 45 to 60 days.

But why choose? Many gardeners allow the first few fruits on each vine to stay on the vine to grow into sponges and clip off all the subsequent gourds as they get to ideal eating size, a rather nice case of having your cake and eating it, too.

Harvesting Luffas for Eating

Use a sharp knife or hand pruner to cut the stem between the vine and the young luffa gourd. Harvest while the luffas are still tender. (You should be able to pierce the skin easily with a fingernail.)

For most types, this happens when the veggies are about five inches long or less. Use them in any recipe for summer salad.

Conclusion

• Loofah sponges are popular natural exfoliators that come from a vining plant.
• Also known as sponge gourd, loofa or luffa, you can grow this plant at home by seed.
• You can also eat luffas, but you wouldn’t eat a fully dried out luffa. Those, you clean and use as “sponges” for cleaning and exfoliating.
• Be sure to wash your loofah sponge regularly in high heat, dry in a non-humid environment and disinfect regularly to avoid contamination.
• Replace loofahs every three to four weeks. You can compost them.

The post Grow Your Own Loofah Sponge (Yes, You Really Can!) appeared first on Dr. Axe.

Did you know that many conventional dishwashing detergents contain some ingredients that are not safe for you and your family? According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and its “guide to healthy cleaning,” these detergents can include phosphates, preservatives, formaldehyde and more. Some of these products “may contain ingredients with potential for acute aquatic toxicity; chronic aquatic toxicity; nervous system effects.”

Yikes. Instead, consider making your own homemade dishwasher detergent. Not only will you save a ton of money, you can be positive that the ingredients are safe for you, your family and the environment without question. (And for a backup store-bought dishwasher detergent, opt for one of these.)

How to Make DIY Dishwasher Soap

In a medium bowl, add the washing soda and purified water. Washing soda is a chemical compound that is safe to use for removing dirt and grease. It can even treat hard water. More specifically, it is the salt of carbonic acid. Because washing soda is often made from the ashes of burned plants, you may see it named as soda ash.

Purified water is important to help avoid chemical contamination. Blend these ingredients.

Next, stir in the vinegar, citric acid and kosher salt for this homemade dishwasher detergent. White vinegar helps disinfect safely but also helps keep your dishes spot free. The vinegar contains acetic acid, which helps take the grease off while acting as a rinsing agent.

Citric acid helps add some shine to your dishes while removing the minerals that may be caused by hard water found in your area. Kosher salt is an amazing ingredient because it is a mild preservative and can get some of those tough to clean stains off of your dishes by acting as a gentle scouring agent.

It’s now time to add the essential oils and mix well. Wild orange oil is perfect because it fights off grease and bacteria while enhancing your kitchen with a delightful scent. Lemon essential oil is a powerhouse of freshness, and it’s a great in a homemade dishwasher detergent.

Pour into a glass bottle and store in the fridge.

Tips

1. To use, give the bottle a good shake and then add your DIY dishwasher soap to the dispenser. About 1½–2 tablespoons of detergent per load should do the trick.
2. I suggest storing your homemade dishwasher detergent in the refrigerator to prevent fermentation and mold since it is chemical and preservative-free.
3. A quick rinse before loading the dishwasher can provide a boost to a good set up of clean dishes.

Precautions

Though this homemade dishwasher detergent is safe, it’s best to keep it out of reach from children and pets. If you notice any irritation, please discontinue use. For best results, make sure to clean your dishwasher periodically. You can run the dishwasher using a cup or two of vinegar and baking soda to help provide a thorough cleansing.

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

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• Author: Dr. Josh Axe
• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: 30 uses

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Description

The average dishwashing detergent has some unhealthy ingredients, so why not make a DIY dishwashing detergent right at home? Not only will you save a ton of money, you can be positive that the ingredients are safe for you, your family and the environment without question.

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Ingredients

• 2 ounces washing soda
• 3¼ cups purified water
• 4 ounces white vinegar
• 1 ounce citric acid powder
• 1 cup kosher salt
• 20 drops orange essential oil
• 20 drops lemon essential oil

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

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Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, add the washing soda and purified water and mix well with a wooden spoon.
2. Stir in the vinegar, citric acid and kosher salt.
3. Add the essential oils and mix well.
4. Pour into a glass bottle and store in the fridge to prevent fermentation and mold (since it is chemical and preservative-free).
5. Use about 1½–2 tablespoons of detergent per load. Give the bottle a good shake before dispensing.

Notes

Because this is a chemical-free dishwasher detergent, you need to give your dishes a quick scrub and rinse before loading.

• Prep Time: 10 min

Keywords: DIY dishwasher detergent, homemade dishwasher detergent, DIY dishwasher soap

The post Homemade Dishwasher Detergent with Orange and Lemon Oils appeared first on Dr. Axe.

Our bodies were made with a perfect system to bring energy in through eating and allow the waste to exit through, well, you know. As perfect as this system is, our poop does not always smell very neutral.

In fact, depending on our diet, digestive health and overall health, odors can vary from mild to extreme. For many years, people have been sold on spray fragrances and fragrant candles to mask odors; however, these scents are often made of very toxic ingredients that pollute indoor air with volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

In addition to concentrating pollution inside of our homes, synthetic fragrances can cause a host of health issues, ranging from male reproductive problems, allergies, hormone disruption, cancer and much more.

Before ever reaching for your synthetically scented poop spray again or purchasing the pricey Poo Pouri, try this all-natural bathroom spray — call it a DIY poo pourri — that serves as an affordable and effective alternative.

How to Make A DIY Poop Spray

It’s surprisingly easy and only requires three ingredients. In a small glass spray bottle, add 1 teaspoon of isopropyl alcohol (or rubbing alcohol).

Next, add 40 drops of essential oils to rubbing alcohol, and gently swish to combine. I choose 15 drops lavender, 15 drops lime and 10 drops lemongrass. You can swap out whatever essential oils you have on hand, or go with a seasonal aproach, such as flower-like scents for the spring, citrus for summer, woodsy for fall and spices for the winter!

Lastly, carefully pour in 3 ounces of distilled (or purified) water. Boiled water completely cooled (!) is a good alternative.

Give it a good shake and you’re good to go. :)

How to use your DIY poop pray? Simply spray 3–4 pumps into toilet bowl, misting the water with this essential oil spray prior to using the bathroom. BONUS: This also works as an effective air freshener for after bathroom use as well.

How does poop spray work? Essential oil–based bathroom sprays leave a film on top of the water that is said to trap odors from bodily waste and keep them below the surface. As waste hits the film and enters the water, a pleasant bloom of essential oil fragrance is released into the air, not only masking unpleasant odors, but also leaving a pleasant smell behind.

The next time you feel the urge, give this natural bathroom spray a try and toss out the synthetic products.

DIY Poop Spray

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• Author: Candice Bruhn
• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Yield: 40 uses

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Description

Before ever buying a synthetically scented poop spray or purchasing the expensive Poo Pourri brand, try this all-natural bathroom spray that serves as an affordable and effective alternative.

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Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol
• 40 drops of essential oil (I used 15 drops lavender, 15 drops lime, 10 drops lemongrass)
• 3 ounces distilled water (boiled water completely cooled is a good alternative)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

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Instructions

1. In a small glass spray bottle, add 1 teaspoon of isopropyl alcohol.
2. Add 40 drops of essential oils to rubbing alcohol, and gently swish to combine.
3. Carefully pour in 3 ounces of distilled (or purified) water.
4. Shake and use when ready!

Notes

Spray 3–4 pumps into toilet bowl, misting the water with this essential oil spray prior to using the bathroom. BONUS: This also works as an effective air freshener for after bathroom use as well.

• Prep Time: 5 min
• Method: Mixing

Keywords: diy poop spray, poop spray recipe, diy poo pourri

The post DIY Poop Spray appeared first on Dr. Axe.

Longing for a soap that you can trust is made with pure, all-natural, chemical-free ingredients? Castile soap should be at the top of the list. This variety of soap represents one of the best natural and biodegradable soaps that can be manufactured by hand.

There are so, so many potential Castile soap uses. It’s not only a great soap for washing your body and hair as part of a natural skin care routine, but you can even do the laundry with it — plus, it can safely be used by children. Castile soaps are very popular among vegans and vegetarians since they are plant-based. Also, it doesn’t lose potency with time and is available in the liquid or bar form.

Speaking of potency, a scientific study shows that Castile positively affected contaminated orthopedic wounds when used to irrigate and ultimately cleanse the wounds. A comparison was made using normal saline, Castile soap, benzalkonium chloride, bacitracin or sequential irrigation with all of the above combined. While sequential irrigation treatment significantly lowered the rate of wound complications when applied, so did Castile soap all by itself!

What Is Castile Soap?

Castile soaps have been around for a very long time and were created just following the popular Aleppo. An all-natural, chemical-free soap, Aleppo was made from mixing oil from laurel (bay) trees with olive oil and soda. This is where Castile got its inspiration.

What is soap made of? Generally speaking, soap is often made with animal products like tallow or lard. What is Castile soap exactly? It’s an oil-based soap, which comes in bar or liquid form, that is created without the use of animal fats or synthetic ingredients. Pure Castile soap is considered to be all-natural and non-toxic.

Castile soaps originate from the Spanish region of Castile. While the original recipe for Aleppo soap required laurel oil, this type of oil was in short supply, but the city of Castile had easy access to olive oil. That enabled the creation of a pure white soap that was very mild and effective. The whiteness was seen as purity, which made it very popular with Spanish royalty. As centuries went by, Castile soaps began to make their way all over Europe.

Fast forward to present day and Castile is still one of the most popular European soaps. It has also gained a ton of popularity in the United States as well. You can easily find it in health food stores and basic supermarkets today. In addition to olive oil, a bar of Castile may also be made using coconut, hemp, avocado, almond or castor oils. All of these natural oils add beneficial moisturizing properties to the soap.

Probably the most popular maker of Castile soap is Dr. Bronner. Dr. Bronner’s parents began this successful business manufacturing the soaps in the basement of the Heilbronner home in the Jewish quarter of Laupheim, Germany. Around the 1880s, the Heilbronners innovated the first Castile liquid soap, supplying public washrooms across Germany.

The Dr. Bronner that we know on the label today eventually made way to the U.S., where he continued the family business, ultimately founding Dr. Bronner in the 1940s. Though Dr. Bronner died in 1997, Dr. Bronner’s, the company, became the largest personal care company to be certified under the USDA National Organic Program, with bar and liquid soaps being certified by the highly-reputable certifier Oregon Tilth.

Top 13 Castile Soap Uses

Castile soap can be used for so many things! Washing your face, body, hair, rinsing fruit, doing laundry and cleaning windows are just a few of the many potential Castile soap uses. Here are a few of my favorite Castile soap uses and some suggestions on how to create your own products using this incredible soap.

For The Home

1. Homemade Dish Soap

Castile soap makes great homemade dish soap. It’s all-natural, which means no chemicals on your hands or dishes. Just replace your regular store-bought dish soap with Castile liquid soap and a few drops will take care of those dirty dishes in no time.

2. Homemade Laundry Detergent

What’s great about using Castile soap to clean your clothes is your clothes will likely last longer since they will not be exposed to harsh chemicals.

You can also avoid irritation of the skin from avoiding heavy dyes and perfumes among other ingredients that are often found in the store-bought versions.

Keep reading for an awesome homemade Castile laundry detergent recipe below!

3. Homemade Dishwasher Soap

You can use it to wash the dishes by hand, but you can also make your own soap for the dishwasher too. Try a citrus version as it not only smells amazing, but lemon essential oil has been shown to have anti-fungal effects on food-borne molds.

To create your own dishwasher soap, mix 8 ounces of Castile liquid soap with 1 cup of water, 3 teaspoons of lemon juice and 10 drops of lemon essential oil and shake gently.

To use, add 1 tablespoon of the above mixture into the “open” compartment of your dishwasher and add 1 cup of white vinegar to the “closed” compartment. If you have hard water, add a little more vinegar.

4. DIY All-Purpose Household Cleaner

Using a spray bottle, fill it a quarter of the way up with white vinegar, fill it with water, then add just a squirt of Castile liquid soap, a few drops of tea tree essential oil and a few drops of orange or lemon essential oil. This mixture makes for a safe and natural yet effective household cleaner.

5. Homemade Glass Cleaner

Mix half a cup of white vinegar, 2 teaspoons of Castile liquid soap and 2 cups of distilled warm water into a spray bottle. You can add a few drops of tea tree and lemon essential oil to the mixture to make it a bit more effective. Blend well by giving it a good shake and spray onto your windows. Use newspaper to clean it, leaving it streak-free.

6. Homemade Tub Scrub

Fill a spray bottle with ⅓ Castile liquid soap and ⅔ water. Spread baking soda liberally around the bath and spray the Castile mixture on top of it. Scrub with a scouring pad or scrub brush for a squeaky clean tub.

For The Body

7. Homemade Face Wash

Using a foaming dispenser, add ¼ cup of Castile liquid soap and fill it to the top with distilled water. Add 5 drops each of tea tree and frankincense essential oils. Both oils are known for helping to fight bacteria and can reduce acne.

8. Homemade Shampoo

Making your own Castile soap shampoo is so easy. Plus, you can avoid those pricey, surprisingly toxic shampoos (most of which are filled with chemicals that can cause lots of problems for your hair long-term).

Simply mix together 7 tablespoons of Castile liquid soap with 6 teaspoons of coconut milk and ½ teaspoon of coconut oil. This will make about seven applications. It will store best in the fridge for about a week.

9. Homemade Hand Soap

Fill a foaming soap dispenser with ¾ boiled or distilled water and ¼ Castile liquid soap. You can add 5 drops of tea tree essential oil for its antibacterial properties and lavender oil for its fragrant and relaxing scent.

10. Castile for Shaving

For your face, use about 10 drops, for the underarms, 3 drops should do the trick and for the legs, use about a ½ teaspoon. Simply work into a lather in wet hands and then apply to area.

You can also add olive oil to the mix for some added moisture while shaving.

11. Castile for Your Teeth

Would you believe that potential Castile soap benefits include natural teeth cleaning? That’s right!

Put 1 drop of Castile liquid soap, 1 drop peppermint essential oil and a small dollop of coconut oil on your toothbrush and brush as normal. Just like with toothpaste, do not swallow.

This is a great way to reap Castile soap’s amazing cleansing and disinfectant properties! (Side note: Castile soaps are typically considered disinfectants rather than antibacterial agents, but peppermint oil has inherent antibacterial abilities just like tea tree oil has natural antibacterial power, so when these oils are included, the cleansing and bacteria-fighting ability of the soap is increased!)

12. Foot Bath

Use about 1 teaspoon of Castile liquid soap in a small tub of hot water and allow the feet to soak for 10–20 minutes. Add a few drops of tea tree essential oil and lavender essential oil for added benefits. Or you can use a version of Castile liquid soap that already includes these essential oils.

13. Clearing Congestion

A Castile liquid soap that contains essential oils like eucalyptus or peppermint can be used to help with nasal congestion due to the common cold or allergies.

Simply add a few drops of the liquid soap with essential oil to a bowl of steamy hot water. Breathe in the mist with a towel draped over the head. Of course, be careful as steam can burn your skin.

Where to Buy and Castile Soap Recipes

As noted, the most popular brand is Dr. Bronner’s, but there are other options available as well. Make sure to take the time to read the ingredients to ensure that it is made from pure, recognizable ingredients.

It’s not hard to find a Castile soap recipe online that you can start using in your life today! For example, this is how to make Castile Soap Laundry Detergent:

• Combine one bar grated, 2 cups washing soda, 1 cup baking soda and 30 drops of essential oil (optional) in an airtight container.
• Use ¼ cup per large load (adjust accordingly, especially for high-efficiency washers, for which you may want to wait until the water runs through the soap dispenser).

Some other pretty amazing uses and recipes:

• Spray for Plants
• Homemade Body Wash Recipe
• 3 Ingredient Makeup Remover 

Precautions and Dangers

A few important warnings:

• It’s not recommended for use on color-treated hair because it may strip the hair follicles of color.
• For hair that is not color-treated, it can be used as a shampoo, but to avoid clean yet tangled or matted hair, it’s recommended to follow up with an acidic conditioning rinse that contains natural acidic ingredients like lemon juice. Another alternative is to use diluted apple cider vinegar after shampooing with Castile liquid soap.
• Castile soaps are considered a base, and it’s not recommended to combine them with acids like vinegar or lemon juice (because the resulting mixture will be a curdled solution that will leave behind a film rather than clean surfaces well).
• Castile liquid soap combined with hard water can also result in a white film being left behind when the mixture is used on surfaces.

Final Thoughts

• What is Castile soap? It’s a versatile vegetable oil-based soap that is free of animal products and synthetic ingredients.
• You can purchase it as an unscented soap in bar or liquid form. It’s also available with scents, typically from the inclusion of various essential oils such as lavender, peppermint and eucalyptus.
• If you’re wondering where to buy Castile soap, you can find it at your local health store or possibly even at your closest grocery store.
• You can also easily purchase a Castile soap bar or Castile liquid soap through various online retailers.
• You can use Castile soap for hair, body and skin as a shampoo, body wash and facial cleanser.
• Other uses include washing laundry, brushing your teeth, cleaning produce, as a general household cleaner … the list goes on and on.
• If you’re looking for a soap that is natural, non-toxic, not expensive and extremely versatile, then you may want to consider trying Castile!

The post 13 Uses for Castile Soap — Natural Cleaning for Body & Home appeared first on Dr. Axe.

Doing the laundry can be expensive, especially for families. But laundry soap is not only pricey, it also typically contains toxic chemicals. Next time, instead of buying your soap at your local grocery store, why not try making it yourself with this homemade laundry soap recipe? Homemade laundry soap is not only easy to make, it’s also really cost effective. Try it and experience the benefits today!

Why Make the Switch

Conventional laundry detergents are typically loaded with all kinds of questionable ingredients. You may think it doesn’t matter since you’re only washing your clothes, not your body. But think again, the health hazardous ingredients in laundry detergents can be harmful to very human health as well as to the environment.

One of the top offending ingredients in laundry detergents is “fragrance”. As I’ve talked about before, dangerous synthetic scents like this have been shown to be extremely toxic. Yes, they may leave your clothes smelling fresh and clean, but these fake fragrances can also leave you with some major as well as common health problems (like headaches). A report by the National Academy of Sciences reveals that approximately 95 percent of the chemicals used in synthetic fragrances are derived from petroleum (crude oil). These chemicals include things like carcinogenic benzene derivatives, aldehydes, toluene, and a bunch of other toxic chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects, allergic reactions, and central nervous system disorders. (1)

Another ingredient commonly found in conventional laundry soaps is bleach. While bleach may be excellent at getting whites their whitest, it has also been shown to irritate the eyes, skin and lungs. In fact, a study study published in Occupational & Environmental Medicine suggests that even just “passive exposure” to bleach in the home is associated with a greater chance of respiratory illness and other infections in children. (2)

Other problematic ingredients commonly found in laundry detergent include chemical surfactants, stabilizers and brighteners. Another offender is 1,4-dioxane. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that 1,4-dioxane is possibly carcinogenic to humans. (3) There are are just so many ingredients in commercial laundry soaps that are seriously concerning.

Using homemade laundry detergent not only helps you avoid a plethora of health destructive laundry chemicals, it can also help your clothes last longer since they’re not being exposed to such harsh ingredients. Your skin will also thank you because it won’t be irritated by heavy dyes, chemicals and fake fragrances. Your nose, lungs and entire body will also thank you for avoiding the synthetic scents in those store-bought versions.

Homemade Laundry Soap Ingredient Benefits

Let’s break down what exactly is going into this homemade laundry soap and why the ingredients are much better for your health, the health of your loved ones and the environment.

Castile soap: Pure castile soap is an eco-friendly, biodegradable soap made from plant oils. This soap is so gentle that it can be used to wash your skin and hair yet it is strong enough to thoroughly clean clothes. You can also use pure unscented castile soap to rinse fruit, clean dishes and so much more! It’s really a great product to keep around your home.

Washing soda: Washing soda, or sodium carbonate, is a very affordable and highly effective natural cleaning agent. It has an excellent reputation for fighting tough stains when added to laundry detergent. Washing soda also receives an “A” grade from the Environmental Working Group for its safety to both humans and the environment. (4)

Baking soda: Baking soda is so inexpensive (you can easily buy a box for one dollar or less) yet it is such an effective non-toxic cleaning agent. What we call baking soda or sodium bicarbonate occurs in its natural form as the mineral nahcolite. It’s so non-toxic that it is commonly added to recipes, taken on its own for all kinds of health benefits, and can even be used to make a homemade face wash, face scrub or shampoo.

Lavender essential oil: Adding essential oils to this recipe is optional so feel free to leave your homemade laundry detergent completely fragrance-free. If you do opt to add lavender essential oil then make sure you’re using a high-quality 100 percent pure oil. Adding lavender oil not only makes this detergent smell delightful, but it also adds proven stress-reducing and mood-lifting aromatherapy benefits. Plus, lavender oil has antimicrobial properties so its a perfect disinfectant for dirty clothes. (5)

Peppermint essential oil: Peppermint essential oil is the perfect complimentary oil to pair with lavender. While lavender is sweet, floral and calming, peppermint oil adds a bright, herbal and energizing scent to this recipe. Peppermint oil also has natural antimicrobial properties. Again, just make sure you are using a pure essential oil.

How to Make Homemade Laundry Soap

Making laundry soap at home really isn’t time consuming, costly or labor intensive. As long as you have all of the ingredients on hand, all you have to do to create this recipe is combine the ingredients in an airtight container and mix. Doesn’t get much simpler than that! For a large load of wash, use about a fourth of a cup of soap.

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Most of us grew up using common off-the-shelf bathroom cleaners, but the problem is that they are often loaded with toxins. These toxins may be endocrine disruptors and can cause serious damage, possibly leading to illness. In fact, many of these household cleaners contain toxic chemicals that have been linked to women’s health problems, such as breast cancer, affecting the reproductive system by causing infertility and birth defects, asthma, and numerous other serious illnesses. (1)

And, according to the 2016 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers’ (AAPCC) National Poison Data System (NPDS), household cleaning products as a substance class were the second-most-frequent cause of human exposure (to poisons), and they were also the second most common cause of exposure for children under age 5. (2)

You may be asking, what is the best natural bathroom cleaner? While there are some natural products on the market, the best way to know what ingredients are in your cleaning products is to make your own. Let’s delve into making your very own homemade bathroom cleaner that works beautifully at everything from cleaning countertops and floors, to cleaning the toilet bowl and soap scum from the tub.

Homemade Bathroom Cleaner Ingredients

• 3/4 cup baking soda
• 1/2 cup liquid castile soap
• ⅛ cup sea salt
• 25 drops tea tree essential oil
• 10 drops lemon essential oil
• 10 drops orange essential oil
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

In a medium-sized bowl, mix the baking soda and castile soap until it’s like a thick paste. Baking soda is 100 percent sodium bicarbonate, which is why a little fizz may appear when blended with certain ingredients. It’s an amazing household product. It can clean just about anything from silverware to pots and pans, and it can help leave your bathroom clean too. 

Castile soap is a great addition with its natural, chemical-free characteristics.

Now, add the sea salt and vinegar. Sea salt is great because it adds texture giving the cleaner the perfect scrubbing benefits the help remove stubborn dirt and grime such as soap scum. Vinegar helps by providing antibacterial properties, which are effective for killing germs. There will be a little fizz when the vinegar contacts the baking soda. Don’t worry — this is normal and it will stop after a few seconds.

Lastly, combine the essential oils and mix thoroughly. Tea tree oil is amazing! I use it for so many things, but adding it to your homemade bathroom cleaner can do wonders for helping to keep your bathroom bacteria free. According to a study conducted by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group, tea tree oil has had positive results for users, being used in everything from cosmetics to household products. (3)

Lemon essential oil is another great ingredient in this homemade bathroom cleaner. Lemon is known for cleansing the body of toxins. It’s natural disinfectant properties make it a great choice for cleaning the bathroom. Orange essential oil is yet another perfect ingredient that not only provides that delightful citrus scent to your bathroom, but it is great at killing germs too. (I also have a recipe for a homemade oven cleaner using sweet orange oil that you may love. It’s one of my must-haves when it comes to cleaning.)

Now that you have blended all of these ingredients together, pour the mixture into a clean container with a tight-fitting lid (make sure it is BPA free). Apply a dab or two onto a sponge or cloth and wipe surfaces clean. For hard-to-clean surfaces, apply a thin coat and allow it to sit for a few minutes before wiping clean.

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Stain remover. We’ve all reached for a bottle at some point in time, desperately trying to save a beloved tablecloth, shirt or sofa cushion. The laundry section of the supermarket cleaning aisle is stocked with dozens of stain remover products claiming to take care of every stain known to man, but many of them are full of stuff that may be hazardous to you and your family’s health. And commercial stain removers tend to over-promise and under-deliver, in my experience. So what stain removers can you use to get stains out of clothes that are both safe and effective?

First, a few main points:

• Note the plural: Stain removers. There are many different types of stains. A stain-removal strategy that works well for one type of stain could make a different type much worse. Match your strategy to the staining substance and the type of fabric. The American Cleaning Institute (1) lists over 40 (!) categories of stains and offers different advice (some of it rather toxic) for removing each type. I’ll keep my stain removal advice a bit simpler.
• Act promptly, but don’t make it worse. The longer a stain is allowed to remain on a piece of clothing, the harder it may become to remove. Just be sure to blot wet or brush loose substances away, not rub them in. After washing a stained item, don’t toss it into the clothes dryer (if you have one) without giving it a close examination: the heat of a clothes dryer can set some types of stain, making them harder (or even impossible) to remove. If the stain is still visible, keep working on it and then launder again.
• Don’t discount old-fashioned physical strategies. Some of these include using a dry, stiff brush after mud dries, rinsing immediately with cold water or working liquid soap into a stain with a stiff brush before laundering (or rubbing the cloth against itself to accomplish the same thing). These methods will often minimize or even completely remove the stain without requiring an additional stain remover product.

Stain Remover: Safe, Natural & DIY

Start with the first option listed and move down to stronger ones only if those don’t work. Many stains fall under more than one category, so you may have to use your judgement and mix and match stain remover methods a bit.

Deeply Colored Stains

These include things like:

• coffee
• tea
• fruit juice
• soy sauce
• dark soda
• grass
• ketchup
• tomato sauce
• mustard
• soot

Anything with lots of color has the potential to transfer some of that color to your clothing. Here’s how to fight colored stains.

Note: Be sure to avoid any use of hot water, as heat may make a colored stain permanent.

1. Blot as much of the stained material as possible if it is still wet, using clean rags or paper towels.
2. Brush off any loose material from dry stains. Rinse item under cold running water, holding the cloth with the stain facing down, so anything will be washed away from the cloth rather than deeper into it.
3. Use a small, stiff brush to work a little of your regular laundry detergent (try my Homemade Laundry Soap) or a natural, dye-free soap into the stain (you can also hold a pinch of fabric in each hand and rub the fabric together to accomplish the same thing), and then launder promptly.
4. Check after laundering. If any stain remains, repeat step 2 and allow the item to soak in water for a few hours before laundering or rinsing it out. Bleach (an eco-friendly, non-chlorine brand) may help remove a residual color, but test it on an inconspicuous area of the item first to make sure you aren’t going to remove more than the stain.
5. Certain stains that don’t yield to water may yield to alcohol. Wet a clean white rag with clear vodka or rubbing alcohol and blot the stain. If the blotting rag starts to pick up color, keep at it, changing to clean sections of the rag frequently until no more color is transferred. Then rinse with water. A paste made from unseasoned powdered meat tenderizer may also be worth trying on stubborn grass or tomato stain residues (see Protein Stains, below).

Stain Remover for Greasy, Oil-Based Stains

These include things like:

• salad dressing
• mayonnaise
• butter
• oil
• icing
• chocolate
• makeup
• motor oil
• road tar
• crayons
• candle wax

1. Use a dull knife or the edge of a spoon to remove as much loose material as possible, then blot the area with clean rags or paper towels. Avoid rubbing the offending substance into the item as much as possible.
2. Saturate the area with a little of your regular laundry detergent or a natural, dye-free soap, and use a stiff brush to work it into the stain. Launder promptly. Use the hottest water the fabric will allow as long as the oily stain doesn’t also contain a bright color (such as a commercial cake decoration icing with loads of artificial dyes). If bright colors are present, launder in cold water.
3. If the stain remains after laundering, saturate the stained area with a natural citrus oil-based cleaner (you may want to test a drop on an inconspicuous area to make sure it won’t damage the fabric or change its original color before treating the stain).

DIY Stain Remover with Citrus Oil

You can make your own citrus oil for removing stains by drying citrus peels and soaking the dried peels in vodka for a few days to a few weeks. The strain out the peels, and let the remaining liquid sit uncovered in a shallow bowl until the vodka evaporates (you can also buy lemon, orange, tangerine, or grapefruit essential oil). Add a few drops of any citrus oil to a teaspoon of natural, liquid soap to make your own grease-cutting stain remover. See the full recipe at the end of this article for detailed instructions.

Protein Stains

These include things like:

• milk
• ice cream
• formula
• blood
• bodily fluids

1. Use a dull knife or the edge of a spoon to remove as much loose material as possible. Then blot the area with clean rags or paper towels. Avoid rubbing the offending substance into the item as much as possible.
2. Saturate the area with a little of your regular laundry detergent or a natural, dye-free soap, and use a stiff brush to work it into the stain. Launder as usual.
3. If staining remains, saturate area with an enzyme-based cleaner. Let it sit for 30 minutes so the enzymes can break down any remaining protein into residues that can be washed away. Launder as usual.

DIY Enzyme Cleaner for Stain Removal

You can make a very effective enzyme cleaner from unseasoned powdered meat tenderizer by mixing it with a little water, which activates the enzymes. Powdered tenderizers usually contain natural enzymes, typically bromelain, which is found in pineapple, and papain, which is found in papaya.

Stain-Specific Removal Advice

Mildew. Sigh. Mold and mildew can permanently discolor many fabrics. If none of the methods above work, consider tie-dying the item with natural fabric dyes or black walnut hulls.

Mud. Allow to dry completely, then brush with a stiff brush to remove as much dust as possible. If color remains, refer to Deeply Colored Stains advice, above.

Paints, Dyes & Nail Polish. Depending on the type, you may be stuck with the stain. After exhausting all appropriate options (water for water-based products, citrus-based cleaning product for oil-based products), see Mildew for advice.

Perspiration. Soak wet stains in ammonia and dried stains in white vinegar for at least 30 minutes. Then rinse and proceed with the Deeply-Colored Stains advice, above.

Rust. Avoid bleach, which can make rust stains more visible. Soak in white vinegar or lemon juice and launder as usual. Stubborn rust stains on white clothing can be sun-bleached:

• Soak the item in white vinegar or lemon juice
• Allow to dry without rinsing
• Hang the item out in the sun for a week or as long as it takes to fade (don’t try this with colored items, as sunshine will also fade the original color on the side facing the sun).

Tree sap, resins. If you happen to have any cold cream, rub that into the sap to dissolve it, then treat as for Oil-Based stains, above. Lacking cold cream, use rags saturated in a citrus-based cleaner to blot away as much sap as possible; then saturate any remaining stain with citrus-based cleaner and launder as usual.

The post Natural DIY Stain Remover: The Ultimate Guide appeared first on Dr. Axe.

I know it is so easy to just grab that bottle of dishwashing soap off the shelf at the grocery store like you’ve always done, but have you given thought to what might be in that bottle of soap?

Yes, there are some great options among eco-cleaners that offer clean ingredients, but they can get pricey. What’s great is that making your own might be even easier than buying it off the shelf, and definitely a lot safer for you and your family!

Conventional Dish Soap: A Lot More Dangerous Than You’d Think

Before I show you my homemade dish soap recipe, let’s find out what’s in that average plastic bottle of dish soap. It may shock you.

In reviewing a few conventional hand dishwashing detergents, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) noted some concern about many ingredients causing cancer, DNA damage, eyesight issues, digestive problems as well as potentially injuring organs and the nervous system. Also, there is some moderate concern about respiratory effects and that some ingredients could cause allergies and skin irritations as well. (1)

There is even a high concern of toxicity to aquatic life since what goes down your drain can make its way to the environment. The EWG gives many conventional dishwashing soaps the low grade of “D,” which means there is HIGH CONCERN and likely hazards to health or the environment. They may also have poor ingredient disclosure that can cause a low rating for obvious reasons. One was rated as “F,” which is noted as HIGHEST CONCERN containing potentially significant hazards to health or the environment or poor ingredient disclosure.

According to EWG, some specific ingredients of concern that are commonly found on conventional dishwashing soaps are:

Methylisothiazolinone
High Concern: acute aquatic toxicity
Some Concern: skin irritation/allergies/damage (The American Contact Dermatitis Society dubbed methylisothiazolinone the “Allergen of the Year” in 2013.) 

Fragrance
Some Concern: skin irritation/allergies/damage, acute aquatic toxicity, nervous system effects, respiratory effects, biodegradation
Disclosure Concern: non-specific ingredient

FD&C Yellow 5
Some Concern: cancer, acute aquatic toxicity, chronic aquatic toxicity, general systemic/organ effects

Chloroxylenol
Some Concern: Needs more research

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Some Concern: chronic aquatic toxicity, general systemic/organ effects, acute aquatic toxicity

Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Some Concern: chronic aquatic toxicity, damage to DNA, respiratory effects, developmental/endocrine/reproductive effects, digestive system effects, nervous system effects, acute aquatic toxicity, damage to vision, cancer

Chloroxylenol, PPG-26, PEG-8 Propylheptyl, Alcohol Sulfates, Sodium Salt
Some Concern: Needs more research

FD&C Blue 1
Some Concern: skin irritation/allergies/damage

Alcohol Ethoxylates (C10-C16) Sodium Salt
Some Concern: chronic aquatic toxicity, damage to DNA, respiratory effects, developmental/endocrine/reproductive effects, digestive system effects, nervous system effects, acute aquatic toxicity, damage to vision, cancer

How to Make Homemade Dish Soap

Now that you understand why homemade dish soap is the way to go, let’s dig into this easy DIY recipe.

First, place the washing soda and grated soap into a bowl. Washing soda is similar to baking soda, and you could use either; however, washing soda has a bit more of a boost when it comes to cleaning. According to Arm & Hammer ™, it is a natural detergent and freshener and can be used for cleaning most anything around the home. It helps cut through grease easily, is completely natural and 100 percent fragrance and phosphate-free. (2) 

The grated soap is a key ingredient in homemade dish soapbecause it helps add texture and volume to the blend. You can add a little more if you want it thicker and less for a thinner solution. The key here; however, is to use pure soap, such as grated Castile soap.

Next, heat water to boiling, then pour it over the washing soda and grated soap. Using a whisk, blend well. Once you mix those ingredients, add the Castile soap and blend again. As I mentioned above, Castile soap is 100 percent pure, which is why I love it. Castile is a type of soap made with vegetable oils, making it a vegan and cruelty-free ingredient. This makes it safe to use for most anyone.

Lastly, but one of my favorite parts, add the essential oils and mix again. Lemon essential oil not only provides a nice citrus scent, but it’s great at helping cut grease. It’s even considered one of the top most antimicrobial essential oils on the planet making it a natural disinfectant.

Lavender oil can’t be beat for it’s wonderful scent and is one of my all-time favorite essential oils. Besides the natural antioxidant protection that lavender provides, which can seep into the pores of the skin when using it with your DIY dishwashing liquid, it has phenomenal benefits when inhaling it (which is what happens while you are washing your dishes). Lavender is known for improving your mood and providing relaxation — now that is what I call therapeutic cleansing! (3) Allow it to cool, stirring occasionally. 

Once all ingredients have cooled, pour your homemade dish soap into a BPA-free squirt bottle or a glass bottle with a pump and you are ready to go! Wash your dishes as you normally would and rinse well.

Precautions

Like any product, if you notice any irritation, stop using immediately. Though these ingredients are gentle, it may cause an allergic reaction. You can also use different essential oils that you may prefer or have a better experience with using. Seek a holistic or functional medicine doctor for advice if needed. Avoid the eye area.

The post Homemade Dish Soap with Lemon and Lavender Oil appeared first on Dr. Axe.

Keeping your oven clean is very important because the burnt, baked-on food can release carcinogens as it continues to burn. Off-the-shelf oven cleaners contain a lot of toxins and if it comes in contact with your skin, you could suffer, since it can eat through your skin.

Natural oven cleaning products and green cleaning products can help, but a little baking soda and vinegar may be all you need for a homemade oven cleaner. Still not convinced? Let’s dig into the “why” a little bit.

Lye and ammonia are commonly found in oven cleaners and will break through the skin, remove layers of skin and the fumes can easily make their way into your lungs. Beyond that, once you have cleaned the oven, guess what happens. Those fumes linger and get even worse when you use the oven the bake your next delicious pie. In fact, that pie will end up completely contaminated with those toxins! You may not taste it, but they are there.

Research confirms that Easy-Off oven cleaner and Mr. Muscle oven and grill cleaner, for example, contain poisons that can cause difficulty in breathing due to the fumes as well as swelling in the throat. Some may experience severe pain in the throat, burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips or tongue and even vision impairment. The stomach and intestines may be affected with abdominal pain, blood in the stool, burns that develop holes in the esophagus, and vomiting with blood. Fainting, low blood pressure and organ damage can occur, and the skin may get burns and holes in it, in addition to general irritation. (1) 

There are a few specific ingredients that are known to cause serious health issues, specifically asthma and damage to the reproductive system, such as monoethanolamine (MEA), glycol ethers and alkyl phenol ethoxylates (APEs). (2)

Some others ingredients that you should be aware of are butane, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether (this is also found in many auto care products, at-home hair dyes, and stains or glosses for paint and wood products), monoethanolamine (MEA) and, as noted earlier, sodium hydroxide (lye). All of these ingredients can cause burns to eyes and skin upon contact, as well as burns to the mouth, throat and stomach if swallowed. (3) Butane is one of the more harmful volatile substances to inhale and can cause something called ‘sudden sniffing death’ — cardiac arrhythmia/arrest when person is stressed or does heavy exercise during or soon after being exposed to butane.

Lye, one of the main ingredients, is so powerful that it can decompose carcasses! Sodium or potassium hydroxide is used to break down the tissue of animal carcasses and even deceased humans. That’s pretty scary. And because it’s cheap, it’s found in tons of household cleaners. (4) 

Some ovens contain a self-cleaning feature, and this can definitely help you avoid dangerous toxins. However, you still need to make sure you are following the directions carefully when using the feature since it can produce carbon monoxide, especially if there is a lot of baked on food in your oven.

I know plenty of people who prefer to avoid the self-cleaning feature and clean their ovens with my homemade oven cleaner instead. However, if you decide to use the self-cleaning feature, the North Texas Poison Center recommends  leaving the home during the self-cleaning cycle because the Teflon coating inside the oven can release fumes when at high temperatures. The self-cleaning feature usually takes the oven to about 600 degrees — high enough to release those fumes. If inhaled, the fumes can cause flu-like symptoms and difficulty breathing. And don’t forget your pet! Pets can also experience these problems, too. (5) 

Homemade Oven Cleaner

You will need the following:

• glass bowl
• a pastry brush or similar
• scrub sponge
• spoon
• gloves

First, take out the oven racks. You will need to clean them separately in your sink.

Place the castile soap and baking soda into your bowl and mix. Castile soap is a favorite of mine since it’s made with pure, chemical-free ingredients. It can gently wash your face, provide sparkling window cleaning results or offer a good scrub for the tub! For now, let’s focus on oven cleaning.

Baking soda is another great ingredient for oven cleaning, offering the abrasive texture to help remove stubborn baked-on food. You can even add a little baking soda to your dish washing cycle to help clean your dishes. Baking soda is a nahcolite, containing sodium bicarbonate, which is what helps with the cleansing process.

Now add the vinegar and orange essential oil and blend, adding water until you get a nice, thick paste-like consistency. Vinegar is antibacterial and makes for a perfect household cleaning product. Orange essential oil is a great addition, not only for a nice scent, but it’s also antibacterial and contains powerful antimicrobial compounds called terpenes. 

Let’s apply this homemade oven cleaner! Using your pastry brush, brush on the homemade oven cleaner until you have coated the entire surface. Allow it to sit for about 6–8 hours or overnight works well. It will foam up just a bit, which is normal.

After you have allowed it to do its work, it’s time to wipe it clean. Using another bowl filled with water, take your sponge and begin wiping the oven to reveal the clean surface. Use the bowl of water to clean the sponge each time you wipe, but you may need to change the water a few times.

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Conventional cleaners are made with synthetic fragrances and harmful chemicals. Instead, try this Homemade Melaleuca Lemon Household Cleaner! It’s made with only 4 ingredients, is easy and fast to make! The tea tree and lemon essential oils naturally kill bacteria while leaving a refreshing aroma that can also improve your health! Try it today!

Note: Citrus essentials oils are highly concentrated and are full of healthy acidic properties! Because of this, we recommend you use glass containers when storing them so they do not eat away any of the plastic.

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