Not sure what Mama Loves is? Check out the Mama Loves page for the scoop on what Mama Loves is all about.
Also---to see all the amazing ideas that have been shared here, check out the Mama Loves Pinterest page. So many crazy-good ideas there!
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- Check out some cute ways to style your little girls' hair.
- Did you know they make dry erase crayons?! Yeah, me either. These sound way cool!
Happy Mother's Day Weekend! Enjoy spending time with the loves in your life, and maybe get a little extra sleep, and some pampering too!
This afternoon I went to get my fingers and toes painted. When I went to pick up my husband's contacts yesterday, I noticed the poster on the wall of the model that was sporting Fendi sunglasses was wearing a similar color, and I liked it! Not sure I'm quite as chic as a Fendi model, but I thought the color was fun.
I realized the other day that most of the store-bought cleaning products no are no longer in our home. They've been replaced with homemade versions. My laundry room shelves look like this:
Homemade laundry detergent is in the jelly jars. It's eco-friendly, great for sensitive skin and much less expensive! The recipe is only three things:
1 cup Borax
1 cup washing soda
2 cups of grated Fels-Naptha soap
I'll admit that I would spend a really long time grating that blasted Fels Naptha soap (with the fine Parmesan section of my grater) until my dear friend Melissa informed me that I could shove that bar in the food processor. That little helpful nugget has added hours to my life!
The stain treater was Katie's Mama Loves from several months ago. One part Dawn dish soap and two parts hydrogen peroxide. The peroxide has bleached the color out of the soap, but it's in there, I promise. That recipe is a gem! Gets of lots of food stains when the girls miss their mouths (and their bibs).
I'm also loving our shower/sink cleaner made of equal parts vinegar and Dawn dish soap.
Friends, let me tell you, I am the laziest shower/sink cleaner. I want something that I can spray on, walk away, and rinse clean. I detest scrubbing anything. Till now, the only things I found that had that kind of cleaning power were harsh chemicals. This recipe is awesome! The vinegar gets off, even the hard water build-up. Just spray it on, and rinse it off after 30 minutes or so. I do sometimes use a rag to make sure I get all the soap off, but definitely don't scrub anything. Ever.
While the vinegar is definitely a strong smell, I love that it's not chemical smell, and it's completely safe to use around the girls.
Since I hate scrubbing, to clean the toilet I put a cup of baking soda in there for an hour, swish it around with the brush and flush. It deodorizes and cleans beautifully! Sometimes I add in some vinegar too----we always have lots of vinegar on hand.
I also sprinkle baking soda on the rugs before I vacuum sometimes. We keep lots of baking soda on hand too.
I have a few other "projects" to add to our homemade cleaning repertoire:
If you've tried any of these, I'd love to hear how they work, and if you have any hints or tips.
If you're interested, here's my Pinterest page for DIY household stuff.
How about you? What DIY household cleaners to you use?
Can't wait to see what you're loving!
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11 comments:
I use the dishwasher detergent. Lemishine, Epsom salt, and borax I think. Can't remember. It's not perfect... but I also load the DW to the brim :)
I've also made the hand soap. Pick a bar you love the smell off b/c you're going to be using that stuff for decades! The texture, however, is pretty close to snot... it's a little unnerving...
I'm going to follow your pinterest board closely. I so want to make the move towards safer AND cheaper cleaning products
Happy Mother's Day, Julia! You're an incredible mom and your girls are truly blessed to have you! I hope you have lots of smiles and giggles today (and that everyone naps!)
These ideas are great. I have using homemade laundry detergent for almost 2 years now, but not much anything else I use is homemade.
You have inspired me!
This Mama loves that nail polish color! What is it?
Well, gee, I have not been interested doing the whole green clean thing. I just think that there is no way that this homemade stuff could do as good a job. But now you got me thinking. Thanks so much for sharing your experience and love for these recipes. I am absolutely going to give them a try! Thanks!
OK. I am a huge slacker in this department. :/
I like the idea of the shower cleaner...maybe I can start small and work from there. :)
Thanks for the inspiration, Julia!
I need to just try this stuff!! I keep reading about it, and never do it! I need to do it! I want to go green, yet still get effective cleaning, and I think you may have found a way to do that!!
I especially like the shower cleaner...I think I need to buy some vinegar! That's something we never have on hand and it seems to be essential for cleaning! =)
Thanks for sharing your ideas!!!
BTW - so that laundry soap - that would be okay to be used for itty bitties too? Like newborns? Thanks!!!
Cecilia, the color is by OPI called "Don't Mess With Texas" :)
Megan, YES totally safe for newborn skin! My Brynne has always super sensitive skin, and it doesn't bother her at all.
well this is certainly a good jumping point for me. I use a lot of Norwex (natural stuff) but I am pretty sure I could retire a few years earlier if I get off my butt and make my own!
Thanks and Happy Thursday! :)
Love this post - I need to do more.... but one thing I do is I never use fabric softener (1/4 cup white vinegar per load works beautifully... and no, it doesn't smell :))
and I did that liquid hand soap. Indeed it makes BAZILLIONS of bottles. I made it a second time and put in two fewer cups of water and it thickened up nicely.
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