Next Week: Soap Making and Body Butter

The makings of Body Butter

There's only a few more days left to sign up for a night of soap making with Hannah Barrington. Hannah led a similar workshop last year (you can read about it here).

I've been really pleased with the soap from our last workshop. After six months of letting it cure, the soap was mild, firm and really sudsy.  Hannah also made me a batch with essential oils that has made for nice showers.

Both the soap and body butter recipes are simple to memorize and execute. See below for the details!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011 from 7- 9 pm

If you've always wanted to move away from mass produced, chemical filled body products but don't know where to start, join Hannah Barrington as she mixes up a batch of gentle Olive Oil Soap and skin-honouring Body Butter. 

In this evening workshop, you'll make 10 bars of soap, exfoliating body rub, and learn how to make body butter (you'll take home a sample).

Fee is $25. RSVP to Carissa at carissahalton@hotmail.com and pay early to hold your spot. 

Green Clean- Recipes for Everybody

When I first set out to make my own cleaning products, the greatest inhibitor was logistical. When the spray bottle emptied, anxiety set in. Now I would have to gather the various ingredients from opposite ends of the house, pull out the recipe from yet another corner, then make the stuff. It seemed more of a production than it was worth. 

Then came the birth of my 'Green Clean Kit', and my family was saved my whining. 

To make a Green Clean Kit, find a crate (a green or blue bin works great) and fill it with the items pictured above:

1. Vinegar 

2. Baking Soda 

3. Castile (ex. Dr. Bronner's) or Pure Glycerine Soap (buy at Grocery/Health Food Store or Online)

4. Oil (olive or otherwise)

5. Borax (found in Laundry aisle)

6. Washing Soda (found in Laundry aisle)

7. Tea Tree

8. Rags

With these ingredients you will be able to make most of the homemade recipes available on the internet or plethora of books on the subject.

To be honest, I use only two recipes for just about every cleaning emergency. I have numerous spray bottles around the house, most marked in Sharpie with the recipes so everyone in the household can make up a new batch of cleaner.

General Purpose Cleaner

(For use everywhere, but on marble. If using on mirrors, experiment with amount of soap.)

1 Cup Water

1 Cup White Vinegar

1 teaspoon Castile Soap (or detergent if that's what you have)

5- 10 drops Tea Tree Oil (optional antibacterial)

Disinfectant

2 Cup Hot Water

3 teaspoons Borax

3 Tablespoons Castile Soap (or detergent if that's what you have)

3 Tablespoons White Vinegar

More oversight is required of this one if kids are cleaning. Borax is a natural mineral, however use it carefully as its highly toxic for animals and children. It is used here for its disinfectant properties in place of bleach.

I've also stumbled onto super cheap liquid hand soap!  Use 1 part Castile Soap to 7 parts Water. Works like a charm and for pennies (okay, maybe it'll cost you $1 to fill a standard soap pump).

Happy Cleaning, Guys, Gals and children of all ages.