Making your own products doesn't have to be hard. Here's a list of possible ingredients and their benefits. Whilst you can purchase many raw ingredients from your local health food stores or organic shops, if you can't, I thoroughly recommend you try an all Australian business (QLD) for your raw ingredients - https://www.vitalia.com.au They are AMAZING!
Bi Carbonate Soda (Bi-Carb) Organic Natural Sodium Bicarbonate (often referred to a Baking Soda or Bicarb Soda) is hard to come by, but that is exactly what this is. Our premium grade, economically priced Sodium Bicarbonate is 100% natural and harvested from a natural deposit in the USA. It is aluminium-free, USP & food grade baking soda, and is registered with Australia Certified Organic (ACO) as an Approved Ingredient suitable for Organic Input Production for food formulations and for manufacturing organic cosmetic products. Our Bicarb contains no fillers, additives, anti-cake agents, colouring or fragrance. It’s non-GMO, fumigation-free, allergen-free and is not tested on animals. Our Soda is a safe soda and THE very best Sodium Bicarbonate in Australia.
How to use Sodium Bicarbonate/Baking SodaEnjoy a refreshing and relaxing Bicarb bath Sodium Bicarb (baking soda) soothes, relaxes, softens skin and even deodorises. For a pampering and revitalizing bath soak or for relieving tension after a hard day, dissolving 2 cups of Sodium Bicarbonate and soaking for 15 minutes can make you feel so refreshed! In the laundry Sodium Bicarb added to the rinse cycle of your wash boosts the strength of laundry detergents, making your clothes cleaner, brighter and fresher. As a natural cleaner Sodium Bicarb is a mild abrasive, perfect for removing stains from your sink, fridge, stove top, bench tops, dishwasher, bathroom tiles, bathtub and shower recess, and more. As a deodoriser Sodium Bicarb actually eliminates odours rather than covering them up. Use it to eliminate odours from smelly shoes (sprinkle Bicarb inside shoes in evening and shake it out in the morning), sprinkle on your carpet before vacuuming to eliminate food and pet odours and any stale smell. Use it in your bin, fridge and pantry to keep them smelling fresh. Run your dishwasher and washing machine through a cycle with Bicarb instead of detergent to give them a great clean and reduce odours. Unclog drains Pour 4 tablespoons of Bicarb down your drains and flush with hot water. Do this weekly to keep them free-flowing. Bicarb Soda/Baking Soda, so simple and so versatile! (All info taken from Vitalia.com.au website)
White Vinegar White vinegar, sometimes called distilled or spirit vinegar, has been a mainstay in households worldwide for thousands of years. It’s easy to understand why. This versatile liquid presents a treasure trove of uses for cleaning, gardening and cooking. It even has medicinal applications, too. This article discusses some of the most popular applications for white vinegar and the safest, most effective ways to use it in your home.
What Is It and How Is It Made? Standard white vinegar is a clear solution generally containing 4–7% acetic acid and 93–96% water. Some types of white vinegar can contain up to 20% acetic acid, but these are strictly for agricultural or cleaning purposes and not intended for human consumption. Historically, white vinegar has been produced from the fermentation of foods such as sugar beets, potatoes, molasses or milk whey. Usually, the specific recipe depended on which food item was most readily available in a particular region. Today, most white vinegar is made from the fermentation of grain alcohol (ethanol). This kind of alcohol doesn’t naturally contain many nutrients, so other ingredients such as yeast or phosphates may be added to kickstart the bacterial fermentation process.
Cleaning Uses White vinegar has a variety of practical household applications, none of which have to do with food. Because white vinegar has antimicrobial properties, it’s a useful disinfectant and cleaner for a myriad of surfaces and appliances. What’s more, it’s significantly cheaper than other commercially available household cleaning agents. Items easily cleaned with white vinegar include:
Countertops
Showers and bathtubs
Toilets
Floors
Dishes
Windows and mirrors
Coffeemakers
Laundry (as stain removal)
White vinegar also has gardening applications. It may be used for killing weeds and can help cut flowers stay fresh longer. When used for home cleaning projects, a 50/50 ratio of vinegar to water is best. For weed removal, use full-strength vinegar. White vinegar and water in a spray bottle gives amazing results to glass and mirrors ... don't forget to add your favourite essential oil.
Borax Do you know the origin of the Borax you buy? Don't settle for a synthetic man-made alternative when our borax is an authentic pure natural boraxharvested from ancient deep Mediterranean deposits, free of fragrances, and other additional chemicals.Borax is an ideal, eco-friendly alternative to harsh chemicals with a wide range of uses in the home:
To Soften and Freshen Laundry - add about a cup of Borax to each washing load, either with the detergent or in the rinse cycle, to add freshness and softness to your laundry.
As an all purpose cleaning agent - mix 2 teaspoons of Borax with 2 cups of hot water. Shake to blend. Pour into a spray bottle. You may like to mix 2 tablespoons of Borax for a more concentrated mix.
For the Bathroom and Kitchen - Add 1 cup of Borax into the toilet bowl at night. The next morning, clean out the toilet bowl with a brush. You will find the job effortless because the Borax has loosened all the grime buildup. This non-abrasive cleaner can also be used in the bathtub or on the counters. Remove stains from stainless steel or porcelain sinks with the following recipe - Make a paste with 1 cup Borax and 1/4 cup lemon juice. Using a sponge or cloth, rub the stain with the paste. Rinse with warm water.
As an insecticide - for flees, cockroaches and ants sprinkle Borax on dog beds, carpets, and other areas where you suspect that fleas are hatching. Shake out or vacuum. To stop ants invading your house, sprinkle Borax along ant tracks. They will be gone in no time!
Mould Inhibitor - Make a thick Borax and water paste. Smear it on the mouldy area. Let set until dry (overnight or longer). Sweep up the powder, and rinse off the rest".
Unclog drains with 1/2 cup of Borax followed by 2 cups of boiling water. Let is sit for 15 minutes, then run your water for a few minutes to flush it out.
Many people report feeling supple, refreshed and invigorated after soaking in one of the many Hot Mineral Springs that exist around the world. Those springs contain an array of minerals and one of those minerals is Boron. Similar sensations can be experienced if Borax is added to a Bath Soak. Perhaps add a little Borax to an Epsom salt or Magnesium Chloride bath soak for a superbly comforting bath soak. No set amount to use per soak, but as a guide Add 50-300gms of Borax per warm bath. 50gms is about a handful and 300g a large cup. For a foot-soak add a tablespoon to a handful per soak.
Those uses alone show Borax as an ideal substitute to harmful chemical alternatives which can cause havoc with our health and environment. (All info taken from Vitalia.com.au website)
Castile Soap Our Castile Soap is a premium quality unscented liquid soap that is lovingly hand-made in Queensland. Castile soap is well suited for use with essential oils (or straight without oils added). Castile soap is primarily used as a body wash in the shower/bath or as a foaming hand wash. For those that use liquid soap as a shampoo, castile soap can be used in that instance. Made from all natural ingredients, it is gentle enough for use on sensitive skin and you can take comfort knowing there are no nasty chemicals added. Castile soap is also very friendly to the environment. This castile soap does not contain Palm Oil, Phthalates, Formaldehyde, Mineral Oils, Sulfates, Parabens or GMO products. It is suitable for Vegans. INGREDIENTS: Filtered rainwater, potassium soap of olive oils and coconut oil, retained glycerin.
