DIY - body wash and hand soap

I discovered that by using a bar of your favorite soap, you can create your own body wash or hand soap.  Shaklee used to make a liquid form of their Meadow Blend soap and that was my stand by throughout the cold winter months when my skin tend towards dry and itchy.

I decided to make my first attempt using the Meadow Blend Soap-Free Cleansing Bar.  The recipe calls for 1/2 cup shredded soap, 2 Tbs of 100 glycerin and 1/2 gallon of distilled water.  Any recipe with only three ingredients is definitely something that I can do.

I first shredded the soap - definitely an easier task than I expected.  Don't ask me why I thought it would be difficult - I just thought it was going to take longer to complete this part of the process.  Thankfully it wasn't 

Add this soap to 1/2 gallon of distilled water and add the 2 Tbs of 100% glycerin as well. 

Stir over low/medium heat until it's completely melted.  This is the step that took longer than I would have wanted.  It wouldn't keep me from doing it again - my arm just got tired and I remembered all of the times that I had to stir pudding for my Mom's pies when we were younger.  Hmmm...maybe that's what I'll post this Friday.  Her Chocolate Cream Pie Recipe.  

Where were we?  Oh yes, melting and stirring...

Once it is melted, you have a choice.  Some sites say to leave it in the pot overnight for 24 hours, allowing it to cool.  Then you mix it - or even blend it to a desired consistency.  Others say to pour it into heat-safe containers and allow to cool.  I chose to use canning jars - as it cooled, the lids sealed.  I liked that.  This means I may have to stir / blend on the other end but I'm good with that.

I love the fact that I was able to start with three raw ingredients which totaled less than $10 and ended up with this much body wash / hand soap that would have cost me a whole lot more!

Have you ever done this before?  Is this something you think you will try?  What else have you done to help stretch your budget?

When talking about the Basics...G is always one for me

Preparation of Basic G for my home

Basic G is a Shaklee product that you might not be familiar with.  This product is what I would call 'old school'.  It is something I remember from my childhood.  Technically it isn't included in the Get Clean line.  However a 'daughter' product is - the Germ Off Fragrance Free Disinfecting Wipes.  Don't get me wrong - the wipes are great and convenient - but I still prefer to dilute this wonderful concentrate and sanitize our home.

It's perfect in the kitchen and bathrooms. This is why there are four spray bottles in the picture above.  This was a day that I was preparing my solution.  Call it laziness if you want, but this way, the cleaner I want is in the room when I need it.

Why Basic G?

• it's antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal - meaning it destroys over 40 of these annoying microbes.  That makes it perfect for the kitchen and bathroom areas of your home.  And if you have pets - this also combats many animal viruses as well and is safe to use in your pet areas.  
• It's economical.  One quart - pictured above (less than $20 if you are a Shaklee member) will make up to 64 gallons which equals 512 of my spray bottles pictured above.  Think about that...how much would it cost you to buy 512 bottles of whatever sanitizer you are currently using?

Technically, you wouldn't use a scale to measure the amount for the solution - but I was curious so I checked it out after it was measured.  You see that small amount of green liquid?  That is the Basic G.  The quantity is 1/2 Tbs.  I diluted that in 1/2 gallon of water and then put 16 ounces in each of my four spray bottles.  How fantastic is that?!?

Want to know more about Basic G or any other Shaklee product?  I would be happy to share my experiences with you.  You can leave a comment or email me (link is under my profile).  Please feel free to check out my website as well http://campbellwholesomeliving.myshaklee.com    

Coffee Filters...for more than just coffee!

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Home

I like resources.  This book has become just that to me.  A great resource for tips to keep my house clean. 

I like tips too.  Especially those that make my life easier and improve our quality of living at the same time.

Our house isn't perfect.  It's lived in.  No profound statement there yet somehow, I used to think I wasn't successful unless the house looked 'show ready'.  Whatever.  I'm beyond that now...this is real life people.  Projects are still on this month's "to do" list and many more continue to brew in my mind.  But for the day-to-day living I can say our house is a clean, lived in home meaning there is always something to do but the basics are being maintained. 

Okay...getting beyond the daily maintenance of our home, one of the tips that I tried out today is the use of a coffee filter.  Yes - I did use one to brew a pot this morning before the cleaning began.  That's not the coffee filter I'm talking about.  Back to cleaning...

In the past I've had a love-not so thrilled with the mirror / window cleaning version of Shaklee's H2 concentrate.  While I enjoy and encourage the use of cleaners that clean without adding toxins to your household (and saving money in the process!), I haven't always been thrilled with my mirrors and windows and sometimes broke down and bought the streak free windex cleaner...which had recently run out.

What to do?  I really really want to like my toxin-free, family safe cleaner but I want my mirrors to look good for a whole week...not just for a couple hours until they get that cloudy look or streaks that suddenly appear that weren't there before...or they were hiding.

Shaklee H2 for Windows and Mirrors

Enter the tip...coffee filter.  I was doubtful.  How could this really make the difference?  I actually didn't think of it right away and sprayed the mirror, drying it with the usual cloth and pouted as the dismal results.  I prayed.  I really did.  I know it's just cleaning but, if you haven't realized it yet, Jesus is one of my best friends and I talk to Him about everything.  Today, that included my cloudy looking mirror.  It was then I remembered the tip of the coffee filter.  Mrs. Meyer's actually suggests newspaper too but then my hands get yucky and I don't like that either.  I got one of my filters and sprayed the mirror again.  The result almost took my breath away.  Literally.  I'm not even kidding.  

I only needed one coffee filter for the entire mirror.  It dried the mirror - there are no streaks and it looks so sparkly clean.  You can see my smile can't you?  It's wide.  I finally can truly enjoy my cleaner AND have clean, sparkly mirrors.  That is until the boys make their mark on them...

Have you used coffee filters before?  Newspaper?  What works for you?

Green Cleaning...Personalized

One of my favorite cleaning products is Shaklee's Basic H2.  There are many reasons.  It is versatile - I can use the same concentrate to create quality window / mirror cleaners, all purpose cleaners and even a degreaser (this is my absolute favorite).  This difference is how much of the concentrate is added to 16 ounces of water - a few drops up to 1-1/2 tsp.

Shaklee Basic H2 Concentrate

As I said, my favorite is the degreaser (16 oz water with 1-1/2 tsp Basic H2 concentrate) and I use that on my countertops, appliances, floors (in a pinch it is a great cleaner to spray on the floor and then wipe with a microfiber cloth), showers, sinks, etc.  It is definitely my go-to cleaner.

The one downside for me is the fact that there is no odor.  I don't want a toxic odor - I'm using these products because I want to limit the toxins in our home - but I like to have a fresh clean scent.

Enter essential oils.

I add 3-5 drops to my cleaner and give a little shake.  My personal favorite is lavender.  I do however us tea tree for the bathrooms - it is naturally antiseptic.  If you choose to try the tea tree, I would suggest going with 2-3 drops to start because it is quite pungent.

How come I didn't do this sooner?  Honestly, I didn't really think about it.  But now that I have, I can't imagine not incorporating this into my daily life!  My cleaning is still 'green' - it's just a bit more personalized now.

What's one of your favorite cleaning tips or tricks? 

The Importance of Reading Labels

Yesterday a segment on The Dr. Oz Show was titled America's Hidden Health Scandel: Spiked Supplements.  Even my 10 year old son was bothered by the fact that some of the labels had misspellings of ingredients or were vague. I don't know what you think of Dr. Oz.  Personally, I'm not a huge fan and rarely watch the show but Jeter saw the preview regarding the segment on supplements and was curious what they were going to reveal.  Generally speaking, I believe Dr. Oz's intention is to be informative and promote healthy practices but his show - like any other - wants ratings and therefore I think it can tend to instigate and provoke as well as inform.

That being said, I was grateful to confidently assure my son that the supplements and products that we use from Shaklee are natural and safe.  They've been around since 1956 and continue to uphold the expectation of high quality products.  I'm not saying that everyone has to use Shaklee...just take a minute or two and read your labels.  Be aware of what you and your family are consuming. 


 

Now that you've checked your labels, I'd be interested in hearing back from you.  Notice anything that shouldn't be there?

The Vitality of Supplements

Previously I blogged about making some changes in our lives - some are new while others are continued from last year.  Simms and I made some changes to our eating habits last June and that has become our life style.  This is a continued change.

Another aspect that is a continuation in my life (and hopefully one that is more consistent for Simms) is the use of supplements.  I grew up on Shaklee Vitamins - specifically the Vita-Lea - and have seen the benefits of their nutrient value time and again.  Whether it's including additional Vita-C because I bruise easily, adding B-Complex during stressful times because I know that my body is depleting its supply at a faster rate or taking Immunity Formula I and/or NutriFeron to give my immune system the boost it needs during cold season, I know my body is being positively impacted by the natural supplements of Shaklee.

I've heard people express concern about the extra expense supplements pose to their monthly budget.  I agree that it is an investment.  One that I believe is worth budgeting for.

Your life.  Your health.  You are worth it.

If you have about two minutes, consider watching the video below regarding the use of supplements in your diet.




Do you use supplements?  Have you ever considered using them?  Whether you have or haven't, I would love to hear about it!