There are 3 soap products that come in contact with your family’s skin every day.
- Hand Soap (if you’re like me, this is about 32 times a day)
- Laundry Soap (if you wear clothes, it’s there, and on your kiddos clothes too)
- Bath or Shower Soap (moms – of babies and toddlers especially – no judgement if this is not every day for you)
Did you know the ingredients (and chemicals, perfumes, etc) soak into your skin – right into your bloodstream? Look at the back of your products and do some research.
I didn’t make the switch from everything all at once, that would be overwhelming, but if you try something new each week or month, it’s doable.
There are some really great alternatives out there, but they can be expensive…
…let me show you how to make your own, for pennies on the dollar.
It’s easy, I promise!
Detox your home and save money (I saved almost $400 a year on hand soap alone)
Hand Soap
Honestly, we used to spend about $8 per week on safe hand soap. With two young kids, I replaced a bottle with every grocery order. This has simplified our lives, really. No more researching soaps, trying them, buying them every week.
Now we run out; I fill up the dispenser with my safe and chemical free ingredients.
Homemade Foaming Hand Soap
- 12-16oz Foaming Hand Soap Dispenser (if you choose citrus oils,use glass) – Here’s a good option
- 3 tbsp Liquid Castile Soap (if you are adding your own oils, choose unscented)
- 1-2 Tbsp Vitamin E oil (optional, or switch with coconut or other liquid oil for added moisture)
- 20 Drops of your favorite Essential Oils. I love Lavender and Lemon in the summer or an Immunity blend of Cinnamon, Clove, Lemon, Rosemary and Oregano in the winter
- Distilled Water
Instructions: Add the castile soap and oils into dispenser, fill with distilled water. Shake.
Time: This takes under two minutes. No joke. And most of that time is consumed waiting for the essential oils to drip out of the bottles.
Modify: You can make this without the essential oils for unscented or buy good quality scented castile soap. Dr. Bronner’s makes some good options.
Cost: The foaming dispenser makes this go a LONG way. Each bottle costs me $2.75 to make on average (more or less depending on the oils I use). And in our kitchen and downstairs bath, the batch lasts about 6 weeks. In the bathrooms we use less 4 – 6 months.
Now, we spend about $45 a year on handsoap.
Wait for it…
Verses, $432. I had to redo these calculations because I thought it was wrong. This makes me happy, I just called my very budget-focused husband to tell him.
Laundry Detergent
I’ve avoided this since I started my toxin-reduction journey in 2016. Seemed too complicated and we’re used to an amazing smelling batch of clothes. Until I finally accepted that clean doesn’t have a smell. Wearing those perfumes around in your clothes all day, also means it’s soaking into your skin! Yikes. Don’t be mad at me all you detergent smelling people (not judging) just informing you, with love.
Powdered Laundry Soap (yields 64 normal loads)
- 4 Cups Washing Soda (Arm and Hammer makes a good one)
- 2 Cups Borax
- 2 Pure Castile Car Soaps
- 20 – 35 Drops of Essential Oils (I chose 20 Lavender and 15 Lemon for my “Lavender Fresh” version)
Instructions: Chop the bar soaps in about 1 inch pieces and place in a food processor (you can also grate with cheese grater if needed). Chop until fine, about the size of rice, while dropping in desired oils. Don’t over process as it will begin to melt and group back into solid form. Next add the soda and borax. Pulse a few more times to combine.
If you grate the soap just combine all ingredients in a bowl. As you stir to combine, add your oils.
Usage: For a regular load I use about 2 tablespoons, but you can use more or less depending on your needs.
Time: Took me 10 minutes on my first try. That was even with a learning- curve and opening the products.
Modify: You can make this without the essential oils for unscented (not sure who would do that, but we are all different). Also you can just buy infused castile soaps from your favorite natural market to add your scent. Or Dr. Bronner’s makes good options.
Cost: Based on the products I chose for my batch this was only $8.78 total. At 64 loads that’s only 14 center per load. Which is less than even the well-known brands and definitely less than any of the more natural ones I’ve used. Next time I’ll probably make my own bar soap first and use that instead of buying. MORE money saved!
And, PS, this DOES smell amazing. My laundry room is a happy place to enter.
Aromatherapy Foaming Body Wash
Homemade Body Wash
- 12-16oz Foaming Hand Soap Dispenser (if you choose citrus oils,use glass)
- 3-4 Tbsp Liquid Castile Soap
- 1-2 Tbsp Vitamin E Oil (optional, or switch with Coconut or other liquid oil for added moisture)
- 20 Drops of your favorite Essential Oils You can go crazy with this. I have a blend that I love called Valor which is Black Spruce, Camphor, Blue Tansy, Geranium and Frankincense. Ahhh, smells so good and makes me happy, relaxed and brave (valor).
Instructions: Add the castile soap and oils into dispenser, fill with distilled water. Shake.
Time: Again, very similar to the hand soap but I add a bit more castile. Under two minutes.
Modify: You can make this without the essential oils for unscented or buy good quality scented castile soap. Dr. Bronner’s makes some good options. Watch out for the peppermint though, not good in the shower 🙂
Cost: For me, with the oils I choose, this is about $5 a bottle, but you can make this more or less. Still a bargain for a safe, natrual, CUSTOM body soap option.For children and babies, use safe oils for kids and just increase the dilution. Just very diluted lavender is a great option for babies.
If you would like to purchase oils, please be sure to contact a distributor you know, or the person who sent you to this website. If you don’t have or know a provider, you can visit: www.myYL.com/LaurenLake and we’ll be happy to help!