SUGAR SCRUBS

I first tried making sugar scrubs one Christmas as an economical way to give a fun and useful gift to some friends. I tried lots of different combinations, tested them myself and got feedback from friends. I came up with a favorite basic recipe and then vary the essential oils for fragrance and health benefits -- here are some of my favorite combinations -- have fun experimenting with your own.

SUGAR-HONEY SCRUB

Can mix up in bulk and then divide to add varying essential oils

2 cups granulated sugar (I like a slighty coarse grind)

2 teaspoons liquid glycerin

4 teaspoon honey

Suggested essential oils combinations per 2 cups basic sugar scrub:

- 6 drops sweet orange / 10 drops peppermint
               I call this Florida Christmas

- 16 drops peppermint
               cooling for tired feet, also relieves headache

- 8 drops lavender / 6 drops rosemary
               tones skin
- 6 drops tea tree / 6 drops rosemary / 5 drops sage  
               relieves congestion

- 5 drops ylang-ylang / 5 drops sage / 5 drops peppermint

               really smells good
- 6 drops sage / 8 drops bergamot
               Bergamot should be bergaptene-free
               Bergaptine can cause photo-sensitivity 

Stir well to mix essential oils and store in an airtight container. Stir before each use. This keeps for a long time -- honey acts as a preservative. Easiest to use in the shower or bath. Apply small amounts to moistened skin and scrub gently. Especially take care not to irritate face or get in eyes. It's beneficial to leave scrub on skin for a few minutes then rinse with warm water. Cane sugar produces glycolic acid, a natural alpha hydroxy acid that exfoliates the skin.

Olive or other oil added to the mix makes a nice moisturizing scrub, but the oil leaves a slippery residue in tub or shower that is potentially dangerous if not cleaned up right away. That's why I forgo that luxury. 

CRYSTAL SALT STICK DEODORANT

I can't believe I didn't make this my first post.  I used deodorant from about age 9, and antiperspirant probably since it was invented, and was ever on a quest for the most powerful and effective formula. Yes, in recent years I was troubled by the reports that antiperspirants are unhealthy at best and can cause cancer at worst. But I could see no choice but to take my chances for lack of a socially acceptable alternative. I'm not even sure what prompted me to try the natural mineral salts crystal stick when I noticed it in the health food store, but since it was inexpensive, I bought one with absolutely no expectation of it doing the job for me. I only dared try it when I wasn't planning to go out, and to my complete shock -- it actually worked, very effectively indeed!  I have been using it for several years with more consistent results in odor control than I get even with the strong stuff.

I do need to say that although it very effectively controls odor, it does not stop perspiration.  I'm not sure how that works!  But on occasion when it is important not to sweat -- like wearing a good dress at a summer wedding -- I bring out the Mitchum.  But there is hardly a time when I really have that need. It makes me wonder if the health threat from antiperspirants is not so much that the chemicals are harmful as that it's unhealthy to never sweat.

A potential problem -- I find that it can be irritating to my skin, especially right after shaving. But I found a solution that seems to take care of that. The stick must be moistened before applying, so instead of using  plain water, I spray it with a few spritzes of witch hazel.  I find that I rarely experience any skin irritation using this procedure and I think the witch hazel actually gives some additional odor protection.

This is definitely worth a try for the positive benefits:
- A healthy alternative
- No residue to deal with on clothing
- Economy! - I get a $4 stick that lasts several months

HEAVY DUTY CARPET SPOT CLEANER

This is good for pet odor or other tough cleaning challenge as an alternative to enzyme cleaners, which work well but can be expensive because they usually require several treatments. This mix might cause fading or discoloring of carpet so test in hidden area first.

Carpet Cleaning Foam:

1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide

1 teaspoon dish soap

Whip into a foam with whisk, mixer or stick blender

Blot up any moisture residue from carpet before treating.
Apply cleaning mix and brush in with scrub brush
Rinse with clear water and blot up as much moisture as possible.

A pet stain that has set or that has been soiled multiple times might need additional treatments. If a slight odor residue remains, spray well with equal parts white vinegar and water. Blot with old towels and let dry.

Another good freshener for carpet or fabric is a spray of a few drops each of rosemary, sage, peppermint and tea tree essential oils in water. I use about 2 drops each per cup of water.

LAUNDRY DETERGENT

Not only is this the most economical way possible to clean clothes, but I like it better than commercial detergent. All natural ingredients -- it takes me about 15 minutes to "cook up" a batch that lasts several weeks doing laundry for two of us. There are endless variations on homemade laundry products. This is the first one I tried and honestly liked it so well I never tried other combinations. You can add essential oils for more fragrance, but I love the fresh just plain clean scent I get with the basic formula.

This bulk amount is easy to work with and fits easily into my empty commercial detergent pump container. I priced this out and it comes to 1-1/4 CENTS per load!

In a large cooking pot* mix:

1/6 bar of Fels Naptha soap** grated with cheese grater
               (I first mark bar in 6ths with a knife)

3 cups water

Heat and stir till soap dissolves

Add and stir to dissolve:

1/4 cup washing soda** (not baking soda)

1/4 cup borax powder**

Add to pot and continue stirring:

2 cups hot water

Add to mix and stir thoroughly:

1/2 gallon + 3 cups water (or 11 cups)

* The washing soda may discolor aluminum pans but stainless steel works well. The mix actually shines up my stainless steel soup pot.

USE: 1/2 cup per regular laundry load

Let the mixture cool and then put in a container that you can pour or pump from. (You don't have to wait for it to cool before using.) Once cool it will thicken a bit and it will separate, so shake or stir thoroughly before each use.

**Borax powder, washing soda, and Fels Naptha soap, can all be found on the laundry/cleaning aisle of most grocery stores.

Fels soap also works well for pre-treating stains.  Rub on spot before laundering.

CLEAN JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING!

This is really my all purpose cleaner . . .

1 part white vinegar and 2 parts water in a spray bottle --

I have one in almost every room.

Clean windows, mirrors, counters, appliances, cupboards, most carpet spills or spots.

Vinegar spray and/or baking soda (in shaker container with large holes)

does just about any job

Toilet bowl:

put vinegar mix in empty toilet cleaner squeeze bottle and squirt all round under toilet rim

shake baking soda around bowl

let set for a few minutes / scrub and flush

note: Before I started this I could not get rid of the bad toilet smell -- it would return within minutes of thoroughly cleaning. After the procedure above several times, clumps of smelly caked on mineral deposit started coming loose from under the bowl rim. After that came off -- no more odor problem!

I know -- I hate the smell of vinegar too. But it's such a fabulous and cheap cleaner I made myself get used to it. And you only smell it while it's still wet.

ROSEMARY OIL HAIR TONIC

Rosemary oil has a reputation for promoting healthy hair and scalp and encouraging hair growth and healthy texture. This is pretty subjective, but it seems like my hair has gotten better -- a little thicker and better texture -- since using a rosemary rinse faithfully for several weeks. It is normally very fine and has been in a thinning trend.

I don't use as much of this as is suggested in some sources, but even in this amount it seems to be beneficial:

Mix 20 drops of rosemary essential oil in 1/4 cup water

I put it in an old hair color applicator bottle (with pointed tip) and use the tip to apply a small amount of the mixture directly to the scalp after washing and towel drying hair. Massage it into the scalp for a minute then rewrap hair in towel to blot excess moisture.