TIPS, TRICKS & ECO ADVICE - KEEPING CLEAN THE NATURAL WAY
20 August 2019 - The Sisterhood of Sustainability
Learn how you can make your own at home cleaning products and avoid those toxic chemicals with soap berries. Chemicals are taking pride of place in most households and it’s shocking to know just how much our exposure to these toxic substances has increased. Not only are they having a negative impact on your health, they’re also stripping your wallet bare!
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What if we told you that you can save money and avoid all those harmful chemicals? Try these easy and natural soap berry recipes at home to create your own cleaning and household products.
LAUNDRY DETERGENT
Place four full soap berries in a wash bag or an old sock with a knot in the top and place in the washing machine with your load of dirty clothes. Wash as normal and then remove soap berries. Soap berries can be used 3-4 times before they come to the end of their life and then can easily be composted.
MULTI-PURPOSE CLEANER
Put 6 soap berries shells and 500mls of water into a saucepan. Bring to the boil and allow to simmer for 10-15 minutes. Allow to cool, strain and add the liquid to an empty spray bottle. This can ben used to clean the house from top to bottom, including windows. To add a fresh perfume to the cleaning mixture, put in a few drops of eucalyptus oil too! Dispose of the shells in the compost.
JEWELLERY CLEANER
Mix 3-4 soap berries with 1 litre of hot water and use to soak jewellery before rinsing, drying and polishing.
RELAXING/CLEANSING BATH
Place 3-4 soap berries in a wash bag and allow to steep in hot bathwater for 5 minutes. Add a few drops of your favourite essential oil and spend time in the bath relaxing and relieving stress.
Place four full soap berries in a wash bag or an old sock with a knot in the top and place in the washing machine with your load of dirty clothes. Wash as normal and then remove soap berries. Soap berries can be used 3-4 times before they come to the end of their life and then can easily be composted.
MULTI-PURPOSE CLEANER
Put 6 soap berries shells and 500mls of water into a saucepan. Bring to the boil and allow to simmer for 10-15 minutes. Allow to cool, strain and add the liquid to an empty spray bottle. This can ben used to clean the house from top to bottom, including windows. To add a fresh perfume to the cleaning mixture, put in a few drops of eucalyptus oil too! Dispose of the shells in the compost.
JEWELLERY CLEANER
Mix 3-4 soap berries with 1 litre of hot water and use to soak jewellery before rinsing, drying and polishing.
RELAXING/CLEANSING BATH
Place 3-4 soap berries in a wash bag and allow to steep in hot bathwater for 5 minutes. Add a few drops of your favourite essential oil and spend time in the bath relaxing and relieving stress.
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SHAMPOO/HAND CLEANER
Place 3 soap berries in 500mls of water and simmer for 10 minutes. Try adding lavender essential oil to scent. Shampoo will not lather but it will clean your hair just as well. Please keep mixture away from the eyes as it can irritate.
IN THE GARDEN
Mix up a mild solution of 3-4 soap berries with 1 litre of hot water. Then use a spray bottle to spray the mild solution onto plants to keep some parasites away.
PET CLEANER
Mix up a mild solution of 3-4 soap berries with 1 litre of hot water. Keep mixture away from pets eyes and wash as normal. This mixture can also be used in the prevention of parasites.
DELICATES HAND WASHING SOLUTION
Place 6-8 half shells in 500mls of boiling water. Allow to simmer for 8-10 minutes and add essential oils in desired. Add to the sink or bucket and use to soak and hand wash delicate clothing items.
Place 3 soap berries in 500mls of water and simmer for 10 minutes. Try adding lavender essential oil to scent. Shampoo will not lather but it will clean your hair just as well. Please keep mixture away from the eyes as it can irritate.
IN THE GARDEN
Mix up a mild solution of 3-4 soap berries with 1 litre of hot water. Then use a spray bottle to spray the mild solution onto plants to keep some parasites away.
PET CLEANER
Mix up a mild solution of 3-4 soap berries with 1 litre of hot water. Keep mixture away from pets eyes and wash as normal. This mixture can also be used in the prevention of parasites.
DELICATES HAND WASHING SOLUTION
Place 6-8 half shells in 500mls of boiling water. Allow to simmer for 8-10 minutes and add essential oils in desired. Add to the sink or bucket and use to soak and hand wash delicate clothing items.
We'd love to know if you've used soap berries before or if you have other natural and organic methods for cleaning and daily hygiene.
