The Eco-Friendly Family

DIY Powdered Soap Nuts Laundry Detergent Recipe

2013-05-18T05:58:03Z

This recipe is great for clothes and cloth diapers and does not contain borax! I am personally a-okay with borax in my detergent but many readers have asked for another solution and this is it. In addition, it uses Eco Nuts Soap Nuts, not manufactured soaps, making it even more natural, earth & skin friendly. I hope you enjoy it!

You can find my original Laundry Detergent Recipe & Cloth Diaper Detergent Recipe here. If you would like a liquid soap nuts recipe you can find it here.

Large Batch Recipe

3 Boxes Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (55 oz ea)
1 Tub OxiClean Free or “Baby” (3 lbs)
1 Large Box of Eco Nuts Soap Nuts (approx 8 cups of berries) (or 4 cups soap nuts powder)
1 Box Baking Soda (16 oz)

Reminder: Soap Nuts are not actually nuts, they are a dried berry shell that looks a bit like a nut. They are completely safe for those with nut allergies. Learn more in my post, Cleaning With Fruit: Let’s Talk Soap Berries.

You will also need:

A blender or food processor with a good seal (grinding the berries can be dusty!), a hand towel (to help contain the dust) and a trash bag or large bucket with lid.

Make it!

You will need to first grind up all of your berries. Do so by adding half of the berries with half of the baking soda. Pulse until finely and evenly ground. Repeat with the second half of the berries and baking soda. Holding a hand towel on the top of the blender will help keep the dust to a minimum. Wait for the dust to settle before opening the lid.
Pour all of the ingredients into a trash bag or bucket with lid and shake/toss/massage until well blended.
Pour into a bucket for storage & scoop out a jar full to keep by your washing machine!

This detergent will dissolve best in warm water. To help, you can swirl a tablespoon or two in a cup (I like to use a jar) of warm water before tossing it into your washing machine.

Small Batch Recipe

1 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
1/2 cup of OxiClean Free or “Baby”
1 trial size box of Eco Nuts Soap Nuts
1/4 cup Baking Soda

How to Use:

Use 2 tablespoons per standard load and just 1 tablespoon per HE load, you can add more depending on soil level. As with any detergent, be sure to pretreat any tough spots. Be sure to check out my DIY Pretreater Recipe for that.

Remember that this detergent will dissolve best in warm water. Swirl your tablespoon or two in cup (I like to use a jar) of hot water before tossing it into your washing machine or simply use warm water (though cold will save electricity!)

I have an app!!!

2013-05-16T12:01:27Z

Okay, we have an app, and by we I mean Green Child Magazine!

We’ve been working on developing our own iPad app for a while now and a great partnership with Better Press made it happen! They are so great to work with and we couldn’t be more excited. To celebrate, Green Child Magazine is having a massive Reader Love Sweepstakes sponsored by Earth Mama Angel Baby, Thirsties, Badger, Sage Spoonfuls, Vine.com, Eco Nuts, Squooshi and so many more amazing companies!

The grand prize is the fabulous prize bundle seen here, and there are more than $2,000.00 in prizes total!

So what are you waiting for? Head over to Green Child’s page and enter to win one of these amazing prizes – and be sure to give the sponsors a big thank you too, they rock!

Homemade Liquid Soap Nuts Laundry Detergent

2013-05-18T05:49:31Z

I love my soap nuts, but I love the ease of liquid even more. I like convenience, what can I say?!

Soap nuts are a super affordable and non-toxic way to do laundry. If you are concerned about nut allergies, have no fear : these little cleaning wonders are actually a berry, not a nut! They are extremely allergen friendly. If you would like to read more about Soap Berries, be sure to check out my post, Cleaning With Fruit: Let’s Talk Soap Berries.

Homemade Liquid Soap Nuts Laundry Detergent

Ingredients:

1 cup Eco Nuts* berries (approx. 2 oz)
4 cups Water
1/2 cup Vinegar (natural preservative)

You will also need: Measuring Cups, a Mesh Strainer & a Water Tight Storage Jar

Instructions:

Measure and pour all ingredients into a large pot. Bring to a low boil and then reduce to a med-low heat to simmer with the *lid on* for 30 minutes. Stir and mash the berries occasionally with a slotted spoon.
After 30 minutes, remove the lid and continue to simmer at a low heat for 30 more minutes to remove excess water. Continue to stir occasionally.
Remove the pot from the heat, strain into a clean glass bowl with a mesh strainer and let cool.
Pour into a water tight jar for storage.

Using this recipe I was left with approx. 2.5 cups of liquid which will give me approx. 40 loads in an HE machine or 20 loads in a standard washing machine. Your yield may vary depending on heat settings and how much you use per load.

To Use:

Once your detergent is made you will use 1 tablespoon per HE load, or 2 tablespoons per regular load. You may need more on heavily soiled loads, and as with any detergent, you will want to pretreat tough spots. Check out my great DIY Laundry Pretreater Recipe for that!

Storage:

A water tight jar is perfect! This laundry detergent should last you a while on the shelf but you won’t want to make up a year’s supply at once if you plan to store it that way. If you want to create a larger batch of detergent, freezing is a great option. Wsing ice cube trays, you can store this indefinitely and simply pop out a cube each time you need to do a load of laundry. (For reference, an ice cube is generally two tablespoons.)

Super Savings:

I recommend the use of Eco Nuts berries because they are carefully selected to contain high amounts of quality soap, are certified organic, and are the only brand that I am aware of that actually sterilizes their berries – making them extremely safe to handle. You can purchase a large box of Eco Nuts for $30 which will yield approx. 400 HE loads or 200 standard loads.

If you are looking for deeper savings, you can purchase bulk soap nuts from Private Label Soap Nuts. A 5 lb bag costs approx. $45 with shipping. Please Note that while these soap nuts are much cheaper, the quality of these berry pieces will also be less so than the Eco Nuts brand. You will likely need to use 3-4 oz of product per batch to achieve results similar to those above.

It’s Official : We’re Moving!

2013-05-08T01:08:44Z

I was born in the corner of Ohio that no one has ever heard of. It’s rural, generally boring and about two hours from the nearest city, but it’s beautiful and my home. The photo to the right is of an old railroad trestle – just one of the magical pieces of history I have had the pleasure of enjoying here. I was born in this area, moved around as part of a military family, moved home, left, swore I’d never come back… and then I moved back again, settled down and started a family. I have grown to love and appreciate this area in a way that I never thought I would, but I am ready to start a new journey with my family.

We’ll be headed about three hours west of here to an area just outside of Cincinnati Ohio. We’ll miss our family in Southeast Ohio, but we are looking forward to new opportunities, a new community and more time spent with my husband’s siblings, our niece and nephew, and friends from years past.

I’m no moving pro, but I am enjoying finding sustainable ways to package up our belongings. We’ve done a considerable amount of downsizing (which feels great!) and I’ve been saving boxes and other packing supplies for months. Blankets, stuffed animals and soft household items also make for great packing supplies. Short of packing tape, we’re actually doing pretty well so far. Thanks to some of the great reader suggestions on my Facebook wall, I’ve been working to pack up items a box or two at a time – trying to involve the kids when they are willing. We won’t be leave for about a month, but these tips have already helped make this transition so much less stressful for all of us.

Here are just a few of the helpful moving tips that have been shared:

Let the kids help pack their own things. This helps the little ones know that their things are not gone but just put way. Take them with you to see the homes you are considering. It is not always easy to have them with you, but in my experience it helps them not to feel so scared. - from Elise
Don’t buy expensive packing material. Use your towels/dish towels to packing breakables. - from Melinda
If the move involves a road trip, check out dogfriendly.com to find dog parks along your route. - from KD
Sell. Trash and Donate. You will quickly realize that you have too much stuff and it cost to move stuff that you don’t really want, but yet not ready to move. Its a cleanse process. - from Melinda
Let the kids decorate a box or two that has the sheets, pillows and blankets for everyone’s bed and towels for each person. - from Kate
Pack one box of must haves… Sheets and pillowcases for each bed, shower curtain, kiddos favorite cup, dog bowls. After moving everything else in, you will not want to search through ten boxes just to find the things you need to get in bed! Open one box and leave the rest for tomorrow! - from Ashley
Keep the path of packing things you can live without. It gets easier and easier to live without stuff. Then. Moving day put everything in the car you’ll use immediately to come out first. – from Heather

I want to thank you all so much for the moving tips – please continue to post more below if you have them! If you happen to live in or near Cincinnati, I’d love to hear any tips on finding natural living resources, areas, shops, etc. I am so excited about our new path and excited for my first post from Cincinnati!

Are you ready to #PolkaDance?! Thirsties Reveal & Giveaway

2013-05-03T13:40:08Z

It’s a Thirsties party to welcome their fun new print, Polka Dance!

They’re excited and we are too! This print is fun and great for every boy and girl. I love that they’ve included so many fun colors in this print, making this print a breeze to match to outfits!

Thirsties is one of my favorite companies, not just because their diapers rock, but because their company does too. They work hard to create a truly earth-conscious business from the ground up, not just the products they make. Even the tiniest fabric scraps from their business are sent away to be reused by other industries – that’s big thinking!

Thirsties would like to show you some more love! Enter below for your chance to win a two pack of this fun new print in your choice of Duo Diaper, Duo Wrap or Duo-All-In-One! (and give Thirsties a big thanks for the awesome events!)

When you’re done entering be sure to look below the entry form for links to some of my favorite cloth diaper resources who are also giving away this great package! (more chances to win!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Raisin Addiction a.k.a. Cinnamon Raisins

2013-04-16T16:45:22Z

We are a family of constant snackers. There I said it. We love to eat, and we do our best to eat healthy – so becoming creative with our snacking is a nice way to get variety. This simple recipe is oh-so-yummy and ridiculously simple.

Raisins are great for boosting energy, are a great source of calcium and can even improve your libido (You read that right!) Not only are raisins beneficial, but cinnamon is great for everything from boosting your memory to helping reduce LDL cholesterol levels – oh and have I mentioned that these raisins are super addictive?!

Raisin Addiction a.k.a. Cinnamon Raisins

1 Cup Organic Raisins
2 Tsp. Cinnamon

Place the ingredients in a container with a lid and shake! shake! shake! That’s it!

You can get creative by adding other spices, a pinch of cocoa, golden raisins, dried cranberries – even nuts (though don’t expect them the cinnamon to coat them quite as well). Even if you aren’t generally a raisin lover I would suggest giving these a whirl – they are much better than your plain ol’ raisin. I promise!

Totally random & awesome cleaning tip!

2013-04-13T16:00:16Z

I love soft and smooth skin – don’t we all? – so I simply adore these scrubby exfoliating gloves. While in the shower one day, many moons ago, I was scrubbing myself to softness when I noticed a spot on the wall that needed my immediate attention (okay so not really but I may have been a bit obsessive at the time). I gave the spot a touch and ::poof:: it vanished. I had learned the secret of the scrubby gloves – they freaking rock to clean with!

Now before you get to grossed out – or amazed – I bought new scrubby gloves just for cleaning, and we have had an awesome love-cleaning-affair ever since… or well as much as I can possibly love cleaning.

Before you start cleaning with your skin exposed – be sure you are using safe cleaners. If you’re using toxic junk, don’t use these. That stuff doesn’t belong in your home, let alone your skin. These gloves make cleaning up sinks, tubs and other typically pain-in-the-rear chores a breeze. Try using with a simple DIY cleaner or a safe, but gentle cleaning product – the gloves will do the heavy lifting.

Have you tried this before? Do you love it? If you haven’t tried this before, be prepared to be amazed!

Check out the Spring issue of Kaia Magazine!

2013-04-09T16:38:45Z

First things first, you simply must sing up for a free subscription to this beautiful magazine! It’s filled with articles on healthy living, tips for gardening, delicsious recipes, and so much more.

The Spring issue of Kaia Magazine covers topics like the real reasons to buy organic (refuting the Standford study), hot natural beauty trends, tips for the perfect summer vacation, how to avoid toxic cleaner – even a column that promotes a healthy view and dialogue about sex!

You can check out the new issue right now, for free, at the link below. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did working on it!

Kaia Magazine Spring 2013

Are you a fan of Kaia? I’d love to hear your thoughts on the issue!

Tips for Creating a Greener Outdoor Space

2013-04-05T20:35:59Z

Spring is finally starting to creep in here in Ohio and I can hardly wait to spend time outside working and relaxing in the fresh air. When we think of outdoor spaces, one of the last things on our mind might be ways to “green” it. I mean, we’re already outside, that’s green right? Well yes, but there’s a little more to it than that. When we visit the lawn & garden store we are bombarded with toxic garden linings, artificial fertilizers, uncomfortable plastic furniture and so much more. Check out these tips to help inspire some greener elements in your outdoor spaces – they promise to please and create a more relaxing atmosphere!

Solar Lights

Candles get blown out, tiki torches use smelly oils and wired lights use electricity – but solar lights, well they are another story!

Lights like these not only look beautiful lining your space, but they also provide hours of light from recharging during the day (even on no-so-sunny ones!) They’re affordable too! A 2-pack of hanging lights like the ones pictured here is just under $20. If you’d like pathway lighting, a pack of 10 can run under $40. Keep in mind that these require no wiring or additional electricity costs!

Pest Controlling Plants

Scented Geranium has a pleasant fragrance and contains natural citronella oils which will help deter pests like mosquitoes. It’s natural pest fighting capabilities makes it ideal for relaxing seating areas. These plants are pretty, fragrant and can grow quite large, but feel free to trim away to suit the needs of your space.

For gardening spaces, minglings in plants like basil and marigolds can help naturally keep pests away while adding fragrance and beauty!

Durable, Sustainable Outdoor Furniture

I was recently given the opportunity to review the new line of Trex Outdoor Furniture and I am in love with it. My husband is a contractor, so I am familiar with the Trex decking materials. When I was contracted by Trex about the furniture I was very interested in learning more. Both my husband and I were surprised by the quality when it arrived to our home. The chairs required no assembly and feature no joints to rust, and the table went together in just a few easy steps.

If you are unfamiliar with Trex, they use a lumber called “Poly-Wood” which is a building material made from HDPE post-consumer bottle waste (like milk and detergent bottles) and other HDPE post industrial materials. In fact, this building materials are made up of over 90% recycled content by weight. The waterproof aspect of this furniture is really what gets me. It will not absorb moisture, and that is very much appreciated in an eating surface. Unlike wood, it doesn’t provide a good environment for mold and bacteria to grow. It can literally be wiped clean and eaten off of if a person is so inclined – or has little ones that don’t care if there is a plate in front of the or not!

The price point on the Trex furniture is on par with other high-end sets. It is more of an investment compared to standard seating, but because the materials are made from HDPE they are incredibly durable, fade-resistant, weather resistant and are even kid-proof – making them an investment in quality outdoor furniture that will last! We’ve already had several compliments on our set because of the evident quality, comfort and appearance. You can find them on Amazon, but check out their website as they offer sale prices for considerable savings!

Natural Attractions

There is something special about being outdoors and being surrounded with nature. Our children adore hummingbirds and butterflies and it’s not to hard to attract them!

To attract hummingbirds (like our little friend seen here), consider using plants like:

If a feeder is the way you’d like to go, consider using a 4:1 ratio of water to sugar – no food coloring! We use organic sugar (not Turbinado or Raw). I have read some concern over using organic sugar at all because it has not been tested, but I can say that when we put out the organic (again, not Turbinado or Raw) the hummingbirds flock to it, but when we use white sugar they are basically nowhere to be seen (we’ve tried this on our flighty friends many times, in an attempt to save money, with the same results.) I’m inclined to think that animals know what they need – and what they don’t.

To attract butterflies, consider:

Phlox
Daisies
Wildflower Mixes

While “Butterfly Bushes” are popular these days, it is worth mentioning that these plants are not indigenous to the United States and it is advised to use native plants in your outdoor spaces.

If you are very interested in attracting butterflies, it would be helpful to do some research on the types in your area and plant flowers based on that information.

To become a bee helper:

While we might not always want bees around, keeping plants on your property that help the bees is a wonderful way to help the environment.

Consider planting:

Monarda (bergamot or bee balm)
Hollyhock

Butterflies generally enjoy these plants as well, just be sure to keep them away from seating areas and play sets.

There’s so much more…

While these tips can get you started, you don’t have to stop there. Considering natural elements for decor and elements that will help the wildlife in your area. You might consider:

Rocks, or pieces of untreated wood, instead of plastics for garden edging
A bird bath
Bird feeders
Squirrel feeders
A bird house
even a toad house!

What are your favorite elements in your outdoor spaces?

Parmesan Kale Chips

2013-04-01T13:53:56Z

I love kale chips! They are a nutritious, delicious, guilt-free snack, and they are extremely easy to make. I happen to like my chips straight up with a dash of salt, but it’s always nice to mix it up – and it may just get the most unsuspecting people to love kale!

Parmesan Kale Chips Recipe

1 bunch of Organic Kale (remember that Kale is on the “dirty dozen” list, so this is an important one to buy organic!)
Sea Salt
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Parmesan Cheese (finely grated 0r “shake” style)
A Rack - An oven safe drying rack works beautifully, but a cookie sheet will do too.
Option: For those avoiding dairy, nutritional yeast flakes can be used in place of the Parmesan.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Tear your kale into bite sized pieces – I actually like mine a bit bigger than bite sized.
Thoroughly wash and pat dry your kale – you can let it air dry if you have the time.
Toss your pieces of kale with 1-2 tbs of olive oil, salt (1/4 tsp, or to taste) and Parmesan cheese (2 tbs, or to taste) and place in a single layer onto a baking sheet.
Bake on rack until the edges of most of the chips are a bit browned. Set your timer to 5 minutes and go from there – on an oven safe drying rack like this mine usually take around 6-7 minutes but I like to keep an eye on them from around the 5 minute mark.

Enjoy, and feel free to get creative by adding other seasonings to your chips!