I absolutely hate when I get into the shower after a long day of work and find a clog in the drain, again! I have long hair and I use a hair catcher to catch as much as I can, but some inevitably get past that. Then the scum from shampoo and conditioner starts to build up around that, creating clogging issues. Gross!

Tip: If your drain isn’t clogged but stinks, use lemon peels to freshen it.

Grease and Other Ways Bathroom and Kitchen Drains and Plumbing Clog

Bathroom

If the hair was the only problem in a clogged drain, you could use an alkali to destroy the hair. But the oily and waxy nature of shampoo, conditioner, soap scum, body wash, deep hair treatment, etc., all go down the drain and complicate the problem. The hair becomes caught on pipe connections and drain fittings, then the hair catches the other things.

Further, when you consider the water load that flows through them, the diameter of the drain pipes is too narrow. The average shower is over 8 minutes and uses nearly 20 gallons of water, most of which is cool by the time it hits the pipes. The average bath is more, usually around 30 gallons of water.

Kitchen

Obviously, this will become clogged by food going down the drain.

If you have clogged drains and want to avoid dumping chemicals down them, consider using more of these homemade natural DIY drain cleaner methods.

Print

Natural Homemade Drain Cleaner

Use these homemade DIY natural drain cleaner ideas to get rid of those nasty clogs. It can be done without the chemicals and yes, it works!

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 1 cleaning

Author Debra Maslowski

Ingredients

• 6-10 quarts boiling water
• ½ cup baking soda
• 1 cup white vinegar

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Pour ½ cup of baking soda down the drain and then slowly pour in the vinegar. (Lemon juice can also be used in place of vinegar, but it will not react as well.)
  ½ cup baking soda, 1 cup white vinegar
• Let them react and wait another 10-15 minutes.
• Next, after the baking soda vinegar reaction has ceased to fizz, carefully pour in the pot of boiling water (boiling water is better than hot tap water).
  6-10 quarts boiling water
• Repeat this homemade drain cleaner process until the drain is clear.

Notes

Vinegar and Baking Soda Mixture DIY Drain Cleaning

Plumbers and government conservation organizations agree; vinegar, baking soda, and boiling water clear clogged drains.

Homemade drain cleaner: Plunger, followed by a handful of baking soda and a half cup of vinegar. Cover and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Pour in 2 quarts of boiling water, and the clod should disappear.[1]

Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, a base. Vinegar is made up of water and acetic acid, which is, you guessed it, an acid. When you combine these, a reaction happens where molecules get exchanged, creating carbon dioxide and water that bubbles through the clog, breaking it up and moving the looser material.[2]

Other Homemade Natural Drain Cleaner Ideas

Here are a few homemade natural drain cleaner ideas that will clear a clogged drain quickly, without the harsh chemicals!

1. Hot Water

Using hot water will melt a lot of the oily, waxy components of conditioners and body oils. If using a lot of coconut oil or other waxy products in your routine, be sure to let the hot water run for a while to melt it away.

2. Plunger

The plunger is the original “homemade drain cleaner”! Sometimes things, like cotton balls, get stuck in drains. A plunger may help to loosen up whatever is down there. Additionally, sometimes a hair clog will just need some plunging to get it to move through the pipes.

3. Hair Remover Tool

I’m not sure of the official name of this tool, but it looks like really skinny fish bones. Insert it into the drain, twist it to get a hold of the hair, and pull it out. The hair you pull out will be slimy, so you might want to use gloves.

4. Clog Grabber Tool

This tool is a stainless steel cable with a set of claw grabbers on the end. You can insert it into the drain and pull out hair or other solid obstructions in your drain. (It is often sold together with the hair remover tool mentioned above.)

5. Boiling Water and Liquid Soap

This is a really popular and effective homemade and natural drain cleaner idea. Pour about ½ cup of liquid soap down the drain and wait 5 minutes so that the soap can get down into whatever is in the drain. Then CAREFULLY pour boiling water into the drain, being sure it doesn’t splash and burn you.

6. The Drain Snake

Like the two devices above, the snake is designed to go down into the drain and “snake” out whatever is clogging the pipes. It can be expensive to buy one, but there are places that will rent them. (Or find a cheaper version with decent ratings here.)

7. Bent Coat Hanger

Who here hasn’t tried using a coat hanger as a homemade drain cleaner? LOL! Simply Shape the end of a coat hanger into a U shape. Push this down into the drain and pull out. It will bring hair with it and help you to get that drain cleaned.

8. Take It Apart

If there is something in the drain that you can’t remove with the above methods, you may need to take it apart. Many newer homes have a trap door built right in the back of the faucet and a drain on a tub for just this reason.

It goes without saying that if you try all of this and nothing works, you may need to call a plumber. But why not try it yourself first?

Garbage Disposal Cleaner

Need to clean or deodorize your garbage disposal? Learn how to make our homemade garbage disposal cleaner.

Have you ever used homemade natural DIY drain cleaner methods? If so, what works for you?

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Sources

1. Reduce Your Use of Hazardous Household Products by Choosing Safer, Less-Toxic Products. USDA Natural Resouces Conservation Service.
2. Do Baking Soda and Vinegar Solutions Clear Clogs? LiquidPlumr.com

The post Homemade Drain Cleaner: 9 DIY Natural Drain Clearing Recipes appeared first on DIY Natural.

Growing up in Minnesota, we’d sometimes go to a breakfast place called Pannekoeken Hus. I believe there is still one in St Louis Park, MN, but most of them are gone now. Their specialty was the pannekoeken, or “Dutch Baby”, a type of pancake that is hollow in the center and crispy on the raised edge outside. Want to hear more about my childhood favorite and learn how to make them? Read on!

What is a Dutch Baby (Pannekoeken)?

As described above, a Dutch Baby, or pannekoeken, is a type of pancake. It is baked in the oven in a very hot pan, which allows the edges of the pancake to creep up the sides of the pan and caramelize. The steam on the inside provides for expansion, leaving a hollow space in the center. This is very often filled with fruits, whipped cream, or cinnamon and sugar. You can put almost any type of filling that you like. You can even omit the sugar in the batter, fill the center with savory ingredients, and make a casserole (in Minnesota, that’s a hot dish!) for dinner.

How do you get the Signature Shape?

A very hot pan is essential to making pannekoeken. The hot pan, along with butter or oil, makes the batter creep up the sides and harden, much like popovers. In fact, the entire process could be considered a type of popover. I use a cast iron dutch oven because they heat evenly and can handle high heat. And serving this pancake in a cast iron pan just adds to the experience. The batter is a special batter that is closer to crepe batter. You’re not looking for fluffy here, but more of a crust.

Dutch Baby Pancake Recipe

Here’s my recipe for making a Dutch Baby.

Ingredients

• 5 eggs
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 Tablespoons butter or avocado oil
• cast iron pan, I use a Dutch Oven

Instructions

1. Place the butter in a pan, place it in the oven, and preheat to 400°F. Keep the pan hot while you make the batter.
2. Combine the top 5 ingredients in a bowl and mix for about two minutes by hand, or for a minute or so with a mixer.
3. Remove oven from pan and slowly pour the batter into the pan. Be careful, it will be very hot! There may be some splattering as the batter hits the hot oil.
4. Return to the oven and bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes. At this time, the pancake will form on the insides of the pan and leave a hollow in the center. You can add fruit to the batter and bake it that way, but I find that it takes away from the presentation. I cook the fruit separately and add it later.

Notes

When the pancake is done, remove it from the oven and add your filling. Alternatively, you can sprinkle the top with cinnamon and sugar, or dust it with powdered sugar.

Dutch Baby Filling Ideas

One of the most traditional fillings for your Dutch Baby is apples. You can use most any apple, but I like Fujis. They are firm and juicy and have a nice tartness that’s not just all sweet.

• 3 medium apples, peeled, sliced, and cored
• 1/2 cup raw sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
• 1 Tablespoon butter

Melt butter in a saucepan. Add the apples and saute until softened a bit. Add the sugar and cinnamon, cooking to the desired tenderness. I like to leave mine a bit firm. Spoon into the Dutch Baby when done. Top with cinnamon sugar.

More Filling Ideas

You can also fill it with fresh sliced strawberries and whipped cream, mixed berries with whipped cream, orange sauce, caramel, hazelnut chocolate, or many other things.

When whipping my cream for this type of dessert or breakfast, I omit the sugar and vanilla and use maple syrup instead. My favorite one is Sweet Heat from Butternut Mountain Farms!

Savory Dutch Baby

If you want to make this savory for dinner, omit the sugar (or use a lesser amount) and then fill it with the filling of your choice. I like to use chicken and dumplings, chicken pot pie, or ground beef with mixed vegetables. For these types of fillings, they will need to be cooked before you put them into the pannekoeken.

Gluten-Free?

You can substitute gluten-free flour for all-purpose flour, but you may not get the same results. It may be a bit flat, but the taste will be similar.

Egg and Oil and Sugar Substitutes?

I would not substitute egg replacers as the eggs are part of what gives it the signature elasticity. You can substitute other oils for the butter.

You can substitute alternative sweeteners for the sugar, but you may not get the crust or caramelization on the outside.

Have you tried to make a Dutch Baby pancake? It’s really not as hard as it looks!

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The post Make This Dutch Baby Pancake Recipe for Breakfast or Dessert appeared first on DIY Natural.

Ever notice that kids will eat almost anything if they can dip it in ranch dressing? My mom used to get out the ranch dressing every time her grandkids were eating at her house, and I hated that the store-bought stuff contained high fructose corn syrup, preservatives, and other junk. I always wondered if it canceled out the vitamins and nutrients in the carrot sticks she was enticing them to eat. (Especially because they would eat more ranch than carrots.)

As always, ranch dressing is something you can easily make at home without all the extra junk that companies add to increase shelf life and keep costs down. Our homemade ranch dressing recipe is perfect for serving with veggies, salads, or anything else you love ranch with. This is the perfect dip to set out for holiday gatherings, Super Bowl parties, children’s birthday parties, or any other gathering where hungry guests will be looking for snacks.

Tips and Notes

I have tried this recipe many ways – with fresh and dried garlic and onion, fresh and dried parsley, more and less milk, cream cheese instead of sour cream, and just about any other variation you can think of. I’m sharing the way I think it tastes best, but definitely adjust measurements and ingredients to suit your tastebuds.

Tip: if you prefer Catalina, try our homemade french dressing.

We like our homemade ranch dressing a little thinner so it pours easily onto salads. If you like yours thick for use as a dip, just add a little more sour cream.

Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe

(Makes 1½ cups of dressing)

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup organic sour cream
• ½ cup whole milk, preferably from pasture-raised cows
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• ½ teaspoon real sea salt
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ⅛ teaspoon dried dill
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (find organic peppercorns here)
• ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder

Directions:

1. To make this homemade ranch dressing, begin by stirring together the milk and lemon juice in a small bowl. Set aside for about 5-10 minutes. (This is the cheater’s version of buttermilk. I don’t use real buttermilk because I like to use lemon juice anyway – it adds a nice zing to this dressing.)
2. Combine milk mixture and sour cream in a medium-sized bowl, whisking until smooth.
3. Add dry ingredients and whisk until thoroughly combined.
4. Transfer the dressing to a jar with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate.

Shake before each use. Keeps for at least a few weeks in the refrigerator (if you can make it last that long in your house).

We DARE you to make this homemade ranch dressing, and promise you’ll be hooked!

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The post Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe: Healthy, Delicious, and Simple appeared first on DIY Natural.

I love lotion bars in the winter. Heated air, low humidity, and cold can all lead to dry skin. The soap you use can make a big difference, but so can the lotion. Liquid lotions consist mainly of water or some other liquid, easily absorbed by the skin, but there’s nothing to hold it in your skin. That’s where solid lotion bars come in.

What is a Solid Lotion Bar?

It is simply a hard lotion bar moisturizer rather than a liquid lotion.

No Beeswax in These Solid Lotion Bars!

It has become harder and harder to find good beeswax lately. And with more people going vegan, animal products are less desirable. So what do you do to keep your solid lotion bars solid? It’s all in the butter. Normally, the basic recipe for lotion bars is beeswax, shea butter (or mango butter), and some kind of carrier oil. In this application, you need to find a substitute for beeswax. Soy wax could work, but it tends to be very soft. Olive wax or sunflower wax could work, but they are extremely expensive. In experimenting with several types of wax, I found that it’s not the wax so much, but the butter. I tried cocoa butter, but it still wasn’t solid enough.

Enter kokum butter.

What is Kokum Butter?

Kokum butter is the hard oil extracted from the fruit of the Garcinia indica tree. It’s high in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids and has a higher melting point. Kokum butter can be anti-inflammatory, which makes it great for sensitive skin. And although kokum butter is hard, much like beeswax, it is non-comedogenic, meaning that it won’t clog your pores. So it can be used as a great nighttime facial lotion. And it seems to be free of allergens, which is excellent for people who have allergies to chocolate and can’t use cocoa butter.

Hard Lotion Bars Recipe

Here’s the basic recipe for solid lotion bars without beeswax:

Ingredients

• 1.25 oz of kokum butter
• 1.25 ounces shea butter
• 1.25 ounces carrier oil like sunflower or safflower
• 5-6 drops of essential oil of your choice (see ideas below)

Instructions

1. In a double boiler, melt all the ingredients together except for the essential oil. You can also use a microwave in short bursts, like 30 seconds each time.
2. When it is all melted, take it off of the heat and stir the essential oil into the mixture. You can use more or less depending on what scent or fragrance you want. You can also leave it “blank” or unscented.
3. Pour into a silicone mold, tins, or squat 4-ounce canning jars and allow to cool all the way before capping. Putting the cap on while it is still warm can lead to condensation, and moisture can lead to mold. If you use canning jars the bars in their solid form shrink a little and should fall right out.

Essential Oil and Fragrance Ideas

I made my solid lotion bar with lavender and frankincense essential oils. These two oils are very healing and soothing for the skin. You could also use tea tree, ylang ylang or rose essential oils. Whatever you like will be fine in the bar.

Here are a few other ideas for which essential oils to use:

• Vanilla
• Lemongrass
• Geranium
• Sandalwood
• Cedarwood
• Patchouli
• Chamomile
• Citrus Blend
• Mint Blend

Shelf Life, Preservative, and Oil Choice

This solid lotion bar has a shelf life of a year or two if not stored in direct sunlight. The kokum butter can actually help to extend the shelf life due to its antioxidant properties in it. Because there is no water in this recipe, you don’t need to use a preservative. Suppose you should wish to use one anyway, something like VegeCide and a few drops of Rosemary Oil Extract (ROE) can help keep oils from going rancid. You can store them in the freezer for an even longer shelf life.

I use sunflower or safflower oil because of the high vitamin E content. They are both relatively cheap and are not prone to rancidity. You could also use coconut oil or olive oil. This may take a bit of experimenting to see if the lotion bar is hard enough for you. You can always melt it down and add more oil to make it softer or more kokum butter to make it harder. This recipe is very forgiving and can be melted a few times without any adverse effects.

Buy a Solid Lotion Bar

If you don’t have the time or energy to make your own, you can purchase a great one here.

Are you ready to make this solid lotion bar recipe without beeswax? Let’s go!

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The post Solid Lotion Bar Recipe: How to Make Lotion Bars Harder & Vegan appeared first on DIY Natural.

Chaga sounds like a dance. Or maybe a foreign dessert. It is actually a mushroom. The medicinal community highly regards Chaga as one of the most powerful mushrooms. Intrigued? So was I! Read on to find out more about this mysterious fungus.

What is Chaga?

Chaga, Inonotus obliquus, is a fungus that looks more like a pile of coffee grounds than a mushroom. It is a parasite, taking nutrients from the hardwood trees that are its host plant, primarily birch, beech, and alder, and making them into something wonderful.

You can find Chaga on trees at higher elevations, usually above 4,000 feet. It comes from the Ural Mountains in Russia but you can also find it in great numbers in the Appalachian Mountains, where I live. There are also reports of findings in other boreal forests at higher elevations.

Chaga is the actual mycelium of the mushroom, not the fruiting body that we more commonly see on mushrooms. It enters the tree via spores that find a way in through poorly healed branch breaks or other tree injuries. While it is a parasite, it rarely has enough power and size to kill a tree.

Chaga Mushroom Benefits

Chaga, like other fungi, contains polysaccharides. Reports show these carbohydrates can kill cancer cells or slow their progression.

Many studies point to the health benefits of Chaga mushrooms and there are more in the works.

Poor communities in Russia often drink it as a tea, instead of other teas, because it is more readily available. Further, many of these areas have no cancer reported.¹  That is not to say that it will cure all types of cancer in everyone, but it’s certainly a Chaga mushroom benefit worth trying!

Studies also show it can remove free radicals from the body. And free radicals are chief cancer-causing agents. It is also being studied as a treatment for Covid diseases. ¹

How to Prepare Chaga

As with any mushrooms, you can prepare Chaga in a number of ways. Below you will find the most common and useful preparations.

Chaga Tincture

You can extract it using alcohol, oil, or glycerine as a menstruum (a substance that you extract nutrients into).

1. Place clean Chaga in a glass jar and cover it with alcohol. I use 40% vodka so that when I add the liquid from the decoction at 50:50, I end up with 20% alcohol. This is enough to inhibit bacterial growth.
2. Leave the tincture for at least 3 weeks to get the maximum extraction from the Chaga.
3. Strain and store in a cool, dark location.

You can take the tincture as is or you can mix it as above for a dual extraction.

Chaga Tea

You can dry Chaga and grind it to make tea.

Use a teaspoon per cup, leaving it to steep for 10 minutes or so.

Drink the tea straight or mix it with something to make it more palatable. Some people enjoy the taste while some do not. I like to mix mine in hot chocolate to water down the fungal taste that comes with many mushrooms.

A Decoction

You can also extract it through a decoction, or hot water simmered for a time.

1. Clean your Chaga by brushing off any dirt or other debris.
2. Place in a nonreactive pan and cover with water.
3. Simmer for at least 30 minutes, longer if you have the time.
4. Place the top on the pan inverted, so that it forms a reverse dome.
5. Cool to room temperature.
6. Remove Chaga and freeze the fungus. You can get nutrients out of the fungus by decocting it up to three times.

To use the liquid, you can drink it straight, use it in soups or stews, or save it (refrigerated) for a double extraction (described next).

Possible Side Effects

Chaga does contain oxalates which can lead to kidney stones if you consume too much. Recommendations for avoiding this say to take it in small amounts and not for a long period of time.

Using it can also lower blood sugar so those with diabetes need to use caution and consult their direct care physician.

Whether you want to try Chaga for the health benefits or just as a tea, There are many ways to enjoy it. Give it a try today!

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Bonus Content

1. 16 Healthy Reasons to Enjoy Eating Mushrooms
2. A List of Herbs and Spices You Can Forage For

Sources

¹ “Used as a cheap substitute for tea by Russians living in forests, Chaga is believed there to help in the Covid disease. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn in his book Cancer Ward quotes a Russian doctor Maslennikov about Chaga: “He noticed that none of his patients had cancer. He explored that and found that all the peasants in that town drank not tea but Chaga, in order to save money.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inonotus_obliquus

The post Chaga Mushroom: Benefits and How to Forage and Use Chaga appeared first on DIY Natural.

This past week North Carolina, and really, much of the nation, experienced the coldest temperatures ever recorded. Mt. Mitchell, the tallest point east of the Mississippi, reported -28! While this temperature may be standard in the Midwest, we’re not used to it at all! My chickens and goats had ice for water each morning, so I had to do something quickly.

Keep Dogs Water From Freezing

One of the best things you can do is to get a heated water bowl.

Heated Water Bowl

A heated water bowl is wrapped in heating coils. They usually encase them in heavy plastic or metal. The temperature never gets very high, but it’s enough to keep water from freezing.

Heated Plate

Another type is the one that is like a heating plate. You set a metal water bowl or pail on top of it and it keeps the water from freezing.

Tank Heater

You can also get a tank heater to keep dogs water from freezing. There are a few types, one of which is a long, thin device that looks like an aquarium heater. You could also use an aquarium heater, but be sure to get the metal type. Glass-encased heaters can crack very easily, especially in cold weather. The other type looks more like a horseshoe and sits down in the water to keep it from freezing.

Heating Pad Wrap

In a pinch, wrap a heating pad around the bowl, just be sure you use one that can be gotten wet. Animals tend to splash water whether they mean to or not.

Wrap With Blankets

You can also wrap blankets around the outside of the bucket or bowl to help keep it warm, at least warm enough to keep the water from freezing.

How to Thaw Frozen Dogs Water Quickly

And if the weather is very cold, sometimes you need to thaw it out. Don’t rely on snow to supply enough water for your pets. It takes a lot of energy from the body to heat the snow to the point where the body can use it.

Black Rubber Bowls

I have black rubber bowls that I use outside in frigid weather to keep dogs water from freezing. These won’t crack like regular plastic in extreme cold. Turn the ice out of them and replace it with fresh water. I get warm water from the house. Alternatively, you can pour warm or hot water on the ice to help thaw it out. Don’t use hot water directly with livestock if it’s very cold. I’ve heard horror stories about people with horses that thought they’d do them a favor by giving them hot water. The changes in temperature can cause heart rhythm failure. It’s better to use warm to cool water and be safe.

Use The Sun!

You can also try moving the water to a more sunny location. Sun in itself is a powerful heater.

Move Bowls Inside

Try placing the water bowl or bucket inside the barn or coop to keep dogs water from freezing. The body heat from the animals can help warm it up enough to be drinkable.

Keep It From Freezing Without Electricity

Some of these ideas rely on electricity. If you have a power source close to where your pets are, that’s great. But if not, you may need to try one of the other ideas. Remember that goats and other animals are chewers, and the cords inside the barn or coop need to be protected. Many people use PVC pipes to run the cords through to protect them.

Bonus Content!

Check out these related articles:

• Natural Care Products for Your Pets
• Can Dogs and Cats Eat Honey

These are just a few ideas to keep dogs water from freezing. Do you have any favorite ideas?

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The post How to Keep Dogs Water From Freezing: And Other Pets Too appeared first on DIY Natural.

As we get closer to Christmas, I really want my home to smell like the holidays. I have a real tree, but it just doesn’t seem like enough scent to me. I’ve come up with some quick and easy gel air freshener that will scent any room beautifully.

DIY Gel Air Fresheners

This gel air freshener recipe is easy to make and takes just a few ingredients, many of which you probably have in your kitchen already.

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons gelatin
• 1-1/2 cups water
• 1/2 cup vodka
• 1/4 teaspoon potassium sorbate
• food coloring
• essential oils
• 4-4ounce mason jars

Instructions

1. Begin making the gel air freshener by sprinkling the gelatin over one cup of lukewarm water. I use a glass bowl, but stainless steel will work too. Plastic bowls will take on the color and scent and be difficult to fully clean.
2. Let the gelatin and water sit for about 15 minutes to bloom. This is when the gelatin gets rehydrated by the water.
3. Next, pour into a non-reactive pan and heat for a few minutes. You’ll just need to heat it long enough to fully dissolve the gelatin.
4. Remove from heat and allow to cool a bit.
5. After it has cooled some, add the potassium sorbate and stir well. Add the remaining amount of water and the vodka. Stir well. Add a few drops of food color and stir well.
6. When you have your gel air freshener the color you want, you can add the essential oils. For this amount, 30 drops or so will be enough. The amount of oil you use will depend on the type of oil and your nose. Patchouli is very heavy and you’ll want less oil than say, lavender, which has a lighter scent.

Notes

When you have your gel scented and colored, you can then pour it into the small mason jars. Place these in the refrigerator for a few hours. When they are set, bring them out of the refrigerator and allow them to come to room temperature. You can then cover them until you are ready to use them or give them as gifts. Be sure to label the jars as air freshener so they aren’t mixed up with jam!

Gel Air Freshener Ingredient Info and Tips

You can also make this vegan by using 2 teaspoons of agar agar instead of gelatin.

Potassium sorbate is used as a safe, non-toxic mold and bacteria inhibitor. Because these are made with natural ingredients, there is always a possibility of mold.

Vodka is used in conjunction with potassium sorbate as a preservative. You can use rubbing alcohol instead, but that smell will be hard to cover up.

Salt can be used in place of the potassium sorbate, but it can cause your gel air freshener to not gel, or melt.

If your gel dries out too quickly, add a small amount (like a teaspoon) of liquid vegetable glycerin. Glycerin is a humectant that draws moisture out of the air.

Be sure to use only plain gelatin, and not any of the flavored ones. These contain sugar which will almost certainly cause mold to form.

Make More!

These gel air fresheners can last for weeks. Once your gel dries out, simply scrape the remainder out of the jar, clean it well and make some more.

Gel air freshener are fun and easy to make. Why not whip some up today?

*******

The post Gel Air Freshener: Make Your Own Gel Air Freshener Naturally appeared first on DIY Natural.

When a friend came to me and asked how to detox her underarms, I asked why. It hadn’t occurred to me that there could be a buildup of toxins and other things. She looked at me and gasped. Apparently, it was something I should know! And since I do most all of my skincare routine naturally, she automatically thought of me.

Why Bother to Detox Your Underarms?

There are many good reasons why you might want to detox your armpits. Here are a few:

• There could be a buildup of toxins
• Pores could get blocked
• The underarm area could stay damp, inviting bacteria to grow
• Opposite of that, the underarm area could dry out, causing itching and rash formation
• Aluminum could stay in your system
• Parabens could interfere with hormone production

These are just a few reasons you should not only clean your underarms well, instead of just reapplying deodorant, but also detox them at least once a month. A few times a month is even better. It’s a simple process that only takes a little bit of time.

How to Detox Armpits (Underarms)

Step 1: Preparing the Detox “Mask”

You can compare this paste to a facial mask, and actually, you can use it as such. You’ll want to prepare it fresh each time, although you can mix the dry ingredients ahead of time and store them in a sealed container, like a mason jar.

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons bentonite clay
• 1 Tablespoon activated charcoal
• 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil (if desired)

Instructions

1. Mix the dry ingredients together well.
2. Next, add the apple cider vinegar and essential oil to the dry ingredients and mix well so there are no lumps. You’ll want a smooth paste. Add a bit more vinegar if it seems too thick.

Applying Your Armpit Detox

Apply half of the mixture to each underarm area. Leave on for 15-20 minutes to allow the toxins to be absorbed into the paste as it dries. You’ll know it’s done when it feels very dried out. If you put it on thick, it could take 30 minutes or so.

Detox Clean Up!

The next part is best done in the shower. Dampen the underarm area so the paste can be cleaned off. You may need to keep dampening it to get it all off. Don’t scrub at it, you could irritate the tender skin there. Keep dampening it and turning your underarm towards the running water. It will come off easily once it is dampened. When you get out of the shower, dry the underarm area and apply a bit more lavender essential oil or witch hazel to reduce any inflammation. Apply a deodorant if you wish after the area has dried.

Armpit Detox Benefits of the Ingredients

Bentonite Clay

Bentonite clay is great at absorbing toxins and other harmful ingredients. It naturally pulls things out of the skin like sweat, oil, and toxins. You can also try kaolin clay or sea mud, but bentonite clay is the most effective.

Apple Cide Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is acidic and helps to kill bacteria, another great way to detox armpits. It also helps to cleanse the area. Acid, rather than alkali such as baking soda, is more effective at keeping bacteria from growing. Lume` is one natural deodorant that follows this line of thought, using mandelic acid rather than baking soda to combat bacteria.

Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal absorbs toxins as clay does. Charcoal has many tiny pores that fill with toxins and bacteria, trapping it there until water washes it away.

Lavender Essential Oil

Use lavender essential oil to detox armpits because it has a long history of healing skin and reducing inflammation. In most cases, you can use it”neat” on the skin, or undiluted. If you have sensitive skin, you can dilute the essential oil in a bit of carrier oil, such as sweet almond oil or safflower oil.

Other Uses for This Detox

You can also use this recipe as a facial mask, which can help to pull things from deep in your pores like makeup or sweat. Use the mask the same way that you would for your underarms. I would only use this mask once or twice a week on your face as facial skin is more sensitive than your underarms.

Now you know how to detox armpits and why you should do it!

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The post How to Detox Armpits: How and Why to Detox Your Underarms appeared first on DIY Natural.

I once thought store-bought gummy bears were a healthy treat. Before our journey into a more natural lifestyle began, I remember thinking that anything low in calories was “healthy.”

Ingredients in Commercial Gummy Bears

I’ve since completely stopped looking at calories in products and started focusing on ingredients. Now when I pick up a package of popular brand gummy bears, I know it’s not a healthy snack like my homemade gummy bears recipe is. Ingredients in Haribo® gummy bears include the following:

Corn Syrup, Sugar, Gelatin, Dextrose, Citric Acid, Corn Starch, Artificial and Natural Flavors, Fractionated Coconut Oil, Carnauba Wax, Beeswax Coating, Artificial Colors Yellow 5, Red 40, Blue (source)

Corn Syrup

Most likely derived from GMO corn.

Sugar

Most likely derived from GMO sugar beets.

Gelatin

Likely from animals that were raised in a questionable environment and fed a very questionable diet.

Artificial Flavors and Artificial Colors

Linked to all sorts of health and learning problems.

Make a Healthy Homemade Gummy Bears Recipe Instead

So, as we’ve discussed in so many of our past articles, products like this can almost always be made at home with ingredients that are far more pure, natural, and healthful. For my homemade gummy bears recipe, I like to use a natural sweetener like honey, gelatin that’s derived from cows raised on pasture, and colorings/flavors that come directly from fresh fruit juices!

Also, I’m getting my gelatin in the form of a delightful nostalgic snack when I make homemade gummy bears! (Read my thoughts here on the benefits of including gelatin in your diet.)

Note: For a vegetarian/vegan alternative to gelatin, you can try agar agar powder (found here). We have not tried this ingredient, so we cannot guarantee the same results when using it. If you try it be sure to share your results in the comments – you may need to play a bit to find the proper amounts. 

Print

Homemade Gummy Bears Recipe

This homemade gummy bears recipe is a delicious, healthy snack! They're simple to make and they contain no unhealthy chemical ingredients.

Course Snack

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Cooling Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 45 minutes minutes

Servings 30 servings

Calories 28kcal

Author Betsy Jabs

Cost $3

Equipment

• Gummy bear silicone mold

Ingredients

Orange Homemade Gummy Bears Recipe

• 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons raw honey
• 3 tablespoons unflavored gelatin

Strawberry Homemade Gummy Bears Recipe

• ⅔  cup pureed strawberries (make sure they’re thawed to room temp if using frozen)
• ⅓  cup filtered water
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons raw honey
• 3 tablespoons unflavored gelatin

Blueberry Homemade Gummy Bears Recipe

• ½ cup pureed blueberries (allow to thaw to room temp if using frozen)
• ½ cup filtered water
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 3 tablespoons unflavored gelatin

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Combine all ingredients except gelatin in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir with a whisk.
• Gradually whisk gelatin into the mixture, stirring constantly. (Avoid dumping gelatin into the pan all at once, which will cause big globs of gelatin to remain in the finished product.)
• Continue heating over medium-low heat until all ingredients are well combined and gelatin is completely melted. (The mixture will change from a grainy, jelly-like consistency to a more glassy, smooth consistency when gelatin is all melted.)
• Place gummy bear mold on a cookie sheet (which makes it easier to move without spilling once filled). Pour mixture into silicone mold and place in freezer for about 20-30 minutes.
• Pop homemade gummy bears out of mold and store them in an airtight container. They will keep in the refrigerator for a few weeks.

Notes

You can also pour the mixture into a baking dish greased with coconut oil if you don’t have silicone molds. After the mixture is set up, cut with a knife or use cookie cutters to make any shape you like.

Nutrition

Serving: 4gummy bears | Calories: 28kcal | Carbohydrates: 8.3g | Protein: 1.5g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 17.9mg | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 15IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Next Recipe: Try our cinnamon roasted almonds recipe!

Homemade Gummy Bear Tips

You can make this gummy bears recipe in almost any flavor, using different combinations of freshly squeezed juices or pureed fruits.

NOTE: Do not use pineapple; it contains enzymes that break down gelatin so it will not set properly. The three recipes above are my favorites. So feel free to adjust ingredients and sweetness to your liking.

Each of the recipes below will yield about 120 homemade gummy bears.

Have you ever tried a homemade gummy bears recipe? What flavor combinations will you try?

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The post Homemade Gummy Bears Recipe: A Natural and Healthy Snack appeared first on DIY Natural.

It’s no secret that babies have tender skin. And their skin tends to get chaffed and chapped easily. Rashes, scratches, and bug bites all happen. And, babies get dirty. Really dirty! So, how do you clean them without causing more problems with their skin?

Homemade baby soap!

Baby Soap vs. Regular Bar Soap

Since babies have more sensitive skin, the soap you make has to be smooth and gentle. I don’t use any herbs in my baby soap but instead, rely on infused oils.

Normally when I make soap, I add oatmeal, dried herbs, and sometimes spices. All of these things are great in handmade soap, but they would scratch your baby’s tender skin. Hence, this baby soap recipe doesn’t use any dried herbs. However, using the oils means you’ll still get the essence from the herbs.

Baby Soap Recipe

Before you get started making your soap, you’ll need to infuse your oils.

Step 1: Infuse Your Oils

Infusion involves using dried herbs mixed into the oils you will use in your soap. Some herbs, like calendula, are hard to get essential oil from, and it tends to be expensive. Luckily, calendula infuses into oil very well. You end up with a rich oil that has the gentle healing properties of the calendula, or whatever herb you use while keeping the cost lower for this baby soap recipe.

Ingredients and Equipment

• Carrier oil (such as sunflower or safflower)
• Dried herb of your choice (such as calendula or lavender)
• A mason jar with a tight-fitting lid
• Sun and time!

Instructions

1. First, place your dried herbs in your jar, making it about half full. You can use single herbs or mix several together for this baby soap. I use a mix of calendula, chamomile, lavender, and plantain. All of these are soothing, super healing, and safe for babies.
2. Next, pour the oil over the herbs. You’ll want to cover the herbs by about a quarter of an inch. It’ll be hard to tell where you are with the oil at first because the herbs will tend to float. Cap the jar tightly, shake it, and set it in the sun (the window sill is fine in winter).
3. After the first day, check your oil level. The herbs will tend to soak up some of the oil. If they appear dry, add more oil. Continue to check the oil level for the first few days. Add more oil if necessary.
4. After 3 weeks, check the oil to see if it’s done. You’ll be able to tell when you get to that point as the mix will smell “toasty”. That’s about the way I would describe it. It may smell slightly floral, and could smell more green. A sure way to tell if it’s done is to look at the color. It may appear golden or green, depending on your herbs. But it will no longer be clear. There will be some color to it either way.
5. When your oil is done, strain it through a double or triple layer of cheesecloth and set it aside.

Notes

You’ll notice that no amounts are given for the ingredients of this baby soap recipe. This is so that you can adjust the amount for the size of the jar you use and the amount of oil you want to end up with. For my calendula oil, I use a quart jar since I use a lot of the oil for other soaps. For other herbs, such as lavender, I use a pint jar, since I won’t need quite as much oil.

Step 2: Make your Baby Soap

This baby soap recipe is one of the only soap recipes that use cups for measuring rather than weights. The full instructions are here. Always use safe practices when using lye.

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup infused oil (from above)
• 2/3 cup olive oil
• 2/3 cup coconut oil (solid, but melted to measure)
• 1/4 cup lye
• 3/4 cup water

Instructions

1. Measure the water into a mason jar. Measure the lye and slowly add to the water, stirring as you go. The lye will fume for the first 30 seconds to a minute. Use a mask if you like, but it’s safe if you don’t stand directly over the jar. You can stop stirring when the lye is fully dissolved, after a few minutes. The lye water will be very hot. Set aside to cool.
2. Measure the oils you choose for this baby soap recipe into a heat-proof bowl. I use stainless steel, but ceramic-coated or glass bowls will work. It’s important to note that the coconut oil must be solid oil, not fractionated or MCT liquid oil. These don’t work the same way in soap. But the solid oil must be melted to liquid so that it will measure correctly.
3. When your lye and oil reach a combined temperature of around 200°f, slowly add your lye mixture to your oils. Stir by hand for 5 full minutes. It’s tempting to use an immersion blender right away, but you could achieve a false thickness that will fall apart later. The idea is to get all of the lye to come in contact with all of the oils. You’ll feel the blend getting thicker close to the five-minute mark. Then you can use the immersion blender. Keep the blade at the bottom of the bowl so that your soap batter doesn’t splatter all over. In a few minutes, your mix will start to thicken up. Use a spatula to scrape the sides to be sure all of the soap is blended. It may look kind of coarse like applesauce. Keep blending. You’ll want it smooth and creamy.
4. Once your baby soap mix is thick, you can pour it into the mold. I use a round silicone mold that is 3 inches across and an inch thick to make a four-ounce bar. This amount will make 5-6 four-ounce bars. You can also use a loaf mold and cut it later. I would personally stick with silicone molds as they are much easier to get the soap out of. Plastic molds do work, but you may need to freeze the soap for 20 minutes or so to remove the soap.
5. For this baby soap recipe, let your soap stay in the mold for 24 hours or so. Feel the underside of the mold. If it is cool, it’s safe to remove it. If it’s still a bit warm, wait just a bit longer. When you take the soap out of the molds, you can cut it into smaller bars or leave it as it is. Larger loaf molds need to be cut now. If you wait, it will be too hard to cut later. Place your soap on a parchment-lined old cookie sheet (no aluminum!), Keep it in a safe spot, like on top of the refrigerator, for 4-6 weeks. The longer you can wait, the milder and harder the soap will be.

Notes on Using Lye

You may be concerned about using lye in soap. The lye is no longer present in soap when it fully cures. This is one of the reasons the soap has to sit for so long. All soap is made with lye, but the lye converts the oils to soap. It’s perfectly safe.

That’s it for an easy and all-natural baby soap!

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The post Baby Soap: A Natural and Gentle Homemade Baby Soap Recipe appeared first on DIY Natural.

There’s something about snuggling in front of a warm fire, sipping on a warm, chocolaty beverage. The tingle of peppermint and the heat of the cup just warm you from the inside out.

My once-a-year coffee creamer splurge used to always be on a bottle of peppermint mocha creamer. That is until I started reading labels and realized what was in said creamer. But, the holidays wouldn’t be complete without those peppermint mochas, so I set out to find a way to make it on my own.

Homemade Coffee Creamer is Easy and Versatile

I realized homemade coffee creamer is INCREDIBLY simple to make. And the wonderful thing about making it from scratch is you can make it exactly how you like it, and you can do it naturally.

If you love that rich and creamy texture you can use cream or half-and-half as your milk base. For more flavor and less creaminess, you can just use milk. If you need a dairy-free creamer you can use any milk alternative you like!

But that’s just the beginning.

With your own homemade coffee creamer, you can control the sweetness, which is great if you want flavored coffee. However, when trying to cut back on sugar it is best to make your own. Those store-bought creamers pack a lot of sugar, so when I first switched to homemade I was shocked at how much sugar I needed to put in my creamer to get the right flavor. I decided that each time I made a batch I would decrease the amount of sweetener I used by just a little bit. The sweetness I craved slowly lessened until it was the flavor that I really wanted, not the sugar. It’s a fun trick and experiment you (or others in your household) can play with.

Dark Chocolate and Peppermint

This Peppermint Mocha Creamer recipe is for a lightly sweet creamer that really brings deep chocolate and fresh peppermint together for a holiday flavor explosion. Feel free to play around with the amounts of any of the ingredients until you have a creamer that is just the way YOU like it! That’s the beauty of homemade!

If you love flavored creamers, you will want to check out these other great homemade creamer recipes. And don’t stop there… the holidays are the perfect time for homemade warming drinks like Chai Tea and Hot Chocolate. Or, try something new and unique with a warm cup of Mexican Atole.

Homemade Peppermint Mocha Coffee Creamer

Prep: 5 min | Cook: 10 min | Yield: 1 cup

Ingredients

• 1 cup milk, cream, half and half, or milk substitute
• 3 Tbsp pure honey (find raw honey here)
• 3 Tbsp cocoa powder
• ¼ – ½ tsp pure peppermint extract (find organic peppermint extract here or learn to make your own extract)

Instructions

1. To make this homemade coffee creamer start by pouring milk (cream, half and half, or milk substitute) into a small saucepan. Heat over medium-high heat until the milk begins to steam.
2. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the honey and cocoa powder and whisk until both have dissolved and no lumps remain.
3. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add ¼ tsp of peppermint extract. Stir the creamer and taste it. Add additional peppermint extract or honey as desired.
4. Store the creamer in a sealed jar in the refrigerator. Use within 2 weeks.

Merry Christmas!

Enjoy this homemade coffee creamer at home during the holidays or give it away as a gift!

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The post Homemade Coffee Creamer: A Peppermint Mocha Christmas Treat! appeared first on DIY Natural.

I used to think these were some kind of magical snack. After all, wouldn’t they have to be magical in order to produce such an irresistibly sweet aroma, to make you want to eat 5-gallon buckets of them, and to be sold for $6 per cup? One of my FAVORITE snacks, cinnamon roasted almonds often eluded my palate thanks to their high price. Until now!

Behold, the DIY cinnamon roasted almond! (So much for losing weight before the holidays.)

Print

Cinnamon Roasted Almonds Recipe

Save money and make cinnamon roasted almonds at home. Give them away as gifts to family, friends, and neighbors. They are going to love them!

Course Snack

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1.5 cups

Calories 1087kcal

Author Betsy Jabs

Cost $5

Ingredients

• ½ cup cane sugar
• ¾ tsp sweet cinnamon powder
• 2 tablespoons filtered water
• ⅛ tsp salt
• 1 ½ cups Almonds

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• In a skillet, combine sugar, cinnamon, water, and salt.
• Add almonds to skillet and stir constantly over medium heat, making sure all almonds get coated with the syrupy mixture. Stir until sugar crystallizes and almonds look "furry" with the sugar coating (about 5 minutes). Tip: Don't go too long or mixture will turn back into syrup.
• Remove almonds from heat and scoop out onto wax paper to cool.

Video

Notes

**If using RAW ALMONDS, spread almonds onto a cookie sheet and toast in the oven for 10 minutes at 350° to bring out a deeper nutty flavor. For best results, do this before cooking in your skillet.

Cleanup: Don’t be alarmed when you end up with a rock-hard crystallized substance on your skillet and spoon after cooking these. Fill your pan with water and drop the spoon in. Sugar residue will dissolve after a minute of soaking.

Enjoy almonds within one week.

Nutrition

Serving: 2ounces | Calories: 1087kcal | Carbohydrates: 98g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 72g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 18g | Monounsaturated Fat: 45g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 197mg | Potassium: 1054mg | Fiber: 18g | Sugar: 73g | Vitamin A: 4IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 396mg | Iron: 5mg

Next Recipe: Try our homemade gummy bears!

9 Ideas for Cinnamon Roasted Almonds

After filling your house with the yummy scent of these delectable nuts, consider a few of these ideas (if you haven’t already eaten them all):

• Throw them into gift baskets for friends and family.
• Give them as teacher gifts for the holidays with a cute tag that reads, “We’re nuts for our teachers!”
• Keep them out in small dishes for company. (You may have to shoo people away from the dish.)
• Double the recipe and take it to a holiday party.
• Fill a pretty glass jar with the almonds, tie a big bow around it, and take it to holiday parties as a hostess gift.
• Send them with family members to work or school for a sweet snack.
• These cinnamon roasted almonds also make a great neighbor gift for the holidays.
• Top holiday cakes, cookies, or cupcakes with these almonds.
• Tell your family they aren’t very good, and eat all of them by yourself!

So start buying your almonds in bulk, and have fun enjoying this sinful treat! If you are planning to give these cinnamon roasted almonds as a gift just make sure to have the recipe handy for all your satisfied recipients.

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The post Cinnamon Roasted Almonds: A Simple Recipe to Make at Home appeared first on DIY Natural.

Homemade Toothpaste: A Simple Recipe

Why make your own toothpaste?

It saves money, gives you a feeling of accomplishment, and allows you to leave out all the harmful ingredients commercial toothpaste is made of. Oh yeah, and it takes less than 5 minutes to prepare.

Simple Ingredients

• 2/3 cup baking soda
• 1 tsp fine sea salt (optional – direct application of the minerals in sea salt is great for teeth, but can be left out if the taste is too salty)
• 1 – 2 tsp peppermint extract or 10-15 drops peppermint essential oil (or add your favorite flavor – spearmint, orange, etc.)
• filtered water (add to desired consistency)

Cost Breakdown & Savings

Here is the breakdown in cost analysis for 5.33 oz of homemade toothpaste (the same amount as one tube of our old toothpaste):

• baking soda @ 16 oz = $1.00 | 2/3 cup is 5.33 oz which = $0.33
• fine sea salt @ 22 oz = $2.00 | 1 tsp is .17 oz which = $0.02
• peppermint extract @ 1 oz = $3.00 | 2 tsp is .33 oz which = $1.04 | Better yet, use peppermint essential oil @ 1 oz = $13.00 | 15 drops = $0.28!
  

Note: you can use as much or as little peppermint, or other flavors, as you wish. Add the flavoring little by little until you reach an amount you enjoy.

Prior to making our own, we were using Tom’s of Maine Spearmint Gel® costing an average of $5.00 for a 5.2 oz tube.  Based on the calculations above the same amount of this homemade toothpaste will cost between $0.63 and $1.39 for 5.33 oz, depending on how much flavoring is used.

The cost savings will be between $4.37 – $3.61 per tube!

Aside from the cost, there are many other benefits of homemade products.  By making this toothpaste not only are we cutting costs by upwards of 300%, but we also know the exact ingredients and count time spent as fun, educational, and useful for all involved!

Making Homemade Toothpaste

Remember, each batch yields the equivalent of one 5.3oz tube of toothpaste which you can store in a small storage container somewhere close to your toothbrush. When ready to brush, simply wet your toothbrush, scoop or spread as much paste as you like, and begin brushing.

1.  Start with these ingredients:

2.  Mix together baking soda, optional salt, and peppermint. Add a little water at a time, stirring after each addition, until the paste reaches desired consistency.

That’s it!   You’re done.  Now go get rid of that bad breath!

Homemade Toothpaste FAQs

Isn’t baking soda abrasive?

No, on the Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA) scale baking soda is MUCH less abrasive than commercial toothpaste. Making homemade toothpaste is good for you, not bad.

Are essential oils safe for consumption?

First, you’re not supposed to swallow toothpaste. That said, some may run down our throats – and most essential oil providers are legally obligated to print, “not for consumption” on their packaging – but we use it with confidence. Here’s our line of thought: would you rather put the essential oils of a mint plant in your mouth or commercial toothpaste that has poison control warnings on every package? We know our answer, but we always encourage people to do what they’re comfortable with.

What should we store the paste in?

In a container of your choosing close to your toothbrush. We prefer to use essential oils in our toothpaste, which should be stored in glass. We use a small glass jar and store it out of heat and light so oils don’t degrade.

Should we each have our own container, or can we share it with others?

If “cooties” bother you then get individual containers for your homemade toothpaste, if not then don’t worry about it. My wife and I share one.

How do we get it onto our toothbrush?

Simply wet your brush, scoop or spread on some paste, and brush away.

Does this really work?

Yes. I actually like it better than store bought and find it gets rid of onion and garlic breath better than any toothpaste I have ever used.

Where do I get the ingredients?

At pretty much any store, you can buy ingredients for homemade toothpaste online through the links above.

Is this toothpaste bad for me?

No. But that is just my opinion since I am not a dentist, but the FDA does regard the ingredients as safe.

What about fluoride, don’t we need it?

Not in my opinion. The research I have done reveals fluoride as a toxic poison. Dentists typically say it is beneficial when applied to the teeth of children, but I encourage you to do a little research of your own… I’m guessing you’ll come out holding the same opinion as me.

Personalize Your Homemade Toothpaste

There are so many ways to make homemade toothpaste. We encourage you to find the proportions and ingredients for a toothpaste you’ll love. We even enjoy brushing our teeth with a homemade tooth powder now, that includes special ingredients for extra whitening! You can see the recipe here.

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The post Homemade Toothpaste: A Simple and Effective Natural Recipe appeared first on DIY Natural.

Stovetop Potpourri

My thermostat is having trouble keeping the house warm lately. In other words, the cold weather is here to stay. So on frigid days, it seems like the furnace just runs and runs.

That’s when I often decide to get out the simmering pot to warm things up. In short, the idea is quite simple. It is a basic stovetop potpourri made up of spices, dried fruit peels, and/or extracts. There are really an infinite amount of combinations and it is so fun to experiment. So below I’ll share with you several of my favorite recipes.

Benefits of Stovetop Potpourri

Simmering pots have many benefits, but my favorite is as a replacement for air fresheners. This simple DIY project will fill your entire home with the most wonderful aroma so easily. It seems to last throughout the day, even after you have stopped using the simmering pot.

Additionally, stovetop potpourri is a wonderful way to add moisture to the air. I often leave mine on for an hour or two, replacing the water as needed. All of that extra moisture in the air helps the heat to stay longer and carries the aroma throughout my house. The only downside to a simmering pot is having to clean the pot afterward! That’s why I have a “dedicated” pot for this very reason. It’s very well-loved but not very pretty to look at.

Note

Be sure to keep your simmer pot on the back burner and replenish it with water frequently. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve forgotten about mine only to go into the kitchen and realize that I needed to add water ASAP!

Below you will find a list of suggested spices, herbs, fruit peels, and extracts that can be used in simmering pots. However, this list is not exhaustive by any means. To clarify, it’s just a few suggestions to help get your creative juices flowing. Finally, I will share with you several of my favorite simmering pot recipes after these suggestions.

Stovetop Potpourri Suggestions

Spices

• Cloves
• Juniper Berries
• Cinnamon Sticks
• Anise (whole)
• Ginger
• Allspice

(Find all of these spices here.)

Herbs

• Lavender petals
• Rose petals
• Thyme
• Rosemary
• Basil
• Sage
• Mint
• Bay leaves

(Find all of these herbs here.)

Fruit Peels

• Grapefruit
• Orange
• Lemon
• Lime
• Apple

Extracts

• Orange
• Vanilla
• Lemon
• Almond

How to Make a Simmering Potpourri Pot

Making stovetop potpourri is quite simple! This is the recipe I follow, but there really is no wrong way to do it.

1. Firstly, choose a medium-sized pot and fill ¾ full of water.
2. Next, add herbs/spices/extracts/fruit peels.
3. Now bring water to a boil.
4. Lower the heat and simmer.
5. Lastly, replenish the water as needed.

Note: Keep in mind that cleaning the pot afterward can be a chore! Some scrubbing may be involved, so don’t use your favorite pot!

Other Stovetop Potpourri Recipes

You can find most of the dried ingredients for these simmering pots here.

Vanilla Mint Simmering Pot

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup dried mint leaves (peppermint, spearmint, etc.)

Orange Spice Simmering Pot

• peels of 2 oranges
• 1 tablespoon whole cloves (ground also works, but whole cloves are easier to clean out of a pan)
• 1 cinnamon stick

Floral Simmering Pot

• ½ cup lavender petals
• ½ cup dried rose petals
• 1 sprig rosemary

Holiday Spice Stovetop Potpourri

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cinnamon stick
• ½ cup whole star anise

Fresh Fruit Simmering Pot

• the peel of 1 lemon
• peel from 1 orange
• peel from 1 lime
• 1 teaspoon orange extract

Winter Woods Simmering Pot

• ½ cup juniper berries
• 1 sprig thyme (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)
• 1 sprig rosemary (or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary)

Ginger Citrus Stovetop Potpourri

• ¼ cup grated ginger (or 1 tablespoon ground ginger)
• peel from 2 oranges
• peel from 1 lemon
• 1 bay leaf

Apple Pie Simmering Pot

• peel from 2 apples
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Find most of the dried ingredients for these recipes here!

Video Tutorial for All 8 Recipes

Please feel free to share with me your favorite combinations in the comments below!

Have a favorite stovetop potpourri? Let us know! I’d love to hear from you.

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The post Stovetop Potpourri: 8 Simple DIY Simmering Potpourri Pot Recipes appeared first on DIY Natural.

Sometimes there are odors that linger in a home. The bathroom is one of the most embarrassing places to have these lingering odors.

Sure, you can cover up smells with commercial air fresheners, but these are full of chemicals you don’t want lingering in your home either. However, a better, natural alternative is a homemade air freshener. Even more, an odor-eliminating bathroom spray that can be kept near the toilet or carried in a bag or purse wherever you go!

Homemade Air Freshener Spray

This is a simple, versatile spray that you can use to remove odors from any area, not just bathrooms. It can also be used in the kitchen for cooking odors, laundry rooms for dirty clothing odors, mudrooms where smelly shoes are lurking, or even in bedrooms. Finally, I even use it in my front closet which seems to have a lingering “scent” that probably comes from age.

Ingredients & Supplies

• distilled water
• alcohol – I use 80-100 proof vodka
• 15-20 drops essential oil – see EO suggestions below (find pure organic EOs here)
• 2-3 ounce dark glass bottle with fingertip mister (find dark bottles here and fingertip misters here)

Directions

To make your homemade air freshener, fill the bottle ¾ full with distilled water. Tap water may contain minerals that could stain surfaces and could have organisms that could lead to mold and bacterial breakdown. Add about a tablespoon of alcohol. This will help break up the essential oils. (Note: You can use more alcohol in your mixture to help the poo-spray scent to linger a little longer.) Add 15-20 drops of essential oils and shake well. This can be used as a spray mist or a surface spray. Be sure to wipe the surface down after spraying.

Essential Oils

Many essential oils help to eliminate odors and freshen the air. Here are a few of my favorites that will do an excellent job in your homemade air freshener:

• lavender essential oil
• lemon or litsea cubeba essential oil
• tea tree essential oil (use carefully around cats as it can be dangerous to them)
• rosemary essential oil
• grapefruit essential oil

For your Poo-Spray, you can use a single oil or a blend of oils, such as rosemary and peppermint. Use whatever scent you like. Essential oils are volatile and tend to evaporate quickly, so you may need to spray the area more than once. Fragrance oils can be added if you prefer the scent, but be sure to use a disinfecting essential oil to eliminate odors and not just cover them up. The stronger the essential oil, the longer it will last.

Bonus: here are some other air freshening ideas to try.

Have you used a homemade air freshener to remove odors? Tell us about it!

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The post Homemade Air Freshener: A Natural Air Freshener and Poo Spray appeared first on DIY Natural.

Note: Look here if you’re searching for homemade hair dye.

It’s January. Cold, windy, snowy, and just plain miserable in many parts of the country.

During the winter break from school, when I’m cooped up in the house for days on end, I like to have projects to work on. Specifically, I’m a soap maker, but even that gets to be old hat after a while. So I started looking for new things to work on and came across an old book that told of natural dyes for fabric made with nuts and berries. Intrigued, I started doing some research and found that it’s not that hard to make fabrics the beautiful color you want.

Types of Fabric to Use

Not all fabric can be easily dyed with natural materials. The best ones to use are those made from natural materials themselves. Cotton, silk, wool, and linen will take the dye the best.

Synthetic blends will take some dye, but will usually be lighter in color. If you’re not sure and can risk the item you’re planning to dye, go ahead and do it. If it’s something valuable, try to find a similar scrap of fabric and try that first. I use a piece of muslin to gauge my color saturation before I dye my clothes. You can find muslin at any fabric store or online here.

Natural Dyes for Fabric

We use natural dyes for fabric because we want something non-carcinogenic and not harmful to our environment.

Natural dyeing is gradually making its way in the global market and the production of naturally dyed eco-friendly textiles itself is a boon to save the environment from hazardous synthetic dyes.[1]

Not all natural materials will produce a dye, and some produce colors that are nothing like the original plant it came from. Here’s a list of colors and the plant material that will give you shades in that color.

Natural Dyes

• Orange: carrots, gold lichen, onion skins
• Brown: dandelion roots, oak bark, walnut hulls, tea, coffee, acorns
• Pink: berries, cherries, red and pink roses, avocado skins, and seeds (really!)
• Blue: Indigo, woad, red cabbage, elderberries, red mulberries, blueberries, purple grapes, dogwood bark
• Red-brown: pomegranates, beets, bamboo, hibiscus (reddish color flowers), bloodroot
• Grey-black: Blackberries, walnut hulls, iris root
• Red-purple: red sumac berries, basil leaves, daylilies, pokeweed berries, huckleberries
• Green: artichokes, sorrel roots, spinach, peppermint leaves, snapdragons, lilacs, grass, nettles, plantain, peach leaves
• Yellow: bay leaves, marigolds, sunflower petals, St John’s Wort, dandelion flowers, paprika, turmeric, celery leaves, lilac twigs, Queen Anne’s Lace roots, mahonia roots, barberry roots, yellowroot roots, yellow dock roots

Note: You want to be sure to use ripe, mature plant material and always use fresh, not dried. Dried plant material will usually give you muted colors and sometimes no color at all. Chop the plant material very small to give you more surface area. If the plant is tough, like yellow dock roots, smash the root with a hammer to make it fibrous. This will also give you more exposed surface area. If you know you won’t need it for a while, but the plant is at its peak, like nettle, you can chop it up and freeze it for a few months. Just be sure to label it.

Prepare your Fabric for Natural Dyes

Before you start the dyeing process, you’ll want to get your fabric ready. First, wash the fabric. Don’t dry it though – it needs to be wet. Then prepare your fixative or “mordant.” This is to help the fabric take up the natural dyes more easily. For berries, you’ll want to use salt and for any other plant material, you’ll want to use vinegar. Here are the measurements:

• Salt: dissolve ½ cup salt in 8 cups cold water
• Vinegar: blend 1 part white vinegar with 4 parts cold water

Place your damp fabric in the fixative solution for an hour. Rinse with cool water when done. Then, it’s time to dye the fabric.

The Process of Natural Dyes for Fabric

Before you start, cover the surface of your work area with a newspaper. Also, I use plastic sheeting because I don’t want to dye my countertops. Be sure to wear gloves so you only color the fabric, not your hands. Then, prepare your dye.

The Process

1. Place the plant material in a large non-reactive pot (like stainless steel or glass). Remember the dye could stain some pots and spoons, so use these only for dyeing.
2. Fill the pot with twice as much water as the plant material.
3. Simmer for an hour or so, until you get a nice dark color.
4. Strain out the plant material and return the liquid to the pot.
5. Carefully place the fabric in the dye bath and bring it to a slow boil. Simmer for an hour or so, stirring once in a while.
6. Check your fabric. Remember, it will be lighter when it dries. An hour should produce nice color, but darker hues can be achieved by allowing it to sit longer, even overnight. Turn the pot off after an hour and allow the fabric to sit in the warm water as long as needed.
7. When you get the color you want, take the fabric out and wash it in cold water. Expect the color to run some as the excess dye is washed out
8. Dry as usual.

That’s all there is to dyeing your own fabrics. I’ve done sheets, curtains, shirts, towels, and even undies!

Have you ever used natural dyes for fabric? How did it turn out?

Note: Look here if you’re searching for homemade hair dye.

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Sources

1. Yusuf, Mohd et al. Natural Colorants: Historical, Processing, and Sustainable Prospects. Pubmed. January 2017.

The post Natural Dyes for Fabric: Natural Ways to Dye Fabric in Many Colors appeared first on DIY Natural.

Normally, I wouldn’t condone smoking, but there are cases where it is appropriate. Weaning off of cigarettes, for one, or treating an illness. There are safe smoking alternatives that don’t contain addictive or harmful additives.

Can Smoking Have Benefits?

Smoke gets into the throat and lungs and concentrates the constituents from the herbs there. It centers the compounds at the site that need it, rather than starting in the stomach and taking 30 minutes to hit the area in question.

Smoking herbs as an alternative to tobacco allows smokers the same oral gratification while delivering healing compounds to the throat and lungs. But without all the nicotine and tar. Smoking natural herbs can help to lessen the urge to smoke tobacco cigarettes.

I call that beneficial. Do you?

Tip: don’t feel like making your own smoking blend? No worries, you can purchase this great herbal smoking blend.

Herbs As Smoking Alternatives to Tobacco

In general, almost any herb that you can eat you can also smoke. That being said, some herbs are better suited for this application than others.

Here is a list of the most used smoking herbs and what they can be used for.

Mullein

Mullein can help as an expectorant and aid in lung health. Buy mullein leaf here.

Hops

Smoking hops can deliver a calming effect. Buy hops here.

Cloves

Already a popular smoking alternative, cloves can help stop nicotine cravings and are also antibacterial. Buy whole cloves here.

Mints

Peppermint (and other mints) can help calm nerves and improve blood circulation. Buy peppermint leaf here.

Ginger Root

Smoking ginger root can help reduce inflammation. Buy ginger root powder here.

Lemon Balm

Like hops, smoking lemon balm can be calming. Buy lemon balm here.

Skullcap

Skullcap can help reduce headaches, insomnia, and anxiety! Buy skullcap here.

Passionflower

Passionflower is a great smoking alternative because it can also help with anxiety and insomnia. Buy passionflower here.

Lavender

Lavender can help relieve sore muscles and inflammation. Buy lavender here.

Raspberry Leaf

Raspberry leaf can help with menstrual issues and can help boost the immune system. Buy raspberry leaf here.

Chamomile

Like smoking hops and lemon balm, chamomile can also be calming. Buy chamomile here.

Roses

Rose can soothe and ease sore throats. Buy rose petals here.

Horehound

Smoking horehound is a great alternative to tobacco that can actually aid in lung health! Buy horehound here.

Catnip

Catnip can be beneficial to the nervous system. Buy catnip here.

Mugwort

Mugwort can help with anxiety and can aid in lucid dreaming. Perhaps a good peyote smoking alternative? Buy mugwort here.

Blackberry Leaf

Like the raspberry leaf, smoking blackberry leaf can help boost the immune system. Buy blackberry leaf here.

Remember, this is only a partial list of herbs that can be smoked for various reasons and benefits.

Delivery Methods for These Smoking Alternatives

There are a few ways that you can smoke herbs to get the smoke into your system. One is to use rolling papers. Choose natural papers if you can. Commercially made papers are often loaded with chemicals.

Pipes are the most common ways to smoke herbs. From the old corn cob pipes to the new stainless steel pipes, there are many choices. Even a tamping tool looks like a bent spoon that you can use to pack your herbs down and remove air pockets.

Herbal Smoking Video

Alternatives to Smoking the Herbs

I, among others, dislike smoking. While it can help to deliver herbal compounds to where they are needed the most, it’s just not my thing.

Burn The Herbs as Incense

In this case, I would make an incense blend from the herbs. Mix them as you normally would, place them in a heatproof bowl, and light them on fire. Obviously, this is best done outside. After the herbs catch fire, simply blow them out. They will smolder for a bit, releasing smoke into the air. This method is more passive but will allow some of the herbal constituents to enter your system.

Simmer the Herbs as Incense

You can also make simmering incense from these herbs. Simply simmer in a nonreactive pot and enjoy the steam and aromatherapy. This is especially helpful if the air is very dry.

Tip: don’t feel like making your own smoking blend? No worries, you can purchase this great herbal smoking blend.

Smoking alternatives like the herbs above can have great benefits for your body, much better than tobacco!

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The post Smoking Alternatives: Herbs You Can Smoke Instead of Tobacco appeared first on DIY Natural.

This past weekend we represented our farm at a local festival. It’s one we do every year so our customers plan their shopping trips with us. We tried to have the expected products, but we missed one very important item. It seemed like every third person was looking for our sage gargle kit for sore throats! I usually think of this item as important to stock in the winter during cold and flu season, but I was wrong.

Everyone is back to school and the convergence of exposure to all new germs with a really tough ragweed season is hitting pretty hard. There are two main nuisance issues right now – catarrh and sore throats.

Catarrh: Throat Mucus

Do you feel like you have to clear your throat constantly? Catarrh is simply excess mucus in the sinus cavity or throat. The drainage that occurs in either of these areas irritates the throat and causes a constant need to “clear your throat.” The problem can be temporary or chronic. Temporary catarrh is what we experience when we have a cold. Chronic catarrh is usually caused by an allergy to something in your environment or unidentified food sensitivity.

Have you ever heard someone refer to food as “mucus-producing”? Pasteurized milk is the one that comes to mind right away. It isn’t that the food produces mucus in and of itself, but that it causes inflammation in the body. When our mucus membranes are irritated they are perfectly engineered to produce mucus. Unfortunately, this self-defense mechanism has become the target of medicine rather than the cause. While you hunt down the cause of the problem, here is a simple morning tonic to drink to clear it out and find relief.

Morning Tonic for Mucus and Throat Relief

Ingredients

• juice of 2 oranges
• juice of 2 lemons
• 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 3-4 cloves of garlic
• ¼ inch piece of ginger

Directions

For relief of catarrh, add all of the ingredients into a blender and pulse until everything is juicy. Drink at least ¼ cup each morning.

Treating a Sore Throat

A sore throat can be due to an illness as the body’s immune system is under attack, or it can come on by breathing in airborne pollen. Either way, one of my favorite remedies is sage (Salvia officinalis) tea. (Find organic sage leaf here.)

This weekend I didn’t have our sage gargle blend but we did have our sage-infused honey which is almost as good. Just about anyone can use sage tea for a sore throat. Like our recipe for catarrh above, sage is safe for most everyone. The only group that needs to be careful about overdoing it would be nursing mothers. More than a little bit of sage in your diet and you nursing mothers can see a dip in milk supply.

One other specific herb for an infected sore throat is echinacea (Echinacea Angustifolia). There is quite a controversy about this beautiful flower. It was never used as a preventative for the cold or flu. Recently studies have confirmed that echinacea isn’t really useful for immune support in this manner. Native Americans always used this plant for throat infections. It is still very effective for this use and for catarrh. I like to put a strong tea or tincture into a spray bottle and spritz it onto the back of my throat. The plant produces a numbing sensation and pretty quick relief from the infection as well. (Find organic echinacea here.)

Tip: make some elderberry syrup to boost your immune system.

How do you naturally treat catarrh, sore throats, and throat mucus?

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The post Catarrh: Causes and Relief for Throat Mucus and Throat Clearing appeared first on DIY Natural.

One of the worst things about making cold process soap is waiting for it to cure. This can take from 4-6 weeks, sometimes more, depending on the recipe used. Over the years, I’ve come up with a few ways to help speed up that process.

Curing Takes Awhile

Cold process soap must be cured for a while to neutralize the lye in it. Lye, or sodium hydroxide, is a caustic soda that converts oils and water into soap. Why use it if it’s caustic? Because nothing else will turn the fats and water into soap. There is no substitute. However, after completely curing, no lye remains in the bars of soap. (Read more about lye in soap making here.)

While soap will form bubbles within the first 24 hours, that doesn’t mean it’s done. Most soaps need 4 or more weeks to cure, or to complete the saponification process, during which fats, water, and lye turn into soap. The longer it sits, the harder and milder it will become.

Curing Soap Faster: Speed up the process

While it’s true that most soaps take 4-6 weeks to fully cure, there are ways to reduce that time.

Reduce the humidity

Most people make soap in their homes, or if they are lucky enough, in their workshops. I’m fortunate to have my workshop in my dining room. The bad thing is that it’s a very old house with no air conditioning. I keep the windows closed to keep the dust at a minimum, but the humidity still gets in. So I built a curing chamber. I have a shelf unit that I put the soap on, then I drape a shower curtain over the whole thing and put my dehumidifier in with the soap. I run it for a week or so to get most of the moisture out of the area. This is usually enough to cut a week or so off of the cure time. Alternatively, you could use a spare closet as your curing chamber.

Zeolites

Zeolites are rocks that pull moisture out of the air. These are often used in closets to keep the damp out. They can be used for the same purpose as the dehumidifier. Even just keeping them in the same area helps some. You can find zeolite rocks here.

Charcoal in pans could help too, but they could also absorb the scent you have used in your soap. If you use it, keep it a good distance from the soap itself.

Fans

Fans help keep moisture from settling on soaps, allowing them to dry faster. As water evaporates from the soap, fans help whisk that moisture away.

Use less water

Using a water reduction will help as well. Reduce the amount of water in the recipe by 7-10% and the soap will cure faster. The amount of lye and oils stays the same, so there is no danger of the soap becoming lye heavy and being too harsh. I use a water reduction in almost all of my recipes now and my cure time is about 3 weeks for most of my soaps.

Space heater

Heat may help too. I have a small heater fan that I use if the weather is cooler. The heat seems to help evaporate more of the moisture.

Good Airflow

Circulation can’t be understated. Be sure that your bars are not touching each other and that there is airflow between layers. If soap is touching while it is curing, it will form moisture between the bars and it may not cure as fast as it could.

Curing Soap: Things to Avoid

Along with finding ways to cure soap faster, I’ve found some things that don’t help. Some of them even make the matter worse.

Too much lye

Adding more lye will certainly make your soap harder, but lye-heavy soap is more alkaline and will cause skin problems. Stick with the required amount of lye for your recipe. If you’re not sure of the amount, consult a lye calculator. You can find many of them online.

Using the oven

Putting your soap in the oven, even at a low temperature, will just cause melting and gooey soap. I tried it at the end of the cure time once and my soap cracked all over the surface, kind of like crazing on old china. The effect was kind of cool, but it ruined the soap.

Layering paper towels

Layers of paper towels in between soaps only make the moisture problem worse. The moisture gets trapped in the paper towels between the soaps and makes them mushy between the layers.

Dehydrators

Dehydrators don’t work either. I’m not exactly sure why, since it should be like the heater fan, but my soap turned out soft and had a sticky layer on it.

Boxing too soon

Putting it in a sealed shoe box should be done after the cure is complete. If it’s done too soon, you’ll be trapping moisture in instead of out.

Plastic wrap

Wrapping in plastic wrap does the same thing – it traps moisture inside.

Hot Process Soap Cures Much Faster

Another way to reduce cure time is to cook the soap down as you would in crockpot soap. This is known as the “hot process,” and speeds up the cure time to almost the next day. Very often you can use it right away.

Have you found ways to speed up the soap curing process? Tell us about it!

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The post Curing Soap: 6 Ways To Cure Cold Process Soap Faster! appeared first on DIY Natural.

It seems like I’m always doing something different with my hair.

From long and wavy to short and layered, I absolutely love to try new things. Currently, I’m sporting a long pixie cut, which means I have to use a texturing product or I’ll end up looking like my toddler.

I went to the store to pick out some products and I was shocked. Parabens, formaldehyde, fragrance, and many other undesirable ingredients were in every product that I wanted to buy.

This is particularly scary because my son loves to put his hands (and mouth!) in my hair. I would never want to risk his safety or health just because I want to look stylish. So instead of purchasing those products, I decided to go home and find a natural solution.

I knew that I would need a non-greasy, firm-hold homemade pomade that could help keep some volume in my hair all day. Plus, I wanted something that was non-toxic and easy to wash out.

Homemade Pomade Ingredients

After doing the research, I narrowed down my list to just four ingredients: beeswax, coconut oil, bentonite clay, and sandalwood essential oil. Each ingredient serves a specific purpose which I’ve broken down below:

Beeswax

This helps make this homemade pomade less greasy and gives it a nice firm hold. If you find that you need more hold, simply add one more tablespoon of beeswax to the mixture. If you need less hold remove one-half tablespoon from the recipe.

Coconut oil

This not only conditions hair but helps repair it. Plus it fights dandruff! One of my favorite things about coconut oil is that it will be soft and pliable in your hands, but will harden back up in your hair. Its melting point is 76°F. This helps to cut down on the greasy feeling but will leave your hair shiny and soft.

Bentonite Clay

Bentonite clay is a gritty powder made from naturally occurring volcanic ash. Many people use it in face masks and for other external beauty treatments. It is extremely important to make sure that you get good quality bentonite clay (look for a gray/ashy color as opposed to white or chalky colors). In this homemade pomade recipe, the bentonite clay helps to give the pomade a gritty, fun texture to play with.

Sandalwood Essential Oil

This is my favorite essential oil for hair care. It helps to condition and repair hair without drying. Bonus: it smells amazing!

Don’t have the time or desire to make your own? If you really want a good, natural pomade, but just can’t make it yourself, DIY Natural recommends checking out the all-natural (for real!) pomade from this company.

Print

Homemade Pomade Recipe

Homemade pomade skips the parabens, formaldehyde, and fragrance of commercial pomades. Just a simple, natural, non-greasy hair texturizer!

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 45 minutes minutes

Author Katie Vance

Cost $2

Equipment

• Double boiler

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp beeswax pastilles
• 3 Tbsp coconut oil
• 2 tsp bentonite clay
• 10 drops sandalwood essential oil

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Begin making your homemade pomade by melting the beeswax in a double boiler. (I improvise and use a glass Pyrex mixing bowl in a pot of boiling water.)
• Add the coconut oil and stir until melted.
• Turn off the boiler and add bentonite clay.
• Allow the mixture to cool slightly while continuing to stir.
• Stir in essential oil.
• Pour into a container. (I use a small mason jar, but any container works fine.)

Video

Notes

A very little bit of this hair texturizer pomade will go a LONG way. I’ve barely even dented my jar and I’ve been using it every day for two weeks.

Variations for this Hair Texturizer

For a homemade pomade with MORE hold: add one more tablespoon of beeswax to the mixture.

For LESS hold: remove one-half tablespoon from the recipe.

Want a less oily pomade? Add one teaspoon of vegetable glycerin when you add in the coconut oil. You’ll have to stir the mixture as it cools though because the glycerin will try to separate. This will also help add more texture.

Now you know how to texturize hair with a natural homemade pomade!

Want to try out more DIY hair products?

Check out these amazing tutorials:

• Sea Salt Spray for Beach Waves
• Natural Hair Gel
• Natural Hair Spray
• Homemade Hair Masks for Dry or Damaged Hair

Want natural, but don’t want to make your own?

If you don’t have the time or desire to make your own (or DIY hair products just aren’t working out for you), you’ll be happy to know DIY Natural has finally found a hair care company they can get behind. We have used (and love) most of the products from this company, and we highly recommend checking them out.

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The post Homemade Pomade: Natural and Non-Greasy Hair Texturizer appeared first on DIY Natural.