I have always been “crunchy” you could say. That included only purchasing what I thought were natural household items.
However, I recently discovered that instead of purchasing all these items that were labeled as natural, I could make them myself for a fraction of the cost. And they were better for me too!
Although I love Young Living’s products it has come time for me to move on. I am now creating natural toothpaste, shampoo, dish soap, laundry soap, and so much more at home instead of purchasing from them.
In fact, with only a couple of simple ingredients and a few essential oils, you can do this too! I am going to share with you the exact products and recipes I am using as a replacement for the natural products I was purchasing.
These have been tried and tested. I use and love these recipes in my own home and I hope you will too! If this is your first time making homemade natural items then ease into it slowly. I am writing this post after six months of slowly transitioning to each of these products.
Entering into a clean lifestyle free of toxic chemicals and store-bought products takes time. It’s a learning curve. Have grace with yourself and go slow. Before you know it, it will be second nature!
Let’s check out the details…
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All-Purpose Cleaner
I used to purchase Thieves Cleaner from Young Living. While this is a great product and even fairly cheap, I decided to make my own at home with a recipe I have always known about.
First, purchase an amber spray bottle here. Then fill it halfway with vinegar and halfway with water. Add in a few drops of lemon and thieves (or similar blend) essential oils and you are good to go!
This is a disinfecting all-natural, and simply one-and-done cleaner that I use all over my house. Best of all is that it is safe to use around the whole family and comes with no warning labels!
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Foaming Hand Soap
The next thing I swapped out was the foaming hand soap I purchased from Young Living. Instead, I purchased a big bottle of castile soap.
Take your foaming hand soap bottle and fill it 1/3rd with castile soap and 2/3rds with water. Add in your favorite essential oils for a clean and vibrant scent!
This recipe is so easy, simple, and cheap that I can’t believe I didn’t think to do it sooner! It is one of my favorite household items to make.
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Dish Soap
Next, to make my own dish soap I followed this recipe I found online. I actually enjoy it more than the Young Living dish soap I was purchasing for years!
It is one of the natural household items that you can make in bulk. I made a few glass mason jars filled with it so it is easy to quickly replace when the jar runs out. All I have to do is move the screw-on top over to the next jar and keep scrubbing away!
The ingredients include fels naptha bar, water, sal suds, vegetable glycerin, and lemon essential oil.
Related Post: How To Easily Incorporate Essential Oils Into Your Life
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Laundry Detergent
This is the most cost-effective of the natural household items on this list! I had no idea you could make your own laundry soap and I had no idea it could be this cheap!
This recipe I found makes a five-gallon bucket worth of laundry soap and I know it will last my family at least a full year. That means each load I run with it is only a few scents. Everyone should be making their own laundry soap!
I’ve been using this recipe for a few months now and it does a great job cleaning our clothes. I am very pleased with it and never see myself switching to anything else.
The ingredients are borax, washing soda, fels naptha bar, and essential oils of your choosing!
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Toothpaste
Our whole family loves this homemade toothpaste recipe! I honestly prefer it over store-bought toothpaste and I don’t think I could ever go back. And we have purchased several natural kinds of toothpaste before.
My teeth appear white since using it for the past few months and it even removed a few stains! It also feels good on your teeth when brushing with them. The only thing you may find annoying is that the consistency can change since it uses coconut oil, which turns to liquid at about 72 degrees F.
The ingredients are calcium carbonate, xylitol, baking soda, coconut oil, and peppermint, clove, and spearmint essential oils. It is a very simple recipe. When we run out I just whip it up and place it in a half-pint mason jar (I double the recipe and it fits this size perfectly).
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Shampoo
Shampoo has been the most challenging of the natural household items for me to switch over to. It doesn’t bother my husband or children at all but my hair is still not fully adjusted.
I know that using natural shampoo takes time for your hair to adjust, but I figured since I was using a natural shampoo from Young Living it wouldn’t have to adjust too much to this homemade recipe. I was wrong.
Your scalp produces oil to keep your hair healthy. When you shampoo it with conventional products it strips it of its oils. Then when you apply conditioner, it adds synthetic oils back to it. Then your scalp produces an abundance of oil to keep up with the demand and in just a day or two, it looks greasy again.
I am training my hair to not produce as much oil as it used to and to go at least a week between washes.
My hair appeared oily and greasy for several weeks while my hair was adjusting. At first, I used a recipe that had coconut oil and vitamin e but I simplified it even more.
I am now doing ½ cup of castile soap with ½ cup of water and my favorite essential oils like rosemary and lavender. So far my hair is adjusting after a few weeks but it is certainly still a work in progress.
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Conditioner
For conditioner I’ve been keeping it simple: one egg yolk beaten, a dash of olive oil, mixed with about a cup of water (optional), and then poured over my head and let soak for a bit.
I know there are other recipes online that use cocoa butter, jojoba oil, aloe vera, and other essential oils. Your hair may need that treatment. So far my hair is healthy enough to not require that.
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Body Wash
Since my shampoo is so simple, it also makes a perfect body wash! I can’t believe how simple washing our bodies can be when I compare it to the body wash, I was previously purchasing.
But, if you’d like to make your body wash a little bit thicker and more enjoyable you can mix 1 part castile soap with 1 part honey with one part coconut oil (or other oil of your choice. I also like to add in a dash of vegetable glycerin to make it foamy and essential oils to make smell nice!
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Deodorant
I have to admit, I’ve completely abandoned my deodorant! I used to purchase Young Living’s natural deodorant but it would leave behind a fierce odor on my colors that was difficult to remove.
Instead, I will apply some essential oils with a carrier oil like coconut oil, and maybe a bit of arrowroot powder if it is too runny if an occasion calls for it. But, overall I do not use deodorant and my body has adjusted to it.
Your diet and water intake also play a huge role in your body odor. I also naturally do not sweat very easily or very often but if you are someone that does, you may want to consider a natural deodorant recipe online like this one.
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Glass Cleaner
Glass cleaner is as simple as our all-purpose cleaner we listed first. However, at times, I want something a bit more heavy-duty.
For this, I will mix one cup of rubbing alcohol with one cup of water and add one tablespoon of vinegar to the amber glass spray bottle. It does a great job at moving streaks off the window!
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Diffusers And Candles/Air Fresheners
Stop using chemical fragrances in your home and instead switch to natural household items like these!
The best way to keep your air clean and fresh is to open your windows as much as possible! The next best thing is to diffuse essential oils.
After that, make your own homemade beeswax candles! But if you still want a more fragrant room, then consider this recipe below.
Mix 5 drops of three different essential oils (such as citrus fresh, orange, and lemon) with one teaspoon of baking soda. Then fill the rest of your small handheld spray bottle with water. Spray it liberally wherever you want the smell!
I love trying different essential oil combinations! Purification essential oil is my favorite for around smelly areas like the trash cans, shoe rack, or the bathroom.
Will you join me in making these simple and easy switches? Which one of these natural household items will you be DIY-ing first? Let me know in the comments below!
Kelsey at GoodPointGrandma
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