It’s not only what you eat, exercise and think that matters, but also the many products you use that could fuel your ill-health. Learn more about this from Tehseen.
Given below are some DIY recipes as natural substitutes for frequently used chemical laden personal care and household care products.
PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS
For Dental Care
1. Peppermint Toothpaste
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp organic coconut oil
- 1 tbsp baking soda
- 15-20 drops organic peppermint essential oil
Method: Mix everything together and store in a glass jar. Always dispense with a dry spoon.
2. Tooth Powder
Ingredients:
- 25 gms cinnamon powder
- 25 gms clove powder
- 25 gms mint leaf powder
Method: Mix everything together and store in a glass jar. Always dispense with a dry spoon. You can also use babul, jesthamadh (licorice) and devdar wood powder in similar proportions as above.
For Soap
1. Ubtan/ Indian Soap Powder
Ingredients:
- 100 gms soapnut (reetha) powder
- 100 gms soap pod (shikakai) powder
- 50 gms Indian lilac neem leaf powder
- 25 gms turmeric powder
- Optional add ons – lemon peel powder, orange peel powder or amla powder
Method: Mix all the powders together and sieve once and then store in an airtight container. Always dispense with a dry spoon. Mix with a little water/ rose water and use as a paste.
2. Soapnuts Decantation
Ingredients:
- 10-15 soapnuts (reetha)
- 1/2 – 1 litre water
Method: Place the soapnuts in the water in a pan and boil for 20-30 minutes till it becomes 2/3 rd in quantity and then filter and use. You can store this in a bottle for 4-5 days.
As a Moisturiser
- Organic cocoa butter
- Aloe vera gel
- Organic cold pressed oils like coconut oil, sesame oil, almond oil, apricot oil, tea tree oil, olive oil, argan oil with/ without essential oils
As a Face Wash/ Scrub
- Vegetable peels/ slices (like papaya or cucumber)
- Fuller’s earth (Multani mitti) with water/ rose water
- Scrub: finely powdered oats/ almonds/ walnut shells
As a Face Pack
- Powdered almond, powdered turmeric and coconut oil
- Fresh fruit pulp: banana/ avocado/ papaya/ mango
- Fuller’s earth (Multani mitti)/ besan (roasted chickpea flour)/ sandalwood powder with turmeric powder/ saffron and coconut milk
As a Perfumes/ Deodorant
1. Deo Cream
Ingredients:
- 5 tbsp coconut oil
- 3 tbsp kokum butter
- 5 tbsp baking soda
- 3 tbsp arrowroot flour
- 5-6 drops essential oil
Method: In a double boiler, melt the coconut oil and kokum butter. Add the baking soda, arrowroot flour and essential oils and mix well. Pour the liquid in a glass container to set.
2. Other Options:
- Rose water mixed with essential oils
- Himalayan rock salt, dampened
- Essential oils (therapeutic grade)
As a Shampoo
1. Shampoo with Soapnuts
Ingredients:
- 15 whole soapnuts (reetha)
- 5-6 soap pods (shikakai)
- 1 tbsp gooseberry (amla) powder (optional)
- Water for soaking
Method: Soak the shikakai pods and soapnuts in the water overnight – just enough to cover the pods and the nuts. Next day before the hair wash just give a boil to the liquid with the pods and the soapnuts. Add in the amla powder (optional). Sieve this liquid and use.
2. Instant Herbal Hair Powder
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp soap pod (shikakai) powder, finely ground
- 1 tbsp soapnut (reetha) powder, finely ground
- 1/2 tbsp gooseberry (amla) powder, finely ground
Method: Mix with water, make a thin paste and apply on the scalp. Massage well and rinse.
As a Conditioner
- Hibiscus leaves smoothie with argan oil
- Green tea rinse
- Aloe vera gel
- Organic cold pressed oils – argan oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, camellia seed oil
- Aloe vera with lemon juice and coconut oil
- Vinegar (2tbsp) in 1 cup of water.
HOUSEHOLD CARE PRODUCTS
For Dish Washing
- Soapnut (reetha) water with essential oils
For Laundry/ Washing Machine
- Deseeded soapnuts (reetha) in a mesh placed inside the washing machine with each wash.
For All Purpose Cleaning
1. Soapnut Cleanser
Ingredients:
- 100 gms whole soapnuts (reetha)
- 1.5 litres water
- 10 drops neem oil
- 10 drops citronella essential oil
- 1/2 tsp citric acid
Method: Put the water to boil in a heavy bottom container. As soon as the water comes to a boil add in the soapnuts. Once the water is reduced to about ⅔ rd of the earlier quantity, turn off the flame . Now sieve the soapnuts from the liquid, take out the seeds and mash them well. Add the mashed soapnuts back in the liquid and simmer for 10- 15 minutes. Then let this mixture cool down. Sieve this liquid. Now in 4 tbsp of warm water add the citric acid. Once the citric acid has completely dissolved add this solution to the soapnut liquid. Then add in the neem oil and citronella essential oil. Store in a bottle. Please note that this liquid goes rancid very fast. So keep a tiny batch outside for cleaning purposes and refrigerate the rest.
2. Other Options:
- Any acidic agent like lime juice/tamarind/lemon peels
- Soapnut (reetha) boiled in water, with lavender and lemon essential oils
- Vinegar with soda bicarb
- Tamarind paste
- Soapnut (reetha) paste
- Shikakai (shikakai) paste
- Vinegar
Make a list of all the products you use on a daily or regular basis that may contain unwanted chemicals that will enter your body through your skin or through inhalation. Now start finding the alternatives to these and replace them! There are many options available. To know more about the products available or where to get them click on https://sharan-india.org/city-directories/ and https://sharan-india.org/vegan-products/
