We all probably have that “man” in our lives. In your life, that person may be your grandmother, grandfather, brother, mother, or aunt. For me, that person is my dad.

My dad is a quiet guy who enjoys the same routines day in and day out: reading, work, more reading, and rest. It’s really hard to purchase gifts for him, because his simple life doesn’t demand much. My parents don’t even own a modern TV, so even a Netflix subscription or a funny movie is out. And what about a good ol’ polo shirt? Every man could use a new shirt in his life, right?! Well, I just gifted him a few new shirts for his November birthday. I feel like there’s an unspoken rule that you can’t gift the same thing to a person twice in two months.

For some reason, despite my mom sharing the same lifestyle, my Christmas gift ideas always overflow for her. There’s a monthly Pure Barre membership, and homemade beauty products. My mom also loves new outfits, and she doesn’t take the time to treat herself, so that’s always an option.

On Friday night, I attended a Christmas lighting event in my parent’s town (think: a Mayberry R.F.D.). Before the tree lighting ceremony, we met at a local pizzeria.

And this is where I’m going to sidetrack from my story, just for a second. If you live in Tampa Bay, you must visit Pizzeria Gregorio. Greg, the owner and chef, sources the ingredients locally, and his pizza crusts are made from a 150 year-old sourdough starter. His pizzeria is our family’s go-to restaurant. And now, back to my story…

Upon sitting down at one of the outdoor tables, my dad pulled out a bottle of hand sanitizer from his pocket. Yep, regular store-bought hand sanitizer. He squirted a small amount on his hands, and then set the bottle down momentarily to rub his hands together. He picked up the bottle and proceeded to pass the hand sanitizer around the table. It was at that moment, and with this upcoming do-it-yourself recipe post in mind, that I knew exactly what my dad needs for Christmas: his own stash of homemade hand sanitizer.

I’m thinking that a basket of homemade hand sanitizer ingredients, along with a bottle of ready-to-go spray, and a recipe instruction card is the perfect gift for him. It’s practical and thoughtful; just like my dad. Plus, I think he’ll find the gift to be a bit comical, since everyone (including the internet now, lol) knows about his hand sanitizer obsession.

Today’s recipe, a homemade hand sanitizer spray, is made with ingredients that are grandpa-friendly (hi, dad) and grandchildren-friendly: high-proof alcohol, vegetable glycerin, and essential oils. My dad can use this hand sanitizer spray on his own hands, and he can also share a spritz with his grandchildren.

This hand sanitizer spray comes together in just two minutes, once you’ve gathered the ingredients (a few of which you probably already own), and it may be stored for a couple of months.

Before we get to the recipe, I’d like to share my opinion on using hand sanitizer, even if it’s homemade hand sanitizer. I believe that hand sanitizer should be used sparingly versus multiple times during the day. I recommend using this hand sanitizer (or this gel option) when it’s needed: after pumping gas, when you’re traveling with no running water in sight, etc.

As always, do your own research with essential oils, particularly when using essential oils around/on children and pregnant women. The essential oils in this spray are considered kid-safe/friendly, which is why I feel comfortable using them in diluted form on my kids.

• Homemade Disinfecting Spray: a spray for counters and surfaces made with tea tree essential oil, vinegar, and water.
• Homemade Hand Sanitizer Gel: Want a gel instead of a spray? This recipe is for you.
• Natural Ways to Boost the Immune System: My tried-and-true ways to naturally maintain a healthy and happy immune system.
• Homemade Elderberry Syrup: A homemade remedy that’s delicious and beneficial.

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Homemade Hand Sanitizer Spray (Kid-Friendly)

A kid-safe hand sanitizer that's made with alcohol, glycerin, and essential oils. This simple recipe makes one bottle of one-the-go hand sanitizer spray. 

Course DIY

Cuisine Body

Keyword Hand Sanitizer Spray

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 2-ounce spray bottle

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1/2 tsp vegetable glycerin This will provide moisturizing benefits as well since alcohol can be very drying. If you choose to skip the essential oils (which are optional--see the notes under the recipe), you could use aloe vera instead.
• 20 drops tea tree essential oil*
• 10 drops spruce essential oil**
• 6 drops lemon essential oil***
• 3-4 TB 190 proof vodka (alcohol) or at least 120 proof alcohol or 70% or higher isopropyl rubbing alcohol (the original recipe called for witch hazel, however, alcohol is considered the best and what's currently recommended in light of recent issues). Don't use other types of alcohol (methanol, butanol) since they're toxic.

Instructions

• Add the glycerin and essential oils to a 2-ounce glass spray bottle. Add the alcohol until the bottle is almost full. Place the cap on the bottle and shake well to combine the ingredients. 

To Use:

• Gently shake the bottle. Spray liberally on hands and rub together until dry. 

Video

Notes

CORONA VIRUS UPDATE: With coronavirus on the rise, this post is particularly helpful from a pediatrician. She specifically addresses coronavirus. I'm not a doctor or disease specialist. Please consult your doctor and the CDC website to do your own research about the best ways to protect your family. The CDC recommends hand sanitizer that's at least 60% alcohol. The power of this hand sanitizer comes from the alcohol, so if you don't have the essential oils, no worries. The important part is the alcohol!  

This recipe has been adjusted to increase the alcohol, making it at least 60% alcohol. If you don't want to add essential oils, you don't have to. These are optional. The alcohol in the recipe is plenty. 

*This is about a 2% dilution. 5-15% dilution is considered safe for skincare. 

**This is about 1% dilution.

*** This is about a .5% dilution. Anything under 2% does not cause photo-toxicity, and up to 5% dilution is considered safe for skincare. 

If you don't want to purchase individual essential oils, another option is to use a kid-safe essential oil blend, like Germ Destroyer from Plant Therapy. If you go this route, Plant Therapy shares dilution directions on their product page. This isn't sponsored by Plant Therapy. I just have positive personal experience with using their kid-safe blends. 

Disclaimer: The DIY recipes on this website are based on my personal experiences. I am not a trained chemist, cleaning specialist, or skincare expert. The DIY recipes shared on this website haven’t been tested in a lab. Information about my products or recipes haven’t been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult a doctor or specialist for specific concerns about any skincare issues, cleaning products, or dietary needs. Please use your discretion, based on your own research, when making homemade products.

The post Homemade Hand Sanitizer Spray (Kid-Friendly) appeared first on Live Simply.

If I had to pick the one item in my kitchen that’s used more than anything else it would definitely be my favorite wood cutting board. That rectangular board has been with me for a couple of years now, faithfully taking the daily chopping, banging, and stains (think: beets for juice!) like a pro. And while it may seem obvious to many people, after we made our lifestyle change, I didn’t know how to clean my cutting board.

Let me rephrase that.

After we made the switch to real food and then natural cleaners, I didn’t know how to clean my cutting board, naturally.

Growing up, my parents used plastic cutting mats, which were constantly being sprayed with a store-bought cleaning solution or bleach. I clearly remember the harsh bleach odor filling our kitchen at least once a week. When I started to think about cleaning with natural ingredients, I had to research how exactly to get my cutting board clean without using harsh spray cleaners and bleach. Friend, as it turns out, cleaning a cutting board naturally is an incredibly simple task.

On my natural cleaning journey, I’ve also learned that there are different ways to “clean” a cutting board, or mat, depending on how it’s used: actual cleaning, deodorizing, and disinfecting. Today is all about practical tips and application (really, when is it not all about practical around here ;)). We’re going to talk about how I care for my hard-working cutting board(s) and mat with simple, natural ingredients. No bleach allowed!

My wood cutting board is definitely my go-to surface for cutting, and there are times when I pull out my silicone cutting mat.

How to Clean a Cutting Board

What You’ll Need: Castile soap (any scent variety), Sal Suds, or a natural dish soap + Hot water

To a clean a cutting board, I simply use a small amount of castile soap or Sal Suds (dime-size, if it’s coming straight from the bottle), or a squirt of my homemade dish soap, a dishtowel or sponge, and hot water. That’s it! According to the USDA, clean a cutting board “with hot, soapy water after each use; then rinse with clear water and air dry or pat dry with clean paper towels.” I personally like to use a reusable, clean dish towel to dry my board. If I have a sink full of hot soapy water, then I’ll just use that water, as long as the water is clean. The key to cleaning the board is hot water and (natural) soap, so how exactly you go about using these ingredients is totally up to you. I clean my cutting board after each use.

Cleaning Caution: If you’re cleaning a wood cutting board, do not submerge the board in water (in a sink full of water), or put it in the dishwasher. This will eventually ruin the board and cause it to crack. If you’re using a silicone mat, submerging the mat in water and placing it in the dishwasher is just fine.

What’s castile soap? Castile soap is a concentrated vegetable-based soap made of ingredients you can actually pronounce. This soap is gentle on the skin and effective in the fight against dirt, grease, and unwanted germs. Dr. Bronner’s is a very a popular brand of castile soap. Castile soap can be used to clean just about anything and everything: your face, your laundry, your cutting board, and even your stinky dog!

How to Deodorize a Cutting Board

What You’ll Need: 1/3 cup coarse salt (or a mixture of salt and baking soda, if you’re not using a lemon) + 1/2 a lemon

Deodorizing is the process of removing or, at least, concealing an unpleasant odor. To deodorize my cutting board, I use two simple ingredients: salt and half a lemon. Baking soda would also work really well for deodorizing a cutting board, but since I love using a lemon, baking soda isn’t a good option (base + acid = no bueno).

To deodorize a cutting board, I simply massage 1/3 cup of coarse salt on my cutting board, and then let it sit for about 10 minutes (up to a few hours). After the resting time, I massage the salt with 1/2 a lemon, squeezing the lemon to release the juice. Finally, I rinse the board with a clean cloth and hot water. If you don’t want to use a lemon, you can try mixing baking soda and coarse salt together to equal 1/3 a cup. I deodorize my cutting board about once a month, just to keep it smelling fresh.

How to Disinfect a Cutting Board

What You’ll Need: 100% white vinegar + 100% (3%) hydrogen peroxide. Do not combine the two sprays into one solution!

This disinfecting method was developed in the ‘90s by Susan Sumner a food scientist at Virginia Polytechnic Institute.

Disinfecting is an activity that’s (generally) done after cleaning and, in my cleaning opinion, needs to be done much less often. “Disinfecting…refers to killing a high percentage of the germs on a surface or rendering them incapable of reproducing.” (source)

To disinfect a cutting board, first clean the board by combining hot water and liquid castile soap. Rinse the surface with water and dry it with a clean cloth. Now it’s time to disinfect. Spray the vinegar or hydrogen peroxide on the surface; the order doesn’t matter. Let the disinfectant rest for five minutes, then wipe the surface with a cloth. Spray the second disinfectant on the surface, let it rest for five minutes, then wipe the surface with a clean cloth. I usually rinse the board after disinfecting, just for good measure.

That’s it! Whether you need to clean, deodorize, or disinfect your cutting board, you can do it all naturally. Simple, right?!

Do you have a favorite method for cleaning, deodorizing, and/or disinfecting your cutting boards?

The post How to Naturally Clean, Deodorize, and Disinfect a Cutting Board appeared first on Live Simply.

Two weeks ago, Mrs. Sniffles knocked on our “door.” I tried to convince her to leave with my homemade remedies, but she insisted on staying, so for the last two weeks we’ve been battling an unwelcome guest and nasty sinus infections.

Mrs. Sniffles was sure to pack every “present” for her extended stay, too: runny nose, sore throat, tiredness, etc. Thankfully, after lots of rest, vitamin C, sore throat tea, elderberry syrup shots, and elderberry soda, Mrs. Sniffles finally decided to pack-up her remaining luggage and move on. Hallelujah! It’s wonderful to have energy and a clear head again.

As it turns out, our family isn’t the only family who’s been affected by Mrs. Sniffles. She’s quite the experienced traveler! The entire school district in Pinellas County (where we live) has been hit hard by her visits. Some schools have seen dramatic decreases in weekly attendance since January.

Right now is the perfect time to start talking about (and using) a light disinfectant spray. Or shall I say a replacement for the stuff  found on store shelves? I’m sure most of us have vivid memories of heavily-perfumed sprays due to their popular use in restaurant bathrooms, homes, and even classrooms.

Just the other day I noticed a store-bought spray and its infamous, headache-inducing scent in the women’s bathroom at Dustin’s work. Honestly, I don’t blame his work (or others) for using a store-bought spray, because marketing would lead me to believe that a store-bought solution, full of mystery ingredients, is the only way to properly clean and disinfect a room. Personally, I never once thought about what was in those sprays before our real food conversion, or even thought that a simple alternative may be sitting in my pantry or medicine cabinet.

Alcohol may be used for much more than a strong cocktail. It’s also a very handy DIY ingredient, as well as vinegar and particular essential oils.

Disinfecting is an activity that’s (generally) done after cleaning and, in my cleaning opinion, needs to be done much less often in the average home. “Disinfecting…refers to killing a high percentage of the germs on a surface or rendering them incapable of reproducing.” (source)

Disinfecting takes care of more than just dirt, grease, or dust. I don’t believe disinfecting every surface on a regular basis is essential in a modern-day home, thanks to indoor plumbing and healthy hygiene practices. Now when Mrs. Sniffles comes knocking, or I cut raw meat on my favorite cutting board, I’m all about using a homemade disinfectant spray. PS: I share my preferred approach for disinfecting a cutting board at the bottom of my recipe. 

And that, my friend, is exactly why I mixed up a bottle of my simple 3-ingredient homemade spray this past week. Take that Mrs. Sniffles!

• Homemade Hand Sanitizer Spray: A simple spray for when you need to wash your hands and don’t have soap and water.
• Homemade Hand Sanitizer Gel: Want a gel instead of a spray? This recipe is for you.
• Natural Ways to Boost the Immune System: My tried-and-true ways to naturally maintain a healthy and happy immune system.
• Homemade Elderberry Syrup: A homemade remedy that’s delicious and beneficial.

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Homemade Multi-Purpose Disinfectant Spray

3 ingredient disinfecting spray.

Course Homemade

Cuisine Cleaning

Keyword Disinfectant Spray

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 16 oz

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups 100 proof alcohol (vodka) or higher get the highest proof alcohol you can find (in some states you can buy 190 proof, which is Everclear, if not at least 100 proof) or at least 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol can damage painted and varnished surfaces so it's best to spot test first.*
• 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar or more alcohol
• 50-60 drops tea tree essential oil or lavender essential oil (optional)

Instructions

• Pour the vodka into a 16 ounce spray bottle and then the essential oil(s). Shake the bottle to combine the vodka and oils. Finally, add the vinegar and shake the bottle again. This recipe is not safe to use on special stone surfaces, like granite or marble, due to the vinegar. Please see the notes section below for more information.
• I've also used a Bandit Oil (Thieve's Oil or Germ Destroyer) blend in my spray instead of the tea tree essential oil.  Learn more about the science behind using essential oils for disinfecting.

Notes

*100 proof alcohol does not equal 100% alcohol. There has been some confusion about this, as this is different in some countries. In the US (where I live), a 40% ABV (alcohol by volume) is 80 proof and one that is 45% ABV is 90 proof. And so on. A 50% ABV is 100 proof and it goes higher from there. 

The essential oil is added as an antibacterial ingredient. Hydrogen peroxide can also work as a disinfectant when used straight (not diluted with anything and don't mix with vinegar!). Just be careful with hydrogen peroxide as it can bleach colored fabrics. 

Cutting Board Note: When it comes to disinfecting cutting boards (after cutting raw meat), I disinfect the surface using vinegar and hydrogen peroxide (do not combine these ingredients in one bottle!); the order doesn’t matter. First spray one ingredient, letting the disinfectant rest for five minutes, then wipe the surface with a cloth. Finally, repeat with the second disinfectant. Wait five minutes, then wipe the surface with the cloth. You can see the entire process in this cutting board post. Another disinfectant spray option in the kitchen is a Bandit Oil Spray.

CORONA VIRUS UPDATE: With coronavirus on the rise, this post is particularly helpful from a pediatrician. She specifically addresses coronavirus. I'm not a doctor or disease specialist. Please consult your doctor and the CDC website to do your own research about the best ways to protect your family. The CDC recommends disinfectants contain 60% alcohol or higher.

Disclaimer: The DIY recipes on this website are based on my personal experiences. I am not a trained chemist, cleaning specialist, or skincare expert. The DIY recipes shared on this website haven’t been tested in a lab. Information about my products or recipes haven’t been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult a doctor or specialist for specific concerns about any skincare issues, cleaning products, or dietary needs. Please use your discretion, based on your own research, when making homemade products.

The post Homemade Multi-Purpose Disinfectant and Deodorizing Spray appeared first on Live Simply.

If you’re enjoying breakfast or lunch right now, I recommend waiting to read this post until after you finish your meal. Today we’re going to get really personal and to talk about the toilet. Not only are we going to talk about the humble toilet, we’re also going to visit my bathroom and look at pictures of my toilet bowl. Our online friendship is about to go to a whole new level! From drinking lattes to cleaning toilets…oh yeah!

Cleaning Versus Disinfecting

To begin our toilet talk, let’s talk about cleaning versus disinfecting, since these are actually two different cleaning actions performed with very different cleaning products.

In my humble cleaning opinion, most of us just need to clean regularly, not disinfect. Cleaning consists of regular home maintenance: dusting, wiping surfaces, using soap to wash our hands, washing and sweeping the floor with hot water and possibly soap, vacuuming, spraying and wiping mirrors and glass, etc. These cleaning tasks are usually performed with water and a natural soap or detergent, like castile soap or Sal Suds, which keep a home from harboring unwanted dust and dirt. Regular cleaning maintenance encourages that “put together” look so many of us desire (a subjective term when you have young children…the struggle is real).

Disinfecting is an activity that’s (generally) done after cleaning and, in my cleaning opinion, needs to be done much less often in the average home. “Disinfecting…refers to killing a high percentage of the germs on a surface or rendering them incapable of reproducing.” (source)

Disinfecting takes care of more than just dirt, grease, or dust. Disinfecting knocks-out the bad germs that can make us ill. I don’t believe disinfecting every surface on a regular basis is essential in the modern-day home. Now when the stomach virus comes knocking, or I cut raw meat on my favorite cutting board, I’m all about using a homemade disinfectant spray.

All that being said, there is one area of the home that I personally believe should be regularly disinfected (and this is where we get all personal with toilet talk and pictures, brace yourself): the hard-working toilet bowl!

How to Clean and Disinfect a Toilet Bowl, Naturally

I have two favorite recipes for cleaning the toilet bowls in my home: a liquid cleaner and a powder cleaner. Both cleaners clean the toilet bowl very well. My choice between which cleaner to make and use is usually just a matter of which ingredients I have on hand, and if I want a long-term storage powder or a short-term storage liquid cleaner. Right now, I’m using the powder cleaner. PS: I’m going to share this recipe, which is from the DIY Natural Cleaning Challenge, below.

Cleaning the toilet bowl with one of my homemade cleaners is as simple as mixing the powder or liquid ingredients, squirting or sprinkling the cleaner on the sides of the toilet bowl, and then letting the cleaner rest in the toilet for a few minutes. Easy peasy! Just think, a homemade cleaner that’s just as easy to use as a store-bought cleaner, but without the mystery ingredients.

Once the cleaner rests for a few minutes, it’s time to scrub! You’re going to need a handy toilet bowl brush to complete this next step. Scrub the cleaner against the toilet bowl sides. Then, flush the toilet. The toilet bowl is now clean (AKA: the dirt and well, you know what else has been removed).

Now it’s time to disinfect. When it comes to naturally disinfecting surfaces, two ingredients work very well: hydrogen peroxide and/or vinegar. In the kitchen, these two disinfectants are a powerhouse when used back to back to disinfect a surface (you should NEVER combine the two ingredients into one cleaner). When it comes to toilet bowl disinfecting, I only use one ingredient: hydrogen peroxide or vinegar. Simply attach a spray nozzle on the hydrogen peroxide bottle or vinegar bottle (if your vinegar bottle is bulk-size, just pour the vinegar into the toilet bowl or pour the vinegar into a separate spray bottle). Then, spray or pour the disinfectant on the sides of the toilet bowl. Let the disinfectant rest for 30 minutes so it can work against germs, then flush!

If you want use vinegar to disinfect your toilet bowl, but hate the smell of vinegar, use the citrus-infused vinegar we made last week (just don’t dilute the vinegar concentrate before pouring or spraying it in the toilet bowl).

Now your toilet bowl is naturally clean and disinfected!

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Powder Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Cleaning the toilet bowl with one of my homemade cleaners is as simple as mixing the powder or liquid ingredients, squirting or sprinkling the cleaner on the sides of the toilet bowl, and then letting the cleaner rest in the toilet for a few minutes. Easy peasy

Course Homemade

Cuisine Cleaning

Keyword Powder Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 1/2 cups powder

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1/2 cup borax
• 1/2 cup coarse sea salt or kosher, You can find an inexpensive 3lb box at most grocery stores. Don’t waste money and use expensive mineral-rich salt like Himalayan salt, in this recipe.
• 15 drops grapefruit essential oil or favorite cleaning essential oil
• 1 lid with holes such as: a mason jar drink top, or a Parmesan cheese topper. Only use this lid when the powder is needed. The top used to store the powder shouldn’t expose the powder to the air.

Instructions

• Combine the ingredients in a storage container.
• Clean the toilet bowl: Sprinkle the sides of the toilet bowl. Let the powder rest for 15 minutes, then scrub the toilet with a toilet bowl brush, and flush.
• Disinfect the toilet bowl: Spray hydrogen peroxide or vinegar on the sides of the toilet bowl, let the spray rest for 30 minutes, then flush.

Video

Notes

Recipe shared from DIY Natural Cleaning Challenge.

The post How to Clean and Disinfect a Toilet Bowl, Naturally appeared first on Live Simply.

Years ago, when Dustin and I first realized our way of eating was…well, not to sound too judgmental…wrong, the first change I implemented was buying organic versus conventional food.

At the time, organic labeling was just starting to pop up on produce. While the produce department was just beginning to catch-on to the organic demand, the junk food aisles didn’t suffer from any shortage of reinvented organic, “healthier” cookies, chips, and salad dressings.

As a young bride with the new responsibility of changing our drive-thru going ways, I was determined “organic”  always equated to “healthy” and “real.” I would spend hours scouring our conventional grocery store, filling my cart with organic foods. Slowly, my grocery bill started to creep higher and higher, but I found myself justifying our increasing debt with the fact we needed to exclusively purchase organic food.

Honey, we need organic cookies!

It took several years for me realize that buying organic isn’t always the best route and doesn’t always benefit a real food lifestyle. Now, hold on, let me explain!

As a young real foodie, I believed every food stamped with an organic seal must be good–cookies, crackers, chips, fruit roll-ups, salad dressings.  Years later my lightbulb moment occurred…

Real food can mean organic. I love organic food and believe buying organic is important.  I source organic produce (now from our local market, a produce delivery service, and a health food store where organic produce is much more abundant and cheaper than the conventional store), but organic is not the be-all and end-all.

Real food is about a lifestyle change, moving away from processed food (even organic processed food) to creating our own homemade meals. A change from relying on boxed cookies to spending ten minutes whipping pastured butter, sugar, and flour to create a homemade treat. Real food is about nourishing ingredients that naturally come from the ground or healthy animals, versus focusing on one little word that’s now stamped all over food, even processed food.

I realize there are practices like spraying pesticides and developing GMOs. But I also believe that one shouldn’t be defeated by a real food lifestyle just because of an organic label. I’d much rather purchase a box of conventional blueberries than organic,  if that choice means the difference between eating something fresh or processed. There are times I opt for the conventional lettuce versus the organic so that I can source grass-fed beef or raw milk. Those are a few of the choices that make real food a doable and affordable lifestyle for our family.

Each year the Environmental Working Group produces a guide identifying the “dirtiest” fruits and veggies on the market. This list is my go-to resource for knowing what food to prioritize when purchasing organic produce.

PS: If you own the Real Food Planning Challenge, you can find this printable on page 85. Along with a seasonal produce guide and how to store produce printables.  

Whether I purchase organic or conventional, I always wash our produce with a DIY produce wash made with three simple ingredients already found in my kitchen– vinegar, water, and fresh lemon juice.

Vinegar is the major player in my homemade produce wash, reducing both pesticides (yes, even organic produce can be sprayed with certain safer pesticides) and bacteria.  Lemon juice is antimicrobial, working to destroy bad germs and bacteria. The combo of the two kills any bacteria that may be found on produce and rinses away dirt and any pesticides.

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DIY Produce Wash

Whether I purchase organic or conventional, I always wash our produce with a DIY produce wash made with three simple ingredients already found in my kitchen– vinegar, water, and fresh lemon juice.

Course DIY

Cuisine Cleaning

Keyword Produce Wash

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 2 Cups

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar or apple cider vinegar
• 1 lemon juiced (optional, vinegar is the key ingredient in this mixture)
• 1 bottle I reuse a glass vinegar bottle

Instructions

• In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients. Pour the ingredients into a bottle(s) using a funnel. Store the DIY produce wash in the fridge until needed (this is necessary due to the fresh lemon juice).
• To Use: Spray on the produce directly, then rinse the produce with cold water. Or, if you want to wash a bunch of things, pour the mixture in the sink and fill the sink with cold water to let all the veggies and fruits soak in the mixture for a few minutes. (If you're just looking to soak your veggies and fruit, you don't even need to make this in a bottle if you don't want to use it as a spray later for other produce items. Just add vinegar to cold water in the sink and soak the produce for a few minutes.) Then rinse and dry before storing. Want to see how I store all my produce? Check out this fridge tour.

Mom, whether you buy 100% organic produce or just a few items, know that you’re doing an amazing job on this journey of real food. Keep stocking your home with fresh, real ingredients and preparing meals that nourish your family.

The post DIY Natural Produce Wash appeared first on Live Simply.

Contributor post written by Marie of HumbleBee and Me.

My kitchen counters are very well used. Over the course of a week they might see the making of a few pounds of soap, serve as a dump zone for bags of groceries, act as an impromptu seating area, take a bread-kneading beating, supervise the preparation of a myriad of meals, and endure several frustrated glances from yours truly for looking so disheveled (sorry, counters, that’s my fault, not yours).

That’s where this awesome disinfecting kitchen spray comes in. Starring a few of my favorite safe cleaning ingredients, it comes together in a flash and leaves counters, stove tops, and more looking (and smelling) their best.

The majority of this spray is a 50/50 blend of white vinegar and water. White vinegar is a wonderful cleaning ingredient—inexpensive, safe, and effective.

To this base I’ve added a blend of rubbing alcohol and Bandits oil, an essential oil blend you can make yourself, or purchase as Thieves® Oil or Germ Fighter Oil. Bandits oil is a powerful blend of antibacterial and antiviral essential oils like lemon and clove. Legend has it the blend was developed by a group of thieves while the Black Plague ravaged Europe so they could rob its victims. It’s not the happiest of tales, but certainly illustrates how strong of a disinfectant this blend of botanicals is.

When combining essential oils (which are oil soluble) in a water base you need an emulsifier or solvent of some kind to disperse the essential oils so they don’t just float to the top. That’s what the rubbing alcohol is for. High proof alcohol will dissolve essential oils, and that alcohol/essential oil mixture can then be added to a water base, where the essential oils will disperse reasonably well. It’s not quite an emulsion, but it helps reduce the need for vigorous shaking. The alcohol also lends additional disinfecting power to the final product.

Once everything is mixed up you’ll be left with a hazy looking bottle of citrus-spice scented DIY disinfecting spray. I like to spritz down my counters and stove, let it sit for a minute, and then wipe everything down. Disheveled counter tops be gone!

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Bandits Oil Disinfecting Kitchen Spray

Starring a few of my favorite safe cleaning ingredients, it comes together in a flash and leaves counters, stove tops, and more looking (and smelling) their best. The majority of this spray is a 50/50 blend of white vinegar and water. White vinegar is a wonderful cleaning ingredient—inexpensive, safe, and effective.

Course DIY

Cuisine Cleaning

Keyword Disinfecting Kitchen Spray

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 1 Bottle

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 2 TB rubbing/isopropyl alcohol 70–99% alcohol
• 40 drops bandits essential oil blend
• 1 cup white distilled vinegar
• 1 cup water

Instructions

• Measure the rubbing alcohol and bandits essential oil into the bottom of a trigger spray bottle or mister bottle with a 2 cup (500mL) capacity and let rest for approximately 5 minutes. What we're doing here is giving the alcohol a chance to dissolve the essential oils a bit, meaning they will disperse better in this water-based solution. This isn't quite an emulsion, but does a nice job of helping the essential oils disperse while adding a bit of disinfecting punch from the alcohol. Please do be sure to use a brand of rubbing alcohol that's at least 70% alcohol—weaker solutions won't dissolve the essential oils very well.
• Once the rubbing alcohol and essential oils have sat for at least five minutes, measure out the vinegar and water into the spray bottle. Cap and shake gently to combine.

When you introduce water into a product without a preservative you always run the risk of introducing bacteria, so use water-based products quickly.

To use, spray over your counters, stove top, or anywhere else that needs a good cleaning, and wipe down with a damp sponge.

Learn how to make your DIY cleaner bottles using vinegar bottles here.

 More DIY Cleaners You May Like:

 DIY Glass and Stainless Steel Cleaner

 DIY Homemade Liquid Hand Soap

DIY Floor Cleaner Wipes

The post DIY Bandits Oil Disinfecting (Kitchen) Spray appeared first on Live Simply.

There are few issues that stir up a group of “crunchy” (naturally-minded, real-foodie, homemade) ladies as much as hand sanitizer.

Okay, maybe vaccines. But, we’re not going there. Let’s stick with dirty hands and the clear liquid found in millions of purses and classrooms across America.

Before kids I had a “thing” (me and my “things”) against dirt, but oh my, how things changed once my first baby entered the picture. Suddenly messes and dirt (and other unmentionables) stuck to my hair, clothes, skin, and house like cheese on a good grass-fed burger. The need to embrace dirt (not being dirty, just a few extra clingy good germs) became apparent.

Here’s the funny thing about dirt: the more I embraced it, the less we got sick. I’m sure a good diet also helped, along with natural preventives such as: probiotic kombucha, elderberry syrup, and homemade chicken broth.

Now, please hear me out. I’m not talking about smothering our bodies in buckets of dirt and rubbing our hands on every public grocery cart in the store. Please don’t do that! Instead, let’s avoid the constant urge to sanitize our living conditions with millions of toxins in a state of paranoia. Cleaning is good, very good! But a little bit of healthy dirt (allowing our kids to run around outside, garden, and get dirty every now and then) is wonderful for the immune system. In fact, our guts need good bacteria to fight off the bad guys–this is an important aspect to having a healthy and thriving immune system.

Before we throw away our soap and hand sanitizer, I would like to tell you that I believe in cleanliness. I believe a good liquid hand soap is important to stock in the kitchen and bathroom, laundry soap is a necessity (obviously), and body wash is a smart choice.  I also believe hand sanitizer has a time and place: after handling money or touching the never-washed grocery store carts.

For those times when good ol’ soap and water just aren’t available, and hands needs to be washed, I keep a homemade hand sanitizer in my purse, made with a few simple ingredients.

Let’s embrace good hygiene, naturally. I promise it can be done.

More Natural Ways to Protect Against Unwanted Germs

• Homemade Hand Sanitizer Spray: A simple spray for when you need to wash your hands and don’t have soap and water. If you want a spray instead of a gel, this recipe is for you.
• Homemade Disinfecting Spray: A spray for counters and surfaces made with tea tree essential oil, vinegar, and water.
• Natural Ways to Boost the Immune System: My tried-and-true ways to naturally maintain a healthy and happy immune system.
• Homemade Elderberry Syrup: A homemade remedy that’s delicious and beneficial.

Print

Hand Sanitizer

For those times when good ol’ soap and water just aren’t available and hands needs to be washed, keep a homemade hand sanitizer (made with a few simple ingredients) in your bag.

Course DIY

Cuisine Body

Keyword Hand Sanitizer

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 2 oz

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 3 TB 190 proof alcohol or at least 120 proof alcohol or 70% or higher isopropyl rubbing alcohol (the original recipe called for witch hazel, however, alcohol is considered the best and what's currently recommended in light of recent issues). Don't use other types of alcohol (methanol, butanol) since they're toxic.
• 1 TB aloe vera (this is to prevent hands from drying out from the alcohol)
• 1/2 tsp vegetable glycerin or vitamin E oil (optional, again adds moisturizing properties to the hand sanitizer to benefit your hands)
• essential oil (optional, like a few drops of tea tree or lavender essential oil) see note below

Instructions

• Combine all the ingredients in a bowl.
• To use the hand sanitizer store in a small jar or a squeeze tube (like this). This recipe will make 2 fluid ounces (one tube.) If you prefer to make a spray, use this recipe.

Notes

Please consult your doctor and the CDC website to do your own research about the best ways to protect your family. The CDC recommends hand sanitizer that’s at least 60% alcohol. The power of this hand sanitizer comes from the alcohol, so if you don’t have the essential oils, no worries. The important part is the alcohol! 

The original recipe included essential oils, but they aren’t necessary. The necessary ingredient is at least 60% alcohol, so to simplify this recipe and make it as easy as possible, I’ve adjusted the recipe to reflect this. 

More Natural Remedies

SEE ALL RECIPES

Moisturizing Lanolin Lip Balm Recipe

Homemade Bug Spray Mosquito Repellent (Essential Oils)

Podcast 050: CBD Everything You Need To Know

Podcast 047: Why and How to Detox the Body with Joy from Joyous Health

6 Natural Ways to Keep Your Immune System Healthy

Homemade Cooling Eye Masks (For Puffy Eyes)

The post DIY Hand Sanitizer appeared first on Live Simply.

“I love to clean. I love to clean. I really love to clean.” 

Maybe I should try clicking my heels together, while holding the dog? “Toto…”

“I love to clean. I love to clean.” 

Nothing!

Despite my best effort, cleaning is simply not my “thing.” I realize it’s probably not many people’s “thing.” Very few people walk around dreaming about going home and breaking out the wipes, broom, and duster to spend hours cleaning every square inch of the house. Or is that just me?  Maybe cleaning really is some people’s “thing.”  If so, I have a room for you, and warm bread. Please say you’ll stay!

My “thing”? Well, I love my bed, fluffy pillows, and nap time. Ahh, the things that become your “thing” after embracing motherhood.

Anyway, we were talking about cleaning, not napping. Right? Let’s get back to the whole cleaning thing, because we have established it’s a “thing.”

Whether this whole cleaning love (AKA “thing”) is an inherited gene or inspired from browsing way too many Martha Stewart magazines, is still a great mystery to me. I love the benefits of a clean home; and I promise my family enjoys the benefits of a regularly (a word with many meanings) cleaned home. Nightly dishes are always tended to, clothes are folded when I’m not sidetracked by popsicle-making, and toilets are cleaned daily (four year-old boy, enough said). I diligently keep my house as clean as possible with an active family, eight chickens (they live outside) and two dogs.

Since the act of cleaning simply doesn’t fill me with warm little flurries of happiness, I’ve been trying to make chores much more of an enjoyable process. Something I look forward to, not just the end result, but the actual process of scrubbing around the potty (I mean, toilet) and wiping the counter for the umpteenth time. That’s a lot, incase you’re math challenged like myself; also not my “thing.”

Creating the Natural Kids’ Cleaning Kit convinced my kids cleaning was their “thing.” In fact, Londyn (2) can be found at random times during the day washing walls and spraying spots on the floor. True story. So, why can’t mommy fall in love with the cleaning process?

After much thought (time I probably should have spent cleaning) revelation came: I need to make the process appealing. “Appealing” was just the word I needed, the wheels turned and soon pretty pink washcloths were pulled from the back of the linen closet and vinegar was poured into a glass jar. This mom simply needed a change from the mundane white cloth and spray bottle.

Enter the simplest DIY cleaning wipes EVER.

DIY cleaning wipes have turned cleaning chores into my “thing.” Pretty magical, right? While these wipes aren’t really magical, they pack a powerful natural cleaning punch via pretty little towels that can be reused over and over again. When the toilet needs some TLC, simply grab a wet wipe and dance your way into that bathroom. Magical!

Whether cleaning is your “thing” or your wanna-be “thing,” DIY cleaning wipes will make your house sparkle and keep your budget low with only a few simple, natural ingredients.

Bonus: DIY cleaning wipes are perfect to use as homemade Swiffer pads! Simply attach a wipe to a standard Swiffer base and clean the floor.

Print

DIY Cleaning Wipes

Enter the simplest DIY cleaning wipes EVER. While these wipes aren’t really magical, they pack a powerful natural cleaning punch via pretty little towels that can be reused over and over again. When the toilet needs some TLC, simply grab a wet wipe and dance your way into that bathroom. Magical!

Course DIY, Homemade

Cuisine Cleaning

Keyword Cleaning Wipes

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 4 Cleaning Cloths

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1 cup distilled water
• 1 cup white distilled vinegar
• 15 drops tea tree essential oil
• 15 drops lavender essential oil
• 5 drops lemon essential oil

Instructions

• Roll the washcloths and place in a jar.
• In a small bowl combine the water, vinegar, and essential oils.
• Pour the vinegar mixture over the washcloths, pressing the washcloths down into the liquid. The washcloths should be wet. Depending on the size of your washcloths, you may need to add more vinegar/water as needed.
• Close the lid on the jar.
• Remove the washcloths from the jar as needed. Wash the dirty cloths in the washer, and repeat the process. Use the wipes within a week. 

Notes

When you introduce water into a product without a preservative you always run the risk of introducing bacteria, so use water-based products quickly.

The post DIY Cleaning Wipes (Reusable & Disinfecting) appeared first on Live Simply.