Well, now I've done it...
I've gone off the deep end. After recently becoming concerned about the chemicals corporate america is putting in the stuff we eat and clean with and discovering that all the major companies are using questionable ingredients such as anti-freeze (propylene glycol) and engine cleaner (sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate) in toothpaste and shampoo, I started looking for something less "chemical-ly". Found a natural toothpaste but at $4.50 a tube, I started thinking if maybe I could make my own. I know I can use baking soda straight from the box, but it's kinda wasteful and messy to use and really icky tasting.
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| I thought I was buying ice cream !?! |
So I went online...
And went nutso with all the cool info I found.
I'm now gonna try making my own toothpaste along with a few other hygiene products. Not many people know this but I'm allergic to the main ingredient in all antiperspirant/deodorants; aluminum trichloro-something-or-other. After a couple of months of using store-bought deodorant, I start doing the monkey thing (raised-arm scratching). I've tried natural deodorants (eventual rash), deodorant stones (cuts, scrapes, hair-pulls), baking soda (ouch), nothing (phewee!!). In my search, I recently came across a recipe for homemade deodorant using easily pronounce-able and natural ingredients.
I also plan to become "Poo-less". Nope, that doesn't mean I intend to become permanently constipated. I discovered that some people (the same ones that make their own you-name-it) don't clean their hair with shampoo anymore. They use something that contains only ingredients that can be pronounced without getting tongue-cramps. Since I live alone, I can try this in relative privacy and comfort. If it doesn't work, I can go back to subjecting my hair to a chemical bath.
I also discovered a recipe for homemade laundry detergent. One of the biggest benefits of these changes, besides using safer products, is the cost savings as Heidi's recent blog about homemade diapy-wipes can testify. Living on a fixed income has been a little challenging but doable and these things, if they really work, will help in cutting costs.
(Now, I gotta find a tree to chop down to prove I'm not turning into a tree-hugger.)
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| But ended up with frozen antifreeze!!! |
Hmm, that definitely sounds like something I could look into too! They have huge selections of organic products here (even a shampoo line called "yes to carrots") but they are really, really pricey! I remember you buying the rock salt deodorant..I didn't realize it was because you're allergic to the store bought ones though.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post! Has me doing some thinking.
Interesting tidbit about storebought ice cream - most of what you can buy isn't really ice cream! Ice cream is a frozen custard. There have to be eggs, milk, and cream for it to be ice cream. That's why haagen daas is soo good! Take a gander at their ing. list! :D
ReplyDeleteI also just heard about the "no-poo" and making your own laundry detergent. And, I used to use rubbing alchohol in a little spritser for my deodorant. (it also works well on a cotton ball)