Going Green

[iridiscente]

I have been trying to find washing soda in Guatemala. Do you think they would sell something like that at a pool chemical store? I've heard of some detergent ingredients being found there.

[EricShane]

ive never even heard of washing soda? does it clean pools or something?

[Melody]

Washing soda is more commonly by Arm&Hammer. Its found in the laundry aisle of some grocery stores & is the size of a cereal box.  I have a cool article Ill post later cause Im on my phone now.

[iridiscente]

http://video.about.com/beauty/3-Natural-Skin-Cleaners.htm

[Melody]

Ok, I can't find the article anymore that used to elaborate further but this about sums it up.


"use unscented baking soda and bake it to make unscented washing soda.

baked bi-carbonate make carbonate by cooking off the moisture.

Spread baking soda (594 grams or about 2 ¼ cups) on a baking tray and heat in an ordinary oven at 300 °F for 1 hour to drive off water and carbon dioxide. Dissolve the residual solid in enough water to make 1 gallon total. This dissolution may require a fair amount of mixing. Warming it speeds the dissolution process. This solution will contain about 1,900 meq/L of alkalinity (5,300 dKH). I prefer to use baked baking soda rather than washing soda in this recipe as baking soda from a grocery store is always food grade, while washing soda may not have the same purity requirements. Arm & Hammer brand is a fine choice."

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/general-reef-aquarium-discussion/8804-sodium-carbonate.html

And you can also use Borax for tougher stain fighting but if you do not use any chemicals of any sort in your life, Borax won't interest you.  

[iridiscente]

Thank you! This is definitely useful.

[Melody]

I love that site!  I'm going to try the honey/nutmeg exfoliant and the coffee/chocolate hair rinse!  

Thanks!

oh I followed the link she gave and then to the list of recipes.

http://skincare.about.com/od/spa/Spa_Experience.htm

[iridiscente]

I tried following the link, but couldn't get it to work, thanks!

[iridiscente]

http://www.women-on-the-road.com/travel-herbs.html


Some herbs and their uses, targeted at travelers.

[Melody]

Thank you! This is definitely useful.

On about.com, there is tons of homemade natural recipes.  I did the chocolate brunette hair rinse tonight so I'll see if it looks any different tomorrow.  It's just supposed to refresh and liven up the already brown in your hair, antioxidents and such in chocolate and coffee. 

Also, a few gals came over and we made a few of the recipes.  It was so much fun!  All of the recipes are on www.about.com


We made:
Grape Facial Cleanser- it was refreshing!
Bubbly Rasilicious Face Mask-  this left our face feeling very smooth.

both of those need a blender imo to be the most helpful.

Healing Honey Winter Hydrator- for your lips and everyone loved it.  It smelled funny but not awful.
Manicure in a Jar- rave reviews
Pore strips- this was a bit intense, I think I am going to tweak it a bit.  But it was as simple as can be.

a few things I learned through the process of having this party:  milk & honey are amazing for your skin.  Honey hydrates, the acidic nature of milk products gently exfoliates.  Olive oil is another one that is so very versatile.  I've been putting some in the ends of my wet hair after washing like a leave in conditioner, just a bit.   It's good for your skin and feels good on your face.  I don't know whether regular or extra virgin olive oil is best yet though.  Almond oil= moisturizes and locks in moisture.

I substituted sunflower oil for grapeseed oil in the manicure recipe cause I couldn't find it.

[Melody]

Ginger, how did the shampoo trial go you mentioned earlier in the thread?

I did the chocolate coffee hair rinse and I am embarrassed but still amused to tell you guys to strain the coffee first.  LOL  I have no idea why I didn't, I thought the grounds would just settle enough to let me pour most the liquid off.

[Amelia Bedelia]

Thegreenestdollar.com is a good blog for affordable greenness 
I'm pretty green.  I was raised to eat all-natural and now organic as well when possible.

I used soy based paint when painting my new apartment, VOCs scare me. Also, non toxic caulk and foam. 

I'm glad it finally became a fad because then a lot of products started being available... It was a lot harder to eat all natural 15-20 years ago

[iridiscente]

Ginger, how did the shampoo trial go you mentioned earlier in the thread?

I did the chocolate coffee hair rinse and I am embarrassed but still amused to tell you guys to strain the coffee first.  LOL  I have no idea why I didn't, I thought the grounds would just settle enough to let me pour most the liquid off.

Do you have pictures with grounds in your hair... hahaha!

[Melody]

LOL.. no. that would have been too embarrassing!

The last few months I have been using castile liquid soap and rinsing with a very diluted apple cider vinegar.  My hair hasn't been this nice for years.  So I think I'm going to stick w/ this.

[Lynx]

Vinegar?  That was one of the most vivid memories of my very young childhood, when we got lice from some kid at school and mom stood us in the tub and poured vinegar on our hair.  Didn't hurt, but boy did it stink!  Got rid of the lice though.

[Melody]

I hate vinegar, it took all my courage to try it!  I have been cleaning with it though, diluted in hot water with a few drops of tea tree oil and no vinegar aroma is present.

But diluted it's not bad and you rinse w/ water afterwards, no smell lingers.  Something about vinegar balances your hair's moisture. I read what it was somewhere but can't remember.  I have wavy thin, fine hair.  Fine hair tangles easily but I am amazed how my doesn't really tangle at all now and I have new hairs sticking up, which is a positive challenge.  Now mind you this could also be due to cutting out gluten, taking a vitamin, and cutting back on sugar.  As a whole, improving.  But I do think I was also sensitive to regular shampoos.

[SippinTea]

Ooo... I may have to try that, MY.

[sunlight]

[YooperYankDude]

[iridiscente]

I just learned how to make my own hair gel from flax seeds. I made a tutorial on our website if you are interested: http://www.all-about-guatemala.com/flax-seed-gel.html