Green Guide

ALL NATURAL SALVE

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup avocado oil
• 1/4 cup aloe vera oil
• 2 tablespoons grated beeswax

Equipment:

• Double boiler or a heat-safe bowl and saucepan
• Whisk or spoon for stirring
• Clean, dry containers for storing the salve (such as small jars or tins)

Instructions:

1. Prepare your workspace: Clean and sterilize the containers you'll be using to store the salve.

2. Melt the oils and beeswax: In a double boiler or a heat-safe bowl placed over a saucepan of simmering water, combine the olive oil, avocado oil, aloe vera oil, and grated beeswax.

3. Heat gently: Heat the mixture gently, stirring occasionally, until the beeswax is completely melted and the oils are well combined. This usually takes about 10-15 minutes.

4. Check consistency: To test the consistency of your salve, you can place a small drop of the mixture on a cold plate. Let it cool for a moment; if it's too soft, add more beeswax. If it's too hard, add more oil.

5. Remove from heat: Once you've achieved the desired consistency, remove the mixture from the heat and let it cool slightly.

6. Pour into containers: Carefully pour the warm salve mixture into your clean, dry containers. Be cautious as it can be hot.

7. Cool and solidify: Allow the salve to cool and solidify completely before sealing the containers.

8. Label and store: Once the salve has cooled and solidified, label your containers with the date and ingredients, then store them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
   
   
   

   Mango Body Butter

   
   Ingredients:

   • 1/2 cup mango butter
   • 1/4 cup coconut oil
   • 1/4 cup avocado oil
   • 2 tablespoons aloe vera gel or aloe vera oil
   • 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder (optional, for a smoother texture)
   • 1 tablespoon olive oil

   Equipment:

   • Double boiler or a heat-safe bowl and saucepan
   • Whisk or spoon for stirring
   • Clean, dry containers for storing the body butter (such as jars or tins)

   Instructions:

   1. Prepare your workspace: Clean and sterilize the containers you'll be using to store the body butter.

   2. Melt the mango butter and coconut oil: In a double boiler or a heat-safe bowl placed over a saucepan of simmering water, combine the mango butter and coconut oil.

   3. Heat gently: Heat the mixture gently, stirring occasionally, until the mango butter and coconut oil are completely melted and well combined. This usually takes about 10-15 minutes.

   4. Add the remaining oils: Once the mango butter and coconut oil are melted, add the avocado oil, aloe vera gel or oil, and olive oil to the mixture. Stir well to combine.

   5. Optional: Add arrowroot powder: If you want a smoother texture for your body butter, you can add arrowroot powder at this stage. Whisk it into the mixture until fully incorporated.

   6. Cool slightly: Allow the mixture to cool slightly before proceeding to the next step.

   7. Whip the mixture: Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, whip the mixture on high speed for 5-10 minutes until it becomes light and fluffy. This step incorporates air into the mixture, giving it a creamy texture.

   8. Transfer to containers: Carefully transfer the whipped body butter into your clean, dry containers.

   9. Cool and solidify: Allow the body butter to cool and solidify completely before sealing the containers.

   10. Label and store: Once the body butter has cooled and solidified, label your containers with the date and ingredients, then store them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
       
       

       
       
       

       All Purpose Natural Cleaner

       
       Ingredients:

       • 2 cups white vinegar
       • 2 tablespoons castile soap
       • Peels from 1 lemon
       • Peels from 1 orange
       • Handful of pine needles (optional)
       • 10-15 drops of essential oils (optional, for fragrance and additional cleaning power)

       Equipment:

       • Glass jar with a tight-fitting lid
       • Fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth
       • Spray bottle
       • Funnel (optional)

       Instructions:

       1. Prepare the citrus and pine infusion:

          • Rinse the lemon and orange thoroughly, then use a vegetable peeler to remove the outer peel, avoiding the white pith as much as possible.
          • Place the citrus peels and pine needles (if using) into a glass jar.
          • Heat the white vinegar in a saucepan until it is hot but not boiling. Pour the hot vinegar over the peels and needles in the jar. Ensure they are fully submerged.
          • Seal the jar tightly with a lid and let it sit for at least 1 week in a cool, dark place. This allows the vinegar to absorb the scents and properties of the citrus and pine.

       2. Strain the infused vinegar:

          • After a week, strain the infused vinegar through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a clean bowl or measuring cup. Squeeze out any excess liquid from the peels and needles.

       3. Mix in castile soap and optional essential oils:

          • Add 2 tablespoons of castile soap to the strained vinegar and mix well.
          • If desired, add 10-15 drops of your favorite essential oils for added fragrance and cleaning power. Lemon, orange, pine, or tea tree oils work well for cleaning purposes.

       4. Transfer to a spray bottle:

          • Use a funnel to pour the cleaner into a spray bottle for easy use. If you don't have a funnel, you can carefully pour it into the bottle using a steady hand.

       5. Label the bottle and store:

          • Label the spray bottle with the date and ingredients. Store it in a cool, dark place when not in use.

Non Toxic Laundry Detergent

Ingredients:

• 1 cup baking soda
• 1 cup grated castile soap (unscented or scented)
• 1/2 cup citric acid
• 10-20 drops of essential oils (optional, for scent)

Equipment:

• Mixing bowl
• Airtight container for storage

Instructions:

1. Grate the castile soap:

   • Using a cheese grater, grate the castile soap into small pieces. This will help it dissolve more easily in the washing machine.

2. Mix the ingredients:

   • In a mixing bowl, combine the grated castile soap, baking soda, and citric acid. Stir well to ensure they are evenly distributed.

3. Add essential oils (optional):

   • If you want to add a pleasant scent to your laundry detergent, mix in 10-20 drops of your favorite essential oils. Lavender, lemon, tea tree, or eucalyptus oils work well for this purpose. Stir the mixture thoroughly to distribute the oils evenly.

4. Store the detergent:

   • Transfer the detergent mixture into an airtight container for storage. A glass jar or plastic container with a tight-fitting lid works well.

Usage:

• Use 1-2 tablespoons of the detergent per load of laundry, depending on the size of the load and the level of soiling.
• Add the detergent directly to the drum of the washing machine before adding clothes.
• This detergent is suitable for both standard and high-efficiency (HE) washing machines.

Tips:

• If your laundry detergent clumps up over time due to moisture, you can break up the clumps with a fork or whisk before each use.
• If you have hard water, you may need to increase the amount of detergent used for effective cleaning.

ALL Natural Deodorant