No you do NOT need a special cleaner for that! 

Have you looked at the upper rim of your washing machine drum? Mine was pretty gross. I don't even know what prompted me to look there, but I caught a glimpse of it and immediately felt the need to clean it. How does all that gook get there? My washing machine is just over a year old and has never been clean. My previous washing machine was just over 7 years old and I never even thought to look at the drum to check for gunk. Yikes!

Isn't that gross? First I took a wet washcloth and put a squirt of laundry soap on it and scrubbed it. Then I thought I was going to have break out an old toothbrush or the cotton swabs. I really didn't want to get that crazy with it so I grabbed some scissors to jam my washcloth into the knicks, crannies and ridges. It did the trick!
I then took a dry washcloth and poured some vinegar on it and wiped it all down until it was all sparkly.

Now my washing machine drum is nice a clean! Try it :) 

• MamaSuds® Castile Soap was applied directly to the red wine stain on the carpet.
• The small carpet cleaner brush was used to scrub it in.
• The machine was then turned on and the stain sprayed with water and scrubbed further until it disappeared.
• The soapy residue was removed by spraying and soaking up the soap for 10 minutes, until only water remained.

Attention Crunchy Moms and Ecofriendly Peeps!  

 

As the holiday season approaches, it's that exciting time of year when we start thinking about gifts for the little ones in our lives and for those who share our passion for sustainability. Whether you're a parent with young children at home, a loving aunt or uncle, or simply someone committed to making more environmentally-friendly purchases, I've got some fantastic news for you! This Black Friday and Cyber Monday, I'll be curating a list of the best green deals that will help you shop consciously and save money.

First on the list is Dirty Diaper Laundry's THE List. This comprehensive guide is perfect for parents looking to stock up on cloth diapers and other sustainable baby essentials. Cloth diapers are not only gentler on your baby's skin but also significantly reduce waste compared to disposables. Investing in these eco-friendly options during sales can make a big difference for both your wallet and the planet.

Next, we have Change-Diaper's Sale Compilation. This resource is a treasure trove of deals on everything from organic baby clothes to non-toxic toys. It's a great opportunity to support brands that prioritize safety and sustainability, ensuring that your little ones are surrounded by products that are as kind to them as they are to the Earth.

Finally, The Green Connoisseur Blog's Eco-friendly Deals and Discounts rounds out our list. This blog covers a wide range of sustainable products, from household items to personal care goods. By taking advantage of these sales, you can make strides in your journey toward a greener lifestyle, all while supporting businesses that are committed to ethical practices and environmental responsibility.

Shopping during Black Friday and Cyber Monday doesn't have to mean compromising your values. In fact, it's an excellent time to support green businesses and invest in products that align with your commitment to sustainability. Look for items with certifications like Fair Trade, Organic, or those made from recycled materials, and always consider the environmental impact of your purchases.

By choosing eco-friendly options, you're not only saving money but also contributing to a cleaner, healthier planet for future generations. This holiday season, let's celebrate by making mindful choices, finding the best deals, and showing our support for companies that care about the environment. Happy green shopping!

How did I get here?

In my previous post in this series I talked about how my husband started telling me I should sell the liquid soap and the laundry soap I was making from it to people outside of our family and friends. I had lots of doubt and thought he was crazy for thinking people would want to buy soap from ME.

Where does my story lead to next?

See Part 1 here.    See Part 2 here.     See Part 3 here.    See Part 4 here.   See Part 5 here.

So here is Part 6 in my series. My lovely techie husband set up a website for me. We did a few Mom 2 Mom sales. They were not successful.  I was not a very good salesperson. It was no loss for me, I knew it wouldn't work. Plus, I was teaching and was expecting our third baby so I didn't think I could have the time either.

Then on December 28, 2011 a lady named Dorothy from Colorado ordered a gallon of my laundry soap. I'll never forget that feeling. I actually cried in disbelief. Someone in COLORADO bought my soap? Get out! Later I received an email from her telling me that my soap was "such a blessing" to her 80 year old skin. She even called to tell me in case she didn't send her email correctly. She thought it was hysterical that my first order came from an old lady who could barely use the internet. From then on she called me to place her orders and we would chat. I loved it. It was because of Dorothy in Colorado that I forged ahead and went to the county and registered our business so that we were official on January 3, 2012.

The last time I talked with Dorothy was over two years ago. Her last order came from her daughter and she let me know Dorothy was ill. I frequently think about her and wonder how she is....

Dear Dorothy,

Thanks for being my first customer. I'll never forget you.

Love,  Michelle 

Update: I did find out Dorothy passed away in January 2016.  

• People often equate bubbles, lather and foamy suds with cleanliness, however harsh detergents are usually the culprit.
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), which can have various names, have been rated as a low to moderate hazard by Skin Deep.
• The International Journal of Toxicology recommends using products with concentrations of SLS of 1% or less when used for any length of time, but most cleaning products have levels between 10-30%, or even higher.
• The ILO states that “the substance is toxic to aquatic organisms” and advises not to let it enter the environment.
• Contamination with 1,4-dioxane is also possible, which is a possible human carcinogen and harmful to the environment.
• Alternatives for bubbles include coconut derived products and castor oil, but these are more expensive.

How did I get here?

In my previous post in this series I talked about how I almost threw in the towel with cloth diapering because I was tired of stripping the diapers and my daughter getting diaper rashes and burns. I had a hunch that if I could make my own liquid soap, surely I could use that to make a laundry detergent.

Where does my story lead to next?

See Part 1 here.    See Part 2 here.   See Part 3 here.    See Part 4 here.

So here is Part 5 in my series.

Right away I learned the difference between soap (made from lye and oil) and detergent (a mixture of surfactants {lower surface tension between dirt and water} and cleansers in water). Surfactants sounded harmless. But behind the definition was the fact that surfactants are derived from a variety of petrochemicals, AKA petroleum by-products (For Better Living). I am not about that.

I found a bunch of recipes online but they were all dry products mixed together. I really wanted a liquid version because I already had the liquid castile soap.  I first tried castile soap alone. I have very hard water and it didn't cut it. So I researched other sodium minerals that are safe and biodegradable. I ended up with a formula that worked awesome. I didn't want to hold my breath until a good month went by. In the mean time I used it on all our laundry. It worked great on our clothes, so hoped it would work on the diapers?

After a month, I started to get excited! Months went by and I had my aunts, Grandma and parents try it. They loved it. They couldn't believe how little you had to use! Then friends and extended family wanted to try it and so I would sell them my laundry soap. 

After about 6 months my husband started telling me I should sell it. I would roll my eyes at him and say, "Yeah right, who is going to want to buy laundry soap from ME?"  My daughter Molly helping me fill bottles of laundry soap.

(part 6 continued here)

• MamaSuds creates liquid soap that is zero-superfat, meaning it will not leave any oils behind during cleaning, making it ideal for people who need a laundry soap that does not leave a residue behind.
• The company does not superfat their liquid soap to avoid skin irritation for those with skin issues.
• DIY laundry recipes can ruin your washer but using MamaSuds Castile Soap in them will ensure the safety of the machine and of the clothes being cleaned.
• Fluff Love often suggest Tide for cloth diaper washing routines due to the lack of understanding around the effects of soaps on fabric, however MamaSuds DOES work for cloth diapers.

I really love fall. Sweaters, leaves changing, going to the cider mill, hot cider and doughnuts…. YUM. It’s also when my diffuser gets put on overdrive, it’s literally on 24/7. Here are my top 5 essential oil recipes for Fall:

Autumn Morning
5 drops of orange
5 drops of cinnamon

Cider Mill
2 drops of cinnamon
2 drops of clove bud
2 drops of orange
2 drops of ginger

Cozy Fire
4 drops cedarwood
1 drop vetiver

 

Hiking in the Woods
2 drops of cedar wood
2 drops of fir needle or pine
1 drop frankincense or tea tree 

Sunday Dinner
2 drop of orange
2 drops of lemon
2 drops of cinnamon
1 drops of clove bud
1 drops of fir needle or pine

Switch to a Cold Air Diffuser

I used to burn lots of candles this time of year, then I switched to warming them until I got smart and switched to a diffuser. Burning candles seems innocent enough but they are a huge source of indoor pollution. Candles burn off chemicals that are bad for your health. Most candles are made of pariffin (a petroleum waste product) that has been bleached and deodorized so it can be made into wax. Candles are made with synthetic oils that are most likely made with phthalates. Candle warmers and steam diffusers heat the oil, which depletes the oil of it’s therapeutic benefits so I prefer using a cold-air diffuser. If you must burn a candle, a great alternative is a pure beeswax candle. When burned, they emit negative ions (like Himalayan Salt lamps!) that clean the air.

Unpaper Towels: worth the investment?

Almost three years ago, I took the plunge and stopped buying paper towel. It was a big decision that I didn't have a lot of support for, but I promised a trial period. In that trial period my husband was diagnosed with a very large menengioma brain tumor. After this diagnoses he was very supportive because he really wanted to rid our home and lives of unnecessary exposure to harmful ingredients.

One of his best buddies worked in the paper industry and put it into perspective for us: "Wood does not soak up water. What kind of chemicals and additives do you think they put on wood pulp to make paper soak water like paper towel does?" Hmmmmm.... The less chemicals we were exposing ourselves to the better. This is a great article that Growing a Green Family wrote about paper towels. 

After our trial period, we both were in agreement, we could definitely live without it.  Are there times we wished we had something disposable? Yes, like when a bottle of wine dropped out of the fridge.... Or I dropped a jar of salsa.... Yes I wish we had a roll. But in all honesty, it hasn't been as hard as we thought.  

Where can you get "unpaper" towels? Etsy is a great place, I love supporting small handmakers. Local is even better! You can get them with snaps and put them on your existing paper towel roll dispenser. I did that for awhile and then I just stopped and now they get put in with the other towels. I am actually looking to replace the ones I bought three years ago, so I definitely think it's a great investment.

What do you think? Is it something you could try?