When Earth Day comes it seems a slew of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) projects come with it. The common misconception that DIY projects are natural and eco-friendly comes along with it, too. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE DIY projects! I think they’re awesome! They most definitely save money! But are they better for you, your family, or the environment? They surely can be! The problem is, although we are raising more eco-awareness this time of year not everybody catches on immediately. We all know “going green” is a journey! So I wanted to share this common misconception and how to make sure your DIY projects ARE eco-friendly (and better for your family)!
The common misconception is this: if I make it at home it is eco-friendly, free of chemicals, good for my family, etc. Again this CAN be true, but I see many that are NOT! I cringe when I see “I feel good about making it at home because I know exactly what is in it and know it’s free of nasty chemicals.” Yet one (or more) of the INGREDIENTS they use to make it contain, you guessed it, synthetic ingredients and/or nasty chemicals!
So, the ultimate question is: Do you REALLY know what’s in it? You can say it contains x, y, and z, but can you tell me what’s IN x, y, and z? This is where the problem lies. People don’t know what’s in their ingredients! Many don’t even question it because they feel “safe” seeing the recipes for it everywhere and assume it must be “good.” I encourage you to ALWAYS CHECK EVERY INGREDIENT.
I want to share 2 common DIY projects that I’ve seen COULD be eco-friendly and good for your family that “go bad” because synthetic ingredients are used instead of natural ingredients.
Homemade laundry detergent
This is, by far, the most common one I see. Making your own laundry detergent is awesome! It saves money and can potentially be better for the environment and your family if you carefully consider the ingredients. The most common recipe I see floating around online and on Pinterest uses Fels Naptha. Even being ingredient conscious myself I still picked some up without reading the label.
Well, I got quite the shock to read the label and not only see it has synthetic ingredients (artificial colors and fragrance), but it also carries a warning as a skin irritant! Some of the other ingredients are also rated as a “moderate hazard” by the Environmental Working Group. Would you still feel “good” about using it on your clothes? I surely didn’t!
It was also recently discovered that Borax isn’t healthy, either! This was a big shock to me because up until now I thought it was considered a “safe, eco-friendly” ingredient. It now gets an “F” by EWG! I found an article written on Mother Earth News with more details. I was still using Borax until I read this a couple of days ago but had already counted Fels Naptha out.
My recipe was: 2 cups of Borax, 2 cups of Wash Soda, and a finely grated natural bar of soap. I use Dr. Bronner’s, but you can use any natural soap. Now I will be trying the same recipe minus the Borax – so just the Wash Soda and Dr. Bronner’s soap. I can’t attest to how it works yet, but I will share when I’ve used it!
*Update 9/10/2013: I have been using the recipe of just the Wash Soda and Dr. Bronner’s Soap, and that has been working well for us!*
Homemade bath and body products
Again, this is something that has the potential to be amazing, but again you MUST KNOW YOUR INGREDIENTS. I purchased a lovely sugar scrub at a flea market after verifying it was natural. She assured me it was, and I was SO impressed at the scent that I spent a lot of time pondering how she got the right mix of essential oils to make a “popular” scent. Then it dawned on me – it was probably made with “fragrance oils,” NOT essential oils. So, I verified my suspicion and was disappointed to find out I was right.
Fragrance oils are synthetic. They’re so commonly confused with being “natural” because they’re an oil. They’re NOT natural. Any time you see the word “fragrance” you should exercise caution. If you want to be very cautious you should just avoid “fragrance.” Not only are fragrance oils synthetic many times multiple chemicals can be packed into the word “fragrance” as it doesn’t require full disclosure what makes up the “fragrance” here in the US. So, if you’re making bath and body products at home be sure to avoid fragrance oils and use essential oils instead – which also have other added benefits!
To Sum it Up
DIY projects can be absolutely amazing and save you money. They can also be good for the environment as well as your family – if you’re careful what you are using. When you see a DIY recipe you want to try CHECK THE INGREDIENTS FIRST! If after research you find there is an ingredient that isn’t eco-friendly or natural do some MORE research for a suitable, eco-friendly alternative!
As you may know, my husband had cancer twice, I have medical issues, and all three of our kids have special needs. That is what started our eco-friendly journey, and there has been A LOT to learn along the way! I’m still learning every day (hence I need a new laundry detergent recipe!), but there ARE eco-friendly options out there, and it’s worth it to protect the health of your family (and the environment)! So, I encourage you to question DIY recipes that may be mistaken for being eco-friendly or good for your family and make sure you know all ingredients. Then you can say “I know exactly what’s going into it” with confidence!
Toe Juice Giveaway (ends 10/4)
The Toe Juice Giveaway Hosted by Mommy Lesson Plans
I have heard so many wonderful things about Toe Juice! I’m really excited to share this great giveaway with you!
I live in the desert. Normal footwear for me are sandals and flip flops. As you can imagine, this does a real number on my feet. My heels are in very poor condition six months out of the year. I get such deep cracks that I bleed. I know – gross. But I have to tell you this so that you can understand what Toe Juice has done for me.
The first couple of days, I wondered if this was going to work. I didn’t see much of a difference at first. I found out that it was really effective if I applied the Toe Juice after filing my heals. After two weeks, the deep cracks were gone. No more bleeding. My feet still have cracks, but they are superficial. I can tell that if I use the Toe Juice more, I will eventually get rid of all the cracks. I didn’t just stop there. I have flaking around my eyebrows. I used the Toe Juice on my eyebrows, and it cleared up quite quickly.
Toe Juice is made from Dermavine; which are plant based extracts. It is safe for all ages and races. It is recommended that it be applied twice a day for 10-14 days. The company has deals running regularly and has coupons on its website.
Prize: One Toe Juice Combo Kit
The event dates: 9/20-10/4
This event would not be possible without the participation of these amazing co-hosts: Giveaway Gator , Couponing with Integrity, and Pea of Sweetness.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This giveaway is open to entrant 18 years of age or older, except where prohibited by law. US residents only. No purchase is necessary to enter. The odds of winning are based on the number of entries received. To qualify to win, you must complete, at minimum, one entry on the Rafflecopter form. The winner will be randomly chosen by Rafflecopter. Winners will be notified by email from Mommy Lesson Plans. Winners will have 72 hours to respond or risk forfeiting their prize. Prize may re-awarded solely by the Sponsor’s discretion. Prize fulfillment is the sole responsibility of the sponsor. Pea of Sweetness may not be held liable for Sponsors who do not fulfill prize shipments. Mommy Lesson Plans was not compensated for this post. I reserve the right to publicly publish winners’ names. By entering this giveaway, you are agreeing to these terms and conditions.