Vickie told me last night that she never knows when she walks into the house (or even a room if she’s left me to my own devices for any period of time) what experiment or project she will find me in the middle of. This sentiment was prompted by the giant pan of clumpy white powder she found on the kitchen counter. This instance was actually rather benign. A leak under the sink had soaked an entire economy-sized box of baking soda so I was letting it dry. Some others are maybe a little more “out-there” by Vickie-standards.
Recently I tried regrowing celery and green onions from the bases of used ones. Celery = FAIL, green onions = worked, but way more trouble than growing whole ones or just buying them at the market. I also tried starting flower seeds in eggshells on top of the refrigerator. They all died except a handful of morning glories, which are now in two pots on the back porch; these grew so successfully that I believe they may now be plotting to take over the planet. The more heavy-duty stuff I tend to leave for the times Vickie is away on business (paper-making, for example).
What is the point of this story, you ask? Well…I’ve decided to venture forth into the wild and highly scented (judging by all of the essential oils in the photo) world of green cleaning: making my own cleaning products, dish soap, and shampoo. Why? Have you ever actually looked at the ingredients list on the back of a shampoo bottle? If not, stop and go have a peek. It’s okay, I’ll wait…are you back? Wow, right??! So many unpronounceable chemicals for something that is supposed to make you feel and look better.
With the items, you see in the basket above (essential oils from Camden-Grey, and witch hazel and super washing soda from good old Amazon), plus some liquid castile soap, baking soda, and good old vinegar, I’ll be trying “recipes” for an all-purpose cleaner, liquid dish soap, and shampoo, for starters. I’ll post blog updates as I make each one. This is completely uncharted territory for me, so I may meet with huge success or fall flat on my face with these, but you know what they say…nothing ventured, nothing gained!!