Make your own laundry soap. You can use a reusable non-toxic container to store your laundry soap. It is pretty quick to make. I use handmade/non-toxic soap in the recipe (Fels Naptha is toxic). And its cheap! According to the website, "The cost of making the above recipe of laundry soap was .71 cents. That was amazing to me! With this 2 gallon size recipe you will have enough to do 64 loads of laundry. That translates to about .01 cent a load."
Make your own lotion. I follow a similar recipe to this one. I use high quality extra virgin olive oil. Your skin is one of your biggest organs and should be fed high quality ingredients. I have cut out beauty products that use parabens, or titanium dioxide. It is also great to store in a glass container. Almost all lotions come in plastic that could leech toxins into your lotion.
Make your own deodorant. I followed this recipe using cornstarch. I added a little Tea Tree oil for its anti-bacterial properties. Honestly, it doesn't last a long time and can make a bit of a mess. But if you are like me and don't want to risk the chemicals then this is a nice alternative. You can read more about harmful effects of commercial deodorants here: http://www.naturalnews.com/027624_deodorant_aluminum.html
Go "no poo". It takes most people some transition time and some trial and error to get this right. I started out using much too much baking soda. I have now been no poo for quite some time and really love it. My hair is shiny and fuller than it ever was on the body enhancing shampoos I used to try. This method even works if my hair is really dirty from camping or has a ton of hairspray in it. I usually just wash with water and only wash with the baking soda and water mixture every 3 or 4 days. I rarely use the vinegar "conditioner". I bought a natural boar bristle brush from the beauty supply store. It makes my hair super shiny and helps distribute natural oils.
Toothpaste: I originally stopped using commercial toothpaste because of the artificial sweeteners they contain. Now I simply mix a small amount of coconut oil with a little baking soda until it is paste consistency. I have used peppermint extract to flavor it but now find that its not necessary. I store it in a baby food jar and a small amount lasts quite a while. Brush gently with a soft brush because the baking soda is somewhat abrasive. Just rinse and wait a couple hours to brush if you have had an acidic juice or (heaven forbid) soda because your enamel is soft and vulnerable. Also try oil pulling for oral health.
Facewash: Just like the toothpaste, I mix coconut oil and baking soda. Sometimes I add a little salt to make it a scrub. Keep it in a glass jar. *Note: I travel with these glass jars in my suitcase and have not had a problem with them breaking.
If you have made it this far, congratulations! Think of all the plastic containers and hundreds of toxic chemicals you have now eliminated from your life. Each products is simple and fairly quick to make. On my list are two final hygiene items:
Safety Razors: Read reviews here. These are coming into fashion again. They are great for men who want to bring back the art of shaving. There are also reviews from women who love them! It is a bit of pampering, it doesn't use plastic and it is about .20 cents a blade!
Feminine Hygiene: Truthfully, it took me a long time to even think about going green in this area. Some plastics and chemicals have been in our lives so long we don't even consider a change. I read blogs that mentioned different options but also mentioned a lighter flow when using natural products. I was reminded that tampons cannot be worn over night without risk of toxic shock syndrome. I watched this slightly graphic but empowering video about sea sponge tampons. I couldn't decide which one to try on the website so I went to Whole Foods and bought a natural sea sponge and cut into four or five pieces of different sizes. I follow the directions on the video. It worked surprisingly well. I was hesitant to trust that these wouldn't leak. However, even in yoga classes I didn't have a problem. In fact, these were a life saver on a 6 hour hike. Typically, I wouldn't have made it more than an hour with a super absorbent tampon. I used a larger size sea sponge piece and a pad for extra protection since it was a heavy flow day. Luckily, it was enough until I got out of the woods.
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