By Jessica, Contributing Writer
When I was younger, I would get excited about normal things. Going out with friends, a new outfit, an upcoming trip. Now, domestic life overcomes me. I'm a grown-up. A woman.
Oh, I still get excited, but my passions have...shifted. You know what I really think is amazing these days?
The three magical ingredients!
Give me any household dilemma, and I'm almost positive I could solve it using vinegar, baking soda, or coconut oil!
Except tantrums. I haven't quite figured out how they solve tantrums yet. (I'm sure there is a way, though.)
Seriously, though, it truly is remarkable that God created such amazing elements - products that can bake, clean, dissolve, soften, and heal, all while being completely safe for the home and the kids!
These three powerhouses were a great "first step" for me in becoming green and clean. They're inexpensive, they're incredibly versatile, and I already had them in my house!
Here are just a few ways we use these remarkable products:
Vinegar:
- Disinfect bathrooms (I put vinegar in a spray bottle with a squirt of dish or Castile soap and a drop of essential oil)
- Safely disinfect toys (mix with hot water and soap)
- As an everyday shower cleaner
- As a scrub to remove stickers from the random objects your kids have placed them
- As a floor cleaner (with a bit of Castile soap and essential oil)
- To remove pesticides from produce
- Clean kitchen counters
- Degrease the microwave
- Disinfect baby seats and high chairs
- As a natural "Windex" for mirrors and windows
- As a hair conditioner (seriously works wonders!)
- Clean and freshen the car interior (diluted with soap and warm water)
- Added to soap when washing water bottles and straws to prevent mold
- For a buttermilk substitute, especially in dairy-free baking recipes
- In homemade salad dressing
- Halved with water as a wash to remove pesky ants
- To clean the fish tank
- To clean coffee maker
- Added to homemade chicken broth (just a splash) to help release trace minerals
- Added to boiling water to prevent eggs from cracking while boiling
- As a home remedy for sinus infections (apple cider vinegar, to be exact...this really works!)
- To soothe sore throats (apple cider vinegar)
Baking Soda:
- As a shampoo! (This worked like a charm for me to "de-gunk" and remove buildup.)
- To unclog drains
- To deodorize the trash can
- To eliminate odors in laundry, and boost the PH (add 1/2 cup to each load)
- To absorb odors in the refrigerator
- As a scrub for the sink
- In many science experiments for kids
- As a cheap additive to dish-washing machine detergent
- As toothpaste
- As deodorant
- To make sparkling clean that beautiful engagement ring (that if you're like me, isn't looking quite so sparkling)
Coconut Oil:
- Topical application for yeast infections
- Topical application for nail fungus
- As an overnight hair conditioner
- Healthy substitute for butter - Coconut oil has saved the day as we deal with my son's life-threatening allergies to dairy. We use it in oatmeal, muffins, cornbread, biscuits, cookies, cakes and more.
- Lotion, especially for dry and cracked hands or feet
- Add-in to oatmeal
- To soothe eczema
- As body lotion
- Bake, roast, or saute (ideal because of its high smoke point)
- Mixed with sugar, for a body scrub
- As a carrier for essential oils (eucalyptus chest rub is my favorite when we have colds)
- For diaper rash
- To remove eye makeup
How about you? What's your favorite use for vinegar, baking soda, or coconut oil?
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The post Three Household Products That Have Changed Our Lives (and 50 ways we use them) appeared first on Keeper of the Home.