Non-Alcoholic Hand Sanitizer Alternative

Why didn't I think of this before? As you may have noticed from my Products page, I don't use Dr. Bronner's Almond, Unscented, or Lavender Castile Soaps. I found them too drying for my hair or skin. I did continue using the leftover for hand soap, which, in combination with toothpaste recipe experimenting, lead me to reach out and try the peppermint one. I really like that one and can even use it for hair and body without drying effects. Maybe the peppermint oils made the difference? Not sure, because the rest of the ingredients in each scent seem to be consistent.

To make my hand soap, I simply fill a foaming soap bottle about 3/4th full and squeeze in some Peppermint Dr. Bronner's soap. One day in a rush, I grabbed the foamer soap bottle and a towel because I knew the kids would need to clean their hands to eat later and I didn't know where the hand sanitizer was. Then it dawned on me...with enough water, you can actually dilute and apply the soap and water foam to your hands in the same manner as hand sanitizer. Or you could just lather up a little and just dry your hands on a napkin or towel.

Now, I don't know if it kills 99.9% of germs, flu virus and blah blah blah like the sanitizers claim, but what really has ever been better for cleaning your hands than soap and water? Maybe to add antibacterial properties, you could use the Tea Tree Dr. Bronner's Soap, but I have not tried that soap yet. Honestly either way, I don't know if hand sanitizer really kills all those germs other than all the claims made but I do know that you usually don't get sick as often with good hand washing habits.

So, my conclusion...

Grab the following materials to make your on-the-go hand cleanser...

Small foamer bottle
Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap (Scent of choice)
Water (The more water, the less lather)

Shake well to mix.

To use:
Pump a few squirts into your hands
Create a small lather of foam
And dry with a towel or napkin.

Now enjoy your meal with clean, non-alcoholic hands! Finally take a bite into those finger foods while on-the-go without it tasting like the alcohol from commercial hand sanitizers...Yuk!

Get of Rid of Those Banana Guests!

The Gibberish

Anyone love fresh bananas? Personally, I like to eat them when they are perfect and yellow, but from my reading, they are fully ripe once they begin having those browns spots (not brown bruises). Eating the bananas ripe are supposed to easier on your digestive system, plus they are sweeter. Ripe bananas do have a place in my kitchen though...The freezer for my yummy green smoothies and homemade ice creams! ;-) Just peel them, put them in a freezer bag, and freeze. I must say, though, that just throwing unpeeled bananas in the freezer tastes much better, but I decided I got tired of freezing my fingertips as I scooped the frozen banana peel from the frozen banana with a spoon once I was ready to use them. 

The problem

But any-who...If you love organic bananas like my daughter and I, you also know you may not be the only ones hanging around the banana hanger...Gnats/fruit flies are too! (I'm no bug expert, so I'm not sure which one it is or if they are even two different species, but you're more than welcome to research it if interested.) Well, I found a quick solution to this annoying issue....

The solution

Once you bring your bananas home from the store, immediately wash/rinse and dry them before storage. From my reading, gnats/fruit flies lay eggs onto the peels of the bananas and once the bananas ripen, they hatch and you're annoying little friends begin swarming around your house, your bananas, and your diaper pail (which I initially thought was the issue). I keep a spray bottle mixed with water, dr.bronner's and/or biokleen all purpose cleaner, and vinegar for wiping surfaces, so I usually just spray that onto the peels, rinse and dry...Problem solved! Thank goodness!!!!

Hope this helps my banana lovers out there! ;-)

Baby Food & Toddler Veggies

Here's my quick guide to how I developed good eating habits for my children from birth till now...

Birth to about 5 1/2 to 6 months : 

EXCLUSIVELY Breastmilk! (No cereal, no formula, no baby food, no water...Nothing but breastmilk!)

Cloth Diaper/Wipes Wash Routine

Here is a simple break down of my cloth diaper/wipes wash....

This routine should be practiced every 1-3 days to maintain hygienic practices.

Instant Homemade Deodorant

This recipe is an instant version of my previous homemade deodorant post and is now my preferred method. After all, my mission is "keeping it simple."

I had run out of homemade deodorant and hadn't found the chance to whip up a new batch, so I mixed up a small batch of equal parts of coconut oil and baking soda with a few drops of tea tree oil.....I don't really like using the deodorant this way because I would prefer not to stick my fingers or some other utensil in it to apply; I would just prefer to roll it on from a push up container....For some reason as I was showering, it dawned on me....Coconut oil is solid below 76 degrees....DUH! I was adding shea butter and beeswax to stiffen up a deodorant stick when my base ingredients were all I needed and the deodorant stick would be just fine. So here goes....

Cloth Wipes Solution

This cloth wipes solution is the perfect supplement to your cloth wipes routine.

All Purpose Soapberry Liquid

This is the All Purpose Cleaning Soapberry Liquid Soap that Grows on Trees!

Soap That Grows on Trees

Money doesn't grow on trees, but when I found out soap does, I realized I was throwing money away.

There are various species of soapberry (aka soap nut) trees that grow around the world. The most commonly known species is the Sapindus Mukorossi, which is native to parts of China, India, and Nepal. There are also other species native to parts of Southern North America. These non-edible berries are sun-dried and stored to use for various cleaning uses stated below.