Tutorials on soapmaking, bath fizzies, lotions and more
This week continued our streak on natural cleaning (get it, streak? Punny!) including the Natural Soap Scum Cleaner. It is made with baking soda, pumice and Epsom salt. They scrub away tough grime in the bathtub. The baking soda and salt also absorb any unpleasant smells. The lemongrass essential oil and fir needle essential oil added to the recipe will make your bathroom smell crisp and clean.
If you make your own cleaning products, you may be familiar with borax. Also known as sodium borate, borax is a natural mineral compound that is commonly used to wash clothes. It is a fantastic stain fighter, and works on tough stains like oil, tomato sauce and wine. It’s also used in some soap recipes, toothpaste formulas and as a preservative. It cleans by converting some water molecules to hydrogen peroxide (source).
Borax is found deep within the earth and looks like large white crystals. The large crystals are ground to create a white and odorless powder consisting of very small crystals. The use of borax can be traced to 10th century AD, when borax was used in ceramic glazes in China. In 1872, borate deposits were discovered in California’s Death Valley. Since then, this mine has grown to become one of the richest borate deposits in the world (source).
