Spring into Natural Cleaning

Spring into Natural DIY Cleaning 

Well, it's that time of year again - good ole Spring Cleaning!! I want to encourage you to make your own cleaning supplies and to get you started (or to add to your arsenal) with a choice of over 50 DIY recipes. Bonus: Personal and Pet Care links are shared, too!

Here's something to ponder - Do you know what's lurking in store brand cleaning products? Would it be shocking if I shared with you that they don't have to be 100% truthful in disclosing all of their ingredients? Well, at least as it stands today but thankfully groups like Women's Voices and Safer Chemicals are spreading the awareness and we can stay in the know. 

Women's Voices has shared the common hidden chemicals as seen here. 

The task to make all of your own may be overwhelming, so my personal recommendation for you is to start with replacing one store bought cleaning product. I am starting slow. I began my journey about 4 years ago with an all-purpose cleaner. 

Before you run off pinning the recipes below, take a moment to sign the Mind the Store petition spearheaded by Safer Chemicals. With our signatures we are telling the nation's largest retailers to get tougher on toxic chemicals found in commercial cleaners. Your signature makes a difference! Please share.

Home - Care

All-Purpose

Non-Toxic Household Cleaner from Actual Organics

All-Purpose & Floors from Healing Cuisine by Elise

All-Purpose Lemon Cleaner from Faulk Farmstead 

DIY Citrus Infused Vinegar from Don't Waste the Crumbs

DIY Orange Cleaner from Natural Living Mamma 

Grapefruit All-Purpose Cleaner from 5 Little Homesteaders

How-to Make an All-Purpose Cleaner from Mommypotamus

Make Your Own Cleaning Products from Natural Living Mamma

Natural Cleaners (oil free) from Hands On Learning 4 All 

Bathroom

Soft Scrub and Mold Killer from Naturally Mindful 

Cheap and Easy Drain Cleaner from Natural Living Mamma

Homemade Peppermint Scrub from 5 Little Homesteaders

Mold & Mildew Spray from Rooted Blessings

Tub & Tile from Healing Cuisine from Elise

Furniture

Furniture Polish from Learning and Yearning 

Wood Furniture Polish from Healing Cuisine by Elise 

General

DIY Disinfectant Cloth Wipes from Red and Honey 

Carpets & Stains from Healing Cuisine by Elise
Chemical-free Cleanin' on the Cheap from Wholesome Mommy
Cleaning with Baking Soda from Conveying Awareness 
DIY Remove Labels From Jars from Don't Waste the Crumbs 
Easy Homemade Floor Cleaner from Homemade for Elle 
Essential Oils for Green Cleaning from the Untrained Housewife 
Glass Cleaner from How We Flourish
Green Clean Glass Cleaner from Girl Meet Nourishment 

Making Your Own Cleaning Products from Natural Parenting 
Non-Toxic Carpet Cleaning Solutions from the Untrained Housewife
Non-Toxic Disinfectant (Better than Lysol) from Real Food RN 
Windows, Mirrors & Glass from Healing Cuisine by Elise

Kitchen 

Easy Natural Oven Cleaner from Health Extremist 

Drain Cleaner from How We Flourish
Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Tablets from 5 Little Homesteaders
How-to Clean a Burnt Pan without Toxic Chemicals from Little Owl Crunchy Momma
How-to Clean the Kitchen Sink without Toxic Chemicals from Little Owl Crunchy Momma
How-to Clean Your Dishwasher Naturally from Natural Living Mamma
Non-toxic Cleaner for Stainless Steel from Real Food Whole Health 

Non-Toxic Grapefruit Mopping Solution from Homegrown & Healthy
Zap Kitchen-Bathroom Germs from Scratch Mommy

Laundry

5-Minute Chemical-Free Laundry Detergent (liquid) from Wholesome Mommy 

DIY Guide to Laundry Detergent (powdered) from Homegrown & Healthy 
Homemade Laundry Detergent (powdered) from Mommypotamus
Homemade Laundry Soap (without Borax) from Little Owl Crunchy Momma
Laundry Detergent (powdered) from Live Essentially 
Make Your Own Dryer Balls from Nourishing Joy
Making Your Own Laundry Soap (powdered) from the Untrained Housewife 
Safe Alternatives to Laundry Day from Conveying Awareness

Personal - Care

Face Lotion Bar from Don't Waste the Crumbs 

10 Ways to Use Coconut Oil from Conveying Awareness 

Cloth Diaper Solutions from Vintage Kids Modern World 

DIY Spa Recipes from Fiddlebump's 

How-to Make Non-Toxic Hand Sanitizer from Mommypotamus 

Treating Yourself Naturally from Conveying Awareness

I recommend a few Pinterest boards worth following: DIY, Health & Wellness, and Recipes from Conveying Awareness.

Every blogger featured on this round-up has given me written permission to share their links and where applicable, their images. If you're a featured blogger and wish to have your link removed and /or image, please contact me via my blog. I will remove it promptly upon your request. Every link points directly to the blog from which it was collected. 

Choose, eat, and live well! =)

Let's Get Snacking -- For kids to adults!

Let’s Get Snacking!

Great for kids’ snacks, brown bag lunches, *grazing trays, and pre/post workouts.

What is a *grazing tray? It is a way to prepare, introduce, and/or offer children (adults can do this too) different foods in a muffin or ice cube tray. 

A client recently asked for a list of green-yellow light food snacks she can pack for her family. She mentioned the tried and trues were getting a bit old. So, I created this list of recipes and ideas from several bloggers and yours truly. After creating such a great list, I knew I had to share it here for more families to benefit. Not every selection has a recipe. You can search Pinterest for ideas. I have been given written consent to use the links in this post. The +s allow you to differentiate (I hope easily) between the food selections.

I'll be sharing more than 50 recipes from over 30 bloggers!! There are 3 categories: Pairings, Homemade, and Miscellaneous. The lists are alphabetized. I will close with several L.E.A.N. style tips for getting families to eat more of the good stuff!

Pairings - Are nutrient dense foods paired together that provide satisfaction (keeps you fuller longer) and helps to increase natural energy (because [real] food is fuel).  

+ “Ants on a log” – Celery with natural PB and raisins
+ Apples with drizzled raw honey and sprinkled cinnamon

+ Carrot chips with flax yogurt dip {Recipe from A Harmony Healing.} 

  

     

+ Chopped fruit with rice crackers

+ Cucumber sandwiches with tomato and /or tuna 

+ Frozen banana bites {Recipe from Conveying Awareness.}

+ Fruit (or vegetables) with a nut butter (2 options below). 

{Almond butter with chocolate recipe from Girl Meets Nourishment.}

Girl Meets Nourishment

{Peanut butter recipe from Cheeky Bums Blog.}

+ Graham crackers with nut butter, sliced bananas and coconut chips. 

+ Homemade trail mix 

+ Kabobs – vegetables and /or beef. {Beef recipe via The Organic Kitchen.}

+ Natural peanut butter with organic strawberry jam on whole wheat bread

+ Parfaits – Applesauce with homemade goodies {Recipe via Jar O' Honey.}

+ Raw veggies dipped in hummus 

+ Rice crackers with cream cheese or PB with sliced fruit on top

+ Skewers - fruit and vegetable types (2 options below)

{Vegetable skewer by Honey, Ghee, and Me.}

Honey, Ghee, and Me

{Fruit skewer by Jar O' Honey.}

+ Stuffed apricots {Recipe via Homegrown and Healthy.}

+ Turkey and cheese roll-ups (add avocado for added nutrition)
+ Veggie sandwiches {Recipe from The Organic Kitchen.}

The Organic Kitchen

+ Whole grain waffles topped with fresh fruit
+ Whole wheat crackers with nitrate free lunch meat

Homemade:  

+ Almond Coconut bars {Recipe via Paleo Gone Sassy.}

Paleo Gone Sassy

+ Almond Date bars {Recipe via All Things Health.}

+ Apple Rings (grain free) {Recipe via Conveying Awareness.}

+ Banana Chips {Recipe via This Tree of Life.}       

This Tree of Life

+ Bean Quesadillas {Recipe via Daily Pea.}      

+ Chicken Salad {Recipe via Honey, Ghee, and Me.}

Honey, Ghee, and Me

+ Coconut Crisps {Recipe via Just Enjoy Food.}

Just Enjoy Food

+ Cucumber Snack {Recipe via Your Gardening Friend.}    

Your Gardening Friend

+ Dehydrated Fruits / Vegetables (3 options below)

{Basic food preservation via Don't Waste the Crumbs.}

{How to recipe via Kitchen Stewardship.}

{Kale chips via Little Owl Crunchy Momma.}

Little Owl Crunchy Momma

{Beet chips recipe via Live Simply.}

{Sweet potato chips recipe via Paleo Gone Sassy.} 

+ Deviled Eggs {Recipe via Just Enjoy Food.}

Just Enjoy Food

+ Egg Salad {Recipe mayo-less via The Good Long Road.}

The Good Long Road

+ Fruit & Nut Bites {Recipe via Natural Family Today.}

+ Fruit Snacks (with gelatin (not Jell-O); 5 options below)
{Recipe (strawberry) via An Organic Wife.}

An Organic Wife

{Recipe via Eat Play Love More.}

{Recipe via Girl Meets Nourishment.}

{Recipe via The Hippy Homemaker via Hybrid Rasta Mama.}

{Recipe via Mindful Mama.}

+ Granola (bars)

{Recipe via Completely Nourished.} 

Completely Nourished 

{Recipe via Hands On Learning 4 All.}

Hands On Learning 4 All

{Recipe (no bake) via Live Simply.}

Live Simply

+ Granola (loose; 2 options)

{Gluten-free granola recipe via A Harmony Healing.}

{Recipe via Live Simply.} 

Live Simply

+ Guacamole (2 options)

{Recipe via Completely Nourished.}

{Recipe with added veggies via Honey, Ghee, and Me.}

Honey, Ghee, and Me

+ Hummus (2 options)

{Recipe via Attainable Sustainable.} 

{Recipe with 11 add-ins via Don't Waste the Crumbs.}

+ Muffins whole-wheat {Recipe via Live Simply.}

Live Simply

+ No Bake Power Bites {Recipe via Convey Awareness.}

+ Peanut Butter [Chocolate] Bonbons {Recipe via Little Owl Crunch Momma.}

+ Raw Brownie Bites {Recipe via Live Simply.}

Wait, did YOU notice ALL of the chocolate recipes in a row?! 

+ Roasted Chickpeas “Poppers” (2 options: 1 spicy & 1 sweet)
{Recipe (spicy) via Pickle Me Too.}

Pickle Me Too

{Recipe (sweet) via Real Food RN.}

+ Spring Rolls with rice paper {Recipe via Happy Health Nut.}

+ Sweet Potato Tots (gluten-free) {Recipe via Real Food RN.}

+ Zucchini Bread (whole grain) {Recipe via Honey, Ghee, and Me.}

Honey, Ghee, and Me

Miscellaneous:

Almonds

Annie’s crackers

Apple wedges

Bananas

Carrots

Cashews
Celery

Cheese

Clementines

Cucumbers (peel skin if too thick)

Edamame (organic)

Frozen applesauce drops

Grapes (peel skin for kids under 12 months)

Hardboiled eggs

Pretzels

Raisins

Root veggies (raw or roasted)

Sunflower seeds

Extra tips: 

Take the normal food items your little one likes and cut them into different shapes or add ‘dips’ to accompany the food items. It will appear different and it will be fun for them and you!

Raise a salad lover following these tips: Serve it at the beginning of the meal, include lots of crunchy vegetables, add sunflower seeds or grated cheese, choose great greens, and serve a salad buffet by putting all the ingredients in different bowls and allowing everyone to choose what they want. 

Instead of packing fried chicken strips, try a grilled chicken sandwich, fish tacos, or a chicken salad. 

Always reach for water when thirsty. Bored of water? Infuse it! Add fruits and herbs to your water. It's pretty, tastes great, and it's the [real] vitamin water! 

To recap the featured blogs: 

A Harmony Healing, All Things Health, An Organic Wife, Attainable Sustainable, Cheeky Bums Blog, Completely Nourished, Convey Awareness, Daily Pea, Don't Waste the Crumbs, Eat Play Love More, Girl Meets Nourishment, Hands On Learning 4 All, Happy Health Nut, Homegrown and Healthy, Honey, Ghee, and Me, Jar O' Honey, Just Enjoy Food, Kitchen Stewardship, Little Owl Crunchy Momma, Live Simply, Mindful Mama, Natural Family Today, Paleo Gone Sassy, Pickle Me Too, Real Food RN, The Good Long Road, The Hippy Homemaker, The Organic Kitchen, This Tree of Life and Your Gardening Friend.

Let me recommend a few Pinterest boards worth following. Some of them are collaboration boards featuring several of the bloggers from this post:
Real Food Cafe, Recipes Using Vegetables, Nutritious Snack Ideas, and Eat the [Real] Rainbow. 

Choose, eat, and live well! =)