Homemade Deodorant: Does it Really Work?

Here we go; it's a deodorant throwdown.  Don't let the Speed Stick bottle fool you...it's only serving as a useful vessel to hold our natural homemade deodorant.  It's recycling and making your own product in one package.  Okay, so does this stuff work?  This is another favorite item going around Pinterest and on blogs.  I actually heard of this years ago from my niece, but I'll admit, I was highly skeptical.  

So, I came across the recipe on the blog, Homestead Revival (a great blog to check out btw), I was casually telling my husband about it.  He was even more skeptical and resistant to the idea.  I dropped the subject: totally understanding his feelings, but thought I may try it out on one of my teenagers. Well, all these years of being married must have done something, because he went ahead and made his own simple version of it, fairly certain it would be a bust. He just combined baking soda and coconut oil.   Not only was it NOT a bust, he was completely amazed!  He couldn't believe it and made up a small batch to use.  Of course this prompted our 16 year old to try it and try it he did and was in shock.  Well, maybe shock is a little strong, but you get the idea.  He was complaining only the day before how his regular deodorant wasn't strong enough and after using the natural version he was fresh smelling and his clothes were too!  

So amazed was he, that he began to tell his friends about it and THEY were interested.  As a matter of fact, all I heard for days was how great this stuff was.  That's pretty impressive folks.  I mean, to have any product work so well is something to be happy about, but one that is natural and only cost pennies?  This was too good to be true, but it really does work.  I have already been using natural store bought deodorants, so when those run out, I will make up my own batch.  But for now, this stuff is a wonder working product!

Store bought deodorant completely knocked out of the ring...!

When I would do the laundry before, their shirts would be difficult to wash. The waxes and whatevers in the store bought deodorant not coming clean in the wash.  It would actually hold in the odors in their clothes.  Now, with this all natural version, their clothes smell great and even fresh.  Incredible!

So save those old deodorant bottles, let them soak overnight in soapy water and you can put your own homemade deodorant in them.  The natural product is much softer and you only need a light application for it to work. It costs literally pennies, much cheaper than any natural product out there AND this one has no chemicals...perfect.

The cons?  Well, remember it's deodorant, not anti-perspirant, so you WILL perspire, but that's a natural function of the body anyway.  We need to sweat to detox, so preventing it is actually hurting us.  It's better to layer a t-shirt under clothing to help with perspiration.

Here's a basic recipe to get you started.  We changed our formula a bit by adding less oil to make it stiffer to put in the deodorant containers.  It's all depends on you.  The tea tree oil is anti-bacterial; it will help kill the odor causing bacteria and gives it a pine-ish scent.  It's not necessary, but it does help the overall effectiveness of the deodorant.

Here it is: 

1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup cornstarch
4--6 Tbsp of Coconut Oil (Depending on how stiff you want the product to be)
Tea Tree Oil  (You don't need this to get started, but you'll love it.  Tea Tree oil can be found at Walmart.)

Mix together throughly and put in your container. If you're already using this, pass this review along to others, it's a great product....just ask my teenager!

What are your thoughts on homemade deodorant?  Blessings!

Linked to these blog parties: Homestead Revival , Living Green Tuesdays ,  Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways ,   Backyard Farming Connection Hop ,
The Country Homemaker Hop , Simple Lives Thursday , Clever Chicks Blog Hop

Do These Green Cleaners Really Work?

I have been noticing quite a few postings on Pinterest of recipes to make your own "Green" cleaners.  So, I thought I would share what I have experienced from using them personally.  After all, reviews are an excellent way to make a decision about a purchase or a recipe.  I know I always check out reviews...and to be honest, they are pretty legit.  I have yet to be steered wrong from them.  I make sure I read a lot of reviews.  I read the best and I read the worst and make my decision based on how bad is the worst and why it's so bad.  

So with all that being said, let's return to the cleaners.  I found a Pinterest recipe for a Citrus Vinegar Cleaner.  It's pretty basic and super easy, which automatically is a pro for this cleaner.
   

Get your lemon/orange peels and place them in a jar.  I used quite a few lemons, but oranges are great too.

Grab your vinegar, the white stuff, at pennies an ounce, is perfect for this recipe.

Pour and...

That's it.  Now you just let it steep until the vinegar turns yellow or orange or a mix of the two since I put both lemon and orange peels in together.  It may take a few weeks, but I get one started and keep one going so I don't run out.  Then you strain through a simple strainer and put in a spray bottle to use.  You can dilute this recipe too if you want.  I did on the second batch, and it's up to you how much you dilute it.  I didn't too much as I wanted it to be pretty potent. 

I used this cleaner in the bathroom to disinfect the sink and the toilet area.  It cleaned it as well.  It was hard to tell if it worked as I mainly was using it to kill germs which vinegar does do. Check out some more info here about how vinegar at 5% strength (undiluted) is a great germ killer.  Here's another site that gives you ten ways to use vinegar around your house.

The Results: Vinegar works!  It really does.  I've used it for years as a floor cleaner too.  Be aware that it's acidic and will rust the metal parts in a mop.  But, it works.  It's a great window cleaner and best of all, it has kept the bottom of my toothbrush holder clean from mildew.  That's worth every penny there.  You couldn't use a regular chemical cleaner for that!

The Drawbacks: It has that lovely vinegar aroma, but the smell will go away and at least you know the aroma won't kill you.  It didn't clean the mildew as well as I would have liked in the shower.  You do have to spray it a lot and make sure you start out with a clean surface to begin with.  It's also not as quick to clean as a heavy duty chemical cleaner...but I'm willing to wait.  I also don't know if you really need the citrus.  It may help with degreasing, but for general cleaning, straight vinegar is good enough for me.

Overall, it's worth using for sure and I find I am cleaning more because I don't have issues with the highly toxic odors from the chemical cleaners.  In other words, I'm stocking up on vinegar!  (Oh, and I do use it for laundry too!)  The lemon/orange peels are optional, but their essential oils probably add a little to the cleaner.  I just don't think they are super necessary.

Baking soda is in a class all of it's own and I've only begun to scratch the surface all of its cleaning uses.  Not bad considering you use this vital ingredient in quick breads and cookies.  My one use that I love is simply this...it's great at scouring the tub.  Yep, no more Comet cleaner for me.  It works well and yes, I do have to use some elbow grease but that's the way it goes with certain types of cleaning. 

But this cleanser is a win-win.  You can cook with it, you can clean with it...you've got to love that.  My mother used to use it as an antacid.  Good to know, but I think I would have to be desperate for that one!  She also used it as toothpaste.  I've used it for that too.  It's abrasive but gentle on your teeth.  Here's a great link for 51 uses for baking soda.

So, my final verdict is that these two pantry staples not only stay in my kitchen, but I'm going out to buy more.  Hopefully in the largest sizes I can find!  

So add my review to others you may find.  It's worth a read and maybe will help you decide about using these two wonders as cleaners.  The best thing about vinegar and baking soda is there is NO recipe to try to remember.  Just use them the way they are...perfect.

What are some of your favorite uses for vinegar and/or baking soda?  Blessings!


Linked to these blog parties, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways  
Homestead Barn Hop , Take It From Me Wednesdays