Category Archives: Homemade products & Recipes

12 Inspiring Homemade Soap Recipes To Make Soap at Home

Making soaps at home is truly a fun activity; moreover, it can be rewarding too if done in the right way. The excerpt highlights 12 different homemade soap recipes you can make from natural ingredients and get the best results for the hard work. You can use these soaps for daily use and even present it to your loved ones on special days. Let us see how you can do it in a fun way.

1: Simple Homemade Soap Recipe:

You need:

  • Sodium hydroxide – 398 g

Oils –

  • Coconut ­382 g
  • Lard –  460 g
  • Olive – 2000 g

You need oils so that various bases can be made for the soap

These are the core ingredients; other requirements include the equipment or the tools only. Extra ingredients like 4.5 cups of water or goat’s milk can help in getting a better soap.

Keep the liquid in the freezer with lid so that slushy consistency can be obtained – take the solution and add the oils in it, and heat the solution on low flame. Meanwhile you can make oatmeal – you have to add the oatmeal or herb mixture before adding sodium hydroxide. Make sure you have taken all the precautionary measures before adding hydroxide. Mix both the solution until you get a state of mayonnaise. Do not forget to add fragrance oil for soap before adding the mixture to beautiful soap molds.

Get the details for complete homemade soap recipe at: thesimpledollar.com

Simple handmade soap
Image via: thesimpledollar.com

2-Spice and Coffee Homemade Soap Recipe:

Does not the name allure you? It sounds so ravishing right – you will love making such homemade soap, it is simple to make one. However, do not forget, this kind of soap is made under hot process method.

Things that would require include:

  • Coffee
  • A teaspoon of ginger, cloves and cinnamon each
  • Essential oils like lemon grass, orange or ginger etc.

Get the details here : Frugally sustainable

Spice and Coffee Homemade Soap Recipe
Image via: Frugally sustainable

3: Homemade Fruit Soap Recipe

Ingredients you would need

  • Silicone forms
  • Stock soap
  • Essential oils ( two or three)
  • Perfumes – fruit that you like
  • Vitamins E and A
  • Colorants,

Take 100 grams of stock soap, cut into pieces, melt it in a microwave and then put into a bowl. Add the essential oil and vitamin drops. Also, add the colorant (your choice) and mix it well. Lastly add the perfume and add the mixture in the soap mold.

Complete instructions at English Russia

Homemade Fruit soap
Image via: English Russia

4: Herb Handmade Soap Recipe:

You need:

  • Essential oils – coconut, caster, canola
  • Lye
  • Water
  • Coloring agent
  • Herbs
  • Crisco

You can get the finest type of herb handmade soap like this one by HomemadeSoap by using these ingredients.

Herb handmade soap
Image via: HomemadeSoap

5: Lye Homemade Soap Recipe:

Firstly, you need to make a lye solution – it has to be according to the quantity of the water.

Now, you need to make the fat solution – for this you need to heat various oils together. Let both the solutions be settled at room temperature.

Mix both and continue to stir with blender – do not stop until traces start to appear. Add the mixture to the handmade soap mold and leave it for a day. This is the way of making cold process soap. 

Soap Recipe Tutorial at Soap-Making-Resource

Lye Homemade Soap Recipe
Image via: Soap-Making-Resource

6: Coconut Oil Handmade Soap Recipe:

It is one of the amazing DIY handmade soap recipes by Mommy Potamus – coconut oil soap is an excellent homemade dry laundry detergent. You simply need the basic ingredients and some tools to come up with your desired product – click on the link given below to get detailed information about the process.

Coconut Oil Handmade Soap Recipe
Image via: Mommy Potamus

Give your mom or sister the beautiful surprise by handing her homemade citrus soap – it looks so beautiful that you can even imagine. All you need is some glycerin soap, lots of colored citrus fruit extracts and related fragrance and soap molds. You can make the soap by following a general process and let it acquire a beautiful shape. Get a nice soap try from the market and place it in the bathroom – it would certainly allure all.

7: Homemade Citrus and Herb Soap Recipe:

Soap Recipe Tutorial: Hellonatural.co

Homemade Citrus and Herb Soap Recipe
Image via: Hellonatural.co

8: Milky Rose Petal Homemade Soap Recipe

You can add rose petals to the basic soap mixture and get the lovely shapes made out of the frozen bar. Do not forget to invest in beautiful soap molds because they make the soap look beautiful and pleasant.

Milky Rose petal soap

9: Handmade Olive Oil Soap Recipe:

This kind of homemade soap by Handmade Soap Recipes.com is wonderful for treating skin issues – therefore, if you have acne or skin issues, you can use this soap to treat any it. In the simplest lye mixture, you can add olive oil or even the olive extracts – also colors and fragrances can be added to make it look more worthwhile. You can also add various other extra ingredients.

Handmade Olive Oil Soap Recipe
Image via: Handmade Soap Recipes.com

10: Refreshing Mint Homemade Soap Recipe:

How to make handmade soap like this one by thenerdyfarmwife is inquired much especially when it comes to using mint in the soaps. The basic ingredients that would be needed are; 

  • Avocado Oil
  • Coconut Oil
  • Olive Oil
  • Castor Oil
  • Mango butter
  • Lye (sodium hydroxide)
  • Mint tea

You can get more knowledge about the mixing of the ingredients on various blogs. The add-ins can be additional fragrance and colorants. Put the mixture in the soap mold for at least 48 hours and get the beautiful soap for use.

Refreshing Mint Homemade Soap Recipe
Homemade soap recipe image via: thenerdyfarmwife.com

11: Goat Milk Soap Recipe:

You can use goat milk as the additional ingredients in the basic soap structure – it will help in leaving softness on the skin and bring drastic changes too. It is truly the best dry laundry soap too. You can even use this as soap with lye. If you are not convenient with the goat’s milk, you can use cow’s milk or even distilled water.

Get the instruction here: Hobbyfarms.com

Goat Milk Soap Recipe
Image via: Hobbyfarms.com

12: Quick Homemade Laundry Soap:

These kinds of soaps by Runamukacres.com will have little different ingredients like:

  • Naphtha laundry soap
  • Borax
  • Hot water
  • Washing soda

You need to add all the ingredients in a bowl and mix until it gets a greasy look. Do not forget to keep the flame low.

Quick Homemade Laundry Soap
Image via: Runamukacres.com

Conclusion

By this excerpt, you would be able to know much about handmade soaps, and finally make a few for yourself too. It is fun and a less expensive option.

12 Homemade Bug Spray Recipes You Can Make Using Natural Ingredients

When you make homemade bug spray you will know the exact ingredients that go into the product. There will be no fear of harmful chemicals that may cause illness to your children or pets, or cause damage to plants and/or furniture.

The recipes for these homemade bug sprays contain natural ingredients, like essential oils and beeswax, that will repel bugs naturally while leaving a refreshing scent in the air. If you are looking for a natural way to rid your home, landscape, and garden of harmful pests like mosquitoes, ants, and flying insects, check out these homemade bug repellent recipes.

1- Essential Oil Homemade Bug Spray

The fragrance of the essential oils in this DIY bug spray by abetterwaytothrive is effective at repelling pests and fill the air with a pleasing aroma.  This pest repellent is not a spray but a natural bug repellent in a solid form and has the texture of lip balm. Beeswax, cocoa butter, coconut oil and castor oil are natural ingredients that solidify and help to create this DIY pest repellent that is easy to take along with you.

  •  40 drops of Lemon Eucalyptus oil is an ingredient which is often used in store-bought pest repellent because it contains a chemical called p-menthane-3,8-diol
  • 10 drops each of Citronella, Lemon Grass, and Lavender oils, all of which are commonly used in pest-repellents and be can grown in a home garden
  •  5 drops of Peppermint oil that contains menthol which bugs hate the smell of
  •  5 drops of Geranium oil is a natural pest-repelling flower that if often planted in home gardens to keep plants pest-free
  •  1/4 cup of beeswax, coconut oil, and castor oil
  •  2 tablespoons of castor oil

Place all ingredients except essential oils in a large bowl and microwave until all are melted. Allow mixture to cool then stir in essential oils. Pour into small containers and allow to solidify. You may also like to check out Homemade ant killers.

Essential Oil Homemade Bug Spray
Homemade Bug Spray Image Via: abetterwaytothrive.com

2- Witch Hazel Homemade Bug Spray

Witch hazel is a plant that has long been used for medicinal purposes and is gentle on skin. Bugs hate the scent, and when it’s mixed with vanilla extract you’ll create homemade insect repellant like this one by livesimply that’s powerful, yet safe for kids to use.

  •  1/4 cup witch hazel
  •  1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  •  1/4 cup distilled water
  •  1 tablespoon olive oil
  •  85 drops Plant Therapy’s Shield Me Essential Oil

Pour all ingredients into a spray bottle and shake well. Spray on skin and surrounding areas. Shake before each use.

Witch Hazel Homemade Bug Spray
Image via: livesimply

3- Bug Spray Repellent Balm

Herbs do more than flavor food, they also repel bugs naturally and safely. This natural bug repellent by gardenista will show you how to get rid of bugs without chemicals by using herbs and flowers.

  •  1 cup dried calendula flowers to prevent skin irritation
  •  1 cup fresh rosemary to repel bugs
  •  1 cup dried catnip to repel mosquitoes
  •  1 cup olive oil
  •  1 cup coconut oil
  •  1/4 cup beeswax.
  •  10 drops each of lavender and lemon essential oils

Place the rosemary, calendula, and catnip in the top bowl of a double boiler and cover with olive and coconut oil to completely submerge the herbs. Simmer 30 minutes.

Strain through cheesecloth, pour strained oils back into double boiler and add beeswax. When beeswax is melted add essential oils. Pour mixture into small containers. Apply to skin when going outdoors.

Bug repelling balms are easy to carry with you in a pocket or backpack and they provide long-lasting protection after being applied to skin.

Homemade Bug Spray Repellent Balm
Image via: gardenista

4- Fresh Mint and Herb Bug Spray

Mint and herb plants are easy to grow in a home garden and perfect for making homemade bug spray like this one by dontwastethecrumbs. This recipe uses fresh ingredients right from the garden to keep bugs away

  •  2 tablespoons of fresh mint that has been finely chopped. Use spearmint or peppermint leaves
  •  6 tablespoons finely chopped herbs. Use catnip, citronella, cloves, rosemary and/or lavender
  •  1 cup distilled water
  •  1 cup witch hazel or rubbing alcohol

Bring water to boil, then add fresh mint and herbs. Remove mixture from heat and allow to cool. Add witch hazel or rubbing alcohol. Pour into spray bottle and spray on skin and surrounding areas when you go outdoors. You may also like to check out homemade pesticides to keep garden pests at bay.

Fresh Mint and Herb Bug Spray
Image via: dontwastethecrumbs

5- Vinegar Homemade Bug Spray

This is an ancient recipe that is used for many things, including as a homemade bug spray like this one by nourishedkitchen. The fragrant vinegar keeps pests away, and is also good for cleaning and disinfecting hands and surfaces.

  •  2 tablespoons each of rosemary, mint, sage, marjoram, lavender flowers, and anise hyssop – finely chopped
  •  4 cloves crushed garlic
  •  4 cups white wine vinegar

Place all ingredients in a glass jar, seal and allow to marinate for 10 days. Strain mixture and pour into spray bottle. Spray on skin when going outdoors. Keep away from eyes.

Vinegar and distilled water, mixed at a 50-50 ratio, creates an effective homemade bed bug spray. Add a few drops of lavender oil for a soothing scent.

Vinegar Homemade Bug Spray
Image via: nourishedkitchen

6- Tea Tree Oil DIY Bug Spray

This is an ideal organic bug spray by blog.daveasprey for people who spend a lot of time outdoors. The tea tree oil in this homemade bug spray kills ticks on contact and it’s gentle on skin.

  •  10 drops each of tea tree oil, citronella oil, and lemon eucalyptus oil
  •  5 drops each of lavender and geranium oil
  •  1/2 teaspoon light cooking oil
  •  1/4 cup each of distilled water and witch hazel

Combine all ingredients in a dark glass spray bottle and give it a good shake before each use.

Tea Tree Oil DIY Bug Spray
Image via: blog.daveasprey

7- Homemade Tick and Bug Spray

This natural bug spray by wholefully works to kill and repel a wide variety of outdoor pests, including disease-causing ticks. Keep mixture in a dark glass spray bottle to prevent sunlight from breaking down the oils.

  •  80 drops each of rose geranium oil, thyme oil, lavender oil, and citronella oil
  •  40 drops each of peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, and cedar oil
  •  20 drops each of clove oil and basil oil
  •  4 ounces witch hazel
  •  Distilled water

Combine all ingredients, except distilled water, in a spray bottle. Finish filling bottle up with distilled water. Shake well before each use. Spray on skin, clothing and surrounding areas when outdoors.

Homemade Tick and Bug Spray
Image via: wholefully

8- Aloe Vera Bug Spray

We know the soothing and healing benefits aloe vera provides to our skin, and this natural ingredient also works well as an ingredient in homemade bug spray like this one by momtastic.

  •  Fill a small spray bottle two-thirds full of distilled water (boiled and cooled tap water can be used)
  •  2 tablespoons of witch hazel to the water
  •  1 teaspoon of liquid aloe vera
  •  1 teaspoon citronella oil
  •  1/2 teaspoon each of grapefruit oil and lemon oil (tea tree and eucalyptus can be used instead of grapefruit and lemon oil)

Shake well to combine all ingredients. Shake before each use. Safe for use on children.

Aloe Vera Homemade Bug Spray
Image via: momtastic

9- Homemade Bug Spray for Kids

Kids enjoy spending a lot of time outdoors in the warm weather when bugs are most active, making them a prime target for biting and stinging bugs. Keep your kids safe from bug bites and chemicals with this effective homemade bug spray by steampoweredfamily.

  •  15 drops each of lavender oil, citronella oil, lemongrass oil, and patchouli oil
  •  3 drops Argan oil
  •  1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
  •  1/4 cup witch hazel
  •  1/4 cup distilled water

Combine all the oils in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Add distilled water and witch hazel and stir until combined. Pour into spray bottle and spray all over kids (including hair and clothing) before they go outdoors. Shake before each use.

When using a new skin product, especially on kids, it’s best to test on a small area of skin to determine if there will be an allergic reaction before applying it all over skin. You may also like to check out homemade mouse poison.

Homemade Bug Spray for Kids
Image via: steampoweredfamily

10- Smell Good Homemade Bug Spray

In addition to keeping bugs away, this homemade bug spray by theseamanmom will make you smell good so you can apply it for any outdoor function without having an embarrassing chemical odor.

  •  20 drops each of lemon oil and peppermint oil
  •  1 teaspoon of organic castile soap
  •  4 ounces distilled water (boil tap water and allow to cool instead of using distilled water)
  •  witch hazel

Place all ingredients, except witch hazel, in a spray bottle and shake to combine. Top of with witch hazel and shake bottle again. Spray a light mist all over hair, skin, and clothing ( avoid eyes) before going outdoors.

Smell Good Homemade Bug Spray
Image via: theseamanmom

11- All Purpose Homemade Bug Spray

There are many pests to avoid when enjoying the great outdoors and this all-purpose homemade bug spray by almanac will help keep all pests away.

Mosquitoes hate citronella, lemon eucalyptus, cinnamon, geranium, and catnip. Ticks and lice hate eucalyptus and geranium. Ants and flies hate mint and basil, and annoying gnats hate citronella, lemongrass, and rose geranium.

  •  2 cups witch hazel
  •  20 drops each of the essentials oils that repel the pests that are living in your area.

Combine ingredients in a spray bottle, shake well and spray all over hair, clothing, skin and outdoor area.

Fresh or dried herbs can be substituted for essential oils.

All Purpose Homemade Bug Spray
Image via: almanac

12- Lavender Oil Homemade Bug Spray

Lavender oil is an effective pest repellent and can be applied to skin undiluted. It’s safe to apply to children, elderly and expectant mothers. The lavender scent is calming and soothing to humans, but pests turn and go in the opposite direction when they smell it.

Lavender oil can be used as-is or mixed with other lotion before applying to skin as a DIY bug repellent like this one by livestrong.

Before applying any substance to skin it’s always best to consult your physician to ensure the safety of the product or potential drug interactions.

DEET is the main chemical ingredient used in store-bought bug sprays. DEET is effective in killing a wide range of pests, however, there are harmful side effects to humans. Humans may experience memory loss, headache, weakness, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, tremors and shortness of breath.

Children are more susceptible to subtle brain changes caused by chemicals in their environment because their skin more readily absorbs them. Also, their still-developing nervous systems are more potently affected. Symptoms from DEET or other chemicals may not be evident for months or even years after exposure. You may also like to check out homemade mouse traps.

Lavender Oil Homemade Bug Spray
Image via: livestrong