Coconut Oil Laundry Stick

Since I went to making my own laundry detergent, I figured I should make my own laundry stain stick to treat stains. Knowing that coconut oil and Eucalyptus worked well for cleaning and stains, I put the two together to make my own stain stick. I have also added lemon essential oil to help with the cleaning factor. I make the stick towards the harder side of a soap making process so that I can just wet the clothes first and not get a mushy mess when I use my stick. This can be done in bar form too, I just like putting it in a container to help keep my hands from getting all soapy. 

The "recipe" is quite simple...

10 oz. coconut oil

1.75 oz. lye *

3 oz. water

1 Tablespoon Eucalyptus oil

1-2 teaspoons Lemon EO (you can add more or omit this)

* REMEMBER - don't take my calculations for granted, make sure to run your numbers through a lye calculator. I used the Majestic Mountain Sage, MMS to calculate this one. ALSO, remember add the lye to the water, NEVER the water to the lye (water to lye your going to die), it will explode hot water all over. 

First off I always get my sink filled with vinegar and water... Just FYI it truly takes a LOT of vinegar to neutralize lye solutions. I have usually not added as much as it would truly take to fully neutralize the lye. I still do it more for my own peace of mind but I thoroughly wash all my equipment after using it and my hands and arms to ensure I don't have any small lye crystals on my arms. I, personally, have never had an issue with making sure I neutralize and remove all lye from the equipment I use. That being said I encourage people to look up a solution that will best fit their sink, or wherever they are washing equipment, to make sure you have an adequate solution to neutralize the acid. There is a lot of differing opinions on what is the best method for cleaning soap making equipment. 

Next I ready my lye solution outside so it cools before I need it. How long I leave it outside definitely depends on the temperature and weather. I check it usually while my oils are melting. 

With this recipe I usually just melt my coconut oil in my little crockpot because I don't make a huge batch since I don't use this as quickly as my bath soap. Plus coconut oil doesn't take long to melt. Yes, the picture is of me doing it in my pot... I also like to let my lye solution cool a bit before adding to my oils to try to get them at the same temperature. 

Once my oils are melted I add the lye solution and then use a hand mixer to mix all the oils together with the lye and bring it to trace. Trace is when it starts to get really "cloudy" and starts to thicken to a runny pudding like state. Once you have achieved this you can add your essential oils and start pouring into your containers or molds for soap bars. Personally once I reach that state I do mix just a little bit more to ensure I have all the oils mixed with the lye. You have now started the saphonation process that is going to make your soap actual soap. 

Just like with soap you use on your body, you need to let the saphonization process happen for 4 wks to allow all the lye to process out. To use the bar after it's processed just wet your fabric and rub the bar over the area to be treated. 

Disclaimer: Please understand that this information is for educational purposes only. I am a mom, I am not a doctor, I enjoy passing on the knowledge I have learned in doing these types of projects and through my research. The statements made here have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and they are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure or prevent any disease. Don’t take my word for it…you should always engage conventional wisdom and consult with your medical professional to determine potential drug interactions and safety of use. Always when using essential oils for a medical condition or if on prescribed or over the counter drugs, seek advice from a medical professional (DR./PA/NP/Naturopath/pharmacist) on whether the oils will cause potential adverse reactions. 

These practices are what work for me and my family, if you chose to take and use them I encourage you take my research and do some of your own prior to using the tips I give. While I do a lot of research when putting these posts out it generally fits into what I would do with and for my family. If you have specific issues, allergies or conditions these practices may not work or may be detrimental to what you are intending to do for yourself. Again, I encourage wisdom and discussions with your healthcare provider to determine safe use of all posts that I provide that can be used for health reasons. 

Also know most of my posts contain links to products I have an affiliate association with. As a blogger I don't make much (if anything at all) and when you use links that any blogger, not just me, posts you help us to continue to buy supplies to provide fun posts with ideas and recipes that can be used. None of the links I post cost you any more because you have used my link, but do benefit the posts I do. We are thankful that affiliate sites have chosen to use their marketing budgets to help out those of us who love doing what we do and chose this way to market versus  bigger ad campaigns. This is definitely a great way to support more local businesses/venues!!!

DIY Baby Wash Cloths

I make a lot of "Mommy" products and needed a good addition to the collection. I know I STILL use my baby washcloths on my 4 year old. These are easy to make, affordable, and CUTE! I made sure to have a few different patterns and grabbed some terry cloth from the store also. I would HIGHLY suggest that a good thrift store look around would yield some cheaper and very nice terry cloth. 

I first picked a size that I wanted, I went with 6" x 7". Then I put "right sides together" and pinned them. 

Then I sewed the edges, leaving a small space to turn this back so I had the right side out...

Once the cloth is where it should be I actually ironed them flat THEN sewed it shut since I was able to get the opening set so it was easier to try to sew it shut and keep it not as noticeable. 

Since these are to sell and give as gifts I can easily add some Dr. Bronner's to be mixed with water and used on these great little washcloths!! :)

Homemade Honey Vanilla Greek Yogurt

My hubby bought me the best birthday gift this past year, a proofer. I have made yogurt before, but the process to allow the yogurt to culture has always left me with watery yogurt. I am so excited to say that hasn't been the case since!!! Not to say you can't do this process in an oven or crockpot but the consistent temps have really helped me to get super creamy yogurt, consistently. I have made up to two gallons at a time (my family eats a quart and half every morning we have it) and it holds them easily. 

I use part of the recipe that came with the Brod and Taylor Proofer for temps and times but the rest is what my family and I like for taste. We really enjoy honey and vanilla flavored yogurt. I tried adding the honey after it had processed but that really didn't work for us being the raw honey balled up with the coldness of the yogurt. So basically it ended up plain vanilla Greek yogurt with hard honey balls. I kept at it, and this is how it has worked and blended nicely. I also tried a more expensive "starter culture" yogurt from Sprouts thinking this great Bulgarian yogurt would make awesome yogurt... Yeah, well sad to say the plain yogurt I used from my favorite Greek God's Greek yogurt line worked FAR better!!! So now I just run to the local market and use my Greek God's plain Greek yogurt for a starter. 

First measure out how much milk you will be using. I do gallons at a time but starting out with 4 cups is what I will be using for measurements here. Before I heat my milk I scrape 3-4 vanilla beans and then put the used beans into the milk so it infuses while heating. Then heat your 4 cups milk (on med - medium high) to 119 degrees, keeping just below or right at 120 degrees. I keep a candy thermometer in the pot the whole time to ensure correct temperatures. Once you get the milk up to that 120 degree range keep it there for 10 minutes. I don't stir constantly but you really have to watch your milk because it will scald on the bottom, I use a whisk to stir frequently. 

Once the milk is done heating, remove from the heat source and let cool down to 115 degrees. This will take up to, and occasionally over an hour to happen. It depends on the temperature of your house and where you set your milk to cool. I do other things and check mine often. If you are using a proofer make sure, as your milk gets closer to the 115 degrees, that you turn it on setting the temp to 120 degrees. I also set out my honey and sterilized glass quart jars so they are ready for when my milk cools. 

When the milk is at 115 degrees add 1 tablespoon of yogurt per 2 cups. So with the 4 cups you will add 2 tablespoons. Take out about half a cup of yogurt and add the starter yogurt. I don't ever fully mix up the starter yogurt, I stir until it is incorporated. Note in the picture that I do have lumps of yogurt still in there, that's fine. Then pour into the jar you will be culturing your yogurt in. 

Pour in the rest of the milk, straining out the vanilla beans at this time. This is when I add 1/8th to 1/4 cup raw local honey to my milk. Stir to incorporate but don't over mix. It helps to have the starter yogurt culture not overly mixed. 

Obviously this pic is from my 2 gallon yogurt adventure but at this point I put my yogurt in my proofer that has been preheated to 120 degrees. If you are using another method you need to keep your yogurt at 120 degrees for one hour, then decrease the temp to 86 degrees and allow your yogurt to finish culturing. This takes anywhere from 3-8 hours, and for some longer. I have left mine in the proofer over night sometimes. Know that the longer you let it culture the thicker it will get but also the more sour/tangy.  

Once the yogurt gets to the thickness you would like either place in the fridge and eat as is (it will be runnier than Greek yogurt). You can use a strainer with a coffee filter, or there is a really good strainer I found that has a cover and really strains the yogurt nicely. This is how you get that nice creamy, thick Greek style yogurt. You will also end up with a bunch of whey that is great to feed to your dog or chickens, DILUTE and put in your garden (make sure to dilute so it doesn't burn your plants), use in pancakes or shakes... I let my yogurt drain for 5-8 hours at a minimum because I really like mine thick and creamy. Then I place in containers and refrigerate until we are ready to eat it. 

 I also usually make homemade granola to top the yogurt with.  ENJOY!!

**EDIT: I had a reader use her Excalibur Dehydrator (trays removed) as a proofer to make her yogurt and it was very successful so I have included that in the links below. 

As usual here are some links to the proofer and strainer I used... Note that the 1/4 lb bag of vanilla beans will last you quite a few batches!! When looking at $10 for 2 beans a lot of times in a grocery store, $35 dollars is definitely getting a lot more for your money!! 

   

Disclaimer: Please understand that this information is for educational purposes only. I am a mom, I am not a doctor, I enjoy passing on the knowledge I have learned in doing these types of projects and through my research. The statements made here have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and they are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure or prevent any disease. Don’t take my word for it…you should always engage conventional wisdom and consult with your medical professional to determine potential drug interactions and safety of use. Always when using essential oils for a medical condition or if on prescribed or over the counter drugs, seek advice from a medical professional (DR./PA/NP/Naturopath/pharmacist) on whether the oils will cause potential adverse reactions. 

These practices are what work for me and my family, if you chose to take and use them I encourage you take my research and do some of your own prior to using the tips I give. While I do a lot of research when putting these posts out it generally fits into what I would do with and for my family. If you have specific issues, allergies or conditions these practices may not work or may be detrimental to what you are intending to do for yourself. Again, I encourage wisdom and discussions with your healthcare provider to determine safe use of all posts that I provide that can be used for health reasons. 

Also know most of my posts contain links to products I have an affiliate association with. As a blogger I don't make much (if anything at all) and when you use links that any blogger, not just me, posts you help us to continue to buy supplies to provide fun posts with ideas and recipes that can be used. None of the links I post cost you any more because you have used my link, but do benefit the posts I do. We are thankful that affiliate sites have chosen to use their marketing budgets to help out those of us who love doing what we do and chose this way to market versus  bigger ad campaigns. This is definitely a great way to support more local businesses/venues!!!

New Year, New Goals...

Ha, a new year... Not really a clean slate but as the the old year's issues come into the new year it is always fun to see them with a renewed sense of being able to take them and the new year's challenges on!! While my day to day life has plenty going on, I am looking forward to bringing more into the homesteading adventure in my little urban life. December brought a new yogurt proofer from my wonderful hubby to allow me to do more probiotic yummies for our family. I picked up the crochet and knitting needles I haven't touched in oh, well, about 20 years now (ugh, I can say that and not be exaggerating!!) and look to start making that a part of my growing list of homesteading projects. 

Looking forward, I can't wait for more adventures and learning better and more uses for all my oils. I can't wait to share that and hopefully encourage others that are looking to start or expand in those. I want to can more, knit, sew and crochet more... Can you see where this year offers some new fun projects??? My kiddos are getting older which allows me the chance to include them in all this and give them skills they can use and pass on as they get older. 

I have plans this week to get seeding to build more in my garden before prime desert planting is over, I mean what city homesteader isn't happy to have a whole backyard dedicated to fresh produce growing and ready to pick and eat?? 

So while I had to take some time off lately due to a busy life schedule, just know more is coming... And soon. Sometimes you just need a bit of time to sit back and not make life more difficult. That's what I have done, took a break, a breath, it was SOOOO needed. Some days everything else can wait so you can catch up...