Comments on Towards Sustainability: Homemade Toothpaste, Dishwashing Liquid & Oven Cle...

Another toothpaste recipe that my husband and chil...

2011-12-12T07:23:08.513+11:00

Another toothpaste recipe that my husband and children love is as follows

3 TBSP Coconut Oil
3 TBSP Baking Soda
1 TBSP fine grain salt (breath sweetener -- optional)
20 drops essential oil -- for the kids I use 17 tangerine and 3 drops clove oil.
2 pckts Stevia -- just to make it sweeter (I only use it for the kids)

Make sure your coconut oil is melted before putting other ingredients in. Then cool down. In the summer if the house is hotter than 78F which our is, you'll have to put it in the fridge to keep it solid. :-)

We like this because it stays on the brush so nicely and isn't quite so difficult in taste as straight baking soda. The coconut oil is good for yeast, soothes skin (like inflamed gums), and it tastes yummy (if you like coconut).

Enjoy! Leanne

Can the toothpaste be stored in my sink drawer or ...

2011-08-01T06:56:40.398+10:00

Can the toothpaste be stored in my sink drawer or does it need to be in the fridge?

Thanks!

Hi Julie much appreciation for your interesting bl...

2011-01-28T17:16:16.614+11:00

Hi Julie much appreciation for your interesting blog. I made up the toothpaste today minus glycerine and used Xylitol as a sweetener and a few drops of Peppermint Essential Oil and I am over the moon with the results. Wish I had been making my own using these simple and inexpensive ingredients years ago. I have been paying up to $7 for a tube of so called natural toothpaste.
Looking forward to experimenting with some more natural products soon.

Raine I should also point out that my husband uses...

2010-10-19T13:02:33.370+11:00

Raine I should also point out that my husband uses fresh lemon juice to degrease his bicycle parts, as it works just as effectively as any of the toxic commercial cleaners he has used in the past - and it has the advantage of being free as we grow them.

If you have any alternative degreaser for him to try, I would love to try it out?

Cheers,
Julie

Hello Raine, Medo's recipe is NOT for toothpa...

2010-10-19T12:59:07.654+11:00

Hello Raine,

Medo's recipe is NOT for toothpaste, it is for DISHWASHER POWDER - she's left her comment on the wrong post.

Thank you for pointing it out.

Cheers,
Julie

Hi Julie, I love your encouraging stories of your ...

2010-10-19T10:26:28.869+11:00

Hi Julie, I love your encouraging stories of your gardening adventure! Great to see alternatives for sometimes questionable commercial products.

However, in our quest to "return to nature" we need to avoid believing ~

(a) that everything "natural" is good for us
(b) old wives' tales
(c) everything we read.

Lemon juice does have a great reputation as a "grease-cutter" indeed, but this is undeserved. Try mixing lemon juice and oil - they don't mix, do they??? But lemon does smell so fresh. No harm in washing up with it.

I stll favour good old gentle Velvet soap or cheap laundry soap, swished through the washing up water in that archaic wire contraption, the "soap saver." Trouble is now, finding a soap saver!

WARNING - I am HORRIFIED by Medo's recipe for - is that really toothpaste??? I cannot believe that anyone would put that concoction in their mouth! Or even flush it into the sewer to poison the water table! For starters, baking soda is NOT made from powdered glass. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO3. Baking soda is soluble; powdered glass is not!!

LEMON KOOLAID - So artificial it doesn't even rate consideration as a substitute for any toothpaste ingredient! And to use it for the CITRIC ACID??? That stuff is stripping the enamel off your teeth every time you use it!

VINEGAR: Another strong acid which dissolves dental enamel and thus contributes to tooth decay.

WASHING SODA - Sodium Carbonate, Na2CO3. Heated with silica, produces GLASS, maybe how Medo got confused about baking soda being "made from glass." Na2CO3 is strongly alkaline, so neutralises the acids Medo puts in this "toothpaste" recipe. But Acid + Alkali gives salt + water + CO2. Basic science!!

BLEACH: Sodium hypochlorite, NaClO. Bleach must NEVER be combined with ANY other cleaning agents and chemicals, as it is very reactive, releasing EXTREMELY TOXIC CHLORINE GAS!!!

BORAX: Sodium Tetraborate, Na2B4O7.10H2O. A HERBICIDE, an INSECTICIDE, & RAT POISON.

Here is a WARNING for Borax, essential reading for anybody who imagines they are using "natural" and "safe" alternatives!!

The HAZARDS of USING BORAX
Natural Mineral Cleaner or POISON? Borax is Both.
http://www.suite101.com/content/the-hazards-of-using-borax-a161104

DANGERS of BORAX EXPOSURE
Borax is a NEUROTOXIN. Ingestion of less than 5 grams can KILL A CHILD OR PET; adults would succumb after swallowing LESS THAN 20 GRAMS.

BIRTH DEFECTS that can be caused by borax include BRAIN and SKELETAL ABNORMALITIES and INFERTILITY.

...Borax is associated with SKIN AND LUNG IRRITATION when ingested or inhaled. Repeated low dose exposure ... has been implicated in cases of LIVER CANCER over five to ten years.

TAKE PRECAUTIONS
... DO NOT USE ANY FORM OF BORAX NEAR FOOD OR WATER and KEEP IT OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN OR PETS. Thorough rinsing from skin and laundry is important, and BORAX SHOULD NOT BE USED AROUND EYES OR MUCOUS MEMBRANES (= MOUTH.) Pregnant women should limit exposure to borax.

References:

U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health

PLEASE PEOPLE - DO NOT FOLLOW SUCH DANGEROUS ADVICE AS MEDO HAS POSTED HERE!

Hi Medo, Thanks :) Hi Deb, Awesome :-) We just us...

2009-12-22T09:09:05.320+11:00

Hi Medo,
Thanks :)

Hi Deb,
Awesome :-) We just use baking soda too now - great stuff!

Cheers, Julie

I've made the glycerin/peppermint, baking soda...

2009-12-18T09:40:32.640+11:00

I've made the glycerin/peppermint, baking soda etc. recipe for toothpaste, and my eight year old liked it, but progressively, with much experimentation, our family finally ended up with a small container of baking soda and a small pump bottle of hydrogen pyroxide and a small doll plate! A little spoon of baking soda in the plate, a splurt of hydrogen pyroxide, and brush away. From what I've read, the glycerin doesn't seem to work that well with tooth enamel. Both my husband and I are smokers, and for the first time, we no longer have the yellow build up that comes with the habit. And my son's teeth are nice and white.

i used the baking sodaone time, it left a film, th...

2009-11-30T10:33:46.573+11:00

i used the baking sodaone time, it left a film, then i got to looking everything up, what i noticed was that baking sodawas made from glass that is finely broken down, so i left that out, now i use 1 box of borax, 1/2 box washing soda, 1 box salt, 20 pks of lemon koolaid make sure no sugar! LOL. its for the citric acid. i mix it all together in a 5 gal bucket and use 2T. i put in a little bleach to make it sludgy. i also use vinegar as the jet dry. this is cheap and works great for me! i hope this works great for ya'll :'}

I'm used to bicarb now Daharja, but the kids a...

2009-10-03T10:42:33.721+10:00

I'm used to bicarb now Daharja, but the kids and hubby won't touch it LOL (it does taste pretty bad at the beginning).

Cheers, Julie

Hi Julie - Except that bicarb by itself tastes TER...

2009-09-30T08:03:35.098+10:00

Hi Julie - Except that bicarb by itself tastes TERRIBLE (I think!).

I might re-jig and re-post my toothpaste recipe without glycerine, but still with stevia and peppermint oil. It just tastes so much nicer that way.

BTW, if you're interested in dental health, I recently posted about amalgam fillings - what's in them, and why you should avoid them (not the reasons you might think!) - Dentists, mercury fillings, and poisoned fish over at Cluttercut.

Hi Linda, Wow, I hadn't heard that about the g...

2009-09-29T12:41:56.291+10:00

Hi Linda,
Wow, I hadn't heard that about the glycerine either? Totally doesn't surprise me that commercial pastes contain it then - looks like good 'old straight bicarb soda might be the best way to go then?

Cheers, Julie

Hi Linda - That's so interesting, and I didn&#...

2009-09-29T11:04:08.229+10:00

Hi Linda - That's so interesting, and I didn't know about glycerine. Are you a dentist? How did you find this out?

So much for commercial toothpastes being great for your teeth, hey!

I haven't read all the posts on here, so hopef...

2009-09-29T07:45:01.412+10:00

I haven't read all the posts on here, so hopefully i'm not repeating someone, but I would leave the glycerine out of the tooth paste recipe. Glycerine prevents teeth from remineralizing (filling in small holes on their own), and thus will have you going to the dentist forever. You will note that all commercial toothpastes have glycerine. It's not for your health.

I know this is an old post but i finally tried thi...

2009-09-08T21:13:21.858+10:00

I know this is an old post but i finally tried this dishwashing recipe. I didn't get vegetable glycerine...I'm wondering is it a neccessity as the casile soap has vegetable oils and glycerine already in it? (sorry I'm a complete novice and clueless!) I didn't have the lemon essential oil either...and found the scent uh...unpleasant. Does the lemon essential oil fix this problem?

Glad to help! ;-) I've got quite curly, fine h...

2009-07-21T23:00:29.239+10:00

Glad to help! ;-) I've got quite curly, fine hair and this combination means my hair doesn't get fizzy but still has plenty of body and feels lovely and soft. Even the organic shampoos and conditioners don't give the same result - they make my hair far too "fuzzy".

Thanks Karen :-)

2009-07-21T10:07:01.101+10:00

Thanks Karen :-)

Hey, that's fine. I miss comments occasionally...

2009-07-18T14:17:35.666+10:00

Hey, that's fine. I miss comments occasionally too. Actually, more than occasionally ;-)

Have a good weekend :-)

Hi Julie and Leanne, Sorry for commenting on posts...

2009-07-17T21:56:20.815+10:00

Hi Julie and Leanne,
Sorry for commenting on posts that are over a year old but I've only just stumbled onto this site. I've been using soapwort shampoo for a few years now - it grows rampant in my neighbour's garden! You might find it a bit sticky after rinsing, in which case you can make a "conditioner" from the juice of half a lemon and a cup of water. You can substitute vinegar for lemon juice (orange or grapefruit juice also works well!) but I've been told that the smell isn't as nice. ;-)
Congratulations on a great site, Julie!
Cheers, Karen

Hi Keith & Lacy, It is relatively easy to make...

2009-05-09T09:16:00.000+10:00

Hi Keith & Lacy,
It is relatively easy to make castile soap - it is a soap made from olive oil and caustic soda. Depending on where you live, olive oil could be a problem, although I am fortunate to live in an olive-growing region! However, like most people, I am still learning many skills and in amongst raising my kids I don't have time at present to make my own all the time, so I am currently buying it. I do plan however, to make my own in the future :-)

The End of Suburbia is a great documentary isn't it? It certainly got me thinking too... Good luck on your simple living journey.

Cheers, Julie

Hi, I am new to this blog, and somewhat new to the...

2009-05-09T05:09:00.000+10:00

Hi,
I am new to this blog, and somewhat new to the whole sustainability idea. I saw a documentary called "The End of Suburbia" which got me thinking about it all. I like your blog and the simple living ideas here. One question I have - should we come to the end of cheap oil and then the end of suburbia as we know it, how then would we be able to get things like essential oils or liquid castile soap to make our homemade soaps, etc? (Actually I don't know how to get liquid castile soap right now!) Just thinking logically about how to realistically make it work in preparing for a lifestyle other than we know it today.

Thanks for that Julie and yes, that makes perfect ...

2008-08-05T17:28:00.000+10:00

Thanks for that Julie and yes, that makes perfect sense :)
Melx

Hi Melissa,

Yes it did take me a while to g...

2008-08-05T15:49:00.000+10:00

Hi Melissa,

Yes it did take me a while to get used to not having suds when washing up. I've since done some reading and discovered that commercial detergents don't need to suds up either, but because we *expect* them to, the manufacturers add an ingredient that does nothing but make bubbles! Way back "when", pure soap was used to wash up, and bubbles were what helped mechanically lift off the grease, but nowadays we can add other ingredients that dissolve the grease instead - hence no bubbles required. Hope that makes sense?

Cheers, Julie

Thanks for all these fabulous natural recipes. To...

2008-08-04T13:56:00.000+10:00

Thanks for all these fabulous natural recipes. Today I made the dishwashing liquid. It smells so good and worked very well. I'm not sure how I'm going to go with the no suds thing - did it take you a while to get used to this?

Hi Leanne,

I've been meaning to try a reci...

2008-05-22T10:15:00.000+10:00

Hi Leanne,

I've been meaning to try a recipe that uses (the herb) soapwort (Google soapwort shampoo recipe), but other than that, the only recipe I have is for a herbal shampoo, which you might like to try:

1/4 cup herbal tea (strong brew)
8oz liquid castile soap

- Stir over low heat until blended.
- Use your fave herbs, or ones suited to your hair type e.g. rosemary for oily hair.
- It doesn't say how long it will last, but there are no preservatives, so I would use it up pretty quickly, or make up small batches.

Cheers, Julie

Comments on Towards Sustainability: Homemade Toothpaste, Dishwashing Liquid & Oven Cle...

Another toothpaste recipe that my husband and chil...

Can the toothpaste be stored in my sink drawer or ...

Hi Julie much appreciation for your interesting bl...

Raine I should also point out that my husband uses...

Hello Raine, Medo's recipe is NOT for toothpa...

Hi Julie, I love your encouraging stories of your ...

Hi Medo, Thanks :) Hi Deb, Awesome :-) We just us...

I've made the glycerin/peppermint, baking soda...

i used the baking sodaone time, it left a film, th...

I'm used to bicarb now Daharja, but the kids a...

Hi Julie - Except that bicarb by itself tastes TER...

Hi Linda, Wow, I hadn't heard that about the g...

Hi Linda - That's so interesting, and I didn&#...

I haven't read all the posts on here, so hopef...

I know this is an old post but i finally tried thi...

Glad to help! ;-) I've got quite curly, fine h...

Thanks Karen :-)

Hey, that's fine. I miss comments occasionally...

Hi Julie and Leanne, Sorry for commenting on posts...

Hi Keith & Lacy, It is relatively easy to make...

Hi, I am new to this blog, and somewhat new to the...

Thanks for that Julie and yes, that makes perfect ...

Hi Melissa,Yes it did take me a while to g...

Thanks for all these fabulous natural recipes. To...

Hi Leanne, I've been meaning to try a reci...

Hi Melissa,

Yes it did take me a while to g...

Hi Leanne,

I've been meaning to try a reci...