How To Make the Best Window Cleaner // the Non-Toxic Way

This DIY window cleaner is the best window cleaner recipe I’ve found. It’s inexpensive, gives streak-free results, and is super fast to make.

If you’ve been following me long enough, I’m sure you know I’m all about using non-toxic cleaners and that I love DO-IT-YOURSELF products that work and save money! I’ve tried several other recipes, but this one seems to work the best and is the easiest to make.

Why in the world would you want to make your own window cleaner?

When using most store-bought brands, you almost get asphyxiated while cleaning. The fumes can be really strong and you gotta know there are some serious chemicals in there. Well, according to EWG’s guide, Windex gets a score of “D”. The number one ingredient is AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE which has some major concerns. That one ingredient alone is enough for me to use something else.

If you don’t want to make your own, you can find some brands that are non-toxic and that work. This particular window cleaner has good reviews and it gets a score of “A” on EWG.

I like to save money and get good results, so this window cleaner recipe is a win, win!

Window Cleaner Ingredients

3 TB rubbing alcohol
¼ cup white vinegar
1 tsp cornstarch or arrowroot powder
¾ cup distilled water

I really like these glass spray bottles and use them for my other DIY cleaners.

Window Cleaner Instructions

1- Simply pour all the ingredients into a glass spray bottle

2- Shake well to mix.

Make sure to label your bottle! There have been so many times that I mix up some brew and forget what is in the bottle.

You can use something as simple as masking or painter’s tape, or you can create your own labels.

I have these labels available in my shop if you want to buy them already made and printed on weatherproof paper.

GET THE FREE WINDOW CLEANER PDF LABEL HERE

Tips for Using DIY Window Cleaner

1- Use a lint-free cloth. Some folks think that microfiber cloths work best, but I don’t really notice a big difference and feel I get just as good results with a good old cotton cloth.

2- When my washcloths and hand towels get old and ratty, I repurpose them as cleaning cloths. If you want to get really organized, you can buy a set of inexpensive washcloths at Walmart that are all the same color. That way you know what are cleaning clothes and which ones you’ll be using on your face.

3- When cleaning windows, shower doors, mirrors, and other glass surfaces work from top to bottom.

4- If you have severe hard water stains on your shower doors, try spraying a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water on the area and let it soak for a good 15 minutes before wiping. You can also use the ingredients in the cleaning solution I use on my shower tile. You can get all the information and watch the video here.

I hope you enjoy this window-cleaner recipe as much as I do.

You may find this CLEANING SYSTEM helpful if you are overwhelmed with everything it takes to keep your house clean. This is a fun way to spread out all the tasks so they are doable.

Here are some other CLEANING RECIPES and TIPS you may be interested in:

Happy cleaning!

How To Make the Best Window Cleaner // the Non-Toxic Way

Jan Howell

This DIY window cleaner is the best window cleaner recipe I’ve found. It’s inexpensive, gives streak-free results, and is super fast to make.

Prep Time5 min
Total Time5 min

Ingredients

Cake

- 3 TB rubbing alcohol
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- 1 tsp cornstarch or arrowroot powder
- ¾ cup distilled water

Instructions

1

1- Simply pour all the ingredients into a glass spray bottle

2- Shake well to mix.

Jan Howell

My intention for this website is to share tips and tutorials that I have found on my journey of life that has brought me joy, improved health, and peace, in hopes that it will do the same for you. I hope you'll join me on this journey!

Share:

Connect:

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

non-toxic non-toxic cleaners non-toxic cleaning

DIY Deodorant Labels

Yesterday I whipped up another batch of my natural deodorant. When I was putting the labels on the jars I thought some of you may want to have access to these deodorant labels too. Your DIY products deserve to have a cute label, don’t ya think?I hope you’ve had a chance to try this deodorant, if not, you need to give it a whirl. It is really easy to make. You won’t regret it. Everyone I know who has tried it, loves it.

You can get the instructions and recipe here.

I create labels for all the stuff I make. It is so irritating to make something, put it in a bottle or jar and not remember what the heck it is for. Have any of you done that before? Although you probably won’t forget what this lovely gray goop is, it is still fun to have it in a cute labeled jar.

So if you are interested, I have the labels available in my Etsy shop. You can either print your own or order them already printed on durable, waterproof paper.

There are several sticker sizes available

Whether you are using a recycled face cream lotion jar, a hair product jar, or a cute little travel tin, I have you covered.

small jar top

side jar label

Some jars work better to have a label on the side.

travel tin label

This is the perfect little size for traveling. You don’t have to lug the whole jar with you.

variety set

If you are like me, most likely you’ll have a variety of recycled jars available when you make up your deodorant.

The printable PDF set comes with all of them so you can print out what you need, when you need them.

All of the labels include the ingredients except for the travel tin.

For all the youmakeitsimple followers, I am giving you a coupon code to get a 20% off discount in my shop.

Just type the code:

NOSTINK4ME

If you haven’t switched to a natural deodorant, I hope you consider it for your health. When you do, this recipe really is the best thing I have tried. Enjoy!

Jan Howell

My intention for this website is to share tips and tutorials that I have found on my journey of life that has brought me joy, improved health, and peace, in hopes that it will do the same for you. I hope you'll join me on this journey!

Connect:

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

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deodorant labels labels non-toxic printables

DIY Natural Deodorant Recipe – Dang Good Stuff

Have you been on a search for an effective natural deodorant? Well, you can stop here! For those of you who want to avoid the seriously toxic ingredients in antiperspirants and commercial deodorant, this is your ticket.

Why do you want a non-toxic deodorant?

Name: How To Make the Best Window Cleaner // the Non-Toxic Way
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 3 TB rubbing alcohol¼ cup white vinegar1 tsp cornstarch or arrowroot powder¾ cup distilled water

It’s not like you are going to eat it. You could if you wanted. It’s that safe. The things we put on our skin are absorbed into the bloodstream, and the ingredients included in commercial deodorants are definitely not something you want to be taking into your system!

When you are looking for a safe deodorant, if you see the word “natural” you still need to be careful. That word can mean a lot of things. It may have some natural ingredients, but it may also have some of the nasty things we don’t want.

Here are some ingredients you need to be aware of

Aluminum

Many deodorants and antiperspirants, including some “natural crystal” deodorants contain forms of aluminum, which inhibit perspiration. There is a reason why our body sweats. I have always thought that stopping our body from sweating in itself, was not a good thing. This controversial ingredient is classified in this review, which was written by an oncologist, as both a genotoxin and hormone disruptor.

I used a natural crystal deodorant for many years. It was good, but it was messy and I still got a little stinky. Although this brand did NOT contain aluminum, some DO! Here are a few informative posts that contain studies related to this. (1) (2)

Propylene Glycol

Propylene glycol (PEG) is a penetration enhancer, which means that one of the things it does is help other chemicals get deeper into skin. It is also classified as a moderate hazard by the Environmental working Group.

Triclosan

Studies indicate that this chemical, which is used in everything from toys to toothpaste, may disrupt normal thyroid function and alter hormones. I don’t think I need anything else to mess with my hormones!

Parabens

Breast cancer most often occurs in the upper outer quadrant, just under where women rub deodorant on. In a 2012 study, 99% of breast cancer samples that were analyzed contained parabens, a common ingredient in deodorants, lotions and makeup.

Parabens mimic estrogen by binding to estrogen receptors on cells. They also increase the expression of genes usually regulated by estradiol (a natural form of estrogen); these genes cause human breast cancer cells to grow and multiply in cellular studies.

Fragrances

The word “fragrance” seems safe doesn’t it? Well, that is just a cover-up word for many chemicals that don’t need to be listed. In one study conducted by the Environmental Working Group, nearly half of the ingredients in the fragrance products they tested were not listed on the label.

Even the word “‘unscented’ is misleading. Products that are labeled unscented may contain masking fragrances, which are chemicals used to cover up the odor of other chemicals. Craziness! Check out the article here.

Well, is that enough dirt to make you want to switch over to something a little safer for your body?

Although I don’t want to put a lot of fear out there about products or food, I do want you all to be informed. Don’t despair; I have a great solution for you.

Over the years I have tried MANY different natural deodorants only to be disappointed. I even made up several recipes that still didn’t do the trick.

I heard about a great natural deodorant that had activated charcoal in it. Hmmmm, now that made sense to me. So I purchased a jar of it and gave it a whirl. WOW, it worked and it worked well. The only thing, it wasn’t cheap, I had to order it, and it didn’t last very long. Being the DIY girl that I am, I knew I could make something like this myself. So after making several tweaks to a few recipes, I came up with the perfect recipe. It is way easy to make, a lot less expensive and it works dang good!

One of the key ingredient is the activated charcoal, which neutralizes odor and absorbs moisture without aluminum, parabens, or synthetic fragrances.

Why does it work so well?

The ingredients in this deodorant form an invisible, absorbent, pH-balanced shield on your underarms that neutralizes odor and protects your clothes from perspiration. It can even be used with those who have sensitive skin.

My dear sister, who has tried everything to calm her sweating and odor, swears by this stuff. When I was testing it out, I gave her a jar and told her to give it a whirl. She text me back a week later and said “this deodorant is freaking awesome”!

Even my husband loves it, and he’s not an easy sell when it comes to stuff like this. He usually gets quite stinky under the arms when he does presentations at work or in other meetings, but he doesn’t anymore. This stuff really is the bomb – and not a stinky one!

This recipe, along with several other alternative remedies, can be found in my Alternative Remedies Booklet. You can find it here.

Would you like to learn how to make it?

Here are the ingredients

It may seem like a huge list of ingredients and you may be thinking it is going to cost a fortune to get all these items. The items will make several batches and most of the items you can use for other things.

½ cup Tapioca Four or Tapioca Starch
2 teaspoons Baking Soda
¼ cup Coconut Oil
½ cup Magnesium Hydroxide
1/3 cup Shea Butter if using a bar, grate it first
½ Tablespoon Rose Water
1/3 cup Cocoa Butter
½ Tablespoon Witch Hazel if you get this witch hazel, it comes with rose water in it!
1 teaspoon Liquid Vitamin E
1 capsule Activated Charcoal
Essential Oils – 30 drops of your choice (make sure they are clean oils and not synthetic oils)

This is a blend that we really like and is similar smelling to the original PiperWai.

Don’t freak out if you don’t have all these oils. Use what you have or acquire the ones you think you will use. These are all exceptional oils that you could use for many other things. They will last a long time.

3 drops of each Bergamot, Clary Sage, Clove, Eucalyptus, Lemongrass, Peppermint, Tea Tree (melaleuca), Rosemary

6 drops each of Lavender, Wild Orange or Mandarin

Equipment you will need

Glass bowl
Sauce pan
Measuring spoons and cups
Spoon and spatula
Whisk

Instructions

Measure the coconut oil, and butters and place them in the glass bowl. If the butters you are using are in a bar,you want to grate it up before measuring. Pack it down in the measuring cup.
Fill a sauce pan about 1/4 full with water and bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat to a simmer and fit the bowl onto the pot. The bottom of the bowl should not reach the water, therefore leave at least 2″ to 3″ space between the bowl and water. You want to heat the bowl with steam and not the water.
Stir until it has all melted.
Carefully remove glass bowl from the pan and whisk in the powdered ingredients until smooth. Add the essential oils last just before pouring into containers.
It will seem rather runny at this point. Don’t be alarmed, the mixture will thicken after it sits a while.
This recipe makes about 5 – 6, 2oz jars.
Allow it to set until hardened. I usually just let it set up overnight. If you live where it is warm, you may need to place in refrigerator to set up.

How to apply the deodorant

Simply dip your finger in and scoop out a small amount.
You only need a pea size rubbed in the armpit area.
If you wait just a minute and allow the deodorant to absorb, it won’t stain your clothes.

Deodorant Jar labels

If you want to apply a label to your jars of deodorant, I have a PDF you can download and print. Kinda makes you feel like it’s a legitimate product. You can get the scoop about them here.

You are going to love this stuff! Let me know how it goes.

If you want to apply a label to your jars of deodorant, I have a PDF you can download and print. Kinda makes you feel like it’s a legitimate product. You can get the scoop about them here.

You are going to love this stuff! Let me know how it goes.

Natural Deodorant

Have you been on a search for an effective natural deodorant? Well, you can stop here! For those of you who want to avoid the seriously toxic ingredients in antiperspirants and commercial deodorant, this is your ticket.

Prep Time15 min
Cook Time5 min
Total Time20 min
Yield5 2oz. jars

Ingredients

- ½ cup Tapioca Four or Tapioca Starch
- 2 teaspoons Baking Soda
- ¼ cup Coconut Oil
- ½ cup Magnesium Hydroxide
- 1/3 cup Shea Butter if using a bar, grate it first
- ½ Tablespoon Rose Water
- 1/3 cup Cocoa Butter
- ½ Tablespoon Witch Hazel if you get this witch hazel, it comes with rose water in it!
- 1 teaspoon Liquid Vitamin E
- 1 capsule Activated Charcoal
- Essential Oils – 30 drops of your choice (make sure they are clean oils and not synthetic oils)

Essential Oil Suggestions

3 drops of each Bergamot, Clary Sage, Clove, Eucalyptus, Lemongrass, Peppermint, Tea Tree (melaleuca), Rosemary6 drops each of Lavender, Wild Orange or Mandarin

Don’t freak out if you don’t have all these oils. Use what you have or acquire the ones you think you will use. These are all exceptional oils that you could use for many other things. They will last a long time.

Instructions

Items Needed

1

Glass bowl
Sauce pan
Measuring spoons and cups
Spoon and spatula
Whisk

2

Measure the coconut oil, and butters and place them in the glass bowl. If the butters you are using are in a bar,you want to grate it up before measuring. Pack it down in the measuring cup.

3

Fill a sauce pan about 1/4 full with water and bring to a boil.

4

Reduce the heat to a simmer and fit the bowl onto the pot. The bottom of the bowl should not reach the water, therefore leave at least 2″ to 3″ space between the bowl and water. You want to heat the bowl with steam and not the water.

5

Stir until it has all melted.

Carefully remove glass bowl from the pan and whisk in the powdered ingredients until smooth. Add the essential oils last just before pouring into containers.

6

It will seem rather runny at this point. Don’t be alarmed, the mixture will thicken after it sits a while.

7

This recipe makes about 5 – 6, 2oz jars.

8

Allow it to set until hardened. I usually just let it set up overnight. If you live where it is warm, you may need to place in refrigerator to set up.

Amount per serving
Calories0
% Daily Value*
* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Jan Howell

My intention for this website is to share tips and tutorials that I have found on my journey of life that has brought me joy, improved health, and peace, in hopes that it will do the same for you. I hope you'll join me on this journey!

Connect:

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

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diy deodorant essential oils natural deodorant natural remedies non-toxic

DIY – How To Make A Fruit Fly Trap

The harvest season is upon us and coming to an end very soon. I love having access to so many fruits and veggies from my garden and from local markets. There is only one drawback, FRUIT FLIES! Those little buggers can find their way into my kitchen within minutes of bringing fresh fruit into the house. It can be so annoying. I am going to show you how easy it is to make a simple non-toxic fruit fly trap that works very well, and I will also give you a few tips on how to keep them at bay.

WHERE DO FRUIT FLIES COME FROM ANYWAY?

Seriously, it’s like they show up out of nowhere. Because the flies are so little, they can sneak into your house through windows and door screens or on fruit as larvae. They hang out on ripened fruits or vegetables, as well as drains, garbage disposals, empty bottles and cans, trash bags, or cleaning rags and mops.

Speaking of larvae, you may want to read this article. After reading this, you will never want to eat a piece of fruit without washing it again, and you will learn a few things you may not have wanted to know. It’s all good. Fruit flies are not disease spreading; they’re just annoying and gross. Actually, without them, we would all be deep in rotting produce without them.

HOW TO GET RID OF THEM

Banish all but the freshest produce from your countertops.
Buy produce only as you need it.
Keep ripe or overripe fruits and vegetables in your refrigerator.
Make sure there are no old food scraps hanging out on your floors, countertops or trash.
Keep your kitchen free of all those sources for a few weeks, and you’ll wipe out your local fruit fly population.
Trap them.

There are a lot of different ways to make a fruit fly trap, but this is one that I use and find that it works great.

What you need

Glass mason jar (narrow mouth works best)
Small pieces of ripe fruit (banana works great, even the peel)
You can add a little apple cider vinegar to juice it up and make it a little more potent.
Painters tape, masking tape, or duct tape
Piece of paper

How to make the fruit fly trap

Take a piece of paper (this is an 8 1/2 x 11-inch sheet of paper) and roll it up to make a funnel. The bottom hole should be about 1/2 -3/4 inches. Tape in place.

WANT TO KNOW SOME OTHER GREAT USES FOR PAINTER’S TAPE?

Place the paper funnel inside the jar. You may need to adjust the width of your funnel if the bottom of the funnel touches the bottom of the jar. Tape in place.

Place the jar on your countertop and wait. It won’t take long for the fruit flies to smell the yumminess and fly down the funnel to their fate. They can’t fly out.

When you don’t see any more flies flying around your kitchen, you can place the jar in the freezer and simply let them freeze to death, or you can take the jar outside to free them. I like the freezer idea.

Once they are dead, take the jar outside, remove the tape and dump the contents in the trash. Save the funnel in case you need to use it again. Wash the bottle. Now that you are fruit fly-free, use the preventative measures listed above to help keep the flies down as much as possible.

Enjoy this yummy time of year fruit fly-free!

Jan Howell

My intention for this website is to share tips and tutorials that I have found on my journey of life that has brought me joy, improved health, and peace, in hopes that it will do the same for you. I hope you'll join me on this journey!

Connect:

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

Why in the world would you want to make your own window cleaner?

Window Cleaner Ingredients

Window Cleaner Instructions

Tips for Using DIY Window Cleaner

Here are some other CLEANING RECIPES and TIPS you may be interested in:

How To Make the Best Window Cleaner // the Non-Toxic Way

Ingredients

Instructions

Jan Howell

Share:

Connect:

Jan Howell

Related Posts

There are several sticker sizes available

small jar top

side jar label

travel tin label

variety set

NOSTINK4ME

Jan Howell

Connect:

Jan Howell

Related Posts

Why do you want a non-toxic deodorant?

Here are some ingredients you need to be aware of

Aluminum

Propylene Glycol

Triclosan

Parabens

Fragrances

Well, is that enough dirt to make you want to switch over to something a little safer for your body?

Why does it work so well?

Would you like to learn how to make it?

Here are the ingredients

Equipment you will need

Instructions

How to apply the deodorant

Deodorant Jar labels

Natural Deodorant

Ingredients

Instructions

Jan Howell

Connect:

Jan Howell

Related Posts

WHERE DO FRUIT FLIES COME FROM ANYWAY?

HOW TO GET RID OF THEM

What you need

How to make the fruit fly trap

Jan Howell

Connect:

Jan Howell

Related Posts