formulas
We've all read about what a miracle Baking soda is. And I've experienced that myself. One of the secrets is to simply let stuff soak in it. Vinegar helps too.
Apply this thinking to laundry, your hair, your teeth, your body, etc.
I've made baking soda and vinegar "on tap" if you will, in my home. Vinegar works to sterilize, like bleach, though it takes longer, but it isn't toxic.
For Laundry-
one to two 16 oz. boxes. depends on size of load, what your washing, and how oily and dirty it is.
Lets say I'm washings sheets(fitted, flat, two cases, maybe some under garments). I'll load half, empty a full box spreading it around, then load the rest. Start the washer.
After it has started tumbling and the water has flowed, diluting the soda, push pause. Ideally you want everything to be in contact with the solution and not be diluted with too much water.
After the soak 30-45 minutes, restart, the washer may continue to fill with water to fulfill it's weight calculations. After I'm confident its done filling OR while it is going through the first drain/spin, add about 8 oz. of soda to the detergent dispenser and fill the softner dispenser all the way up (about 8 oz. ) with white vinegar. Let it complete the cycle. Hang clothes to dry.
With more fragile and lighter soil clothes, I wouldn't do the second batch of soda and I may only soak for 1/2 hour.
Hair solution-
I have an old spray bottle that the sprayer broke. This works perfect. Fill half way with hot water. Use the funnel and put about 1/4 cup of baking soda in. Shake.
The solution should be thicker, a diluted milky white. The baking soda should be so concentrated that it all does not dilute in the water so that if you let the bottle sit after a few minutes, the soda will settle to the bottom, as you may see in the picture.
You mix like this each time your going to clean your hair. Now, you may not need as much. I have a full head of thick hair and a full beard, which is just as much hair. I always use up almost all of the solution each time.
The trick is the amount of time that the solution is in contact with your hair. I kneel and rest my upper chest on the bath tub. With your head over the tub simply (DO NOT get your hair wet first) pour bits at a time onto your dry hair and beard. Pour with the right hand and rub in with the left, or vice versa until everything is saturated. The solution will be gritty and kind of feel like sand, but it will be warm. If it gets in your eyes it won't sting, but it will be a typical annoying.
If your going to take a shower, I simply stand and get in the shower, not rinsing your hair until after you've cleaned your body.
If you're only washing your hair, just set there for a few minutes, with the weight of your upper body on the side of the tub. This is when the solution is doing its thing. You don't need to rub it around or anything. Then simply rinse.
Turn off the water, take the Apple vinegar in spray bottle and thoroughly spray your hair, rub it in a bit, and rinse. Comb the water out, and dry.
Now, when I was using shampoo (Paul Mitchel Awapuhi), I would have to wash my hair everyday. The process of sleeping would make my hair squished and matted.
NOW, when I get up, my hair is lighter, sometimes all I need to do is comb it and it falls in place.
For body wash- (I am very conscious of water usage and only turn water on in shower to rinse off)
You can make a milder solution, similar to the hair where the baking soda DOES dilute. With that you would NOT get wet FIRST, simply pour the solution all over your body, rub it in, use a wet wash cloth (I run it under hot water) and gentle go over your skin. Rinse. FYI- baking soda on skin can be abrasive. I don't use that every day. I usually use oatmeal soap.
I use the apple vinegar spray on my body in key areas, after the first rinse. under arms, body hair, groin, lower back side, toes, ears, etc. Finish with a nice, slow flow, warm water rinse.
I always used baking soda before but not as much as I do now.
I no longer buy laundry detergent, shampoo, body wash, tooth paste, deodorant (allergic), spray cleaners, or fabric softener.
Instead I buy 16 oz boxes of Baking soda, usually a dozen at a time, large bottles of white and Apple Vinegar.
A dozen boxes and the bottles of vinegar last about a month.
Pic- container for baking soda, funnel on wall, spray bottle for white vinegar ( I have several, also have one in the shower for Apple vinegar), old plastic bottle for mixing hair solution.
[this post was last edited: 11/15/2013-00:40]
