These DIY recipes for household cleaning will help you clean and organise your home naturally. Plus, I share helpful tips on how to avoid toxins in household products, water, and air.
Latest posts
Cutting My Hair After Two Years
After two years of growing my hair to waist-length, I finally decided to get it cut at the hair salon. Here’s why. I was debating about cutting my hair for a while before actually biting the bullet and doing it. My hair was the longest it had ever been and I didn’t want to have…
How to Make a DIY Coffee Candle
Any other coffee lovers out there? I not only love the taste of coffee, but the fragrant scent, too; so I thought it would be a fun little project to try and make a DIY Coffee Candle. This candle will fill your home with the smell of freshly brewed coffee, and all that’s needed are…
How to Make Oregano Oil at home
How to make a homemade oregano oil using the oil infusion method for use as a home remedy for common ailments. Making oregano-infused oil at home is very simple, and it’s a great product to know how to use and to keep on hand for use as a natural remedy. Oregano is commonly referred to as ‘nature’s antibiotic’ because…
How to Make Coconut Shell Candles
How to make your own DIY coconut shell candle using a blend of coconut wax and soy wax. This complete beginners guide to candle making is easy to follow and shares how to make a beautifully scented candle at home using a coconut shell. There is nothing more relaxing than the soft crackle of a…
How to Make Orange Blossom Water with Fresh or Dried Blossoms
How to make orange blossom water (or orange flower water) using a simple, easy at-home method. Orange blossom water is a flower water (like rose water) that’s made from the blossoms on orange trees. It can be used in beauty products, baked goods, drinks, salads, and more! The traditional method for making pure orange blossom…
How to Make DIY Candle Wax Melts (for Diffusing in Wax Warmers)
Learn how to make DIY candle wax melts using essential oils to fill any room in your home with a natural, non-toxic fragrance. These homemade wax melts are concentrated pieces of scented wax that, when melted, will diffuse the oil scent into the room safely, and extend the time that the scent will last. I…
How to Recycle Old Flip Flops
How to recycle old flip flops once they reach the end of their lifecycle. Here’s what you can do with old rubber thongs/flip flops or jangles after they’ve seen better days or busted a plugger, to keep them out of landfill. I’ve recently just worn through a pair of old flips flops (or thongs, is…
How to Recycle Old Birkenstocks & Sandals
How to properly recycle old sandals and Birkenstocks in an eco-friendly way, sustainable way, to promote a more circular economy. No item gets more worn down than a well-loved shoe. The same goes for poor-quality shoes, but they often don’t accrue the same mileage as the good-quality ones, and seem to be more of a…
How to Make a Natural Homemade Mouthwash to Freshen Breath
How to make a natural homemade mouthwash to help freshen breath and cleanse the mouth. This mouthwash is alcohol-free, inexpensive, all-natural, and super easy to make yourself! Opting for a natural mouthwash means you avoid commercial varieties that commonly mix alcohols, sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), triclosan, sodium benzoate, methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, and other toxic…
How to Recycle Old, Worn Wetsuits
How to recycle old wetsuits properly. In Australia, the best option to recycle old, worn, unusable wetsuits is to drop off any surf branded wetsuit to Rip Curl stores around Australia, which have partnered with TerraCycle to create a ‘Recycle Your Wetsuit’ program, disposing of wetsuits responsibly. I had a couple of old, worn out…
Two Years Without a Car
Two years ago I packed up my life in Sydney and moved up the coast to Queensland, Australia. Since then, I haven’t owned a car. I’ve been using my bicycle as my main means of transport. Around sixteen months ago, I wrote an article and even produced a little video about my life since going…
How to Naturally Remove Mould from the Bathroom & Tile Grout (No Bleach)
How to make a natural mould remover for tile grout in the shower without harsh chemicals like bleach. If you notice any dark spots growing in your shower, this may be from mould and mildew. While this is really common, it’s not ideal to have mould growing in the bathroom for many health reasons, and…
How to Make a Homemade Glass & Window Cleaner (No Streaks)
This easy homemade DIY window cleaner leaves glass streak-free and sparkling clean with each use. As someone who doesn’t love to clean the house, I need something that works quickly, cleans thoroughly, and doesn’t cost a lot (plus is easy and quick to make). So, I’ve created this DIY version to get the job done…
How to Recycle Old Converse Shoes and Sneakers
How to properly recycle old converse shoes and sneakers in an eco-friendly way, sustainable way, promoting a circular economy. I love converse shoes. They go with everything; dresses, jeans, skirts, shorts, you name it. I’ve racked up quite a few pairs of converse shoes during my time, an in the past I’d always thrown them…
How to Recycle Old Towels & Bed Linen that Can’t be Donated
How to recycle old towels and bed linen that aren’t able to be donated. Desire a change of pattern or colour for your bed linen and towels? Or have they just have seen better days and need replacing? Either way, here’s what you can do with them to keep them out of landfill. I was…
How to Make a DIY Chamomile Hydrosol with Fresh or Dried Flowers
This DIY chamomile hydrosol is great for those with rosacea, acne prone, sensitive or easily-irritated skin. It has many uses including as an all-in-one makeup remover, skin cleanser and toner. It is mild and safe for use on baby skin, can be used in homemade baby wipes, and is ideal for use as a facial…
How to Make Calendula Oil at Home
How to make a healing calendula-infused oil from scratch at home using only two ingredients. Calendula oil is a wonderful oil that has many uses. Two of my favourites are to use in my skincare cleansing oils or homemade calendula cream. Calendula is a flower with many uses, some of which include first aid for…
How to Save Seeds from Homegrown Vegetables
Saving seeds from your homegrown vegetables, fruits, herbs, and greens involves three steps: Selecting seeds from the most suitable plants, harvesting them at the right time, and storing them properly so that they’re ready to plant the following season. Here’s how to save seeds from your garden properly. I used to think one of the…
How to Start a Regenerative Garden at Home
Regenerative gardening uses the natural ecosystem to help keep pests and diseases under control. Organic practices are used instead of chemicals to encourage plant growth. It’s a more sustainable approach to gardening (and agriculture) and often yields more nutrient-rich produce. Here’s how to garden regeneratively at home. I’m all about organic, sustainable living, and I…
How to Whiten White Clothes Naturally (No Bleach)
How to whiten white clothes naturally without bleach. Here are some natural alternatives to chemical bleach that work to help brighten your whites naturally and remove stains and dinginess to keep them looking white for longer. Only natural ingredients like vinegar, borax, and hydrogen peroxide are used. I don’t tend to buy white things because…
Repair Instead of Replace (Change Our Throwaway Culture)
Rather than throwing away broken items as soon as they break, see if they can be repaired in some way, or if not, recycled. Simple repairs can save you a heap of money over the long term and keep things out of a landfill. Here are some things you can repair, instead of replace. Living…
What’s in Our Tap Water and How to Filter Out Contaminants
In Australia alone, over 300 chemicals are added to water supplies to help disinfect and kill any microorganisms that may cause disease. Some of these chemicals include chlorine, ammonia, fluoride and aluminium. Our tap water is only monitored for 70 chemicals, so the other 300+ known chemicals are unregulated and may be of great concern.…
How to Make Lavender Water with Fresh or Dried Lavender
How to make homemade DIY Lavender Water using organic fresh or dried lavender buds. This lavender hydrosol can be used in drinks, for skin, in beauty products and more! I had some dried lavender buds leftover from when I made dairy-free Lavender Honey Ice-Cream last year. They’d been sitting in my pantry for months, and…
How to Make Organic Rose Water at Home
How to make a simple homemade DIY Rose Water using organic fresh or dried rose petals. This hydrosol can be used in recipes, for skin, in beauty products like a natural perfume or deodorant, or even as a scented room mist! I remember the first time I heard about rose water. It was around eight…
Why I Shop at My Local Organic Farmers Market
The average farmer in Australia makes just 18 cents of every dollar when you buy from large supermarkets. The other 82 cents goes to various other middlemen. While farmers help to feed our communities, they often cannot afford the very foods they grow. This, among other reasons, is why I shop local… Every Sunday I…
Why I Shop at Thrift Stores First for All of My Clothing
Why I shop at thrift stores first. I made a commitment to myself when I moved back in June last year that I would only buy clothing secondhand. If I did buy anything new, it would be only after I couldn’t find it secondhand in thrift shops or on Depop. On average, we as consumers…
How to Make a Simple Dream Catcher (Step-By-Step)
Dream Catchers originated with the Native Americans, but rose to popularity in the Western World back in the 1960’s and 1970’s with the hippies. From there the love spread and they’ve since become a well-loved favourite by just about everyone. Do you know the meaning behind dream catchers? According to One Tribe Apparel, ‘Native American…
My Life Without a Car Over the Past 8 Months
Since June 6, 2021, I have lived my life without a car. Why? One of the biggest reasons was to cut expenses – it’s way cheaper to not own a car – but also as a challenge to see if I could, in fact, get by without one. I left my family and my car…
DIY Peppermint Oil (Made Without a Still)
How to make peppermint-infused oil without all the distilling equipment! This is the method I use for making peppermint-infused oil from scratch, that doesn’t require distilling. Infused oils have become one of my favourite DIYs to make at home myself. I’ve made a couple before, lavender and grapefruit, but I wanted to experiment with making a homemade version of peppermint “essential” oil. It’s summer…
How to Make Extra Sticky DIY Beeswax Wraps
Beeswax wraps are a great plastic-free alternative for storing food, however they can lose their stickiness relatively quickly. Here is a beeswax wrap recipe that gives an even stickier wrap to keep it lasting a lot longer (up to 12 months or more!) and requires less effort to keep it sticking over your bowl or…
How to Compost Without a Compost Bin
Not all of us have land or space on our property suitable for a compost bin. Here’s how to compost without a compost bin, in your very own kitchen. I grew up in a household where we had our own compost bin – or I should say bins – out the back, where we would…
DIY Grapefruit Oil (Made Without a Still)
How to make grapefruit-infused oil without all the distilling equipment! This is the method I use for making grapefruit-infused oil from scratch, that doesn’t require distilling. After having such success in making my own lavender oil from the fresh lavender out in my garden, I wanted to take it a step further and make my…
How to Recycle Takeaway Coffee Cups Properly
How to recycle takeaway coffee cups. Single-use coffee cups can now be recycled in Australia!! Since launching in January 2019, we’ve been able to divert over 150,000 single use coffee cups from landfill! This was about four months worth of takeaway coffee cups I’d collected from my family to take to our local coffee cup recycling station.…
Where Palm Oil is Hidden & How to Avoid it
The hidden names for Palm Oil and how to avoid it in everyday products. The products, brands, foods and items palm oil can be found in. This a topic that’s very close to my heart. Palm oil is something we’ve all heard of, especially when it comes to the impact it’s having on our environment,…
DIY Spa Day Products You Can Make from Ingredients in Your Kitchen!
Pamper yourself at home with these easy DIY spa products made from natural ingredients you’d find in the kitchen. What better way to pamper yourself than with an at-home spa day!! Here are a few all-natural pamper products to help improve skin health, de-stress, and increase feelings of relaxation and calmness. I’ve customised a basic…
How to Grocery Shop Sustainably & Zero-Waste
Since I’ve moved out of home and up the coast to Queensland, I’ve really put in the time, effort and research to make my shopping routine as low-waste, sustainable, and ethical as possible. I looked at this move as a fresh start, and I wanted to make all areas of my life line up with…
How to Harvest, Dry & Use Calendula Flowers
Calendula is one of my absolute favourite flowers to grow in the garden. I could probably say that about all my flowers – I do love them all! – but calendula definitely deserves its place in my top 5. It’s beautiful, easy to grow, has a long blooming season, is easy to save seeds from,…
How to Dry Herbs at Home & Make an Italian Herbs Seasoning
A great way to use up veggies and herbs leftover in the garden is to make seasonings with them. After making a super greens powder using fresh greens from my garden, I thought I’d make something in the same ballpark… A herb seasoning. Our herb garden is just booming with thyme, oregano and mint at…
How to Recycle Pool Inflatables
How to recycle pool inflatables to prevent them ending up in landfill. Rather than throwing old pool inflatables in the bin, they can be recycled into beautiful, one-of-a-kind bags! I first heard of I Used To Be from Ethically Kate on Instagram. Their mission really resonated with me, and I started collecting as many old,…
How to Soak & Sprout Nuts, Seeds, Grains & Legumes
How to properly soak and sprout nuts, seeds, grains, and legumes to reduce phytic acid, lectins, and other antinutrients naturally found in these foods, which can harm the digestive tract and prevent nutrient absorption. Nuts and seeds can make a wonderful, nutrition-packed snack to take with you on-the-go. However, what a lot of us don’t…
How to Make a Soothing Bug Bite Balm
Bug bites are an inevitable part of summer, and despite using bug-repelling sprays, citronella candles, and swatting away pesky mosquitoes, I still seem to get bitten! This 100 percent natural bug bite balm, made with a few simple ingredients, provides soothing relief for the redness and swelling that comes along with insect bites. With the…
Ways to Upcycle & Recycle a Stainless Steel Water Bottle
How to recycle a stainless steel water bottle properly (as well as ways to upcycle it!). If you, like me, have a stainless steel water bottle that’s lasted the test of time, there might come a point when you look at what to do with it once it’s reached retiring age. A stainless steel water…
How to Extract Aloe Vera Gel from the Leaf
Here is how to extract the aloe gel from an aloe vera plant using the easiest possible method, as well as how to thicken homemade aloe vera gel naturally for easy application and use. Aloe vera gel has some of the most diverse uses of any plant, from treating burns to helping with constipation. It’s…
How to Make a Herbal Body Wash
How to make a herbal body wash that’s all natural, incredibly moisturising and cleansing for the skin, and contains no essential oils. Making soap can be complicated. Caustic chemicals such as lye are involved which have the potential to burn or corrode the skin, eyes, and mucus membranes of the body if not handled carefully.…
How to Make Coconut Wax and Beeswax Candles
How to make DIY Coconut Wax Candles and Beeswax Candles from scratch at home. Indoor air pollutants are often two to five times higher than outdoor levels, with some cases exceeding 100 times that of outdoor levels. Candles are one of the top contributors to indoor air pollution, as the most common types of candles – paraffin…
How to Recycle a Bamboo Toothbrush Properly
How to recycle a bamboo toothbrush properly. A full step-by-step guide – plus ways to upcycle a toothbrush! I been using bamboo toothbrushes for the past couple of years now, and have loved it! Brushing my pearly whites knowing I’m not contributing to the ever-increasing piles of landfill is a good feeling. Plus, pairing my…
How to Make Lavender Oil at Home
How to make a homemade lavender oil using the oil infusion method for use in perfume, as a massage oil, to soothe bug bites, sunburns, eczema, stings, rashes, scars, to remove makeup, and more. Lavender oil can benefit the skin in numerous ways. It has the ability to help with acne, even skin tone, and reduce wrinkles. It can…
How to Keep Caterpillars Away from Plants (Without Chemicals)
How to keep caterpillars off plants naturally, without using chemicals. Natural insect repellents for garden plants. My newly planted spinach, kale, cauliflower and broccoli leaves have been developing gaping holes. I’m an organic gardener, so I avoid using any chemicals or toxic sprays on my plants, but this means my garden is left wide open…
Transitioning into Plastic-Free & Sustainable Living
What does sustainable living actually look like on a daily basis? We all have a different version, and this is mine. I started my journey of low-waste living a few years ago. After having been vegan for a while I wanted to take it a step further by cutting down my waste contribution, which in…
Tips I’ve Learnt Since Going Zero-Waste(ish)
I’ve been slowly transitioning to a more zero waste lifestyle (with a lot of bumps along the way), but some of the biggest tips I’ve learnt have been… My journey to zero-waste all started with going vegan. After learning about the harmful impact mass animal agriculture is having on the planet, among many other reasons,…
Homemade Remineralising Tooth Powder
How to make a homemade tooth powder, rather than a paste, that helps remineralise teeth using all-natural ingredients like bentonite clay, calcium powder, baking soda, herbs and spices. I’ve shared how to make a remineralising toothpaste that not only whitened teeth, but could help re-strengthen teeth from the inside-out! However, if you have a septic…
Homemade Healing Balm for Scars, Blemishes, Cuts & Abrasions
How to make an all-natural healing balm to help moisturise and heal skin abrasions, cuts, bruises, scars or blemishes. This balm contains rich oils and herbs, including coconut oil, olive oil, and calendula and lavender oil, to create a soothing balm that can relieve inflammation, pain, dry skin, itchiness, and promote healing. Nothing like rubbing…
How to Make a DIY Low-Waste Garden Bed
How to build a raised garden bed with old bricks – anybody can do this! You’ll get great results, and at the same time it’s different and unique from all the stone bed borders (and a great way to reuse old bricks you may have lying around). One of my big goals for this year…
DIY Natural Jewellery Cleaner
Exposure to dust, dirt, lotions, soaps, even air and moisture can dull jewellery over time. Here’s how to make an all-natural DIY jewellery cleaner at home. A natural homemade jewellery cleaner for all types of jewellery; gold, silver, diamonds, etc. that you can whip up in no time to clean tarnished, dirty, or dull jewellery. However,…
Homemade Antibacterial Foaming Hand Soap
How to make an antibacterial liquid handwash with just 8 ingredients and 5 minutes from start to finish. Made with all-natural, skin-loving ingredients, it’s a safe and gentle way to clean hands, and won’t dry out skin. When we use products containing antibacterial chemicals, we’re promised that it will remove 99.9% of germs on our…
Homemade Natural Insect Repellent (That Actually Works!)
How to stop insects biting when you’re living it up in the great outdoors using Mother Nature’s natural bug repellents. This insect repellent will help repel insects and bugs, and is toxin-free and all-natural. I started looking into making my own homemade bug spray when I began working out in the garden more (you see…
Homemade Reusable Antibacterial Wipes
Ditch the landfill-destined antibacterial wipes, and instead make your own reusable cleaning wipes at home! Here’s how to make disinfectant wipes that can be washed and reused, they even smell lemony-fresh! If I’m being completely honest, I’ve never been one to use antibacterial wipes. In our family, we see having a little bacteria around as a good thing. It’s important…
Homemade Natural Hand Sanitiser
A natural and effective hand sanitiser you can make with simple ingredients. I’m not a fan of commercial hand sanitisers (no surprises there!). This may sound a little strange, but I’m not one to use antibacterial soaps, sprays, or strong cleaners at home because I believe that having a little bacteria around is a good…
How to Make a Healing Calendula Cream
How to make a homemade calendula cream from scratch using handmade calendula healing oil. Calendula cream is a great healing cream/salve/ointment to use on the skin as it contains anti-inflammatory and powerful wound healing properties. This homemade version is 100 percent natural, containing no nasties, and is chemical-free, toxin-free, and handmade. Calendula cream was the…
How to Start a Sustainable Vegetable Garden
There are few things more satisfying than growing your own vegetables. Today, I share the Holy Grail of hacks on how to start your own sustainable vegetable garden! Having the opportunity to pick homegrown veggies fresh, straight from the garden, and knowing you’ve cared and nourished these plants for their lifetime, is so fulfilling. I…
How to Make an Eyeglasses & Sunglasses Cleaner
How to make an eyeglasses cleaner to get your glasses from cloudy to crystal clear using a natural, homemade lens cleaning solution. I’ve got something to confess, I don’t actually wear glasses for sight. BUT, I do wear glasses. The glasses I wear are for blue light. Why do I need these? Well, blue-light blocking…
Trash Walking
A new habit I’ve added to my weekly routine to help reduce waste in my local area: Trash Walking. One loaded bag of trash. Forty-five minutes of walking. I’ve made it a New Year’s resolution of mine, or for a better word “goal” – I find New Year’s resolutions rarely stick – to go around…
How to Recycle Soft Plastics Properly
If it’s soft and can be scrunched, it’s a soft plastic. This means it can’t go in your kerbside recycling bin but must be taken elsewhere to be recycled by REDcycle. Soft plastics are the number one form of contamination in recycling plants. According to 1 Million Women, this is because ‘they can damage machines…
DIY Hair Ties Made Out of Old Stockings
How to make your own hair ties using old materials like stockings, tights, pantyhose, or other old clothing you have lying around. I think I’ve lost about a million and one hair ties over my lifetime. I’ll go out and buy a new pack of 20, then lose 19 of them in the first week.…
How to Make a Natural Remineralising Toothpaste
Rather than just whitening your teeth, what if you could re-strengthen and build your teeth up again from the inside out! No more super sensitive teeth! This really simple DIY toothpaste not only helps to whiten your teeth, but remineralises them too! Strengthening and improving the health of your teeth using only natural ingredients! No…
How to Tell the Difference Between GMO & Non-GMO Foods?
When shopping at the grocery store, you can often tell what’s organic and conventionally grown, but how can you make sure it’s not genetically modified, too? Here’s a super simple guide to identifying GMO foods from conventional and organic produce. How do you know if a food is GM or not? I personally try to…
How to Regrow Vegetables from Kitchen Scraps
How to regrow vegetables from kitchen scraps. Use leftover kitchen scraps to regrow certain vegetables with just a little tray of water and a spot near the window. Grocery shopping can be pricey, and some of us don’t have a backyard to create a little veggie garden. This is where an indoor garden comes in…
How to Make a Vegetable Wash for Removing Wax & Pesticides from Fruits & Vegetables
Pesticide residue on fruits and vegetables can be a problem when buying conventionally grown. But there is a natural homemade solution to help with this – a DIY fruit and veggie wash to help remove dirt, bacteria, wax, and pesticides easily. In an ideal world, we’d have money growing on trees that we could spend…
Why I Choose Not to Use Antibacterial Soap
Skip the antibacterial soap and use plain soap and water instead. Here’s why. Choosing not to use antibacterial soap, in this day an age? With Covid, germs, bacteria, viruses… the spreading of disease? There’s a reason behind my “madness.” My decision is backed by science. Antibacterial soaps target bacteria, not viruses such as the flu.…
Homemade Natural Foaming Hand Soap
An all-natural, toxin-free hand soap you can whip up in minutes. I started making my own hand soap for a few reasons: Antibacterial soaps and products have been shown to impact the gut microbiome (gut bacteria) in a negative way. Exposing the body to these antibacterial substances has led to the development of antibiotic resistance, and…
How to Naturally Purify Air in the Home
How to naturally purify indoor air without the use of chemicals. Indoor air is often more polluted due to the lack of air flow coursing through the building. Indoor air pollutants are often two to five times higher than outdoor levels, with some cases exceeding 100 times that of outdoor levels. In today’s chemical laden…
Homemade Natural Bath Bombs
There’s nothing like a warm bath, and these bath bombs just take it to the next level! Rather than large round balls, these DIY bath bombs are half the size, meaning you can make twice the bath bombs with the same amount of ingredients! You can feel good knowing that the ingredients are natural and…
Homemade Natural Probiotic Toothpaste
As I’ve been moving towards a more natural, toxin-free, zero-waste lifestyle, I figured the next area I needed to address was oral care. Conventional toothpastes are chock-a-block full of toxic ingredients that can have a huge impact on our health over the long-term. Plus, toothpaste tubes are just plain wasteful. They’re generally sold in not…
Natural Homemade Bar Soap
Over the years, I’ve transitioned to making my own versions of all kinds of products, such as shampoo, natural toothpaste, natural deodorant, and more! This has allowed me to reduce the amount of unnecessary toxins I come into contact with on a daily basis; from things like chemicals, preservatives, and additives found in pre-made products.…
Homemade Natural Sunscreen (Safer for Marine Life)
There is much controversy around sunscreen. Does it actually increase our risk of skin cancer rather than decrease it?
How to Reduce Food Waste & Start a Compost
How to reduce household food waste plus DIY composting.