Green Mermaid Cottage

When I packed my bags to move into my new home I was amazed at how many cleaning products and air fresheners I was taking with me.  Bathroom cleaner, kitchen cleaner, floor cleaner, window cleaner, bleach, drain cleaner... This would also create a lot of empty plastic bottles to dispose of once used. I was concerned as well that using air fresheners were really good for my health or the environment.  Manufacturers' clever marketing has convinced us that unless with buy multiple products for each room and purpose we must be slobs with unsanitary houses... Thankfully I learned that there are recipes I can use to make my own products with simple ingredients and that many of these products can be used all over the house.  GENERAL CLEANERS I have have several recipes for all purpose cleaners: 1- Castile soap-based cleaner : Ingredients: Castile soap, essential oil (I use tea tree or lemon) and water.  - Mix two cups of water with 2 tbsp or Castile soap and 10 drops o...

THE 'GREEN TAX'  I decided to start making my own beauty and cleaning products because I simply could not afford to buy the type of products that I wanted in shops.  As an animal lover I only want to use plant-based products that are not tested on animals and preferably organic. I noticed that those type of products are always more expensive and therefore out of my reach.  DROWNING IN PLASTIC In addition I was increasingly bothered by the amount of packaging I was left to dispose of every time I used shop-bought products. I liked the idea of recycling these plastic bottles and glass jars as containers for my own products.  BAD HAIR AND SKIN DAY: ITCHY AND SCRATCHY... I hoped that making my own products would also help me calm my sensitive skin and scalp, made worse by the high levels of stress and anxiety I was experiencing. I even had to see my GP when I woke up covered with red, inflamed, incredibly itchy spots all over my belly, chest and parts of my back. After...