I’ve been doing some searching on DIY products to make, to get away from some of the brand name soaps, hair products, cleaning products, bug repellants health/remedies products and some food recipes. In many of the links for recipes, make sure to scroll down to bottom of pages to read comments, some people will give other alternatives to some of the ingredients or other tidbits worth reading.

I got carried away with all this and with the benefits of essential oils, once you start seeing all the benefits of them you can’t help but to keep searching to see what they can do health wise.

~Dr. Bronner’s castile DIY shampoo:

I haven’t tried a lot of things yet, but what I have tried is shampoo using Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap. It does take some getting used to because after washing your hair feels different than when using store bought shampoo. I feel it’s best to use the DIY apple cider rinse (recipe below) after washing hair, for softer and tangle free feel after hair is dry (I blow dry my hair so don’t know if that makes a difference). Here’s how I make these along with a website to show other ways to make shampoo also:

~1 can of coconut milk ~1 cup and a half of liquid castile soap (I use Dr. Bronner's castile soap) ~10 drops essential oil (whatever scent you like, use 100% essential oil)

Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl. Use a glass bottle for storage since the essential oils require it. You can also put it in a plastic bottle if you don’t have it.

~Dr. Bronner has a line of products ready to use or you can buy the Castile Soap to make your own products. I like their bar soap, castile soaps & toothpaste (this toothpaste does not lather, so if you like your toothpaste to lather don’t buy this brand). The soaps do lather up really nice. Haven’t tried their other items yet. Dr. Bronner's castile soap website...

https://www.drbronner.com/

~You can also buy Dr. Bronner's castile soap & other products online at Walmart. I haven't seen their products in store in my area. The bar soap is great though a little expensive at over $3 a bar. Sometimes our grocery store has a few bars. You can also find the products on amazon (did not link).

https://www.walmart.com/search?q=dr%20bronners

~Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse:

~If you want to do the apple cider vinegar rinse, this is the recipe I use on my hair. I just washed out an empty plastic syrup bottle (maybe a 24 oz bottle), works great, my hair is a little long (mid-back length), so if you have shorter hair, you can use less if you want. I found that lavender works great with the ACV, however you can use any scent of essential oils you like (make sure they are 100% pure essential oil) ...

~2 - 3 tablespoons ACV

~few drops of lavender or whatever type of essential oil you prefer, add as little or much scent as you prefer. A little bit of essential oil can go a long way.

~water (fill up the container with warm/hot water).

I usually just put in the ACV & essential oil in bottle, put the cap on and fill the bottle in the shower so the water will be same temp.

~And here’s something I do for hand soap:

I usually use dawn dish soap (probably can use any liquid soap but I’ve only tried it with dawn), water & essential oil mixed together in a foam pump soap bottle. I also add a few drops of vitamin E, but like the essential oil it’s optional.

Here are some DIY stuff to try if things get hard to buy or if you would just like to try making your own:

~~Body, hair & teeth care: *Shampoo & hair rinse

I shared above a recipe I used, here's some other recipes also ... https://www.belletag.com/beauty/hair/homemade-shampoo-recipes https://www.littleloveliesbyallison.com/homemade-shampoo-recipes/

Citrus Vinegar Hair Rinse

Vinegar makes a wonderful conditioning hair rinse, whether you’re using homemade no-poo, or just want shiny, healthy, pH-balanced hair. The addition of lemon to your homemade conditioning rinse will help keep a greasy scalp and hair under control while improving dull hair and resolving many scalp issues. Add the peels of several lemons to a jar and fill almost to the top with apple cider vinegar. Allow it to sit for 1-2 weeks and strain out peels. Add about 1 tablespoon of this citrus vinegar solution to 1 cup of water and use it as a conditioning rinse after shampooing. Allow the rinse to remain on the hair for a few minutes, then rinse out or just leave in.

*Bodywash Homemade Body Wash: A Natural & Moisturizing DIY Body Wash Recipe (diynatural.com)

*Soap https://www.diynatural.com/?s=soap

*Homemade Deodorant

https://www.treehugger.com/homemade-deodorant-5205029

https://www.diynatural.com/homemade-deodorant-stick/

https://www.diynatural.com/homemade-roll-on-deodorant/

https://www.diynatural.com/homemade-deodorant-for-sensitive-skin/

https://www.diynatural.com/natural-deodorant-recipe/#wprm-recipe-container-25570

*Toothpaste Recipes

https://draxe.com/beauty/homemade-baking-soda-toothpaste/#Baking_Soda_Toothpaste_Recipe

https://www.diynatural.com/homemade-toothpaste/

https://www.everchangeproductions.co/zero-waste-toothpaste-with-bentonite-clay/#:~:text=If%20you%20have%20metal%20fillings%2C%20bentonite%20clay%20is,rapidly%20swells%20open%20like%20a%20highly%20porous%20sponge.

*Homemade Mouthwash: A Natural and Antibacterial DIY Recipe

https://www.diynatural.com/homemade-mouthwash/#wprm-recipe-container-24300

~~Cleaners:

***All-purpose cleaners, detergent, softener ** Homemade All Purpose Cleaner: A Simple DIY Recipe That Really Works (diynatural.com)

https://www.diynatural.com/homemade-shower-cleaner-tile/#wprm-recipe-container-25649

Lemon Peel: 25 Great Uses for Lemon Peels for Cleaning and More

https://www.diynatural.com/uses-for-lemon-peels/

***Laundry detergent & softener and dryer sheets ** Homemade Laundry Detergent: The Original and Best DIY Natural Recipe

Homemade Fabric Softener and Homemade Dryer Sheets | DIY Natural

Homemade Shower Cleaner: A Natural DIY Shower, Tub, and Tile Spray (diynatural.com)

**~~Bugs:

Mosquito repellant*

Homemade Mosquito Repellent: A Natural DIY Mosquito & Insect Repellent (diynatural.com)

https://www.diynatural.com/mosquito-repelling-plants/

Haven’t tried the above mosquito repellents yet but if you happen to get bit by a mosquito, I found holding a cotton ball or paper towel saturated with apple cider vinegar to bite helps it go away, especially if you put it on not long after getting bit.

Also, I’ve used with some success for gnats in the house. Mix water, apple cider vinegar, tiny bit of regular sugar & a few drops of dawn dish soap. Put it in little containers and set in areas that you have issues with gnats. You can make enough into separate little container/s or make a big batch to store for refilling containers later. Check it every few days to see if you need to top it off with water &/or ACV as it will evaporate. Once you catch plenty of gnats, throw the mixture out, rinse your container and add fresh mixture and set out again. I even put some out near my container vegetables and it helped attract the gnats away from the plants (try not to let the liquid mixture get into your plants as it may kill them). You can also put some plastic wrap over the container tightly, then poke a few holes in plastic wrap just big enough for the gnats to crawl through.

*How to Get Rid of Ants Naturally with Homemade Ant Bait That Works!

https://www.diynatural.com/how-to-get-rid-of-ants-naturally/

***Ants indoor & outdoor ** https://pestkill.org/ants/diy-homemade-killer/

https://www.tipsbulletin.com/how-to-get-rid-of-ants-outside/

https://www.homeremediesforme.com/homemade-ant-killer/

*How to Get Rid of Roaches Naturally

https://www.thespruce.com/get-rid-of-roaches-naturally-1388145#:~:text=4%20Ways%20to%20Get%20Rid%20of%20Roaches%20Naturally,Diatomaceous%20Earth.%20...%204%20Essential%20Oil%20Sprays.%20

*Homemade Tick Repellent: Spray That Works and Is Backed By Research

https://www.diynatural.com/homemade-tick-repellent-diy/

*And many other things, just do a search in the search bar and see if what else you can find, tons of info & recipes on this site:

Homemade Cleaners, DIY Beauty Products, and More | DIY Natural

https://www.diynatural.com/

**~~Essential Oil benefits: ** ***Top 150 List of Essential Oils With Free Cheat Sheet - Updated 2020 ** Top 150 List of Essential Oils With Free Cheat Sheet - Updated 2020 (lovingessentialoils.com)

*Essential Oils Directory:

Essential Oil Properties, Uses and Benefits

130 Essential Oils: Essential Oil Uses and Benefits | AromaWeb

https://explore.globalhealing.com/best-essential-oils-and-their-benefits/

*****Best Essential Oils and Their Benefits

Best Essential Oils and Their Benefits (globalhealing.com)

*****Ingestible Essential Oils List for Safe Internal Use

https://www.revyourbody.com/ingestible-essential-oils.html

*****5 Cancer-Fighting Essential Oils & 5 Ways to Use Them

My 5 Favorite Cancer-Fighting Essential Oils & 5 Ways to Use Them (thetruthaboutcancer.com)

*****How To Use Essential Oils To Treat COVID-19 Symptoms

How To Use Essential Oils To Treat COVID-19 Symptoms (healthbenefitstimes.com)

*****Antiviral Essential Oil Blend Recipes

Antiviral Essential Oil Blend Recipes | LabAroma Blog

*Top 5 Essential Oils for Allergies | Essential Oil Experts https://essentialoilexperts.com/essential-oils-for-allergies/

*****Essential Oil Uses: 15 Effective and Creative Ways to Use Essential Oils

Essential Oil Uses: 15 Effective and Creative Ways to Use Essential Oils (diynatural.com)

*****Best Essential Oils for Dry Skin - DIY Moisturizing Body Oil Recipes

https://www.lovingessentialoils.com/blogs/diy-recipes/essential-oils-for-dry-skin

~~Some benefits of certain types of essential oils:

*****13 Wonderful Benefits Of Cedarwood Essential Oil

https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/health-benefits-of-cedar-wood-essential-oil.html

*****Vanilla Essential Oil Benefits, Uses, & Where to Buy

https://essentialoilexperts.com/vanilla-essential-oil-uses-benefits/

*****12 Every Day Uses for Tea Tree Essential Oil

https://www.diynatural.com/uses-for-tea-tree-oil/

*****Frankincense Essential Oil: The Uses and Benefits of Frankincense Oil

https://www.diynatural.com/frankincense-essential-oil/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27117114/

*****The Many Benefits and Uses For Chamomile

https://www.diynatural.com/chamomile-tea-benefits/

*****Patchouli Oil (Pogostemon) Benefits and Uses

https://www.healthline.com/health/patchouli-oil

In the current study we have evaluated the antibiofilm and antivirulent properties of unexplored essential oils (EOs) obtained from Pogostemon heyneanus (Patchouli) and Cinnamomum tamala against Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0882401017309889?via%3Dihub

~~Health remedies:

*****Natural Strategies for Catarrh and Throat Mucus

https://www.diynatural.com/catarrh-throat-mucus/

*****Homemade Vapor Rub: A Simple and Natural DIY Vapor Rub Recipe

https://www.diynatural.com/homemade-vapor-rub/#wprm-recipe-container-26889

*****A Soothing DIY Bug Bite and Boo Boo Stick Recipe

https://www.diynatural.com/boo-boo-stick/#wprm-recipe-container-26084

*****Plants that repel unwanted bugs from your garden/yard/home

https://www.treehugger.com/plants-that-repel-unwanted-insects-4864336

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/outside-plants-repel-gnats-27408.html

https://verminkill.com/plants-that-repel-gnats/

~~Dogs/pets:

*****Dog shampoo:

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/easy-natural-homemade-dog-shampoo/

*****Quick & easy recipe for an alternative to pill pockets:

https://www.diynatural.com/how-to-get-a-dog-to-take-a-pill/

*****Homemade Treats for Dogs, Cats, Goats, & Chickens

https://www.diynatural.com/homemade-dog-treats-cat/

~~Food:

*****Everything You Should Know About Manuka Honey

https://www.healthline.com/health/manuka-honey

*****Easy Peesy French Bread Recipe – Four Ingredients, ONE Hour, Fool Proof

https://www.mymundaneandmiraculouslife.com/foodie-fridays-easy-peesy-french-bread/#comments

*****No-Knead Bread Recipe

https://www.diynatural.com/no-knead-bread-recipe/#wprm-recipe-container-369822

*****How to Make Aluminum-Free Baking Powder!

https://www.diynatural.com/make-baking-powder/

*****Homemade Flour Tortillas Recipe

https://www.diynatural.com/homemade-flour-tortillas/#wprm-recipe-container-27646

*****20 Food Items That Are Great for Long-Term Storage

https://www.diynatural.com/long-term-food-storage/

*****How to Make Kombucha Recipe

https://www.diynatural.com/how-to-make-kombucha-recipe-benefits/#wprm-recipe-container-25312

~~Plants that keep pests/bugs from your vegetable garden: https://www.treehugger.com/plants-that-repel-unwanted-insects-4864336 https://homeguides.sfgate.com/outside-plants-repel-gnats-27408.html https://verminkill.com/plants-that-repel-gnats/

~~Prepping:

I know next to nothing about prepping but found these websites/videos that I thought I’d share. If anyone has other/better must-see sites, please share them in the comments! I’m still learning about it myself as I’m sure others are also and would appreciate other insights that are more knowledgeable.

Last Minute Prepper: How to Survive a Disaster when you Failed to Prepare:

https://offgridsurvival.com/lastminuteprepper/

Riverside Homestead Life

https://www.youtube.com/c/RiversideHomesteadLife/videos

OFF GRID with DOUG & STACY

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChit3QKk051fCsqliwVrbuQ

HAXMAN

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgFkhHePN1RqdTRsBFSvAVQ

~~Products for your body & home cleaning that use more natural ingredients: These products you can find on the Brands website (provided links), on Amazon or online/in store at Walmart.

*Native

https://www.nativecos.com/collections/shop-all

*Arm & Hammer

https://www.armandhammer.com/

*Dr. Teal’s

https://www.drteals.com/products/?product-type=aluminum-free-deodorant

*Mrs. Meyer’s

https://www.mrsmeyers.com/

*Dr. Bronner’s

https://www.drbronner.com/