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I believe that life is a series of stories worth telling and man, do I have some to share! I am a wife and mom of 4 (and counting). I am a storyteller and dreamer turned blogger and podcaster. I delight in always finding something new to create and do around our home. I am passionate about living my life in joy through every season of marriage, motherhood, and business. I love to share our love and our life, authentically and unfiltered, to inspire you to find joy in your everyday. Cozy up and find something fun!

I'm Lauren

you can call me La!

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let's be friends

Disclosure: As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. So grateful that for your support of our family by purchasing through our links!

Dishes for the Frugal Mama

Have you ever looked at the ingredient list on your dish soap or how about your dish detergent? Chances are, unless you've you researched this, the answer is "No". How do I know that? Because, until today... I never did. I needed the ingredients to write this blog, so I went to take a photo. Guess what?! There is NO INGREDIENT list. Why? Because here, in America, the government does not regulate this. As a mama, grandparent, anyone who cares for anyone, I hope you are outraged.


Ditching and switching seem astronomical and out of reach? Think again. In this blog, I'll share with you 2 recipes on how to get more bang for your buck- in the kitchen!


Young Living products are highly concentrated and many can be diluted and stretched into more.


 

Young Living Simple Swaps

We spend a lot of time thinking about what our food is but very little time thinking about what’s on our plates that our food goes on...crazy right?!


Dish soap, no matter how well it’s rinsed leaves SOMETHING behind from is components. You have two choices...toxins on your plate therefore entering your body OR….not.


I choose not, thanks!


Thieves Dish Soap is such an easy ditch and switch! Today we will cover 3 Thieves Dish Soap Hacks and a DIY Dishwasher Powder.

Join the FREE JPF Ditch + Switch Challenge to get the hacks and learn more about this lifestyle change!



 

Double Thieves Dish Soap


Here’s how to turn 1 bottle into 2:


1. Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda to 6 fl oz warm water and mix.

2. Dump out 1/2 of the Thieves Dish Soap and store in a mason jar (or split amongst empty soap bottles).

3. Combine the water and baking soda mixture to the half filled bottles and stir.


*Recipe and Images Compliments of: MamaBird.Essentials



Triple Thieves Dish Soap

Not one... Not two... but THREE!!!


One bottle of Thieves dish soap is $14, but when you turn it into three bottles, each bottle costs $4.66. That’s a great price for clean dish soap!


Here’s how to turn 1 bottle into 3:

1. Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda to 6 fl oz warm water and mix.

2. Mix in 1 capful of Thieves Household Cleaner.

2. Dump out 2/3 of the Thieves Dish Soap and store in a mason jar (or split amongst empty soap bottles).

3. Combine the water, baking soda, and Thieves mixture to the half filled bottles and stir.


Once you use it all up, add 1/3 of your reserved dish soap and repeat.


It’s SO EASY! And less than $5 a bottle for completely clean, CHEMICAL free, plant based, pure essential oil infused dish soap!



DIY Dish Soap out of Thieves Bar Soap


A regular 12oz bottle of the Thieves dish soap comes out to about $4.66/bottle when you do the 1/3 dilution hack. With this trick? You get twice again as much dish soap ... coming out to $1.75/bottle. And it's super easy!


  1. Grate or finely chop one bar of Thieves Bar Soap.

  2. Melt it in 2 quarts of water on the stove.

  3. Let it cool, pour into two mason jars for storage (add more water to get back to at least 2qt if any evaporated!), and you're done!



DIY Dishwasher Powder



Toxic Free 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐚𝐩! ⁣

⁣Goodbye 𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐎𝐗𝐈𝐂 cascade scent pouches.


Lemon Pine Dishwasher Detergent:⁣

1 cup washing soda⁣

1 cup baking soda⁣

1 cup citric acid⁣

½ cup salt⁣

This recipe makes enough for 56 loads! All you need is 1 tablespoon per load.



 

Dirty Soaps

So, just how dirty is your dish soap?

Below are a list of the most common dangerous, toxic ingredients found in typical dish soaps.


Phosphates

Triclosan

SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate)/SLES (sodium laureth sulfate)

Fragrance

DEA (diethanolamine)

MEA (monoethanolamine)

TEA (triethanolamine)

Chlorine

Formaldehyde

Ammonia


How dirty is your dish detergent?

High Concern: acute aquatic toxicity, chronic aquatic toxicity; Some Concern: general systemic/organ effects- Rated F

High Concern: damage to DNA, cancer; Moderate Concern: chronic aquatic toxicity; Some Concern: skin irritation/allergies/damage, developmental/endocrine/reproductive effects; Disclosure Concern: non-specific ingredient- Rated F

High Concern: general ecotoxicity; Some Concern: respiratory effects, skin irritation/allergies/damage, damage to vision Rated: D

NON-IONIC SURFACTANT- High Concern: developmental/endocrine/reproductive effects; Moderate Concern: acute aquatic toxicity, chronic aquatic toxicity; Some Concern: damage to vision, general systemic/organ effects, skin irritation/allergies/damage

Concerns from [PHENOL, P-NONYL-]: Some Concern: acute aquatic toxicity, developmental/endocrine/reproductive effects

Concerns from [ETHYLENE OXIDE]: Some Concern: cancer, developmental/endocrine/reproductive effects, damage to DNA, respiratory effects, nervous system effects, skin irritation/allergies/damage, damage to vision

Concerns from [1,4-DIOXANE]: Some Concern: cancer, digestive system effects, respiratory effects, skin irritation/allergies/damage; Disclosure Concern: non-specific ingredient

ANTIFOAM Moderate Concern: respiratory effects; Some Concern: general systemic/organ effects, developmental/endocrine/reproductive effects, damage to vision; Disclosure Concern: non-specific ingredient- Rated D

FRAGRANCE Some Concern: skin irritation/allergies/damage, acute aquatic toxicity, respiratory effects, biodegradation; Disclosure Concern: non-specific ingredient- Rated D

SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE High Concern: acute aquatic toxicity; Moderate Concern: respiratory effects; Some Concern: damage to vision, skin irritation/allergies/damage

Concerns from [CHLORINE]: Some Concern: respiratory effects, general systemic/organ effects, skin irritation/allergies/damage, damage to vision

Concerns from [CHLOROFORM]: Some Concern: developmental/endocrine/reproductive effects, cancer, general systemic/organ effects, nervous system effects, digestive system effects

Concerns from [CARBON TETRACHLORIDE]: Some Concern: general systemic/organ effects, cancer

Concerns from [1,1-DICHLOROETHYLENE]: Some Concern: kidney and urinary effects, general systemic/organ effects, cancer- Rated D

ALCOHOL ALKOXYLATES Moderate Concern: nervous system effects; Some Concern: respiratory effects, developmental/endocrine/reproductive effects

Concerns from [ETHYLENE OXIDE]: Some Concern: cancer, developmental/endocrine/reproductive effects, damage to DNA, respiratory effects, skin irritation/allergies/damage, damage to vision, general systemic/organ effects

Concerns from [1,4-DIOXANE]: Some Concern: cancer, digestive system effects, respiratory effects, skin irritation/allergies/damage; Disclosure Concern: non-specific ingredient- Rated D

POLYACRYLATES Moderate Concern: biodegradation

Concerns from [ACRYLAMIDE]: Some Concern: developmental/endocrine/reproductive effects, general systemic/organ effects, cancer, damage to DNA, nervous system effects, skin irritation/allergies/damage, damage to vision, respiratory effects; Disclosure Concern: non-specific ingredient- Rated D OXYGEN BLEACH This non-specific ingredient was better disclosed elsewhere by the company."

These are just a fraction of the ingredients. Feel free to click and learn more on each of the links above for more info.


 

Join Us

Show us what's first to switch for you! Use the hashtag and us in your photos #JPFDitchandSwitch on social media.



The Challenge

For the next 3 weeks, we will be looking in our homes for these toxic chemicals that are free ranging in our homes- from the bathroom to the kitchen cabinets and even sitting on your counters delivering your senses a wonderful aroma that could be harming your littles.


We challenge you this week to take a good hard look at all the things in your bathroom you use every day, those things you use to clean your skin and make you smell nice, they may be causing you and your family harm.





Schedule

Week 1: Bath and Body {Sept. 9-14}


Week 2: Household Cleaners {Sept. 16-21}

Tuesday: 12+ Thieves DIY Recipes

Wednesday: Thieves Dish Soap Hacks

Thursday: DIY Thieves Wipes

Friday: All About Laundry: Double Laundry Soap, DIY Stain Stick, Dryer Balls, + Wrinkle Release


Week 3: Home Fragrances {Sept. 23-28}

Blog with info coming Sept. 23rd


 

Want to learn more about oils?


JPF Oils Made Simple Club

Join our oily community, where I'll take you on an exclusive journey of learning about all the essentials of an oily life.


Includes:

💧 Samples of each of the 12 oils in the Premium Starter Kit

✨ DIY Materials for Starter Units

✨ Thieves household cleaner sample

✨ Exclusive self-paced course with how-to's for benefits and oil uses

✨ Regular DIY recipes, blogs and free resources

✨ First look and dibs in our virtual DIY Workshops


*This community is only available for non-young living members.


Become a JPF Oils Made Simple Member for just $25 today!


Happy Switching,

Kenzie and Lauren


References: Young Living, EWG

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