Four green cleaners

Shampoo

1 cup (250 mL) warm water (boiled for five minutes if it’s particular hard) 1 tbsp (15 mL) baking soda Stir well. Cool. Pour over wet hair. Massage, paying attention to the scalp and hairline.

If you have long or thick hair, feel free to double or triple the recipe, just keep the ratio the same.

Rinse.

Conditioner

1 cup (250 mL) warm water 1 to 2 tbsp (15 to 30 mL) apple cider vinegar

Mix, cool, pour over freshly shampooed, rinsed hair. Massage into scalp, leave in for a few minutes and rinse.

Hard time with the vinegar smell? Pop a cinnamon stick or vanilla bean in the bottle for a few days.

Toothpaste

2/3 cup (180 mL) baking soda

1/2 tsp (2.5 mL) fine sea salt

1 to 2 tsp (5 to 10 mL) peppermint extract, or 10 to 15 drops peppermint essential oil Water

Mix in glass jar, adding peppermint oil/extract a little bit at a time to taste, then add water until you get a thick paste.

Laundry detergent

1 bar soap, grated, after freezing for ease 1 cup (250 mL) washing soda (usually found on the bottom shelf in the detergent aisle at grocery stores) 1 cup (250 mL) borax 1 cup (250 mL) baking soda (optional) Mix. Use any bar of soap, but Somerville suggests buying a locally made soap from a store or farmers’ market. Somerville is also a huge fan of the Dr. Bronner’s brand, known for its eco-friendliness.

Use 1 to 2 tbsp (15 to 30 mL) per load. Works in cold water and high-efficiency washers. SOURCE: ALL YOU NEED IS LESS: THE ECO-FRIENDLY GUIDE TO GUILT-FREE GREEN LIVING AND STRESS-FREE SIM

PLICITY, BY MADELEINE SOMERVILLE