Cheap Homemade Fixes Straight from the Kitchen

Switching from harsh commercial chemical products to homemade potions isn't as intimidating as it sounds. People switch to homemade housekeeping recipes for all sorts of reasons, economy, practicality, environmental responsibility. Homemade solutions to everyday problems usually cost just a few pennies and they're not tested on animals. Take a look at what's in the cabinet, get creative. There's really nothing to lose.

Olive Oil
Olive oil is the perfect fluid. It's great for the heart, it keeps food from sticking to your pans, it's fun to dip crusty bread in, and it's also useful in non-culinary pursuits. Dab a little on top of faded nail polish to bring back its shiny luster. Buff a little olive oil on brass after polishing to keep it from tarnishing so quickly. Melt it with a little beeswax to make an all vegetable based leather conditioner. Add some peppermint essential oil to the leather conditioner and, voila! A tingly lip balm.

Cornmeal
Does anyone actually cook with cornmeal anymore? It's fine if they don't because it has a multitude of other purposes. Cornmeal is a natural fungus fighter. To beat funky feet, cover the bottom of a container with cornmeal. The container should be big enough to soak feet in. Add water and let the cornmeal soak for an hour. Warm it up with some hot water and soak feet for an hour or more. Not only will foot skin be soft, toenail fungus and athlete's foot will be a thing of the past. Try adding some cornmeal to regular shampoo to put an end to dandruff. Or make a paste with some witch hazel and tea tree oil to create a gentle exfoliating face wash.

Coconut
Fresh coconut can be used as a natural hair straightener. Grind a fresh coconut in a blender until it makes about a glassful of juice. Squeeze the juice of one lime into the glass with the coconut juice and stir. Refrigerate until a creamy foam develops on top. Massage the cream into the scalp and cover with a hot towel for about an hour. Wash out with shampoo and repeat several times a week. Pretty soon the curls will relax themselves away.

Basil
Basil can be used to make an all natural astringent to treat acne. Boil a cup of water and add three teaspoons of dried basil leaves. Like a tea, let it steep for ten to twenty minutes and let it cool. Apply it to the face with a cotton ball for a chemical free alternative to toners. Fresh basil can also be used as a mosquito repellent. Just squeeze the leaves and rub them over the skin to become less tasty to little critters.

White Vinegar
White vinegar can be used as a cheap alternative to expensive fabric softeners. All it takes is half a cup per wash. If the vinegar smell gets to be too much and you still can't resist the fresh scent of laundry fragrance, soak small bits of sponge in the commercial fabric softener. Throw the sponge in the dryer to infuse clothes with the soft aroma of talking teddy bears.

Read more about olive oil here or here.
Read more about cornmeal here.
Read more about coconut here.
Read more about basil here or here.
Read more about vinegar here.