Who does DIY...

...Skincare and household cleaning products?
I'm getting quite swept away with making my own stuff. I'm not making stuff from scratch yet - I'm using bases - but I will make this next endeavour over the uni holidays.
I'm using about 36 essential oils and making a bathroom cleansing creme (and I've made one in another container to keep in the kitchen), kitchen spray, air freshener, linen spray, face cleanser, after-sun gel, face lotion, eczema oil for DS, bruise blend for DS (!!), bath oil for babies, DP's hand lotion (he's labouring ATM), hand wash/dishwashing liquid, a 'skin repair' blend for the dog who has a skin condition, and soap. I think that's all. Oh, and I have a car diffuser, as well.
I'm getting my oils from various sellers (one's from a factory outlet, one from an eBay seller who lives near me and charges next to no delivery, and the rest from my local health food shop who stocks various 'brands'), bases from the factory outlet and another eBay seller (they don't combine postage, but it saves me driving anywhere) and from the Soap Warehouse in Kilsyth (bicarb and soap powder, though a local shop is telling me she'll get the stuff in and save me the drive!).
I also use sodium carbonate (sold in a 400g box at Foodworks for $1.71) as a boost to my washing (especially for nappies), along with two dropper's worth of eucalyptus oil and sometimes some grated pure soap (the yellow variety, I grate it myself and save about $5). For the loo I use vinegar, water and tea tree, euc, lemon and peppermint.
It's really easy! I thought it would be hard, even just using bases, but it's not. I'm learning enough this semester without having to learn how to do these things from scratch, so I'll leave it for now.
Anyway, I was just interested to know what others are doing with essential oils and natural products around the home, and if you could share your ideas here for others to borrow :)

I used to do similar stuff to avoid chemicals but I don't anymore. I used to grate pure soap into an old laundry liquid container and top it up with warm water & shake it. It made great laundry liquid and cost next to nothing. At one stage I was making my own toiletries and house cleaning products but after a few years lost interest in it.

Skincare - I make my own soap! LOL (duh) and got creams and balms in the making. I have a belly balm which is lovely, but I've gotta get the beeswax ratio right, coz it's a bit lumpy! LOL. I also keep meaning to make a solution for baby wipes.. but just haven't had time to test out my planned recipes! DH made his own toothpaste at one stage too.

Around the house - I'm an enjo girl.. so don't even use vinegar or bicarb LOL. Must admit I throw in the odd chemical if I've left it too long between cleans ( :redface: ) like a bit of jif, or toilet duck.

I was thinking of making a solution for washing clothes & nappies out of our pure soaps.. I did have a recipe at some stage which included an ingredient that would stop it ruining the washing machine. Should look it up huh. hehe. I tried essential oil in the wash.. but it didn't seem to do anything.. maybe I didn't use enough??

I find I have big plans and ideas.. but no time!

No but i would certainly love to! There's something great about knowing exactly whats in your products and also knowing they were made with love and care. One day when i have the resources and time i'll look in to it. At the moment my project is making my own nappies, well for DS lol.

Shouldn't need much euc oil in the wash. I figure that the biggest thing with the washing machine is the hose - the amount of money I save on washing powders is more than I would spend replacing the hose. I have a 25 ml dropper bottle (that I refill from a litre bottle, the small bottle is just handy by the machine) with the euc oil and 2 droppers is enough, along with some sodium carbonate...even for pooey nappies and brickie's labourer clothes :)
I haven't tried my soap yet, it's in the experimental stage still! Im enjoying my chemically reduced house!
One day, when the oil runs out, DIY will be de rigeur...;)
ETA: LOL Ourlux!

heh - DH is always saying that one day we'll all have to be self sufficient. Shame we don't have a green thumb for a vegie patch. I can't even keep herbs alive these days LMAO.