Make It Yourself - Eight Reasons You Should Make Your Own Soaps, Bath Salts and Home Cleaners

by Susan Merriam

The time it takes to make your own soaps, bath salts and home cleaning products may seem like a lot of work when the grocery store is only down the street – or in my case, just 20 minutes away. So why should we take the time to do it ourselves?

Actually, there are eight great reasons you should be making these wonderful, all natural products from scratch:

1. The Cost

When you buy a product from the store, you are not only paying for the ingredients, you are also paying for the labeling, advertising, and shipping costs. Make it yourself, and you have a better quality product for a fraction of the cost.

2. It’s Safer and Healthier

When manufacturers make cleaning products, they are making items that must be able to sit on the shelves of your supermarket for months, sometimes years. Think lots of preservatives and chemicals, many of which are toxic. The products you mix together at home are made of natural ingredients, usually items such as pure soap, vinegar and salt that won’t give off harmful fumes or pose a risk to your children.

3. Better For The Environment

Using all natural ingredients in your home cleaners, bath salts and shower gels means less toxic chemicals going down the drain and eventually ending up in our water system.

4. Greater Security

There is always the possibility of a potential disaster, either natural or economic. A time may come when you might not have access to a nearby grocery store. Knowing how to get clean in a pinch is useful knowledge that gives you a secure feeling.

5. They Make Great Gifts

Deliciously scented, handmade soaps and bath salts are usually much better quality than what you can find in the store, and they make excellent gifts. Think huge savings when Christmas time rolls around. Better still, you can make your soaps, bath salts and shower gels months before the holidays and be prepared. No standing in lines at the mall in December!

6. Potential Home Business

Make your wonderfully scented bath products and then take them on the road – to county fairs and farmer’s markets. Better still, sell them online. It’s a fun way to earn a part-time income.

7. Teaching Opportunity

You probably won’t want to make lye soap with your children, but you could certainly make melt and pour glycerin soaps or mix bath salts with your kids. They’ll have a blast, and you can throw in a lesson about chemistry.

8. Tremendous Satisfaction

Making things yourself is a great way to get back to basics. It’s tremendously satisfying knowing you don’t have to run to the store and that you can make a fabulous product you’re proud of.

So try a few recipes. Trust me, you’ll get hooked and never want to browse the cleaning aisle of your supermarket again!