DIY Body Wash with Clean Ingredients

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I made a decision nearly a decade ago to limit the chemicals that I use. I am mindful of food ingredients and product listings from cleaning supplies to toiletries. As a result, I have learned to make my own concoctions that prove to be cost effective too! Here’s how I make my body wash. The scent is customizable to your preference; I change up the essential oil blends often!

Ingredients:

8 oz Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap
20 drops Vitamin E Oil
1 tablespoon Sweet Almond Oil
1 teaspoon Jojoba Oil
4 tso Vegetable Glycerine
40 drops Bergamot essential oil*
40 drops Orange essential oil*

*I purchase my essential oils from Young Living (if you copy and paste this URL https://www.youngliving.com/us/en/referral/30124903 and use code SHAREYL you will receive 10% off your first order) or Plant Therapy (this link should get you 15% off your first order).

Mix together and store in a glass pump bottle. Citrus oils are strong and can break down plastic.

I was not compensated for this post. It does contain affiliate links, where I will received a small discount on my next purchase based on the number of orders received from this post. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way. Photo are property of Eclectic Jenn.

Laundry Scent Booster

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DIY Recipe

If you’re trying to reduce chemicals in your home;
If you use unscented laundry detergent and want a clean smell;
If you don’t want to pay the $$$ for an overpriced brand name product;

…have I got great news for you!

This simple, three-ingredient recipe will give you 8 loads of laundry scent booster. It can easily be doubled (or more) to make bulk batches.

Recipe:
1.5 cups of unscented Epsom salt
0.5 cups of baking soda
30 drops of essential oil (I use 20 drops of lemon and 10 drops of lemongrass for a fresh, clean blend.)

Mix thoroughly and store in an air-tight container. I usually double the recipe when I make it.

Directions:
Use 0.25 cups in the washing machine drum per load.

I was not compensated for this post, and it contains no affiliate links. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way. Video is property of Eclectic Jenn.

Laundry Room Makeover

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When you think of updating your home, it’s easy to forget about your laundry room. Let’s face it, most people strongly dislike doing laundry anyway. Why invest time and money to spruce up a space where you don’t like to be?

My laundry room is not a big space. I chose to DIY this space because of that. I knew that I could make minimal changes quickly and affordably. I needed a space where I could see a big impact in a short amount of time in order to inspire me to continue updating the outdated rooms in my home. Not only did this space inspire me in design but I actually find myself staying on top of laundry because the updated space makes me happy. The colors that I chose are also inviting and calming. It no longer feels like a storage closet. Instead, it’s a sophisticated room that I want to keep organized.

Where It All Began:

The laundry room had no pizazz. Everything was a standard builder-grade white. The paint was flat and boring. The original appliances – a RCA brand washer and dryer set circa 1994 – were still operational but in desperate need of repair.

When I learned that a friend was selling her practically new washer and dryer because she was moving, I knew that it would be a perfect time to update my laundry room between moving the old set out and the new-to-me set in.

What I Used:

Valspar – Mint Frost
Sherwin Williams – Dover White
Valspar – Ocean Storm
Rethunk Junk – Sand
Rustoleum – Satin Nickel
Rustoleum – Antique Pewter Hammered
Hinges – Brushed Nickel
Pulls – Brushed Nickel
3D Peel & Stick Wallpaper – White Brick
Folding Brackets – Stainless Steel
Roman Shades – Ivory
Farmhouse Chandelier – Wood Beads
Cotton Rope Storage Cubes – Set of 3
Faucet – Brushed Nickel
Woven Basket Laundry Hamper – White & Desert

Details of the DIY:

I accomplished this makeover in less than a month. I worked on the project while working full time but I did schedule wait until my grad school semester was over to begin. I likely would have not completed the room had I needed to juggle classes too.

I started the project by clearing out the room. I had help removing the old washer and dryer (and bringing the new-to-me set inside.) Otherwise, I managed everything else. First, I removed the cabinet doors and utility sink. I sanded the face of the cabinets and cleaned the room thoroughly. Next, I painted the cabinets and two walls green, and the fourth wall white.

When it was time to install the 3D wall covering, I took my time. The self-adhesive backing was very tacky, making it nearly impossible to reposition the faux bricks. I started from the bottom and slowly worked my way up the wall. The wall covering sheets were square panels but, to make the bricks look more realistic, I cut the edges so that the panels fit together like puzzle pieces instead of just butting up against one another. Once I got the wall covering to the desired height, I used Spackle in places to give the bricks a more realistic texture. From there, I layered multiple paint colors to create a weathered, rustic brick appearance.

I added a trim piece to finish the edge of the wall covering, and painted all of the trim in the same white as the wall. I sanded the utility sink and painted it using several metallic-finish spray paints. When it was dry, I brought it back inside to reconnect it. I added a new fixture to give it a more modern look. I sanded, cleaned, and painted the cabinet doors before reattaching them to the cabinets with new hardware. I wanted a table for folding clothes but the room is too narrow. I decided to add a folding table that can tuck down out of the way when it’s not in use.

My final touch was adding the beaded light fixture. It came with warm Edison bulbs that added to the aesthetic of the room. This project came in under budget at around $1000, which included the gently-used washer and dryer set.

I was not compensated for this post, and it contains no affiliate links. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way. Photo credits can be viewed by hovering over each image above. All sources found online unless property of Eclectic Jenn.