Since a few years ago when I first started making the switch to a more natural lifestyle, I have found a few essential ingredients that I now keep stockpiled in my tiny home. Some of these you may already have and use, but many of these ingredients and their uses may be new to you. I have compiled a list of the top ingredients that every home should have, starting with the most useful, for everything from cleaning to shampooing.
Baking Soda
Without a doubt, baking soda tops the list of essential DIY home ingredients. I use it in my laundry, to wash my hair, as an all-purpose cleaner, as a remedy for poison oak and pesky mosquito bites, to ease an unsettled stomach, to degrease pots... the list goes on. Make sure you read the caution label before you start using it, though; it is a strong substance and you don't want to use it improperly. This Crunchy Betty post offers an invaluable look at the truths and myths surrounding baking soda.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is just as useful as baking soda and performs almost all the same tasks, but it can leave a funny smell that my husband forbids when he's home, so it comes in second place. It leaves your hair feeling super soft and smooth when used as a shampoo - just make sure you wash with baking soda afterward to get rid of the smell and give your hair a little more volume.
Soap Nuts
Confession: I've never actually used soap nuts, but I've read about them and they look absolutely wonderful. They are real nuts that you can use to wash your clothes, then boil them down and use them as a natural dish soap, shampoo, etc. I will try them one day and from what I've read, I won't be disappointed.
Coconut Oil
While the super benefits of EVOO are touted everywhere, relatively little is said about coconut oil. However, it is an extremely healthy oil that doesn't have that odd taste associated with EVOO, so you can use it in place of butter or shortening in most recipes. It's really easy to cut into a pastry dough, too. And, it is a necessary ingredient if you plan to make your own hand lotions.
Goldenseal
You can't cook with it and you can't clean with it, but I always make sure to have a bottle of goldenseal capsules around. It is invaluable for clearing up almost any kind of infection, and I have avoided many a doctor's visit for infected diaper rashes by making a paste with goldenseal and water and applying it to the rash.
Honey
While local raw honey is the best way to go, the cheap stuff you get from the grocery store is just as useful. Use it in place of refined sugar in recipes, in green tea to soothe a sore throat or heartburn, or as a sweetener to spruce up your cereal or yogurt. You can also make a rejuvenating moisturizer/facial cleanser by mixing it half with salt and using it as a face mask for ten or twenty minutes.
Lemons
Sprinkle salt over the rinds of four or five lemons in a jar, then fill with water and vinegar and leave to soak for two weeks. You can strain out the liquid and use it as an all-purpose cleaner. You can also save the juice, and use it as a natural preservative or whenever a recipe calls for lemon juice.
Aloe Vera
An aloe plant is a necessity for every household, because the gel you get at the dollar store is loaded with stuff that you don't need. Collect the gel straight from the plant and use it to condition your hair, moisturize your face, soothe aching feet, and even as a lip balm.
Extracts
I just can't bring myself to spend the money that essential oils require, despite how useful and awesome they must be, but in many cases you can use natural extracts instead. They provide natural flavor and color in addition to scent, and are safe for use in homemade lotions, lip balms, shampoos, and other products you make yourself. Just don't use a bright red strawberry extract in your all-purpose cleaner!
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