Why do-it-yourself recipes when you could just go out and buy these things? Mostly I do it to lessen the amount of packaging (recyclable or not) accumulated. I buy most of the supplies in a bulk food store using my own containers. As for reusable wipes, the alternative creates waste that sits on a landfill for eons. Another point: this is all very easy stuff to do.
Reusable Wipes | Yogurt | Baking Powder | Play Dough | Non-toxic Children's Paint | Green Cleaners | Meusli | Sour Cream | Toothpaste
2 cups water, 1 tablespoon baby body wash, (optional: 1 tablespoon baby oil), 25-30 flannel or terry cloths, container for storage
Mix baby wash (and optional baby oil) with 2 cups boiled water and pour over cloths. Let soak in for 30 minutes. Keep covered. (When on the go, either take pre-moistened wipes in Ziploc baggy or take dry cloths and put wipe mixture in a small spray bottle.)
8 cups milk (we use homo, 2% works fine, too, if you want to try skim, you may have to add more powdered), 3/4 cup powdered skim milk, 1 cup yogurt
Mix the milk and powdered milk in a pot, then heat to 82C (or more). Transfer to a clean bowl and cool to 45C (or a little less). Mix some warmed mix with 1 cup yogurt. Stir mixture into warmed milk, cover and wrap in towels to ensure mixture cools very slowly. Let sit undisturbed for at least 5 hours, then refrigerate. Keeps refrigerated for a week.
(Recipe can be halved.)
1 part baking soda, 1 part cornstarch, 2 parts cream of tartar. (Buy these ingredients, especially cream of tartar, in bulk for least packaging and best price.)
Mix and store in a jar.
1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, 2 tsp cream of tartar, 1 cup water, 2 tbsp cooking oil, food colouring as desired
Mix together the dry, then mix the wet separately, then add liquid to dry all at once. Mix until it is a smooth paste. Cook over medium heat until it forms a ball, stirring constantly. Knead while still warm, adding the colour(s) of your choice. Keeps for several months in an airtight container in the fridge.
2 teaspoons vinegar, 2 teaspoons cornstarch, 10-20 drops food colouring
Mix together in a small jar or bowl (baby food jars work great). Spills wipe off of surfaces (floors, easels) very easily.
Environmentally friendly cleaners:
Greenpeace Canada has a list of basic ingredients here and recipes here.
4 cups rolled oats (quick or large flake), 1/2 cup toasted sunflower seeds, 1/2 cup toasted pumpkin seeds, 1/2 cup chopped nuts (pecans, cashews, whatever you like), 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots and/or 1/2 cup raisins
Mix together and store in a sealed container. Serve with milk or yogourt.
1 cup heavy cream and 1 tablespoon buttermilk, or plain yogourt with active cultures
Mix and cover with plastic wrap. Poke some holes in the wrap and put in a warm spot (about 30C) until thickened and set, 8-24 hours. Stir, cover and refrigerate until chilled and firm before using or for up to 1 week. If you want it thicker, you can spoon it into a bowl lined with 3 or 4 layers of cheese cloth, tie the cloth and hang it for an hour or two (you can catch the whey so that if it gets too thick you can reincorporate it).
A recipe for homemade toothpaste from Ecoholic can be found here.