Cleaning up after DIY

Cleaning up after DIY… Urgh! It can be a tedious task that requires patience. The best advice I have is to find a time to get creating when you’re not in a rush. Stress is not something we want hovering around us during DIY!

Most recipes are so straightforward, you won’t need to clean much more than a bowl and whisk in a sink or a dishwasher – I’m referring to foaming washes, facial oils, hand sanitiser, body scrubs etc. Balms and creams that use beeswax and thick butters require a little more effort, and that’s where this information becomes useful!

A guide to cleaning up after DIY

Step 1 – The key is to remove as much of the product from your bowl with a flexible spatula (silicone is preferable) and get it into your pot or container. You don’t want to waste any of that stuff, especially since a tablespoon of deodorant could last you two weeks!

Step 2 – Wipe out as much balm as possible with paper towel or an old cloth. You want the bowl to look clean, almost good enough to eat from (but don’t – not yet, anyway).

Step 3 – Rinse your bowl with boiling water and wash as usual, in a sink of hot soapy (naturally) water. Alternatively, boil a few cups of water with a slice of lemon/dash of white vinegar to remove any remaining residue. After this, you can put it in the dishwasher if you feel the need to.

Here are some extra tips

Do not pour melted balms or bowls full of oily water down the kitchen sink. This will only lead to eventual build up and clogging. I recommend finding a quiet spot in your yard, over stones or a corner patch of grass to discard such water.

It is a terrible idea to throw your bowl straight into the dishwasher. Everything will be coated in an oily film and that will only make your job ten times harder. Zinc oxide is not water-soluble, so you absolutely must adhere to steps 1 and 2 when making anything that involves this ingredient!

Here’s a thought – why not order your recipes in a way that allows you to make multiple recipes without needing to clean in between? For example, start with sunscreen then make your deodorant and finish with a body scrub. 3 recipes, 1 clean up. Boom!

Krissy Ballinger

author and passionate advocate for natural living and wellness

Krissy Ballinger is an accomplished author and passionate advocate for natural living and wellness. Her mission is to gently guide individuals towards holistic wellbeing by providing a wealth of resources and services, ranging from natural living guidance and DIY recipes, to healing therapies that nurture the mind, body, spirit and space. She envisions a world where conscious choices are made that honour the self, humanity and the environment.

With her roots in education and health promotion, Krissy continually expands her expertise. Recently, she obtained certifications in Zone Healing Technique and NeurOptimal Neurofeedback (brain training), qualified as a Reiki Healer, and completed an Undergraduate Certificate in Lifestyle Coaching from Endeavour College of Natural Health.

Krissy dedicates her time to managing her wellness room, offering services in Zone and Reiki Healing, Neurofeedback brain training, and Chemical Awareness Consulting. Additionally, she educates individuals about common and avoidable toxins through her various social platforms. Krissy’s books have collectively sold over 100,000 copies, including the award-winning Naturally Inspired – Simple DIY Recipes for Body Care and Cleaning, as well as Make & Play – Natural DIY Recipes for Kids, and The Lifestyle Edit.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Post comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.