Personal Hygiene Items

1. Dental care (Dantamanjan) – (Blend of medicinal herbs)

Properties – Natural astringent, fights bad breath and tooth decay, tightens and strengthens gums

Recipe
Ingredients –
Hirda (Terminalia chebula)
Lavang powder (Syzigium aromaticum)
Bakul powder (Mimusops elengi)
Kadulimb bark powder (Azadirachta indica)
Babhul bark powder (Acacia nilotica)
Saindhav (Rock salt)

Method –
Sieve all ingredients and mix well in the following proportion –
a) 1 part each of Bakul powder and Neem bark powder
b) 2 parts each of Hirda powder, Babhul bark powder and Saindhav.
c) ½ part Lavang powder

Dantamanjan is ready. Store in an airtight container.

Directions for use –
Use a pinch of Dantamanjan on a wet toothbrush or finger and brush as usual.
For best results massage gums with finger, dip wet toothbrush in Dantamanjan and brush as usual.
For children use any green toothpaste (Vicco, Meswak etc..).

2. Body Wash (Utane) – (Blend of medicinal herbs)

Properties – Gives long lasting fragrance, exfoliating, has a cooling effect, moisturises, disinfectant, makes skin soft

Recipe
Ingredients –
Chandan – Sandalwood (Santalum album)
Gavhla kachora (Hedychium spicatum)
Tulas (Ocimum sanctum)
Kachora (Curcuma zedoaria)
Gulab – Rose petals (Rosa centifolia)
Santra saal –Orange peel (Citrus sinensis)
Multani mati (Fullers earth)
Nagarmotha (Cyperus rotundus)
Bavchi (Cullen corylifolium)
Vala (Chrysopogon zizanioides)
Ambehalad (Curcuma amada)

Method –
Sieve all ingredients and mix well in the following proportion –
a) 1 part each of Chandan, Gavhla kachora, Tulas and Kachora
b) 2 parts each of Gulab, Santra saal, Multani mati, Nagarmotha, Bavchi, Vala and Ambehalad.

Utane is ready. Store in an airtight container.

Directions for use –
For normal and oily skin – Make a paste of 1 tablespoon powder and water and apply to skin or sprinkle over wet skin directly and scrub. For best results, leave for 1-2 minutes and then rinse.

For dry skin – Make a paste of 1 tablespoon powder and milk or cream and apply as above

3. Hair Wash – (Blend of Shikakai, Ritha and medicinal herbs)

Properties à Mild hair cleanser, effective against dandruff and hair fall, conditions hair naturally, maintains natural texture and natural oils, keeps hair healthy and smooth, prevents scalp infection (antifungal)

Recipe
Ingredients:
Shikakai – Soap pod powder (Acacia concinna)
Ritha – Soap nut powder (Sapindus laurifolius)
Masala –
Avala powder (Phyllanthus emblica)
Orange peel powder (Citrus sinensis)
Nagarmotha (Cyperus rotundus
Bavchi (Cullen corylifolium)
Kachora (Curcuma zedoaria)
Vala (Chrysopogon zizanioides

Method –
Mix all ingredients well in the following proportion –
1 kg Shikakai, 100gms Ritha, 1 ready pack Masala

Directions for use –
For normal and oily hair – Add 2 tablespoons powder to a glass of lukewarm water (For best results, boil the powder in 1 glass water, strain and then use). Rinse hair in lukewarm water and apply mixture while massaging your scalp. Then wash clean.
For dry hair – Add 1 tablespoon powder to a glass of lukewarm water and wash as above.

Caution: Avoid contact with eyes. In case of irritation or burning to eyes, clean eyes liberally with water

Household Cleaning Items

Note: The items given below (1 to 5) can be used separately or in combination, depending on the cleaning activity.

You can prepare liquid soap (recipe given below) using Shikekai, Ritha and Vinegar and use it to clean a number of surfaces like kitchen platforms, table tops, bathroom tiles etc as also for washing clothes.

You can prepare cleaning powder (recipe given below) using Shikekai, Ritha and Baking soda to clean utensils. You will notice that you require less water to rinse and clean the utensils.

1. Shikakai powder (Soap Pod)

Properties – Mild, natural soap, Surfactant, First-class softener, Anti-fungal, Natural astringent

Directions for use –
You can use shikekai as soap……

2. Ritha powder (Soap Nut)

Properties – Natural soap, Surfactant, Excellent cleaning agent for clothes to ornaments, Anti-microbial, Insecticidal, Anti-inflammatory

Directions for use –
Use to wash your silks and delicates….

3. Baking Soda

Properties – pH regulator, Excellent cleaning agent, Natural Deodoriser, Therapeutic agent, abrasive

Directions for use –
Sprinkle on kitchen sink and wash basins, scrub and wash. You will notice that the kitchen sink will not clog if cleaned daily with baking soda as it is a dirt buster and cuts across grime as it washes.

4. All-purpose cleaner (Vinegar)

Properties – Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antibacterial, Antiseptic, Excellent cleaning agent, Natural Deodoriser, Sanitizer, Fabric Softener, Colour fastener, Stain remover, Food Preservative

Recipe
Ingredients:
Acetic acid of 50% concentration
Distilled water

Method –
To prepare 1 litre of all-purpose cleaner, add 100ml acetic acid to 900ml distilled water.

Directions for use –
Add 1 cap of the cleaner into half a bucket of water to mop the floor or to clean the kitchen platform.
In addition, you can add 2 drops of citronella (essential) oil / lemon grass oil / mint oil to ward off flies and insects.

Please note –

You can also use regular white (cooking) vinegar available in the market.
You can water your plants with the water you used for mopping the floor.

Caution:

1. Cleaner not to be used on marble floor. It may cause corrosion or leave white marks.
   2. In case the cleaner is swallowed by mistake, please drink 1 litre of water immediately.
2. Toilet cleaner (Vinegar)

Properties – Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antibacterial, Antiseptic, Excellent cleaning agent, Natural Deodoriser, Sanitizer, Fabric Softener, Colour fastener, Stain remover, Food Preservative

Recipe
Ingredients:
Acetic acid of 50% concentration
Distilled water

Method –
To prepare 1 litre of toilet cleaner, add 200ml acetic acid to 800ml distilled water.

Directions for use 1 –
Sprinkle baking soda and scrub the desired surface (washbasin, bathroom tiles, bathroom floor and toilet bowl). Add 1 cap of toilet cleaner to half a bucket of water and then wash the scrubbed surface with this solution.

Directions for use 2 –
Mix 2 spoons of baking soda with half cup vinegar in a mug & pour on desired surface. Let it sit for few minutes and scrub as usual. You can use the same mixture for scrubbing sanitary fittings and fixtures (other than chromium plated) like taps, showers, health faucets etc. Boring water stains are removed. Baking soda acts as abrasive so taps and shower nozzle holes are cleared resulting in good flow of water.

Caution:

1. Cleaner not to be used on marble floor. It may cause corrosion or leave white marks.
   2. In case the cleaner is swallowed by mistake, please drink 1 litre of water immediately.

Liquid Soap and Cleaning Powder

Recipe for Natural Liquid Soap

Ingredients –
Ritha powder/Ritha seeds
Shikekai powder
Vinegar

Method 1 –
Add 2 tablespoons Ritha and 1 tablespoon Shikekai to 1 litre water and bring the mixture to a boil while stirring continuously. Strain after the mixture cools. Add 1 cup all-purpose cleaner to this liquid soap for good shelf life (approx 2 months) and store. You can re-use the remains after straining to make a mild liquid soap to clean the kitchen platform or kitchen sink etc.

Method 2 –
Soak 6 medium sized soap nuts (ritha seeds) overnight in water. Next morning, crush slightly and add to 1 litre of water along with 1 tablespoon Shikekai. Bring the mixture to a boil while stirring continuously. Strain after the mixture cools. Add 1 cup all-purpose cleaner to this liquid soap for good shelf life (approx 2 months) and store. You can re-use the remains after straining to make more liquid soap that cleans any greasy surface like the gas stove etc or to clean the kitchen platform or kitchen sink.

Washing clothes in a washing machine  –

Directions for use 1 –
Take 2tsps each of Shikakai and Ritha powder in an old sock and tie a tight knot.
Add the sock to your normal wash load.
Add 1 cup of all-purpose cleaner to the softener dispenser of the washing machine. Wash as usual.

Directions for use 2 –
Soak 6 medium sized Ritha seeds for a couple of hours in water. Crush and put the seeds and 2tsps of Shikakai powder in an old sock and tie a tight knot.
Add the sock to your normal wash load.
Add 1 cup of all-purpose cleaner to the softener dispenser of the washing machine. Wash as usual.

Directions for use 3 –
Pour 100 ml of the natural liquid soap in the detergent dispenser. Add 1 cup of all-purpose cleaner to the softener dispenser of the washing machine. Wash as usual.

Recipe for Natural Cleaning Powder

Ingredients –
Ritha powder
Shikekai powder
Baking soda

Method –
Mix well 2 parts each of Ritha powder and Shikekai powder and 1 part of Baking soda and your cleaning powder for utensils is ready for use.
If desired, you can experiment and add lemon powder or orange peel powder. Amala powder & salt can be added for cleaning greasy utensils.

Useful Hints:

1. You can fill body wash and baking soda in old salt/pepper shakers or talcum powder shakers for ease of use.
2. You can re-use old hand wash dispensers for all-purpose and toilet cleaner or for the Reetha + Shikekai liquid soap.
3. You can also use lemon peel powder, orange peel powder, salt, to keep your house clean or any such traditional bio-degradable items of daily use that have been used by your grandparents that are readily available in every kitchen.

Simply experiment away and use!