A homemade clean

Credit: iStock

Skip the processed, drying, chemical-ridden ingredients found in store-bought soap—and make your own.

Homemade soap is easy and relatively cheap to make. Start with an organic melt-and-pour soap base from a craft store, add a few common kitchen ingredients and a drop or two of your fave essential oil for a personalized brand.

Melt-and-pour bases can be melted over the stove, making homemade soap simple. You can find a whole range of melt-and-pour bases at craft stores or online. Try DeSerres on Broadway or Brambleberry online. If you’re feeling adventurous, make your own base using lye and water. But, be careful, lye is very toxic before processing, and the mixture can get messy.
 

After the base has melted, look around the kitchen for some fun ingredients to add. Ground-up oatmeal works great as a natural exfoliant, and mint leaves invigorate the skin. Mix together vanilla bean and cinnamon or try orange zest, cocoa powder and melissa oil.

Pour the melted soap into a mold and let it set. Examples of find-around-the-house molds include reusable plastic dishes and the stiff plastic that packages toys and other small items.