Rustic Roots Guide to a Greener, Healthier Lifestyle
Recipe below.
Over the years, I’ve learned that living simply doesn’t mean giving things up—it means choosing better. Healthier. More natural. I started making my own products out of a desire to cut down on toxins, live sustainably, and reconnect with the traditional skills that once came naturally to our grandparents.
If you’ve been wanting to move toward a simpler, less toxic lifestyle, here are a few easy swaps to get started. Each one makes a big difference for your health, your home, and the planet. Start small, don’t try to overcomplicate living simply.
1. Freshen Your Home Naturally
Conventional candles, sprays, and air fresheners often contain synthetic fragrances that can irritate the skin or lungs. Swaps below and a recipe!
Swap:
Diffuse essential oils like lavender, orange, or eucalyptus.
Use homemade beeswax candles for a clean, honey-sweet scent.
Mist linens and rooms with a DIY essential oil spray made from distilled water and witch hazel.
DIY Essential Oil Room Spray Recipe
Ingredients:
1 cup distilled water
2 tablespoons witch hazel (or vodka)
20–25 drops essential oils of your choice
For calming: lavender, chamomile, and frankincense
For energizing: lemon, peppermint, and rosemary
Instructions:
Add witch hazel and essential oils to a glass spray bottle.
Fill the rest of the bottle with distilled water.
Shake gently before each use.
Spray on linens, curtains, or into the air for a natural, non-toxic refresh.
Tip: Use amber glass bottles to protect the oils from light and extend shelf life.
2. Simplify Your Cleaning Routine
You don’t need a cabinet full of harsh cleaners to keep your home fresh. Simple ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon do the job beautifully.
Swap:
Use a vinegar-based all-purpose cleaner with a few drops of essential oil.
Sprinkle baking soda on sinks or tubs for gentle scrubbing.
Add citric acid to boost your laundry’s brightness.
DIY Oxygen whitener recipe below.
Simple Ingredients - Amazon delivers to my door!
🧺 DIY Oxygen Whitener Recipe (2 lb Batch)
Ingredients:
1 lb Sodium Percarbonate (oxygen bleach)
1 lb Washing Soda (Sodium Carbonate)
Optional: 1–2 tsp Essential Oil of your choice (like Lemon, Lavender, or Eucalyptus)
Optional: 1/2 cup of citric acid (for water softening if your water is hard)
I make 10lb batches for my Etsy shop.
🥣 Directions
Combine ingredients:
In a large glass or stainless steel bowl, mix together the sodium percarbonate and washing soda.Optional scent:
If you’d like a light fragrance, add your chosen essential oil and stir thoroughly until evenly distributed.Store:
Transfer to an airtight container (a glass jar or plastic tub works well). Keep sealed and dry between uses.
Makes: About 2 pounds of oxygen whitener
💧 How to Use
Regular Wash:
Add 1–2 tablespoons directly into the washer drum before adding clothes. Works in both warm and hot water cycles.
Soaking Whites:
Dissolve ¼ cup of whitener in a gallon of warm water. Soak fabrics for a few hours or overnight before washing as usual.
Stain Fighter:
Make a quick paste using a little whitener and warm water. Apply to stains and let sit 15–30 minutes before washing.
Make your own or visit my Etsy store.
3. Choose Real Soap Over Synthetic Bars
Many commercial soaps are made with detergents that strip your skin of moisture. A true soap, made from natural oils and lye, cleans gently and nourishes your skin at the same time.
Swap:
Look for handmade cold process soaps with oils like olive, coconut, and lard.
Avoid soaps with artificial colors and fragrances.
All my soap is available from Esty if you want to try handmade natural soap.
4. Trade Plastics for Natural Materials
Plastic is everywhere—but it doesn’t have to be. Making a few small swaps can reduce waste and chemicals in your home.
Swap:
Store dry goods in glass jars instead of plastic containers. Remember, it isn’t hoarding if it is jars!
Replace plastic wrap with beeswax wraps or cloth covers.
Use wooden utensils, cotton towels, and stainless-steel straws for daily use.
5. Clean Up Your Skincare Routine
Our skin absorbs much of what we put on it. Many store-bought products contain preservatives, dyes, and fragrances that don’t belong there.
Swap:
Use natural oils and butters instead of store-bought lotions. Links to DIY recipes.
Tone with rosewater and aloe vera instead of alcohol-based products.
Try a simple sugar or oatmeal scrub instead of harsh exfoliants.
💧 My Whipped Tallow Face Cream and Simple Petals Rosewater Toner are gentle, nourishing, and made from ingredients you can actually pronounce.
6. Make Change Sustainable
A greener lifestyle doesn’t happen overnight—and that’s okay. Start with one swap at a time, and let it become a habit before adding another. Small changes made consistently will transform your home and your health.
🪶 Closing Thoughts
Living sustainably is really about reconnecting—to the earth, to your home, and to the simple joy of creating things with your own hands. Whether you make your own products or choose to support small makers, every mindful choice adds up.
Have questions about going green? Or how to make specific products? Message me! Use the form below and I’ll get back to you.
✨ Browse my handmade soaps, salves, and natural home goods at my Etsy shop, or explore my DIY recipes to start crafting your own cleaner, greener home.
Stay rooted,
Roxanne
