One of the most popular gifts for the guys seems to be car grooming
products. The only snag with these is that they抮e not that natural, with the
exception of chamois leather cleaning cloths. With the amount of time that
modern people spend inside their cars, especially if you have a decent work
commute, it makes sense to limit the amount of toxins you are exposed to in your
vehicle as well as in your home.
But you can make your own car grooming
natural cleaning products launch
crp129. You can make them for yourself or you can make a batch or three to
give as gifts for the car-happy blokes (and women) in your circle of friends and
relations.
Several of these recipes call for soap gel. Making soap gel is
easy. Simply save soap scraps, or else grate or chop up a bar of soap. Put the
scraps into a bucket or non-reactive saucepan and pour boiling water over the
soap. The soap will melt and form a slippery gel once it cools. The consistency
of the gel will depend on the proportion of soap and water you use, but the
ideal consistency is one that抯 slightly less runny than shampoo but runnier than
honey (the best description of the best consistency for soap gel is to think of
the sort of mucus produced by a heavy cold in the nose ?revolting but
true).
Basic car wash:
Mix 4 litres water with ?cup soap gel
(preferably from castile soap) in a bucket. Add about 10 drops of essential oil
of your choice (one of the citrus family is ideal, but lavender also smells
good). Use this to wash your car all over the exterior, using a soft brush.
Finish by rinsing off with a hose or bucket before the soap dries. If making
this up to give as a gift, just mix the soap gel and the essential oil, and add
instructions on how to use it.
To make a heavy-duty car wash suitable for
4x4s, double the amount of soap gel used. This method is as effective as a
professional cleaning.
Tyre wash:
Mix 2 cups baking soda with ?cup
soap gel and 1 cup of water. Use this to wash down the tyres. Rinse it off with
a mixture of vinegar and water.
Car polish:
Melt 12 tablespoons of
beeswax in 2 cups linseed oil, plus about 10 drops of essential oil of your
choice, in a double boiler. While it抯 still liquid, pour it into an airtight
container and seal launch
x431 v. Leave it a few days to harden. Apply directly to the car with a soft
cloth dampened with vinegar. Buff to a high shine with a dry cloth.
Interior scent:
Blend about 1 cup of vinegar or vodka in 1 pint
of water. Add about 12 drops of essential oil or a blend of essential oils
(citrus or lemongrass help promote alertness, while lavender is soothing ?may
eliminate a bit of road rage!). Put these into a spray bottle and shake
together. Put it away in a dark cupboard to mellow a little, then spray inside
of the car when you want to freshen it up. This mixture can also double as a
cleaning productfor chrome or windows ?a real bonus.
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