Do it yourself!

 

If you haven’t tried making your own cleaning products, it’s time to get creative with some DIY cleaning recipes. If you already make your own products, then you know just how easy it is to whip up fantastic solutions that are good for your family, budget and the environment.

Since we love reusability at ePantry, we’ve created the Grove Collaborative Glass Spray Bottle for all of your cleaning needs. Check out our DIY recipes below for inspiration and send your own favorites to grove@epantry.com. After all, the DIY cleaning joy is meant to be shared!

With a beautiful spray bottle, amazing smelling essential oils and a little imagination, dare we say cleaning becomes fun?

All Purpose Cleaner

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup distilled white vinegar
• 10-15 drops essential oil(s) of your choice

Add all ingredients to spray bottle, shake, start cleaning!

For a festive twist on this recipe, use citrus essential oil, whole cinnamon sticks and/or cloves and if you’d like, a few shavings of citrus rind (lemon, lime, orange or grapefruit) and/or a sprig of thyme or rosemary.

Glass Cleaner

• ¼ cup rubbing alcohol
• ¼ cup distilled white vinegar
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 cup warm water
• 8 drops citrus essential oil

Combine everything in spray bottle and shake well. Spray on glass, wipe with cloth (preferably microfiber), and experience streak-free shine.

Wood Cleaner

• 1 tbs olive oil
• 1 tsp distilled white vinegar
• 2 cups warm water

Combine all ingredients in spray bottle. Spray onto varnished wood and wipe with cloth (microfiber works especially well!)

Produce Wash

• 1 part distilled white vinegar
• 3 parts water

Mix 1 part vinegar with three parts water in a spray bottle. Spray on produce, let sit for 1-3 minutes, rinse, enjoy!

Air Freshener

• ¾ cup water
• 2 tbs vodka or 90% rubbing alcohol
• 15-20 drops essential oil (or a mix!) of your choice

Pour alcohol into spray bottle, add water and then essential oil of your choice. Shake and spray!

A Few DIY Cleaning Essentials

• Distilled white vinegar
• Essential oils 
• Baking soda
• Liquid castille soap like Dr. Bronner’s
• Borax
• Microfiber cloth like e-Cloth

 

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Why this mom loves ePantry

My (terrific) daughter, always inspiring me to make healthy living convenient & affordable for all families.

I’m a mom and I love ePantry.

But first, full disclosure: I work at ePantry. I know you might be  thinking… “of course you think ePantry is great, you work there!” And while it’s true that I work at ePantry, I’m also a (very busy) mom. And taking care of my family comes first.

I joined ePantry a few months ago on a mission to make healthy choices easy and affordable for busy families everywhere, and what I discovered in the process is that ePantry has helped me stay better organized while saving money, and I’ve even gained back some free time in the process. In the interest of helping busy families everywhere, I hope ePantry will do the same for you.

Sustainable Spotlight: method’s Chicago “Soapbox”

A spec of the soap factory, from methodhome

The inner workings of the Soapbox

We’ve given method’s new soap factory shout-outs before, simply because we can’t get over how awesome it is! It’s been a long wait, but the new “South Side Soapbox” is officially open. The Soapbox has so many amazing features, so we’ve decided to highlight each one! If you’re ever in Chicago. be sure to stop on by to visit our friends at method!

Rooftop Garden

According to method, by this summer, the Soapbox rooftop will be the largest rooftop greenhouse in the world! Over 1 million pounds of fresh produce will grown ever year in this garden, and shared with the local community! That’s a lot of veggies 🙂 Of course, with 75,000 square feet to work with, you would expect a lot of of food!

method’s rooftop garden on the left! From method’s Facebook page

Can you guess what this is? It’s the body of the wind turbine at the Soapbox!

Wind and Solar Power 

40% of the power used by the plant is generated on-site!, by solar panels and a 230-foot wind turbine. method’s solar panels (also called the “solar trees” around the Soapbox) are located in the parking lot. Every 6 minutes they rotate to perfectly capture the sun’s rays. Inside the Soapbox, skylights and south-facing windows are strategically placed to avoid usage of artificial lighting

Fun Facts

• This is the first LEED platinum manufacturing facility in the industry
• method considered over 100 locations for the factory, but decided on Chicago’s Pullman district
• All of these amazing features come with a hefty price tag- $30 million dollars, to be exact!

We are so proud to partner with method, and we can’t wait to visit! Soon enough, you’ll be able to head on over to methodhome.com to schedule a tour of the Soapbox!

A bright and friendly method distribution truck

The method team setting up a display in the Soapbox!

Click images to see more from method’s instagram!

This weekend, get a taste of summer!

Now that the weather is warming up, what better way to relax than to hang out in the backyard with a refreshing drink? We got inspired to come up with some of our favorite recipes & tips. With the weekend right around the corner, why not try one (or all) of these?

Lavender Lemonade

INGREDIENTS:

• 6 cups water
• ½ cup light-colored honey
• ⅓ cup dried lavender
• 1 cup fresh lemon juice, strained

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Bring water and honey to a boil in a large pot over medium-high heat.
2. Gently crush the lavender in a mortar and pestle or in a bowl with a meat tenderizer. Add the crushed lavender to the pot then remove it from the heat.
3. Cover, refrigerate, and steep for 2 hours.
4. Strain the liquid through a fine mesh sieve. Stir in the lemon juice and serve over ice.

Pro tip: If you’re not a fan of lavender, try thyme, rosemary, or any other edible flower!

Melon Ball Punch

INGREDIENTS:

• 25.4 oz Sparkling white grape juice
• 2 cups clear lemon lime flavored soda (ex: Sprite)
• 1 cup lemonade (
• 1 small ripe watermelon
• 1 small ripe cantaloupe
• 1 small ripe honeydew melon
• fresh mint leaves
• 2 limes, sliced, plus more for garnish if desired

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. In a pitcher stir together grape juice, soda and lemonade, place in the fridge to chill.
2. Use a melon baller to scoop out the flesh of the watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew melon.
3. Place melon balls on a cookie sheet lined with foil, and freeze.
4. Once frozen add a few cups of melons balls to pitcher along with fresh mint leaves and slices of lime.
5. Stir.
6. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.
7. Serve cold using additional frozen melon balls as ice cubes.
8. Garnish glasses with lime slice and mint leaf.

Watermelon, Strawberry & Banana Smoothie 

INGREDIENTS:

• 5 cups seedless watermelon chunks
• 1 ripe banana, peeled
• 6 strawberries, rinsed and hulled
• 1/3 cup milk, any kind

DIRECTIONS:

1. Liquefy all fruit together in a large blender. Add milk and blend until smooth. Serve immediately, or chill in the refrigerator and serve cold.
2. Enjoy!

Pro tip: Adding a banana to any smoothie will help you reach a perfect consistency!

Add-ons

Berries frozen in ice, skewers of frozen berries, and even lollipops make great drink garnishes!

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