There will come a moment when kids will see it as normal that everything we have at home must necessarily come from a store, because we are losing the ability to “make” things. Just like artificial intelligence is freeing us from the effort of thinking and turning it into simply writing prompts, we are also losing the ability to create things with our hands—to create, mix, test, invent, make mistakes, and start over. Added to the “lack of time,” this is somehow making us lose the joy of living the simplicity of life.

Maybe it will sound a little old-fashioned and backward to some, but I truly admire the lifestyle of the Amish community, where the tradition of “homemade” is still maintained for many things—not only in the kitchen, but ancestral wisdom is preserved in many ways, like home remedies, food preservation, and even the fact that keeping sewing alive is very admirable.

In my case (it’s not like I have extra time), I firmly believe that what we make at home and with love is a thousand times better than what we can find in stores. I have found great satisfaction in making certain products at home that, to begin with, cost me less, but also allow me to be in charge of my ingredients, therefore I know I’m not adding more toxins to my home. Nowadays I believe we are already being bombarded with enough chemicals from everywhere to keep adding more, so if I can replace even one thing in my home with something less toxic, it will be a battle won. Also, living the way people lived generations ago, but with the information, advantages and wisdom acquired over the years, I think is amazing.

Here are three products I no longer buy—I make them at home instead. I hope you find joy in making these recipes and feel proud of yourself for going a little against the modern current.

DIY Laundry Detergent

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups washing soda
• 1 1/2 cups baking soda
• 1/2 cup Epsom salt
• 25 drops of lemon essential oil

Instructions:

• Mix all the stuff together in a bowl and put your detergent in a glass jar.
• Use ¼ cup for each load of laundry.

Glass Cleaner

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 1/3 cup alcohol
• 1/2 tsp soap (I used Dr Bronner’s Sal Suds, but you can also use castile soap)
• 25 drops of lemon essential oil

Directions

• Mix all ingredients in a 16-ounce spray bottle. I used a plastic one because my daughters use it and I prefer to avoid accidents, but a glass bottle will always be more recommended.

Hair Gel

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup flax seeds
• 2 cups water
• 9 drops rosemary essential oil
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon castor oil

Instructions:

• In a small pot, mix the flaxseeds with the water. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
• As soon as the mixture starts to thicken and gets a gelatinous consistency, turn off the heat.
• While it’s still hot, strain the gel with a fine strainer. Tip: Save the leftover seeds to make flax crackers.
• Let the gel cool to room temperature.
• Once cool, add the rosemary oil and the castor oil. Mix well until combined.
• Transfer the gel to a clean glass jar with a lid. Refrigerate it. It keeps for about 1 month (and sometimes even longer).
• Apply a small amount to damp or dry hair.