Why clean and disinfect your equipment? When you choose to make your own cosmetics, you will use preservatives that are compatible with a less harmful approach to health (vitamin E, cosgard, grapefruit seed extract, etc.). However, using a preservative will not protect your preparations 100% if you have not first disinfected your containers and utensils. Let's not forget our hands, which remain the primary vectors of contamination. Disinfecting your equipment will allow you to eliminate bacteria or microbes that may have settled on it at the end of manufacturing or in storage areas. How to clean and disinfect your equipment? As we mentioned, hand cleaning is the first step. Our hands are everywhere and pick up all sorts of bacteria and microbes along the way. They are the primary source of contamination. So start by cleaning your hands with a mild soap. To clean your utensils and containers, run them through the dishwasher at a temperature they can withstand. If you don't have a dishwasher, you can hand wash them with soap and water and let them dry. Once dry, wipe your utensils with a cloth, cotton ball, or handkerchief soaked in alcohol. You should choose alcohol at least 60%. There is a second method, which is sterilization. This is done by placing the containers and/or utensils in boiling water for several minutes. Be careful, not all equipment can withstand a water bath, such as very thin plastic containers. If you have already sterilized baby bottles using this method, the process will remain the same for your DIY equipment. Place them in a pot of water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and let it boil for about ten minutes. Let it drain and dry. Your equipment is now ready to use! What if you recycled your containers? Choosing to make your own cosmetics means adopting an ethical approach. Making your own cosmetics also means controlling your consumption and limiting pollution and waste. Recycling empty containers is a great gesture for the planet, but how can you do it? For older bottles of vegetable oil or shea butter jars, we recommend washing them first with warm water and soap. You can pour the mixture into the bottle or jar, close it, and shake well to clean it. If the oil stains are difficult to remove, use a bottle brush (especially for old oil bottles) always with soap. For floral water bottles, wash them with soap and water. You can close the bottle, shake well, and even spray it to clean the spray as well. To disinfect them, pour a little 60 or 70% alcohol into the bottle, close it, and shake it so that the inside is completely soaked. Spray a little more of this alcohol to disinfect the spray as well. Empty the contents and let it dry. For clay, salt, and powder pots, simply wash them in hot, soapy water and let them dry. Clean them with rubbing alcohol before reusing them. We don't think about it enough, but don't forget that before recycling, your packaging can also have a second life! Come quickly and discover all our (ultra) simple DIY ideas for reusing your empty containers. Decoration, gift ideas... there's no shortage of choice. It's happening right HERE We hope this article has helped you better understand how to sterilize and clean your DIY equipment. Do you recycle your old containers? What is your preferred method?
