MamaSuds Blog
Learn about ingredients, green living, and more!
We are Celebrating 6 Years!
Posted on January 03 2018
It seems like yesterday, yet it was 6 years ago today... ... I was pregnant and waddling when I registered MamaSuds as a real business. It was exhilarating and crazy, but thousands of customers later it's more than a dream come true.As a thank you for your attention and business...
Forget the New Year’s Resolutions
Posted on December 31 2017
The statistics for sticking to New Year Resolutions are dismal. My most used resolution was to quit biting my nails. Another popular personal resolution was to be more organized. These both make me laugh today so you can guess how successful I was at keeping them! So I say, forget...
It's time to celebrate!
Posted on December 28 2017
It's time to celebrate! The time between Christmas/Hanakuh and New Year's Day is usually taking a look back on the year and looking toward the future. Whether you had reasons to celebrate in 2017 or can't wait to yell "Good riddance!" I know we can all find comfort and a...
This Mama's Story: Katee
Posted on November 22 2017
This is a blog series highlighting the amazing women who are living examples of the MamaSuds Manifesto. How did you find MamaSuds in the first place? I found out about Mamasuds from Jessica Brandt's Eco-friendly Mama USA group page and buying club. What's your favorite MamaSuds Product? So far, the Boo...
1% For The Planet
Posted on November 15 2017
1% for the Planet We are very excited to announce that MamaSuds has pledged 1% of sales to the preservation and restoration of the natural environment. Our donations will be awarded to domestic and international grassroots environmental groups making a difference in their local communities. 1% for the Planet is an alliance...
Shine Eco-Friendly Lighting Solutions into your Home
Posted on November 08 2017
Contributing freelance writer Sally Preston enlightens us on how to make more earth-friendly changes in your lighting.
This Mama's Story: Tara
Posted on November 02 2017
Meet Tara- this mama puts a positive spin on not-so-great-events to help keep perspective. This is a blog series highlighting the amazing women who are living examples of the MamaSuds Manifesto.
My Favorite Kombucha Recipe
Posted on October 09 2017
My Favorite Kombucha Recipe I am a total newbie when it comes to making Kombucha at home. But I have done a few batches and they were delicious so I thought I would share my recipe because it tastes wonderful and costs just pennies in comparison to what I was...
This Mama's Story: Rainey
Posted on October 04 2017
This is a blog series highlighting the amazing women who are living examples of the MamaSuds Manifesto. How did you find MamaSuds in the first place? I found MamaSuds several years ago when I was researching clean, natural products. I was trying to support local, family businesses that actually care...
How to Heat Your Home Without Damaging the Environment
Posted on September 29 2017
How to Heat Your Home Without Damaging the Environment As winter approaches, there will come a point when you decide to switch on the heating. For environmentalists, this can be a difficult moment, but we’re here to help you live sustainably, so that you can heat your home guilt-free. Follow...
This Mama's Story: Michelle
Posted on September 18 2017
This is a blog series highlighting the amazing women who are living examples of the MamaSuds Manifesto. How did you find MamaSuds in the first place? I found you through the Ecofriendly Mama Buying Club 2 years ago. I bought the unscented laundry soap sample; I was trying to find...
This Mama's Story: Kate
Posted on September 08 2017
This is a blog series highlighting the amazing women who are living examples of the MamaSuds Manifesto. How did you find MamaSuds in the first place? I found out about MamaSuds through my sister. A couple years ago for Christmas, she got me samples of the laundry soap, castile soap,...
This Mama's Story: Jessica
Posted on September 01 2017
This is a blog series highlighting the amazing women who are living examples of the MamaSuds Manifesto. How did you find MamaSuds in the first place? I honestly cannot recall exactly how I stumbled upon MamaSuds. One way or another, it was luck! I do know that 2 years ago...
Mark Your Calendars
Posted on August 14 2017
Celebrate a whole NEW MamaSuds! MamaSuds has a whole NEW look! It's been months of research and many more months of designing (thank you RowanMade) and we are ready to launch our brand new look.Hold up- I want to reassure you that even though we've changed the packaging, the product...
Big Dreams + A New Look
Posted on August 11 2017
Big Dreams + A New Look It's been 8 months of hard work and late nights, but the time is finally here to tell you our big news: MamaSuds is getting a makeover! We are really excited about our new look and we hope you love it too. Why...
12 Ways to Live a More Sustainable Life
Posted on July 25 2017
12 ways to live a more sustainable life 1. Think before you shop and become and environmentally conscious consumer 2. Ditch the plastic water bottles 3. Speaking of water.... be water wise! Here are 100 Ways to Conserve Wise 4. Eat less meat (Resources: Take Extinction Off Your Plate and Reducing Your...
Why I chose Cloth Diapers
Posted on June 07 2017
Since I had kids I have changed a lot. I think most people can relate to that sentence. But I often think about how pre-kids Michelle and post-kids Michelle would probably not be friends. Just the thought of these two personalities in the same room together makes me laugh. There...
The MamaSuds Manifesto
Posted on May 12 2017
This manifesto is a published verbal declaration of the intentions, motives, or views of MamaSuds. We'd love for you to share with your like-minded friends! THE MAMASUDS® MANIFESTOWe believe you can clean your home without damaging your health or our planet. We want you to live in a world where cleaning doesn't seem...
How to get Your Kids to Help with the Cleaning
Posted on April 25 2017
The following post is written by guest blogger Sammy Dolan of Home Clean Expert. How to get Your Kids to Help with the Cleaning With kids, life can always be a bit hectic, but we still love them at the end of the day. If you’re looking for a way...
Newest Review: I Read Labels For You
Posted on April 22 2017
I really like finding people who are as picky about ingredients and health and wellness as I am. I can probably count on one hand the people that I know in the industry that scrutinize ingredients as harshly as me. One such person, is Irina Webb. You may not know...
Detox Your Home: Kitchen
Posted on March 11 2017
Clean out your kitchen Is it time your Kitchen needs to be cleaned and detoxed? Do you still have cleaning products in the back of your cupboard that you're ashamed of, or maybe you're just not sure if they are safe or not? Let's Detox Your Kitchen 1. Get a...
Time to Clean your Makeup Brushes
Posted on January 31 2017
So when was the last time you cleaned those make-up brushes? I have to admit, I do it less than I probably should, however now that my girls are at the "love-to-put-makeup-on" stage, I do it more. Only because I have black eyeshadow on my kabuki brush and blush on...
5 Years of #trulysafe MamaSuds® Products
Posted on January 04 2017
5 years. 5 years ago I had a 5 year old, a 21 month old and I was 6 months pregnant when I walked into the county building to buy my business license. I had no clue what I was doing but I did have a vision that I wanted to make truly...
How to Clean your Washing Machine
Posted on December 27 2016
No you do NOT need a special cleaner for that! Have you looked at the upper rim of your washing machine drum? Mine was pretty gross. I don't even know what prompted me to look there, but I caught a glimpse of it and immediately felt the need to clean...
How To Get Rid of Red Wine Stains
Posted on December 23 2016
Red wine stains are one of the worst things you can spill on your carpet, am I right? We had a great afternoon at my grandma's drinking wine, enjoying each other's company and baking Christmas cookies. There was a left over glass of red wine (half full) sitting on the...
The Scary Truth About Bleach
Posted on November 29 2016
Hello, My name is Michelle C. Smith and I am formally addicted to bleach. I used it in my laundry and I used on every one of my hard surfaces. I was convinced it kept my family healthy. From the research I have done on germs (partly to help my...
Make Black Friday GREEN
Posted on November 21 2016
Attention Crunchy Moms and Ecofriendly Peeps! Whether you have little ones at home or little ones to buy for this season, or are looking for more green sales I will posting BLACK FRIDAY and CYBER MONDAY deals for you here! Dirty Diaper Laundry's THE List Change-Diaper's Sale Compilation The Green...
How Did I Get Here Part 6
Posted on November 10 2016
How did I get here? In my previous post in this series I talked about how my husband started telling me I should sell the liquid soap and the laundry soap I was making from it to people outside of our family and friends. I had lots of doubt and thought he was...
Label Lesson: SLS and SLES
Posted on October 20 2016
Bubbles. People equate bubbles and lather and foamy suds with cleanliness. Not true. A harsh detergent is behind all that lather and super suds. SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) and SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulfate) hide under many names but the jury is still out about this ingredient. Skin Deep has it rated...
How Did I Get Here Part 5
Posted on October 12 2016
How did I get here? In my previous post in this series I talked about how I almost threw in the towel with cloth diapering because I was tired of stripping the diapers and my daughter getting diaper rashes and burns. I had a hunch that if I could make my own...
Why Fluff Love Might Be Steering You Wrong
Posted on September 28 2016
I love science. I love facts. I love educating people. What I can't stand is misinformation. I love making soap because it satisfies both sides of my brain. It is science-based, yet I am creating and making something that ends with a product that makes me very proud. Laundry is...
The Top 5 Essential Oil Recipes for Fall
Posted on September 21 2016
I really love fall. Sweaters, leaves changing, going to the cider mill, hot cider and doughnuts…. YUM. It’s also when my diffuser gets put on overdrive, it’s literally on 24/7. Here are my top 5 essential oil recipes for Fall: Autumn Morning5 drops of orange5 drops of cinnamon Cider Mill2 drops of cinnamon2 drops of clove...
Un-Paper Towels: Are they Worth it?
Posted on September 14 2016
Unpaper Towels: worth the investment? Almost three years ago, I took the plunge and stopped buying paper towel. It was a big decision that I didn't have a lot of support for, but I promised a trial period. In that trial period my husband was diagnosed with a very large menengioma...
How to Wash Cloth Diapers
Posted on August 19 2016
Make Washing Cloth Diapers Easy MamaSuds Laundry Soap was designed specifically for my need as a cloth diapering Mama. I was having a hard time finding the "detergent" that washed the poo out of the diaper but didn't burn my baby's bum. The detergent would work for awhile then my...
How Did I Get Here Part 4
Posted on August 03 2016
How did I get here? In my previous post in this series I talked about how I tossed all the soap in our house and switched to Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap. I was buying it by the gallon and wondered, "Can’t I just make this stuff myself?" Where does my story lead...
Eco-Friendly Back-to-School Supplies List
Posted on July 26 2016
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How Did I Get Here Part 3
Posted on July 20 2016
How did I get here? In my last post in this series I talked about how while I was pregnant with my second daughter I had a small bottle of commercial baby shampoo leak on brand new nursery room furniture.I wiped up the small drop that leaked from the bottle and...
How Did I Get Here Part 2
Posted on July 10 2016
How Did I Get Here? Have you ever thought, How did I get here? I get asked this question frequently from friends, family, and people who knew me before I arrived at this place in my life. I was visiting with someone I used to work with many moons ago- before we were both married...
How Did I Get Here Part 1
Posted on July 03 2016
How Did I Get Here? Have you ever thought, How did I get here? I get asked this question frequently from friends, family, and people who knew me before I arrived at this place in my life. I was visiting with someone I used to work with many moons ago- before we were both married...
The Surprising Way to a Clean Oven Without Fumes
Posted on June 26 2016
I have recently found my internet doppelgänger. Meet Carol Trimmer: she is the blogger and co-owner of Pure Living Space where she helps "people create safe and healthy homes (pure living spaces) with simple tips, science-based advice and a bit of humor kicked in. It shouldn't be hard to live well."...
'No Poo' in 6 steps
Posted on June 20 2016
I tried it... Some things sound crazy. Most things aren't so crazy that I won't try them at least once, just so I can at least say, "I tried it". The 'no-poo' method is pretty hippie (in my opinion) and the main-stream world was all-a-flutter when a woman came out...
What My Dad Taught Me
Posted on June 19 2016
Happy Father's Day to all the great dads out there! Especially to my husband and daughters' Dad: and to my Dad (Deedo). My dad taught me how to water ski, tube (not just tube, but hang on for dear life), took me to my first Detroit Red Wings Game...
Body Wash should have SIMPLE Ingredients
Posted on June 13 2016
Body Wash should have SIMPLE Ingredients Truly all natural body wash is hard to find. Have you read the label for ingredients? Even organic body washes have a long ingredient list. What is the need for all those ingredients? Do you really need twenty ingredients to do the job a...
How Liquid Soap is Made
Posted on June 05 2016
How I Make Liquid Castile Soap (from scratch) Originally this video on how liquid soap (castile soap) is made at MamaSuds was created in the summer of 2015. It is the highest viewed post ever on our blog! Two things I learned while making this video. 1) My blender made...
4 Easy Steps to Changing Your Life
Posted on May 13 2016
Become Crunchy in 4 Easy Steps! Becoming Crunchy? What's that? My grandmother tells me that it was just life when she was growing up. But it is a question that gets asked a lot. Becoming Crunchy.... Frugally Green.... Eco-friendly.... all the same. If you are someone who wants to become crunchy...
How to Switch to Safe Cleaners in 3 Easy Steps
Posted on April 27 2016
Today's post is about ditching your cleaners. People have a lot of cleaners. There is a specific cleaner for every nook and cranny in your home. Not only is that a lot of product that is most likely harmful to your health and to our environment, it's a LOT of plastic....
Mixing Vinegar and Castile Soap
Posted on April 18 2016
Stop mixing vinegar and castile soap! I heard you. You said, Really?!? Yup. Don't feel bad. I used to do it. I am the first to admit it. Heck, I had it on my castile soap labels for Pete's sake. I believed it worked because they are each so great...
Air Fresheners: Why You Should Toss Them
Posted on April 11 2016
Last time I posted, I talked All About Phthalates and Fragrance and I asked you to try and find at least 2 ingredients that had "fragrance" listed as an ingredient. Did you find that any of the products you gathered yesterday happened to be air fresheners? You learned why synthetic fragrances were...
MamaSuds Castile Soap Uses
Posted on April 06 2016
Many people are not aware of what castile soap is, let alone it's versatility and infinite uses. MamaSuds Castile Soap is true liquid castile soap (which means 100% olive oil). MamaSuds Castile Soap is gentle enough to use on your family but powerful enough for cleaning ANYTHING around the house... From babies...
All about Phthalates and Fragrance
Posted on April 04 2016
In this post you will learn all about Phthalates and Fragrance, and why you should eliminate them from your life as much as possible. Phthalates (actually pronounced thal-ates) are a group of chemicals in a gajillion of products in your home. Concerns have been raised about phthalates because studies have...