"Homemade" Recipes

I have to admit that I am really thrilled at the interest shown in the homemade laundry soap, oxy clean and fabric softener. I got several comments, e-mails and even one phone call (hey Estelle!!) about the 'recipes' I'm using.

I decided to post the recipes that I am using right now for these three things. I again also want to link you to Tip Nut and The Grocery Cart Challenge which is where I am getting the majority of these recipes. Believe me, I could not come up with this on my own!!!!

Here is what I am using:

Homemade Laundry Soap

1/3 bar Zote Soap*
1/2 cup Borax Powder*
1/2 cup Arm and Hammer Washing Soda*

Grate 1/3 bar of soap into a saucepan. Add 6 cups of water and heat until the soap melts.
Pour 4 cups of hot water into a large bucket. ( I use a five gallon bucket because I also double this recipe when I make it). Add the Borax powder, the washing soda and the soap mixture. Stir well. Add another 22 cups of water, stir well to combine. Let the soap cool for 15-24 hours. Mine looks like watery jelly and while you don't have to stir it again, I stir it every time I use it. (Could be my OCD driving me nuts!!)
I use about a half to three quarters of a cup, depending on the level of dirty I've got. Remember that you're not going to be seeing any suds (another thing I had to get past!)

* Most recipes call for Fels Naptha soap. I can't find that in my area so I use Zote which I am able to buy at Sav A Lot
* I find Borax powder at Wal Mart and most local grocery stores.
* In my area, I cannot find Washing Soda. I was able to order this direct from the company, Church & Dwight--1-800-524-1328. Give them the bar code # 33200-03020

Homemade Oxy Clean

1 cup water
1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide
1/2 cup baking soda

Mix together and soak laundry in it for 20 minutes to overnight then wash as usual. You can also skip the water and pour the baking soda/peroxide mixture directly into the wash with your laundry soap and wash as usual.

Homemade Fabric Softener

2 cups water
1 cup vinegar
2/3 cup of any hair conditioner*

Mix in bottle (I use an old fabric softener bottle). Stir or gently swirl. DO NOT SHAKE or you are going to end up with foaming!!!
To use in the washer, I just pour in my Downy ball as usual. To use in the dryer, I keep a small bowl of softener and put a rag in it. Wring out the soaked rag and throw it in the dryer with your laundry.

* Look for hair conditioner that is on sale! It truly doesn't matter which kind you buy!!!

Hope this helps everyone and I'll be sharing more homemade recipes as I come across them!!!

Pleasantly Surprised and Saving Money to Boot!!

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned making my own laundry soap and hoping it would turn out okay. Well let me tell you that I am absolutely thrilled with the way this laundry soap has turned out!!!!! It is so quick and easy to make and one batch has lasted me about 3 weeks which is far longer than I've gotten out of a bottle of laundry soap!!

I went a step farther and made homemade fabric softner. I am very pleased with this as well.
Instead of bleach, I have begun making homemade Oxy clean and so far, I'm still thrilled with bright whites!

I've never been one to pay high prices for too much of anything, but even at the prices I pay, in 3 weeks I've estimated that I've only spent around $1.70 to clean my laundry!!! My normal spending for 3 weeks was usually in the neighborhood of $7.50--a savings estimated at $5.80!!!!

I was very pleasantly surprised that my laundry smelled....clean. No perfumy smell, only clean laundry. Any soils and stains came right out and my laundry was just as soft as it had ever been.

Note that a normal wash week for me is 15 loads a week, give or take a load here and there.

In an average year that has me spending around $28 to wash my laundry. With commercial detergents I spent on average $128 per year. So adding $100 a year to our budget sounds pretty good to me.

It really takes only about 15 minutes to whip up a batch of laundry soap and so in the grand scheme of things, not long at all.

There are two sites that I've found that I absolutely love that share economical ways to do things we do everyday.

One is Tip Nut and the other is Grocery Cart Challenge.

All of us are on board when it comes to saving money, and quite honestly I love the idea of taking better care of our planet as well. Think of all the packaging that isn't going into the landfills if we make more of what we use from scratch!

I really want to encourage you to check out the above sites and give a few of these things a try.
I'm sure, like me, you'll be glad you did!!

Got a Give-a-Way Goin' On!!!

I love a good give-a-way, don't you?? And what makes a give-a-way even better, is when it's for something I use everyday...something I would pay for.....unless....I could get it for free!!!!

I was chosen to try a bottle of Sun Laundry Detergent. Now, I was very happy to get this bottle of detergent to try for free, but...I must confess....I already use Sun Laundry Detergent. So, getting this bottle to try was just perfect for me!!!

It does a great job cleaning our laundry. It comes in a variety of scents (which I really love!!) and it's incredibly affordable (which our budget really loves!!).

Now, here's where it gets really good......

Along with my free bottle of detergent, I was also given 5 coupons for a free bottle of Sun Laundry Detergent! So, you know what that means...

Five of my readers will get a coupon for a free bottle of this detergent to try as well!!!!!

Think about it...we all do laundry and if you're like me..you do several loads a day! Laundry detergent is something we use a lot of.

If you're not familiar with Sun Laundry detergent, then this would be a great chance to try a very good, very affordable product for free.

Here's all you have to do......

Leave me a comment telling me why you'd love to win and try this product and (just because I'm curious if anyone does more loads of laundry a week than I do) share about how many loads of laundry you do in a week.

This will be open until midnight, June 21 and I'll announce the winners first thing Monday morning, the 22nd.

Can't wait to hear from everyone!!!!

Let's Talk Laundry Detergent

Do you suffer from allergies? Do you have a new baby in your home? Do you have sensitive skin? If so, you will be very pleased with all free clear laundry detergent.

I was able to sample this product and found it to perform just as good as every other all product.

I, personally, am a big fan of all laundry detergent. I've found it to suds well (which I love) and it is very gentle on our clothes and skin.

all free clear is very affordable, and in today's economy that's a big plus!

I would encourage you to give this a try and decide for yourself.

You can also check it out at www.allfreeclear.com