Another great site!

Home Ec 101

This is a great site for tips and info
on everything pertaining to homemaking!

Homemade Laundry Soap

I recently made a new batch of laundry soap, but this time it's all powder and I LOVE it! Here's some pics; it's a very simple and basic recipe -
the "hardest" part was grating up the two bars of soap.

12 cups Borax
8 cups Baking Soda
8 cups Washing Soda
8 cups Bar soap (grated) This came out to two bars of soap, I use Ivory.

• Mix all ingredients well and store in a sealed tub.
• Use 1/8 cup of powder per full load.

To read my original post, go here.

Super Easy Laundry Powder Recipe

I've been out of laundry soap this week and wanted to find a different recipe. My original Laundry Soap Recipe wasn't too complicated, but I found it to be clumpy (very normal by the way).

So I thought this time around I'd try a powder and boy do I love this! Most of the ingredients can be purchased at Smart & Final, all except the Washing Soda.

Washing Soda by Arm & Hammer is a highly alkaline chemical compound which can be used to remove stubborn stains from laundry. It is NOT to be confused with Baking Soda.

Many stores carry Washing Soda, typically with other laundry products. I find mine at Albertson's (or Kroger if you're not in CA). You can also call 1-800-524-1328 and give them the UPC code 33200-03020. The service will ask for your zip code and then tell you places in your area that sell Washing Soda.

Anyways, on to the recipe. It's very simple, the hardest part is grating up the bar of soap - but even that's not really that hard!

Powder Laundry Soap
(courtesy of tipnut.com)
12 cups Borax
8 cups Baking Soda
8 cups Washing Soda
8 cups Bar soap (grated) This came out to two bars of soap, I use Ivory.

• Mix all ingredients well and store in a sealed tub.
• Use 1/8 cup of powder per full load.

Believe me, this recipe is so easy and it makes a TON! I hope you have the chance to make it. I took some pics while making it, I can post them tonight!

Friendly Frugal Reminder:
Make time to save money.
It's worth it!

Make-It-From-Scratch-Mondays: Produce Wash

Buying Organic fruits and vegetables can become expensive;
so here's a spray you can make that will do an excellent job of washing away the pesticides on your food, making them better for you and your family!

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup vinegar
• 2 TBS baking soda
• 2 TBS lemon juice

Directions: In a deep container, mix ingredients and pour into a spray bottle. Spray fresh vegetables & fruit generously.
Let stand for 5 minutes then rinse well.



Washing Produce Tips:

• When washing leeks or spinach, I fill my sink with about two inches of cold water and toss in them in. Leeks I'll generally cut up first and then separate in the water, then I swish the veggies around for a few seconds. Take out and pat or spin dry. The dirt falls to the bottom of your sink and your veggies are clean!!
  
  
• Before you cut into a melon, be sure to wash the outside of it first. If you don’t, the knife can drag the pesticides, dirt or bacteria from the outside rind into the fruit as you cut. The outside of melons can be very dirty.
  
  
• Before cutting celery or mushrooms, dampen the corner of a clean kitchen towel and just wipe the produce clean.

Baking Soda in my hair???

Our guy Baking Soda comes through for us again!
An old friend of mine told me about using Baking Soda in my Shampoo?!
So I looked it up and low and behold, it can do wonders!

Hair Care!

Add some baking soda to your shampoo to help remove residue left from other hair care products and to add a little extra oomph on those days when your hair’s gotten so dirty, it needs some super-strong cleansing. In your hand, pour about a teaspoon of baking soda, then add your usual amount of shampoo and lather up. Work it into your scalp with your fingers for a soothing massage and extra oil-fighting power.


More Hair and Face Care!

If your hair turns green from chlorine in swimming pools, wash it with 1/4 cup baking soda added to your shampoo.

You can also mix baking soda with your face wash for an exfoliating scrub that will eliminate oil and leave your skin feeling extra clean. Simple, natural, and oh-so-cheap.

Baking Soda in the Kitchen

Here are places and ways I use Baking Soda in my Kitchen as I clean! I hope you get inspired to use it more, it's a powerful natural tool that is so safe around the kids or pets.

• When I'm washing dishes I add 2 - 3 TBLS of Baking Soda (BkSd) to the soapy water. It helps cut any grease and food left on the dishes.
  
  
• When using my dishwasher, I sprinkle a handful of BkSd on my dishes or in the bottom of my dishwasher to absorb food odors.
  
  
• When my trash can is smelly but the bag isn't full, one way to get rid of the odor is to sprinkle BkSd in the garbage between layers as they accumulate.
  
  
• I also wash out my garbage can with water and BkSd about once a month.
  
  
• BkSd can help in handling minor grease or electric fires. When fire breaks out you can throw handfuls of Baking Soda at the base of the flames to help put the fire out. Then, to be on the safe side, call the Fire Department!
  
  
• I keep a box of BkSd in my fridge and freezer to help keep my food tasting fresh. I replace my boxes every other month.
  
  
• When my floors are exceptionally dirty, I use 1/2 cup Baking Soda in a bucket of warm water and wash as usual.
  

Baking Soda Power

So as some of you know, vinegar and I are tight! She's my girl, I have vinegar solutions all around my house and I use her on just about everything.

Well she works even better with her friend, Baking Soda! He's also one of a kind, and if you aren't familiar with his power, just read on!!!

I first bought a giant bag of Baking Soda (BkSd) from Smart & Final and was literally carrying it around from bathroom to bathroom cleaning. It was a pain. So I had this bright idea to pour him into a smaller container (duh!). I was just at the end of our Santa Maria Seasoning (it's a large plastic container, much like Parmesan Cheese Containers). So I poured the remaining seasoning in a zip lock bag then filled it up with BkSd. Now I have my vinegar solution and my BkSd sprinkler in a small easy tote as I clean.

Other containers to pour Baking Soda in:

Lowry's Season Salt

Garlic Salt

Bacon Bits

Baking Powder Can (small and round!)

Old containers from your Spice rack (might be small, but easy to store throughout your house!)

Parmesan Cheese

***Be creative, and use what you have at home, no need to buy a separate container!***

Here's the best way I look at Baking Soda, whatever I used to pour Comet or Bleach on when cleaning, I now use Baking Soda. Completely odorless and non-toxic and virtually harmless!

To give you an idea, here are some places I use Baking Soda!

Kitchen
Sink
Stove
Oven
Refrigerator
Counters
Faucets
Floors
Dishwasher
Grout
Trash Can
Disposal
Microwave

Bathroom
Sink
Counter
Faucet
Toilets
Grout
Floor
Tub
Shower
Drains
Trash Cans