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!

Cleaning with Essential Oils

The Budget Ecoist had some great cleaning recipes using Essential Oils!
Here's a excerpt:

Many herbs have antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and even antibiotic properties. Using these herbs in essential oil form (or even dried form, from your garden) allow you to create many natural cleaners inexpensively.

Dishwashing liquid - Fill a 22 ounce squirt bottle with fragrance-free castile soap. Add in 25-30 drops of antibacterial essential oil. Good options: lavender, lemon, lemongrass, orange. Use 1-2 T with each dish load.

Dishwasher powder - Combine 2 cups each of washing soda and borax, followed by 20 drops of antibacterial essential oil. Use 2 T with each dish load.

Antibacterial Oils: Bay, camphor, cardamom

, chamomile, citronella, cypress, eucalyptus, ginger, juniper, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, lemon verbena, lime, marjoram

, orange, pine, rosemary, sage, sandalwood, spearmint, tea tree oil, thyme, wintergreen

Go here for the entire post.

Here are some other great sites dealing with buying, storing and caring for your Essential oils:

• Exotic Fragrances
• Aromatherapy at home
• How to buy and store Essential oils
  

Homemade Fabric Softener

Check out our friend over at Cents to Get Debt Free, she did her own fabric softener and she posted pics, which helps so much!

Here's the link to her fabric softener recipe, this is definitely up my alley, Thanks Phoebe.

Why pay for someone else to do your laundry?!

Did you know that Manufacturers slap on a "Dry-Clean Only" tag to carry the least amount of liability for mislaundering....google it! Few fabrics are really damaged by laundering with water. So if you let your common sense be your guide, most items in your closet can be laundered.

Dry cleaning can actually add up annually. Let's say you spend $10 - $20 a month on dry cleaning, that's about $200 a year that could be going into a savings account for the unexpected flat tire or dental work.......so next time you'd rather have someone else wash and iron your husband's shirt, grit your teeth, take a deep breath and do it yourself, you'll be saving money and in the long run, your bank account will thank you!

Free Febreze!

So when your bottle of Febreze is empty, don't throw it away.

Instead fill it up with water and add 1 cup of fabric softener and voila you've made your very own Febreze.

Homemade laundry soap

A great way to be frugal and save a lot of money is by making your own laundry soap. If you've never tried it, I encourage you to make this your week!!! Even if you or your kids have sensitive skin or eczema, you can use their sensitive skin bar soap instead of Ivory (store bought) soap. It will cost you the same amount to buy the ingredients as it will to buy a box of Tide, only instead of 30 -40 loads, you'll have enough to make hundreds!

Here's the recipe I use:

1 quart boiling water

2 cups Bar soap (grated)

2 cups Borax

2 cups Washing Soda (Arm & Hammer)

• Add finely grated bar soap to the boiling water and stir until soap is completely melted (20 min.) You can keep on low heat until soap is melted.
  
  
• Pour the soap water into a large, clean pail and add the Borax and Washing Soda. Stir well until it has dissolved.
  
  
• Add 2 gallons of water and stir until well mixed.
  
  
• Cover pail and use 1/4 cup for each load of laundry. Stir the sap each time, as it will gel.

I saved a laundry softener jug and fill it up with my soap, then I use the lid as my measuring cup each time. It also makes it easy to stir - just shake the jug!

The key here is making sure your soap is completely melted, and yes it takes time, but it will save you a lot of money!