Today, I made laundry detergent, and shower spray. It was so easy, and inexpensive, after the initial purchase for the ingredients. The shower spray recipe came from Denise, in Pennywise Meanderings, and the detergent recipe is easily found on lots of sites. The detergent recipe is supposed to average one-cent a load. Can't beat that price.
My ING account is increasing, and it is great seeing the interest increase too. I am more than half way to my savings goal for the year, which is pretty much on target.
DH has had a bad week, however. Yesterday, he accidentally put unleaded gas in his diesel truck, and that cost $400.00 to remedy! Then, he had a root canal which cost $800.00. I told him he is a "high maintenance man". Next comes another root canal, and two crowns. Yikes!
Active frugality
May 19th, 2007 at 02:20 am
May 19th, 2007 at 02:41 pm 1179585661
Hope your DH is feeling better after the root canal
May 19th, 2007 at 05:14 pm 1179594876
May 19th, 2007 at 05:33 pm 1179596016
1/3 bar of Fels Naptha, Zote, or Ivory soap, grated. I used a hand held grater, that coarsely grates, and used Zote brand laundry soap. I read that one woman used Sunshine, lemon laundry soap, and loved the smell of her laundry.
1/2 cup of washing soda. NOT baking soda. You will find it in the laundry section of your grocery store.
1/2 cup of borax powder.
You will also need a bucket that will hold at least two gallons, and preferably one with a cover. I used a plastic contained that we got dog treats in from Sams. It has a cover that opens from one end.
Grate the soap and put it in a fairly large sauce pan.
Add six cups of water and heat it until the soap melts, stirring frequently. Add the washing soda and borax and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour four cups of hot tap water into your bucket. Now add the soap mixture and stir. Now add one gallon, plus six cups of hot water, and stir. Let the soap sit for about 24 hours until it thickens. Stir each time you use it. Use 1/2 cup per load. I put an old ladle on top of my pail, and use it to stir the detergent. It holds 1/2 cup.
I washed a load of whites in hot water with the detergent this morning, and was very pleased with the results. I didn't use any bleach, and the clothes are very white, and some stains that I had been unable to get out with bleach came out.
It took about ten minutes to make. I found all of the ingredients at a Kroger chain store. I was unable to find them at Wal-Mart.
I am such a nerd that I wish my laundry was not done, because I would like to try it on dark clothing with warm or cold water! Suppossedly it doesn't leave a soap residu. It is extremely LOW sudsing, but gets the job done.
May 19th, 2007 at 05:37 pm 1179596279
May 19th, 2007 at 09:11 pm 1179609099
May 19th, 2007 at 09:26 pm 1179609998
The recipe for the shower spray costs more initially because the pure castile soap is kind of expensive, but you only use a teaspoon per batch, so it will last a very long time. I found it in the natural product section of the grocery store, but after I bought it, I wondered if I could have found it cheaper in a health food store, or our food co oop. Anyway, here is the recipe:
I TBL. liquid castile soap
1 tsp. borax
1 TBL. washing soda
1/2 cup white vinegar
Hot water in a spray bottle.
My spray bottle holds 24 ounces, but previously, I used and empty "Shower Clean" spray bottle.
I just made a batch for the first time, yesterday, so it will take a couple of weeks to tell how well it does, but I use a shower spray daily, and won't pay upwards of $2.00 every couple weeks. Before, I was using a mixture of vinegar, amonia, and baking soda and hot water.
Hope you like the detergent. I sure do.
May 19th, 2007 at 09:28 pm 1179610116