Monday, July 26, 2010

Homemade Dryer sheets

Hi All! I hope you enjoyed the homemade Laundry Soap. I know that I have enjoyed the laundry soap more than you can know.  It leaves your clothes with very little smell at all, which is good.  I love fabric softener & usually put some in each load of laundry. That can get really expense in my household.  So, I have searched online to find a better way of saving money in this area.  I have came across alot of different things. These are my favorite two:


The 1st one is an oldie, but goodie!  cup of vinegar in the rinse cycle. It helps keep washing machines & hoses fresh & clean.  It also help with the "smell" that sometimes occurs with the front loading washing machines.



The second recipe:


-1    5 gallon bucket*              
-1 container of Fabric softener
                                                           -1 package of sponges

Pour fabric softener in bucket

Then fill bottle with water and add to bucket, Twice..
2 parts water to 1 part fabric softener

Cut sponge in half & place in bucket. I only cut up one, but will add another.

When ready to use, squeeze out extra mixture for one sponge and add to dryer as you would a dryer sheet.  I use two when I dry, just cause I like the smell of the fabric softener I use.  Works just as well as any dryer sheets I have used in the past & also helps with static.
*It says to use a 5 gallon bucket, but I will us a 3gallon bucket next time, just so I don't have the bulk from the 5 gallon bucket.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent

 
Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine


  • 4 Cups - hot tap water


  • 1 Fels-Naptha soap bar (found mine @ Ace Hardware)

  • 1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda* (found @ Ressors, it like Homeland)

  • ½ Cup Borax  (walmart, very easy to find)


(Pictured above)

 
- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water.


 
Add melted soap into bucket already containing washing soda and Borax.

 

 
Stir well until all powder is dissolved.

 

 
Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.
 

 
This is what it looks like atfer it has sit over-night.

It will be thick & jelly like, just stir until it is mixed well.

- fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap ( I am using a 2 gallon water jug from Wal-mart $4.00. It is important that you use something that you can shake before each use. It doesn't have to be 2 gallons, it is 1 to 1 ratio on this soap with water. So, if you have 1 gallon jug, use 1/2 soap half water. You get the picture , Right?!!?)



Half full of soap

 and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

 

 
-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

 
-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

 
-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

 
-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

 

 
*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online. Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!