Homemade Laundry Detergent (The Dry Version)

Years ago I made the liquid version of this recipe and I personally didn’t like the way it cleaned the clothes or smelled. Some people love it and that’s okay. But it kind of turned me off to making my own detergent for awhile. That is until recently.

I came across a dry version of homemade laundry detergent and decided to give it a try. I’ve been using it for about 2 weeks now and I have to say that I really really love it. Really.

My clothes smell fresh and they are definitely clean. Even when I line dry I can still smell the freshness. That mixed in with that lovely outdoor sunshine smell and you’ll be in Heaven.

I had posted the recipe on my FB page and had one reader ask about using it in cold water. I did a test load and although there was one piece of soap residue on one shirt, the rest seemed to have dissolved just fine. So I will leave that totally up to you. I wash most of my clothes in warm and rinse in cold.

The money saved in using this recipe is out of this world since you only use 2 heaping TBS a load.

Here’s the recipe.

3 pounds of Super Washing Soda

2 pounds of Baking Soda

3 pound box of Borax

2 bars of Fels-Napa soup or Kirk's Castile Soap (Shredded)

I don't think there is an exact science. I just kind of eyeballed it.

Mix well in a large container.

Add two heaping tablespoons to each load of laundry.

So you think you’ll give it a try. It honestly took me all of about 5 minutes to make.

Have a lovely day my friends!

Homemade Hand Soap!

What you are about to see will truly amaze you. It’ll change you’re life. You’ll drop 10lbs just…..(insert needle being dragged across a record here). Okay it’s not all that but I did get your attention right? So since you’re here and already intrigued, read on.

I’m always on the lookout for a way to do things, not only cheaper, but that are better for you too. So today I share with you my latest find.

We go through some hand soap in our home and I usually buy the stuff that isn’t antibacterial because we have a septic tank, but it is still loaded with things I can’t even pronounce. So when I came across this recipe to make your own, I knew I had to try it. Not only that, I had to kick it up a notch. Because I can.

Here is the original recipe.

1 cup soap flakes

10 cups of water

1 TBS Glycerin

 

I decided to add:

16-20 drops of grapefruit seed extract

10-20 drops of Essential Oil of choice. (It depends on how strong a smell you want.)

Here are my ingredients.

Remember the purer the soap the purer the hand soap.

I loved what this bar of soap said in its list of things it helps clean. Ha! Ha!

This is soooo incredibly easy to do. Basically what you’re going to do is grate your soap and reserve the extra for your next batch. Cause you’ll have extra.

I think I was to busy playing with the soap shavings to take a picture, but I’m pretty sure you can figure out how to do that all on your own because I have smart readers.

Once you have it grated, put your ingredients in a big pot minus the essential oil and grapefruit seed extract.

Turn the heat to medium low and heat until the soap melts, which isn’t very long.

Remove your soap mixture and if you choose, add your essential oil and grapefruit seed extract. Now you just let it sit and cool completely. It will thicken up as it cools and should have the texture of hand soap. Remember it needs to COMPLETELY cool. Like no warmness at all. You’ll thank me for that information when you’re looking at it and it still seems runny. LOL!

I put mine in an old empty hand soap bottle and will fill the others as they empty of the old stuff. I also put some in an old shampoo bottle and have been using it as a body wash.  I have that nice fancy spa glow every time I get out of the shower. Okay maybe not but I feel clean. 

The extra you can just store in whatever you have handy.

This is a VERY cost efficient recipe. Not only do you know what’s in it but you’re saving money too. I’d say it’s a win win situation.

Do you think you’ll try this? Let me know how it comes out if you do!

HAVE A FABULOUS DAY MY FRIENDS!

I’m linking up to:

Spring Cleaning Kitchen Recap!

Oy! I survived the 1st week of the 5 Weeks to a Clean and Organized Home put on by Christian Homekeeper.

The week played out something like this.

Monday was cleaning the fridge, freezer and oven. 

I managed to clean my fridge. Eww! And my oven. Ugh! 

I'll spare you the pictures that will give you the impression that I never do ANY cleaning. I clean, I really do, but before I know it, it looks icky again. I know you know what I'm talking about.

Tuesday was cleaning the floors and under appliances. 

Okay, I admit I was a little grossed out at what I found under my oven. 

I did take before and after pictures but I'm a little to embarrassed to show them to you! Hee! Hee!

Just take my word for it, it is now CLEAN!

But just so you know. I found a bouncy ball, 4 plastic magnetic letters, pieces of a broken salt shaker, 2 spiders, some Cheerios (we haven't eaten Cheerios in YEARS), and a lot of dust and dirt! 

Just gather your own visual and we'll move on!

Wednesday was cleaning the cupboards and storage areas. 

I had done my top cabinets not to long ago but I didn't manage to do my bottom yet. I'm playing make up day today.

Thursday brought about cleaning your small appliances. 

In my mind I'm thinking that this would be cake because I don't have a lot of small appliances. Yeah, okay! As soon as I started seeking them out I realized I had more than I thought. I think the ickiest thing was the toaster if you can believe that.

Friday was cleaning the wood work and windows and such.

Since my cabinets are white, they show dirt, spaghetti sauce, smoothies gone wild, etc. very easily, so it's something that I try to keep up with on a regular basis but once in awhile I'll look down at a cupboard and wonder how long the big long drip of  sunthin' has been there? Oh well!

It's not to late to join in the "fun". 

Next week we are concentrating on the Living Room!

Have a FABULOUS weekend my sweet friends!

Pssst! Be on the look out for a giveaway coming up next week! Your kids and you will love it!

Homemade Laundry Soap

1/3 bar Fels Naptha or other type of soap
½ cup washing soda
½ cup borax powder
~You will also need a small bucket, about 2 gallon size~

Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan. Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into the bucket. Now add your soap mixture and stir. Now add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. You use ½ cup per load.

**A few things to note about the soap**

~The finished soap will not be a solid gel. It will be more of a watery gel that has been accurately described as an "egg noodle soup" look.

~The soap is a low sudsing soap. So if you don’t see suds, that is ok. Suds are not what does the cleaning, it is the ingredients in the soap.



Optional: If you want your soap to have some sort of scent you can scent this with ½ to 1 oz. of essential oil or fragrance oil of your choice.

All Purpose Cleaner

Mix in a sprayer bottle:

1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water

In the kitchen, use vinegar-and-water spray to clean countertops, lightly soiled range surfaces and backsplash areas.


In the bathroom, use vinegar spray cleaner to clean countertops, floors, and exterior surfaces of the toilet.


For really tough bathroom surfaces such as shower walls, pump up the cleaning power by removing the sprayer element and heating the solution in the microwave until barely hot. Spray shower walls with the warmed generously, allow to stand for 10 to 15 minutes, then scrub and rinse. The heat helps soften stubborn soap scum and loosens hard water deposits