New Laundry Detergent

I know that I have previously posted a recipe for laundry Detergent, but I have been given a new one that is SO easy!!! (I'm honestly not sure where the recipe originated...)  It works great!  My Mom made me two gallons when we moved because I had to wash everything that we stored.  I have just made myself another gallon and it was so simple!

You will need:

1/4 c. Borax
1/3 c. Super Washing Soda
2 Tbsp. Dawn
Water
Sturdy Gallon Container (for liquids)

I filled the container about 1/4 full of HOT (really hot) water.  Then I added the Borax and Washing Soda.  Swirl the container around until the powders are dissolved.  After the powders are dissolved add the 2 Tbsp. of Dawn, and then fill the container with water (temperature does not matter).

You're Done!  Wasn't that easy!!

Use this just as you would any other liquid detergent!  It has worked great on baby clothes, my clothes, my husbands work clothes and everything else I have needed to wash over the last month!

Let me know what you think!

DIY Laundry Stain Remover

So, my beautiful little distraction tends to create stains on her cute little pink clothes!  And since little girls look much cuter in clean clothes, I had to find a great stain remover!  My Mom told me about a home made stain remover that she had found and tried and how wonderfully it worked!  It got out a stain that had been in a sweater for years!  So, I decided to try it, and I love it!  This is my second batch...

You will need:

Dish Detergent (I used Dawn)
Hydrogen Peroxide
Baking Soda
Small Container (I use a small canning jar)

Mix all ingredients in container and you are done!  How easy was that?  As the mixture sits the baking soda does seem to settle to the bottom.  I use a small spatula to stir the mixture before each use and then to apply it to the stained clothes.  I just keep the stain remover and the spatula right beside the washer!  I hope this works as well for you as it has for me!

DIY Liquid Laundry Detergent

So, I had hoped to post this much sooner! However, I currently have a very cute distraction:

So, I am finally getting around to re-posting this with more details and pictures!  I have been using homemade laundry detergent for a couple years now and I absolutely love it!!  This recipe will make 10 gallons (the 5-gallon bucket is double concentrate that you will mix with water as you use it).  I could not even tell you the money we have saved by using this as opposed to purchasing detergent!

You will need:
          - 5 gallon bucket (with lid)
          - 1 bar of soap (Fels Naptha, Ivory, Castille...)
          - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
          - Borax

You will need about 2 cups of water in a medium sauce pan, on medium heat.  

Grate your bar of soap into the saucepan of water.

Stir until the soap is completely melted.

I usually place my 5 gallon bucket in the bathtub.  I also measure my Washing Powder and Borax ahead of time and place them in a small container.  After the soap is dissolved in the water, pour the soap mixture into your 5 gallon bucket. Add your Washing Powder and Borax.  Stir until the dry mixture is completely dissolved.

Fill the bucket with water and let sit overnight.

It's consistency will turn to a gelatin like consistency, with some liquid around the edges.  When you are ready to use it, simply fill a laundry detergent container half way with the homemade mixture and then finish filling the container with water. Shake well and use just like you would your regular detergent!

**If you want, you can add some essential oils for a nice scent**

I hope that this has been helpful!!! Please feel free to comment below!

Laundry Shelf

I am all about organization!!!  I also hate it when things fall behind the washer or dryer...because then I have to pull them away from the wall.  Which means I will end up vacuuming and mopping behind them...  Now, it is a good idea to clean behind the washer and dryer, but I try to plan these things for a day when I am off work, or do not have ten places to be!  :)  So, I saw on Pinterest the idea to put a shelf over the back of the washer and dryer.  I loved it!!  Now, I'm sure you will notice that my washer and dryer do not match...but, they came with the house, and I will not complain about appliances I did not have to buy!  So, I asked my sweet Mountain Man husband to dig through his extra wood, and we found a board that would work.  So, I found some stain that was close to my cabinets and I stained it - so easy!! Then, we pulled out the washer and dryer (and I swept and mopped) and we hung the shelf!!  It is definitely one of my favorite additions to our laundry 'hall'!  It took a total of about 3 days - I was only able to work on this after work.  Day one I did one coat of stain, Day 2 I did a second coat of stain, and Day 3 we hung the shelf!!  It is wonderful!  )We did make a small cut out so that we could still get to the outlet just behind the washer!)

 

Have you made any additions to your laundry room?  What would you change if you could?

Update on the Dryer Sheets...

WOW!  So, I have learned that my plan for making my own dryer sheets did not work out quite as well as I had hoped.....they got moldy.  Very sad day!  So, Plan B!

Make home made fabric softener, as mentioned in previous post.  Put in a spray bottle (you can buy these for $1  or less at Wal-Mart or the Dollar Store).  Keep dry rags in a container.  When you are ready to put a load of laundry in the dryer, gently shake the spray bottle of fabric softener and spritz the rag before tossing in the dryer!

Hope this helps!

What I have learned about my dryer....

I have learned so much about my dryer this week....things I would have never thought about needing to know and things I would have never thought would matter!! I found all this new information after reading an article attached to a tip I found on Pinterest!!

I learned that simply removing the lint from your dryer's lint filter is NOT enough! If you use storebought dryer sheets they cause an invisible film on the mesh/screen that catches the lint. Apparently this is caused by whatever is in the dryer sheet that keeps the clothing from becoming 'staticy' :) So, I decided to test out my lint filter - I took it to the bathtub and sure enough it held water!! Which means that when the dryer is running it is not 'breathing' properly - which can cause a fire to start in your dryer. WOW. So, I use a small amount of dish soap and a soft scrub brush and cleaned my lint filter until water ran through it.

I look forward to seeing how the home-made dryer sheets I made will make a difference!!

I also learned that balled up piece of aluminum foil (from your kitchen cabinet) will help prevent static cling in your clothes after they have been through the dryer!!  I was a little cautious of this at first..but I tried it yesterday (after reading many reports of others good luck with this) and it works!!!

I look forward to hearing any other tips or ideas you may have!! Please, share!

Home-Made Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheets

FABRIC SOFTENER

1 Gallon container
1 cup Baking Soda
6-8 cups Vinegar
Water
Essential Oil - Optional


I use an old 1 gallon Fabric Softener container (rinsed well)

Combine 1 Cup Baking Soda with Vinegar - carefully!  I did this in a mixing bowl.  I only added enough vinegar to make the baking soda mixture easy to pour into the 1 gallon container.  Then I gradually added the remaining vinegar.  I added about 10 drops of Clean Cotton Essential Oil.  Then I filled the container the rest of the way with water.

I also took my husband's drill and drilled a few small holes in the lid of the container to prevent an explosion!  Before each use you need to slightly shake/stir the mixture - which will re-mix the baking soda and vinegar and cause it overflow if not handled carefully.

DRYER SHEETS:

1 empty baby wipe box
while washcloths
Fabric Softener

I cut up some plain white washcloths from Wal-Mart into pieces that will easily fit into the baby wipe box.  Then I pour fabric softener over the rags until they were wet through. I use one rag with each load of laundry put through the dryer.