Do 1,800 loads of laundry for less than 10 dollars!
Homemade concentrated laundry detergent works so much better than store bought detergents that have a lot of fillers. This detergent works with all water temperatures and all makes and models of machines. I have never had to run the "clean" cycle on my HE washer because this pure detergent leaves no residue.
Years and years ago, my mother heard about making laundry detergent. She made the liquid kind, and it was fantastic! I used to make the liquid, but I became lazy and just made and used the powder. This recipe is very simple and is so concentrated that only 1 TEASPOON of non-scented detergent per load is needed to clean your clothes. Scented detergent is a heaping teaspoon per load. You can use up to a tablespoon per load for extremely greasy, dirty clothes, but usually a teaspoon is all that is needed.
Scent boosters are not required, but can be added if you like a particular scent. I have used the Gain Fireworks and the Purex Crystals with great results. I usually whirl them around in the food processor so they will be smaller in size.
The bars of soap can be hand-grated, but I just use the cheese grater disc in my food processor. The Homemade Dishwasher Detergent is good, too, as is the emergency dishwasher detergent.
Laundry Soup
2 bars Fels Naptha Soap
1 – 65 ounce box 20 Mule Team Borax
1 – 55 ounce box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda Laundry Booster
1 bottle scent booster crystals or pellets – optional
Grate the soap and mix with the borax and the soda. Add in the scent booster if desired. Store in an airtight container. Use 1 teaspoon per load if unscented and 1 heaping teaspoon per load in scented.
For Liquid Detergent
Put the finished powder, in a five gallon bucket, add 2 gallons of boiling hot water to it, stir well and let it sit overnight. The next day, fill the bucket to the top with warm water, stir it well, and it is now a liquid laundry soap. Use about half as much of this liquid as you would store bought liquid as it is very concentrated. It will be very thick.
Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
1 cup Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda
1 cup baking soda
3 packages unsweetened lemonade Kool-Aid
½ cup non iodized salt
Mix all dry ingredients together.
Add one tablespoon of dry powder mix to your dishwasher dispenser.
Emergency Dishwasher Detergent
3 drops of regular dishwashing liquid
Baking soda
Put just three drops of dishwashing liquid into the dishwasher’s soap dispenser. Fill the dispenser with baking soda. Close the dispenser and run the cycle as usual.
Before-You-Go bathroom sprays are all the rage now, but they can sometimes be hard to find AND expensive! It is genius in its simplicity. It is a specific emulsification of oils and water. The oils sit on top of the water in the toilet and literally trap odors before they can have the chance to spread. The oils in the recipe can be either essential oils or fragrance oils or you can use a combination of both. Fragrance oils are less expensive. (Dollar Tree has them in ½ ounce sizes!) But you MUST use 100 percent pure oils.
The alcohol can be either 91% rubbing alcohol or Everclear 191 proof. Glycerin can be found in any pharmacy. The egg yolk is used as an emulsifier to mix and stabilize the oil and water – the alcohol in the recipe cooks the yolk – so no worries there! Just gently rinse the unbroken yolk before slowly adding it to the mixture. You can easily increase this recipe and decant into purse size bottles and bigger home size bottles. The amount listed will make around 12 ounces. Here is a DIY version that works just as well and is 98% less expensive.
BYG Spray
1 to 2 teaspoon of either essential oils OR fragrance oils OR any combination or both
2/3 cup water
2 ounces 91 percent rubbing alcohol OR 2 ounces 191 proof Everclear Grain Alcohol
2 ounce vegetable glycerin (optional)
1 egg yolk - rinsed
Spray bottle (s)
Place all the oils, water, alcohol and glycerin in a blender. Blend on high for a minute. Slowly add in the egg yolk drop by drop and pulse. Once it’s all added, blend on high for a minute. Pour into spray bottle. To use: Spray 4-5 times directly onto the water in the toilet bowl before going.
I don’t have enough space here to write about the use and care of these lamps, but if you have one, you know how wonderful they are and you also know just how expensive the “oil” refills are.
This DIY can be made at home for much less! You must use 91 percent alcohol. The bottles usually come in 16 ounce sizes, so simply remove 1 ounce of alcohol, add in your oils and water and shake to combine. You now have effusion lamp oil. You MUST USE 100 percent oils in this -- essential oils OR fragrance oils OR a combination of both.
Effusion Lamp Oil
15 ounces of 91 percent rubbing alcohol
1 teaspoon essential oil OR fragrance oil OR a combo
1 teaspoon distilled water
