For those wanting to be more self sufficient...

[Southern28Chick]

...or just want to save money.

I have some tips I'd like to share.

Homemade laundry detergent:
Laundry Soap (Gel)

Bar of soap (cold process), grated ***Great soap: Fels Naptha***
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.

This recipe = 64 loads

Laundry Powder

All measures by weight.
1 pound, very dry, grated cold process soap ***Great soap: Fels Naptha***
8 oz. washing soda
8 oz. borax
Essential oil - ½ oz (I like Lavender or Orange)

Mix dry ingredients in large bowl with gloved hand.
Add essential oil by sprinkling on top. Mix again and dispense into containers.
For light loads, use 2 tablespoons; for sheets or heavy laundry, use 1/4 cup.

This recipe = 40 light loads or 20 heavy loads


Homemade dishwasher detergent:
Mix and use per dishwasher load:
1 Tablespoon Borax
1 Tablespoon Baking soda


I'll add more later, til then add your own.

 

[Henrietta23]

Quote:
Great idea! I have one to add.
Liquid hand soap
Fill a pump dispenser almost full of liquid castille soap.
Add 1 Tablespoon olive oil and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. I like peppermint or lemon. I use this at my bathroom and kitchen sinks. I like the castille soap that Trader Joe's carries under their own label (if you can get it). It's much cheaper than Dr. Bonner's.

 

[Ang]

I just wanted to add that if you have soft water you can cut the amount of laundry soap you use in half and still get great results. The same goes for your dish soap and shampoo.

 

[Wildsky]

:|

 

[Southern28Chick]

Quote:
I'm sure it would but a "NORMAL" bar of soap is made of tallow and harsh chemicals that are bad for the environment. I think any time you're washing anything down the drain it should be a safe biodegradable product.

 

[Wildsky]

:|

 

[Southern28Chick]

Edited because it no longer needs to be said.

 

[hsm5grls]

I use that same recipe for my laundry soap but I triple it and make a large batch or else I would have to do in once a week. It works great on the laundry and my kids can get dirty.....real dirty LOL



If you want to try the recipe but don't make soap or haven't yet you can buy a bar of naptha or zote in the laundry isle at the grocery store. Then you can test it out and decide from there if it is something you would want to get into. I really recommend trying it it is great. I haven't started making actual soap yet. I plan to but for now I use the zote bar.

 

[Southern28Chick]

I'm looking forward to y'all adding your own tips. I'm trying to limit my shopping lists by making my own products. I'm also looking for more earth friendly ways to get things done. Every little bit helps.

 

[hsm5grls]

I am sure a lot of people do this but it is new to me. I plan on planting double crops of everything this spring and canning my own sauces and vegs. for the winter months when they are not in season. I am also trying to get my family to eat more seasonally. I also want to plant some more fruits in the "orchard" part of my yard for apple sauce and jams.
We also try to reuse everything we can. I am saving small jars right now to put the dried herbs we will get this spring from the girls herb garden.

Here's one I am nervouse about....I am really considering switching to cloth diapers. I am looking for patterns for all sizes so I can try a sew my own. With 2 babies in diapers in the next 6 mths. I figure I can save at least 20.00 a week.
We also make all of our bread and tortillas. That has saved us a lot of money at the store. Also you can add so many ingredients to the same recipe and come up with so many different kinds of bread.


I really recommend the book....the encyclopedia of country living by Carla Emery. So much information. I love that book