Self-sufficient households; help!

[TheMartianChick]

I just made my second batch of the laundry detergent today. The first batch lasted about 5 weeks, even though I tended to use a lot more than the prescribed amount. Some of our clothes get pretty dirty. We have a family of 4 and I always have a perpetual load of laundry going.

I made my second batch in about 20 minutes time, so it wasn't at all time consuming.

 

[dirtdoctor]

Self sufficency is great, but we gotta look at a few things, number one time is money!! unless your not employed and have all the money ya need, how much time and money do you spend on home made landry detergent versis buying a bunch on sale? Or are ya so far in the sticks that makin yer own is the only resort you have?

Grow your own chicken feed, corn, amaranth, mellons, even sugarbeets......critters eat for days on sugarbeets and they store really well.

Jack

totally self sufficent solar powered electricty, windmill pumps my water......and we grow lots of goodies and sell chickens and eggs....
Now if i could find some Black gold, texas tea, while i was hunting on my land......

 

[okiemommy]

I made the laundry Detergent!! I like it, though I'm not used to the "unscentedness" of it lol But I think I can live with as long as my husband's not allergic to it. The Jury's still out on that.

 

[Wildsky]

Sadly I had to order my washing soda and felsnaptha online.

I bought more than needed to make it worth while on the shipping. I ended up paying $30 for 5 bars of soap and 2 boxes of washing soda - so I hope it works out cheaper than buying detergent in the store. (I don't know how many batches I'll get out of that.... )
I have color safe bleach and borax on hand - waiting!

 

[coffeemama]

Quote:
Hey Jack-you finally started posting here

 

[dirtdoctor]

Yeah,

I'm here Coffee.......say hi to the folks in Chat.
Seems that i get busy and barely have time to do anything in here.

best to you,
SAY Hi to the GANG!!!
Jack

 

[Alaska animal lover]

Quote:
One step at a time. Personally I think that any step is a step in the right direction.
Don't knock people for trying.

 

[okiemommy]

WOW wildsky, that's a lot of soap lol I wonder if I could ship it to you for cheaper than you can buy it on the internet? I paid .99 a piece for the fels naptha bars, and about 2.44-2.78 for the washing soda.

LOL though you might not need any for a really long time!

When you run out, I can pick some up for you when I go. If it would be cheaper for me to ship it to you, I would be happy to do it.

 

[Cassandra]

I read somewhere here that you can use a bar of Ivory soap in place of the fels naptha. Does that work as well? I had to get some fels & washing soda shipped, too. But if it would be OK to use Ivory, I sure would! And save the fels for stain treating and stuff.

Cassandra

 

[Acre of Blessings]

Yes, you can use Ivory Soap. I, myself use the Zote soap, It has a calm scent to it. I was blessed to find 2 bottles of essential oils for 50 cents a piece and I only add about 15 to a whole batch of soap. It actually smells like Gain, in a way. The scent is Ocean Mist and oh, it smells so good.

For those who don't know, you can get the essential oils in the craft/fabric section in stores. ***Just a note*** check with your local Wal-Mart and see if they are going to close the fabric dept. and they may have some things marked down. This is how I got the oils so cheap.

(dirtdoctor) If someone does 1 step toward self-suffiency, they are doing themselves and their family a world of good. And welcome to the posting board.

I am so ready for solar panels, wind drawn water and anything else you can think of, but those are about the only 2 things that hold us back.