How To: Homemade Laundry Soap - Adventures in Frugalness

I was first introduced to the idea of Homemade Laundry Soap quite a while back by my friend Sheena.  I was thoroughly intrigued but didn't do anything about it at the time.

Then, last week, I noticed that I was just about out of liquid laundry detergent...and try as I might, could not find any on sale for a price I was willing to pay (oh, I miss the days before the economy tanked that I used to get this for free with coupons....all of the time).  So...I thought...what the heck...let's try homemade.

So....I did.

It was SUPER CHEAP (about $1.59 for a 5 gallon bucket's worth--look for price breakdown below) and SUPER EASY to make (only took 25 minutes....start to finish). 

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap

4 cups water

1 bar Fels-Naptha soap 
(found in the laundry isle)

--or you can use any soap and/or soap scraps

1 cup A&H Super Washing Soda

1/2 cup Borax

Yield: 5 gallons (concentrate)
7-10 gallons (diluted)

Grate bar of soap.  Place in a saucepan with water. 

Melt on medium-low heat (don't boil it), stirring continually, until all soap is liquified.

Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full with HOT tap water.  Add melted soap, soda, and Borax.  Stir well until all powder is dissolved.

  Finish filling the bucket with hot water.  Stir, cover, and leave overnight (giving it a chance to thicken). 

Here's what it should look like after it's sat for a while.

(like a lemon ice slushy)

Now...this 5 gallon bucket is the concentrated version (pre-treat stains with it).

The original "recipe" calls for 50/50 dilution with water, but my friend recommends using it in it's concentrated form (after trying it diluted for several months)...so you can decide what works best for you.  

Here's what I did.

I filled a container (can use an old but clean, empty laundry soap container...mine wasn't quite empty yet so I used an alternate) and filled it 3/4 full with the concentrate (see that compromise?) and the rest of the way with water.   

Shake container before each use.

You can also add your favorite scent of essential oil for a "custom" smell.  Just a few drops in your smaller container (it will be wasted in the 5 gallon bucket because the smell will dissipate over time).  

But...the essential oils are not "essential" (ha ha ha).  The Fels-Naptha has a nice lemon-y smell on it's own.  But...go ahead and play with it...it's your soap.   


This is a low sudsing detergent.

For front loading machines (yes, it is good for front loaders) use about 1/2 cup detergent.


For top loading, 3/4 to 1 cup

Try supplementing with 1 cup vinegar which has the power to naturally disinfect and soften the fabric.  (I'm definitely going to remember to do this when I do my MANY loads of "soiled" sheets.....**sigh**...boys).  (Thanks for the tip livingrichwithcoupons).


Either way...whether you dilute it or not, it is going to save you a LOT of money. 

Price breakdown

(as of Saturday at my local Walmart)

Water 

(free...he he he)

Fels-Naptha $.97 

(1 bar per recipe)

Arm & Hammer Soda $3.24

(abt 7 recipes @ 1 cup...$.46 per recipe)

Borax $2.98

(abt 18 recipes @ 1/2 cup...$.16 per recipe)

  

Total:  $7.19

or $1.59 per 5 gallon bucket

I'll let you know how it works.  

I've got more laundry tips coming.  So keep you eyes out.
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"Cream of" Soup- Recipes Tried and True

I happened upon a really good deal for stocking up on Cream of Chicken and Cream of Mushroom soup today (thanks, Happy Money Saver).

I, of course, headed on over to Fred Meyer to pick up a stockpile.  :)

But...also of interest, was a comment by one of the readers.  She left a recipe for homemade (gluten free) "cream of" soups...which is said to be super cheap to make. 

I'm always interested in cheap....I thought you might be too.  So...here you go.

Homemade "Cream of" Soup (gluten free)
1 cup cold milk
2 TBSP corn starch  
1 1/2 TBSP butter
1/2 tsp salt
dash of pepper

Place cold milk to a small sauce pan.  Add cornstarch and whisk until well blended.  Stir in butter, salt and pepper.  Heat to boil (on low I would imagine), stirring frequently.  Simmer on low for an additional minute (or until it reaches desired consistency).

To make "cream of mushroom" add 4 oz can of mushroom pieces, drained, "Cream of chicken" add 1/2 cup diced chicken,  "Cream of celery" add 1/2 cup chopped and sauteed celery, etc....

Recipe is equivalent to one regular sized can "Cream of" soup.

(Thank Lora---whoever you may be)

SOLUTION: creating jeans that fit.

I finally got around to adjusting those pesky jeans from the post Help!...I need you!-creating jeans that fit.

Thanks for all your comments and suggestions.

I combined a few of them, added some of my own "jimmy-riggin'" and WA LA!  They are done (and none too soon...it's getting COLD!  Brrrrr......)

Here's what I ended up doing (please keep in mind that #1 I have "beginner" sewing skills and #2 I'm far more concerned with function than fashion---one of the benefits of being a mom of boys)

After turning the pants inside out, I un-stitched the sides of the waistband logo thing-y.

 

Next...and I forgot to get a picture of this one,...I cut slits in the waistband backing fabric on each side of the pants, in line with side seam.

I pinned the elastic for easy threading.

Then, I threaded the elastic through, from one slit to the next.

 Next, I tucked the end of the elastic in (on the side with the pin, after taking off the pin, of course), pulled closed the slit, and zig zag stitched, making sure to firmly catch the elastic and both sides of the fabric (If you'll notice, mine is VERY secure.  I get a little carried away sometimes. he he he )

Next, is where a little jimmy-riggin' comes in.  I could actually measure things...but it's not my style.  So...I had my  kiddo put the pants on inside out.  Then I pulled the elastic tight....until the pants were nice and fitted around his waist and then pinned the elastic in place.  Then, I cut the elastic and closed the opening like in the steps above.

 

 Last, but not least, I stitched two lines (small zigzag) down the back/middle of the waist band (one would probably work) to keep the elastic from twisting around and bunching up. 

And there you have it.

G-McBabe now has two very functional pairs of jeans where there were none before.  Ta Da!

Now I just have to work on patching up the knee holes he's already managed to put in them.  :)  (tutorial for Monsters Knees)
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Serious choking hazard....

We ran a ton of errands today.  The kids were exhausted.

We finished up at Costco....I bribed them with hot dogs (our monthly routine).

We got out to the car when I realized I had forgotten a knife to cut Mr. Golden Locks section (he get's about a 1/3 of one of his bros) of "dog" up.

I was not about to go back inside.  So...against my better judgement...I gave it to him....whole.

"He'll chew it," I reasoned with myself.  (Uh huh....)

He was remarkably quiet on the way home (of course, they are usually pretty quiet when they are stuffing their faces) but after hearing soft snoring I realized he had fallen asleep.  Poor thing.

I looked back in my rear view mirror and saw this....

Can't see it?

How about NOW?

When I called his name...he stirred a bit...chomped down a few times...then promptly fell asleep again.

We got home...I got him out of his car seat and took him inside.  I tried to take out the piece of hot dog...except it wasn't really a piece at all.

Yeah, that's right.  He shoved the ENTIRE thing into his mouth and this (above) is what wouldn't fit.  

It made me laugh and scared me at the same time.

I coaxed him into spitting it out in the sink. 

He was none too happy to see it go. 

I am very lucky nothing serious happened to him.

Let's just say that I will NEVER be doing that again.  EVER!   


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Those boots....

Notice something similar about this picture....

and this one?

Is it costumes?  Super heroes?  My kids?

No...it's the BOOTS!  The cowboy boots.  Little Red wears them EVERYWHERE.  Everywhere except church, bed and school on "P.E." day.  (let's not forget Mini Rob in his snow boots either)

Cowboy up Darth!  Cowboy up Spidey!

It drives me crazy yet is so cute at the same time.

(Kinda like the kiddo who wears them.)  :)

Roberto has never really liked "the boots" but was flabergasted when I let Little Red go Trick-or-Treating in them last night.

"Does it really matter?"  I said. 

I mean, he DID put them on ALL BY HIMSELF.  That scores HUGE points in my book.  :)
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