Homemade Laundry Detergent

Recently I have become interested in the idea of using homemade cleaning products.  Vinegar seems to be as useful as anything else.  It kills mold, sanitizes, acts as a fabric softener...the list goes on and on.  I am having tons of fun (weird...I know) using Borax in my cleaning as well.  AND don't get me started on the benefits of Baking Soda!! 

I got curious about making homemade laundry detergents and wanted to give it a try,  Many of the liquid recipes seem somewhat involved to make.  Then the detergent is goopy and will separate...really not something I want to invest a ton of time into while I'm trying to figure this process out.  However, I found a recipe for powdered detergent (although I'm not usually a big fan of powdered detergents generally) that seemed reasonable and is easy enough to throw together.  I got my recipe from www.tipnut.com and I highly recommend the site.

So here's the recipe:

Powdered Laundry Detergent
2 cups Fels Naptha Soap (finely grated)
1 cup Washing Soda
1 cup Borax

• Mix well and store in an airtight plastic container.
• Use 2 tablespoons per full load.

BTW- with a little research I learned that the soap should be finely grated for better dissolving but I did find someone who uses a regular cheese grater and has it in larger pieces.  She says that it works well for her.  I found that the soap doesn't mix as well in bigger shreds with the Borax and Washing Soda which are both incredibly fine powders.  So I recommend that you finely grate them.  I mixed up the batch and have the first load in the wash.  I will be curious to see the results.

ANOTHER BTW- don't worry about keeping a tablespoon near your washer.  Simply use your old dispenser cup from your last bottle of detergent...that cute little line that has a number 1 by it equals about 2 tablespoons.  I checked it...it works. 

YET ANOTHER BTW (ok this will be the last one!)- be sure to use washing soda rather than baking soda.  They are two totally different products and work completely differently...you can add a small amount of vinegar (1/8 cup) to the load to act as a fabric softener but I read some conflicting information about still needing a dryer sheet...I'll check this one out in more depth as we get into winter and things get really staticy around here...lastly, you can add a few drops of essential oils to your recipe to help with scent....PHEW, I think it got it all in!!!

I know, more silly information....but I am having so much fun doing this and I just want to share it all with you!!!  Have fun organizing!!!

oh AND...check out www.vinegartips.com!  It gives you 1001 ways to use white distilled vinegar! 

Cream of Tartar...who knew?

So I just wanted to let everyone know of a new secret weapon in the kitchen.  Cream of Tartar!!!  I know, who actually uses it?  We all have it for some reason...I had 2 1/2 little containers because I made playdough over the summer...but really, I never use it.

Until today!!  I noticed that my stockpot was developing that gross film that just happens...scrub though I may it just wasn't coming off.  So I went online and found a suggestion from another blog (can't remember the name, I think it was  Paystolivegreen.com or something like that...I'll figure it out). 

Regardless, they recommended 1 tsp cream of tartar to 1 quart of water.  Boil for 10 minutes and the scunge will be gone!  

Believe it or not it was true!!  I could see it getting cleaner while it boiled!!  LOVED IT!!! 

I've already started using vinegar to clean mold (and generally disinfect), borax to help with drains and laundry.  Baking soda for laundry and kitchen cleaning.  I am digging this whole idea of household items to clean your stuff.  It's cheap and with a little elbow grease, it works!!!

Anyway, I will let you go, that is enough about cleaning for one day!!  Phew!

Making Progress...

So we started off with this...

What a terrible mess.  Each time I started to work on it, I got pulled away to do something else and again always felt that I made a mess but never finished my work.  So we got to this...

 Not done by any means but getting there slowly.

Luckily yesterday I was able to push on through and we finally got this...

And this....

Much better!!!  Don't you agree?  Can you see my plates on the wall?  Here let me give you a better pic...

My beautiful plates!!!  My hubby gave me these for my birthday, while we were dating, after we both moved back together from our long distance locations.  I love them...and now I can actually see them again!!!  Whoo hoo!

Luckily yesterday wasn't only about islands and plates.  I was able, somehow to get my recipe book organized.  Unfortunately I didn't think to take a before picture, but the after picture is great.  And believe me, just think of a blue binder eating about half a pound of paper and you'll get the gist.  But check this baby out...

My favorite part about the rest of the day yesterday was that I was able to clean out my corner cabinet and purge so much junk!  I also organized my kitchen in general. I love this room again.

Ahhh...so much nicer!  I love that I have one more weekend left in September and a manageable project left.  My next project will be to purge the Gladware containers and organize the cabinets/counters. 

Until next time...let's have fun Organizing Emily!!

September Has Begun!!!!

Let's get ready to clean!!! 

I haven't done perfectly on my August mini project...but dishes certainly got done more readily than on a normal day.  During the month of September I will take on the kitchen...this monster (err, I mean room) taunts me daily and refuses to stay clean. 

My first goal in the kitchen will be to regain control of my beloved island.  This was one of my first big purchases after graduating college.  During my childhood my mother made toffee on a marble slab at Christmas time every year.  Naturally I learned at her knee how to make toffee and was so excited to find an island with granite. 

Only problem, it becomes my "collect all."  So to this I say "Goodbye, Junk!!!"

Deadline for completion:  September 6, 2011