Frugal Fundamentals

  Well I am sitting here today, it is cold and rainy, so what better than to wash some clothes? Actually, snuggled up on the couch, with hot cocoa, 3 doggies, and a good movie, is better, but washing clothes during this time is okay too. I decided I would post some of my homemade cleaning, laundry, and health and beauty concoctions. I do apologize, I have no pics, my husband has taken over my camera for work.(honestly though, none of them make for flattering photogenic subjects)
  I have taken the recipes and advice of others and tweaked to my own personal preference, yours may be different too. Play around with it till you like it, you will still save money in the long run.

Okay, lets get started with everyone's favorite and most widely argued...

Laundry Detergent

Note...I usually cut recipe in half, for storage reasons, unless I am sharing.

1 Fels Naptha laundry bar (grated, I use a handheld cheapo grater, it is just soap, it washes off)

1 cup of original scent Gain powder detergent (when I find it on sale, I am a Gain scent junkie)

1 ½ cups Washing Soda

1 ½ cups Borax

2 quarts water

4 ½ gallons water

Place grated laundry bar in 2 quarts of warm water and place on medium heat, stir until dissolved.  Add Gain washing powder, washing soda and borax, mix well.

Pour into large container and add 4 ½ gallons of water. Let mixture sit overnight.

Day 2

supplies needed

5 gallons water

You should have a mixture that resembles slime. Recruit some kiddos if you have them handy, they love this part. Use your hands to break it up. Put 2 quarts of mixture into 10 separate jugs then add 2 quarts of hot water to each jug and mix gently by turning from side to side.

Instructions

Before each use, gently mix by turning from side to side

½ cup for top loading machines or

¼ cup for front loading machines.

I have had a friend to tell me, she uses it as a powder just skip the melting the soap, and water parts, mix it all up, and scoop it out. I have not tried that, but I will, and I will let you know.

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Here is my fabric softener recipe as well...

1 cup hair conditioner (yes hair conditioner, I use any nice smelling VO5 kind, usually less than $1)

1/2 cup vinegar (optional, mainly for hard water, I use it anyway, you cannot smell it after wash)

1 cup Gain fabric softener, if on sale. (optional, again I am a Gain freak, you can use any fabric softener or none)

3 cups water

You can keep this in an old softener bottle and use a cap full, per load, added to your washer, or Downy ball.

If you want to make your clothes incredibly yummy smelling, take your fabric softener, either homemade or store bought, mix one part fabric softener with 3 parts water. Store in resealable container (mine is in a butter bowl), take a regular household sponge, immerse in liquid, squeeze out, and throw in dryer with clothes. When clothes are dry, take out the sponge and store in bowl with fabric softener. (note it is a bit messy on your hands, but rinses right off. I actually find it makes my hands softer.)

Look for more homemade, household solution, recipes coming soon.