Frugal Fridays: Homemade Laundry Powder & Link Up

I have been making my own laundry detergent for almost 2 years now. It is very simple to do just takes a little bit of time! It has helped us cut down on our household needs(which for us is included in our grocery budget)!
What you need:

• Bar of soap-I have used Ivory, Fels Naptha, and Zote. You can use any kind just make sure it doesn't have a moisturizer(like Dove, Olay, ect.)
• Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda-this is not the same as baking soda. You can find this in the laundry isle of the store. 
• 20 Mule Team Borax-Also in the laundry isle, should be close to the washing soda.
• OxiClean(optional)-I like to use it because I feel it helps get our clothes a little cleaner. I normally just get the store brand.
• Essential Oils(optional)-I used these for the first time last night. I got one called linen and it made the house smell soooo good when I was mixing up my detergent.  

Recipe:

1. Grate the soap. This take a little while. Grab a grater and a bowl and watch a movie with your family!(I grated my soap while we watched 19 Kids and Counting Tuesday night!) Or if you have two graters have a race with your husband to see who can grate theirs the fastest. Have your kids judge! :) I use a Pampered Chef Fine Grater. You want to get it grated as fine as possible. A food processor would work as well.
2. Add:

   *2 Cup grated soap(You may have left over soap. You can store it in a Ziplock bag. I normally just make as much laundry powder as I can. 1 bar of Zote made 5 batches for me last night.)

   *1 Cup 20 Mule Team Borax

   *1 Cup Washing Soda

   *1 Cup OxiClean(optional) 

    *Essential Oils(optional)

3. Mix well. Store in an airtight container. If you don't it might get some moisture and become clumpy.
4. Now go wash some clothes.(Or come over and do my laundry :p) Use about 1-2 Tbs. depending on the size of your load.

This is safe for HE washers as well! 

Link up your posts concerning frugal living, money saving recipes, homemaking, faith, or anything encouraging. Be sure you link directly to your blog post not your blogs URL. Please include the Frugal Friday button or a text link so others can join in as well! 

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Linking up with these blogs: Homemaker By Choice, Delight Thyself, Raising Arrows, The Better Mom, The Alabaster Jar, These Five of Mine Plus Two, The Straightened Path, Simply Living for Him, The Modest Mom

All Nighter

   Last night, I stayed up all night. Doing what, you might ask? Cleaning-yep, you read that right! Now before you decide I'm going crazy, let me explain why.
   College students pull "all-nighters" often before an large assignment is due. Just as they are, I am trying to get caught up on my assignment. But this assignment is much more important than any that a college professor may give. This assignment was given to me by the greatest teach ever--God.

          (Job 36:22)  Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?

 The assignment?

(Tit 2:3)  The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

(Tit 2:4)  That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

(Tit 2:5)  To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

   I know that some consider me old fashioned but in our home I do all the cooking, cleaning, and laundry.(Ryan does the occasional load of laundry when I forget to wash his work/nursing uniform--I am human!) No, I don't do it all because he won't help, he does offer! I do it because I believe that is the wife's job. Unfortunately, I have gotten behind on this job lately! I did start to organize our 2 bedrooms a while back. However, the lack of finishing left piles of things everywhere!  

   I've recently started a new job which will become full time after my training. Thus bringing my job count to 3(Keeper at home, Old Navy and Flooring Supplies). In an effort fulfill my God-given duty and reduce stress I want to start with a completely clean home! :) Then, I will follow a cleaning schedule each week to help me stay on top of things and keep from becoming overwhelmed!

Homemade Cleaners

I'm going to let you in on my secret for cheap homemade cleaners!

 

Yep its Vinegar!! I know what you're thinking too-"That stuff stinks!" I used to think so to but I've got used to it! And really the smell fades just a little while after you use it. Here are some of the many uses of vinegar:

• Mix with water to form a 3:1 (water:vinegar). You can get spray bottles for less than a dollar to store this in.  It makes a  great all purpose cleaner. I use it for about everything!
• Pour a little baking soda in your drains or garbage disposal. Then pour vinegar over it  :) Let sit about 5 min; rinse with warm water. This cleans out minor buildup in pipes and gets rid of odor! This would be something great for your kids to do!   
• use 3/4 in place of fabric softener-I've never tried this before but heard it works well
• pour vinegar in bowl and let sit overnight to get rid of odors in the air
• Check out http://www.vinegartips.com/ for 1001 uses for vinegar!