I absolutely enjoy saving money! I enjoy it even more when I buy things that people use on a regular basis and yet don't think "hmmm, could I make this at home and save money?"
Surprisingly, you don't need dishwasher super-sparkle elegance finishing touch after wash rinse in your dishwasher. The reason? The dish detergent that you use is too harsh for your dishwasher. awesome, huh? it is typically too hard on your dishes actually making your water harder, and can etch your glassware. How much does that suck?
Well, I've found that with this recipe, it makes your water softer, getting your dishes cleaner with less soap. SNAZZY.
How to make it:
1c. borax
1c. washing soda
1c. kosher salt (the coarser the salt the more chunks coming off, but you can use iodized if that's all you have)
4 pks. lemon kool-aid. (I used the walmart version for .12c a packet. Why do you use this? the citric acid and the lemon scent- makes them awesome!)
mix all together and store in a container. Yes, I typically triple or quadruple the batch (it takes exactly the same amount of effort, why not?!).
How much to use? depends on your dishes. Typically a Tablespoon will take care of what you need, especially if you use the rinse aid I wrote about. If you need to use extra, fill up both reserves, the time-release one (with the lid) and the other one that would give you the soap in the pre-wash. I would not use more than 1/4 cup at a time. 1, it's just wasteful and 2, you could damage the machine or your dishes and I'm not responsible for that. :)
enjoy and let me know if this works for you!
Monday, February 27, 2012
Liquid dish soap
After much internet searching, I have found an amazing homemade SUPER FRUGAL dish soap- NOT for dishwashers- the dishwasher detergent will be another post.
What you need for this:
1T finely grated soap flakes (use your favorite, it's not like you're going to be eating it.)
1T distilled white vinegar -you have it on hand for every other recipe of mine anyway!
1T washing soda
1 1/2 c. HOT water. Why hot? you need to dissolve everything.
essential oils such as lavendar, lemongrass, lemon, orange, rosemary, eucalyptus, etc. "kitcheny" scents.
Ok, in a heat-safe bowl, pour in your dry ingredients, followed by vinegar and then stir until dissolved. Let sit for about 24 hours and stir randomly throughout the day, to ensure that everything is staying dissolved. (it will, just make sure you stir to keep it from clumping).
Once everything is said and done, add some essential oils to your liking. Personally I'm a lavender junkie, but Rosemary and Lemongrass would smell amazing. So would a citrus dish soap! (traditional, no?) You could even make a floral with lavender, rose, geranium (which is a type of rose), etc. The possibilities are endless!
Pour into recycled dish soap bottle or other squeeze-type bottle.
TADA! Dish soap that cost you MAYBE 6 cents for the whole bottle. Compare that to the $3.00+ (with tax) that you're paying now and THAT is Smart and Savvy for this Diva!
Oh, btw, you CAN use this is the homemade soft scrub recipe that I posted before.
Quick tip, you can add a teaspoon of baking soda too to help soften the water and soften your hands!
What you need for this:
1T finely grated soap flakes (use your favorite, it's not like you're going to be eating it.)
1T distilled white vinegar -you have it on hand for every other recipe of mine anyway!
1T washing soda
1 1/2 c. HOT water. Why hot? you need to dissolve everything.
essential oils such as lavendar, lemongrass, lemon, orange, rosemary, eucalyptus, etc. "kitcheny" scents.
Ok, in a heat-safe bowl, pour in your dry ingredients, followed by vinegar and then stir until dissolved. Let sit for about 24 hours and stir randomly throughout the day, to ensure that everything is staying dissolved. (it will, just make sure you stir to keep it from clumping).
Once everything is said and done, add some essential oils to your liking. Personally I'm a lavender junkie, but Rosemary and Lemongrass would smell amazing. So would a citrus dish soap! (traditional, no?) You could even make a floral with lavender, rose, geranium (which is a type of rose), etc. The possibilities are endless!
Pour into recycled dish soap bottle or other squeeze-type bottle.
TADA! Dish soap that cost you MAYBE 6 cents for the whole bottle. Compare that to the $3.00+ (with tax) that you're paying now and THAT is Smart and Savvy for this Diva!
Oh, btw, you CAN use this is the homemade soft scrub recipe that I posted before.
Quick tip, you can add a teaspoon of baking soda too to help soften the water and soften your hands!
Friday, February 24, 2012
Laundry softener- part 2
Ok, so this is for my more natural SSHDivas!
In your wash, in the final rinse cycle (before it spins out) add 1/2 c. white vinegar. Don't worry- you will NOT smell it, but it will definitely soften your clothes.
Voila! That's it! How easy peasy lemon squeezy is that???
In your wash, in the final rinse cycle (before it spins out) add 1/2 c. white vinegar. Don't worry- you will NOT smell it, but it will definitely soften your clothes.
Voila! That's it! How easy peasy lemon squeezy is that???
Laundry softener- part 1.
Who doesn't love super soft fluffy towels and sheets? You like your clothes to be nice and comfy right? Well, here's a way to save on laundry softener.
Before you get daunted, this is labeled part 1 because there are TONS of recipes out there. I'm going to show you a natural and a non-natural. this is the non-natural, and FTR, I do use both. I DO NOT USE THESE ON CLOTH DIAPERS! they will no longer be absorbent and will ruin the diaper.
You read my faux-breze tutorial using downy (or your fav fab softener). This uses the same thing- you already have it!
it is a 1-4 part ratio. You'll also need:
1 medium sized container with a lid to hold everything.
6-10 6x6 pieces of flannel- I pink the edges to prevent fraying.
1 part fab. softener
4 parts water. -I used the cap for liquid measurements.
mix the liquid in the container and add the flannel- let them saturate and soak over night. throw 1 rag in for smaller loads 2 in for larger loads into your dryer and add the clothes. no need to ring them out first, but I wouldn't pour extra softener in, just let them drain back into the container before tossing in.
Once everything is dry, put the flannel dryer sheets back in your liquid- TADA! Super easy, saves you a TON of money and clothes smell fabulous!
Blessings!
Before you get daunted, this is labeled part 1 because there are TONS of recipes out there. I'm going to show you a natural and a non-natural. this is the non-natural, and FTR, I do use both. I DO NOT USE THESE ON CLOTH DIAPERS! they will no longer be absorbent and will ruin the diaper.
You read my faux-breze tutorial using downy (or your fav fab softener). This uses the same thing- you already have it!
it is a 1-4 part ratio. You'll also need:
1 medium sized container with a lid to hold everything.
6-10 6x6 pieces of flannel- I pink the edges to prevent fraying.
1 part fab. softener
4 parts water. -I used the cap for liquid measurements.
mix the liquid in the container and add the flannel- let them saturate and soak over night. throw 1 rag in for smaller loads 2 in for larger loads into your dryer and add the clothes. no need to ring them out first, but I wouldn't pour extra softener in, just let them drain back into the container before tossing in.
Once everything is dry, put the flannel dryer sheets back in your liquid- TADA! Super easy, saves you a TON of money and clothes smell fabulous!
Blessings!
Stripping diapers today.
For all of you mamas with babies in diapers I would REALLY encourage you to check out cloth diapering. In fact, I'm going to post more about that in my next diaper post. My main reason for cloth diapering is this: I wouldn't allow my children to pee and poo all over my entire living room furniture (including TV) just to throw it out, but when you use disposables that's how much money you're spending from birth to potty training.
Kinda hits home doesn't it? 4 grand. That's 1/4 of your car. btw- that's per child! I have one in diapers now and I'm expecting 2 more in just 2 months. Can you imagine throwing out 12 grand? 12,000?! that's a new car. That's a down payment on a house. That's ridiculous!
So, what I'm doing to the diapers today:
Nate got a horrible diaper rash a few months ago, and I think it was a combination of things. 1- he wasn't being changed enough. (my fault!) 2- he wasn't getting enough air to his little bum. 3- he wasn't drinking enough water. 4- the diapers needed to be stripped.
The first 3 I understood, but what did stripping diapers mean? I had never heard of it. Long story short: uric acid can build up over time in the diapers and when it meets with the sulfide agents in the washer, it holds on to them. Well, this can cause a slight burning sensation on the skin when it gets wet again. hence the vicious cycle of diaper rash.
In my cloth diaper research, I found that vinegar helps neutralize the acid in the urine. Whoulda thunk? I keep gallons of vinegar on hand because of how much I clean with it. Anyhoo, that worked for a while and then his diaper rash came back with a vengeance. So, my wonderful husband put desitin on him. Desitin is a petroleum based product and shouldn't be used on cloth. Yeah, I know that now. Not to mention it has fish oil in it (which explains why my hands itch EVERY time I used it on all 3 of my children!) and that fishy smell gets stuck, (no, S-T-U-C-K!!!!) in cloth diapers. talk about nasty.
So I read MORE about stripping diapers and someone recommended Dawn dishwashing liquid because it's a little stronger and cuts grease. **ding** light bulb moment! greased up desitin cloth diaper, meets dishsoap. So, it's in my washer right now on the hottest setting. I plan on washing these diapers anywhere between 3 and 5 times today to make sure there is no soap left, with extra rinse cycles if I have to, but these diapers WILL be clean and stripped today.
Now to "normally" strip a diaper there are TONS of videos on youtube on how to do it. It's my firm belief you can find just about anything on youtube. That should get you started in the right direction!
Blessings!
Kinda hits home doesn't it? 4 grand. That's 1/4 of your car. btw- that's per child! I have one in diapers now and I'm expecting 2 more in just 2 months. Can you imagine throwing out 12 grand? 12,000?! that's a new car. That's a down payment on a house. That's ridiculous!
So, what I'm doing to the diapers today:
Nate got a horrible diaper rash a few months ago, and I think it was a combination of things. 1- he wasn't being changed enough. (my fault!) 2- he wasn't getting enough air to his little bum. 3- he wasn't drinking enough water. 4- the diapers needed to be stripped.
The first 3 I understood, but what did stripping diapers mean? I had never heard of it. Long story short: uric acid can build up over time in the diapers and when it meets with the sulfide agents in the washer, it holds on to them. Well, this can cause a slight burning sensation on the skin when it gets wet again. hence the vicious cycle of diaper rash.
In my cloth diaper research, I found that vinegar helps neutralize the acid in the urine. Whoulda thunk? I keep gallons of vinegar on hand because of how much I clean with it. Anyhoo, that worked for a while and then his diaper rash came back with a vengeance. So, my wonderful husband put desitin on him. Desitin is a petroleum based product and shouldn't be used on cloth. Yeah, I know that now. Not to mention it has fish oil in it (which explains why my hands itch EVERY time I used it on all 3 of my children!) and that fishy smell gets stuck, (no, S-T-U-C-K!!!!) in cloth diapers. talk about nasty.
So I read MORE about stripping diapers and someone recommended Dawn dishwashing liquid because it's a little stronger and cuts grease. **ding** light bulb moment! greased up desitin cloth diaper, meets dishsoap. So, it's in my washer right now on the hottest setting. I plan on washing these diapers anywhere between 3 and 5 times today to make sure there is no soap left, with extra rinse cycles if I have to, but these diapers WILL be clean and stripped today.
Now to "normally" strip a diaper there are TONS of videos on youtube on how to do it. It's my firm belief you can find just about anything on youtube. That should get you started in the right direction!
Blessings!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
homemade faux-breze!
We all LOVE the idea of a fresh smelling home. We love it even more when it's ours that smells fresh, particularly if you have pets or children, or hard-working husbands.
So here's what I did:
I used a dollar store spray bottle of fabric refresher. There was maybe a tablespoon left and I didn't really like the smell, so it got dumped. I rinsed out the spray bottle and added 2 3/4 c. HOT water, and 2 teaspoons of baking soda. I shook like a madwoman until it was dissolved. I then added 1/4c. downy fabric softener. (more on THAT later!) Again, shake.
Spray on your fabric- and that's it. Now you can use any fabric softener that you like in any scent that you prefer. I use downy because it was the cheapest. The BEST part: for the entire container of downy, cost me like $4.00 to make this, it cost me maybe .10 cents! WAY awesome. OH, and the baking soda made it a deodorizer as well. I sprayed my son's mattress (has seen better and ... dryer... days -er, nights.) and it smells fairly fresh. Oh, you can also "boost" your scent or change it by adding a few drops of essential oil.
So here's what I did:
I used a dollar store spray bottle of fabric refresher. There was maybe a tablespoon left and I didn't really like the smell, so it got dumped. I rinsed out the spray bottle and added 2 3/4 c. HOT water, and 2 teaspoons of baking soda. I shook like a madwoman until it was dissolved. I then added 1/4c. downy fabric softener. (more on THAT later!) Again, shake.
Spray on your fabric- and that's it. Now you can use any fabric softener that you like in any scent that you prefer. I use downy because it was the cheapest. The BEST part: for the entire container of downy, cost me like $4.00 to make this, it cost me maybe .10 cents! WAY awesome. OH, and the baking soda made it a deodorizer as well. I sprayed my son's mattress (has seen better and ... dryer... days -er, nights.) and it smells fairly fresh. Oh, you can also "boost" your scent or change it by adding a few drops of essential oil.
Floor Cleaners
Not all floor cleaners are created the same.
Most on the market now are chock FULL of chemicals that you wouldn't bathe your children in and yet the ones that are little are on the floors touching it, putting things in their mouths that have touched it, etc. We are not thinking about what is really on our floors and what we're putting in our bodies.
So, you all know I'm all about natural cleaners, but I'm also about saving money.
Here's two floor recipes that you'll just LOVE to use- and TOTALLY natural. BEST part: if you re-use your swiffers, you can easily refill the container, OR you can put it in a spray bottle and do the same thing, OR you can use it with a steam mop for a little extra boost.
Floor cleaner for linoleum, tile, non-hardwood floors:
1/4 c. vinegar
2 cups HOT water.
mix together and use like you would either a spray or your swiffer refill. and when the mixture cools, that's ok too! just keep using until gone. I like to start off with hot water just because. No rhyme or reason, I just like it!
Floor cleaner for sealed hardwood floors:
same as above, except add 1T olive oil. shake each time you spray because the oil WILL separate from the water/vinegar mix.
Please note, I am not responsible for you using anything on your floors. These are just suggestions and NOT my responsibility for your home. :) With that being said, it's sad that that has to be said because I'm sure someone somewhere would destroy their floors and then come after me as if I were the ones who twisted their arms to do it, or they'd do the recipe wrong and then come blaming me. no thank you- anything listed on here is absolutely your creation, I am just the one giving you the idea to do it, you're the one doing it yourself.
Hope they work for you, the vinegar/water one works for me in my bathroom and kitchen. Otherwise, my home has carpeting.
Most on the market now are chock FULL of chemicals that you wouldn't bathe your children in and yet the ones that are little are on the floors touching it, putting things in their mouths that have touched it, etc. We are not thinking about what is really on our floors and what we're putting in our bodies.
So, you all know I'm all about natural cleaners, but I'm also about saving money.
Here's two floor recipes that you'll just LOVE to use- and TOTALLY natural. BEST part: if you re-use your swiffers, you can easily refill the container, OR you can put it in a spray bottle and do the same thing, OR you can use it with a steam mop for a little extra boost.
Floor cleaner for linoleum, tile, non-hardwood floors:
1/4 c. vinegar
2 cups HOT water.
mix together and use like you would either a spray or your swiffer refill. and when the mixture cools, that's ok too! just keep using until gone. I like to start off with hot water just because. No rhyme or reason, I just like it!
Floor cleaner for sealed hardwood floors:
same as above, except add 1T olive oil. shake each time you spray because the oil WILL separate from the water/vinegar mix.
Please note, I am not responsible for you using anything on your floors. These are just suggestions and NOT my responsibility for your home. :) With that being said, it's sad that that has to be said because I'm sure someone somewhere would destroy their floors and then come after me as if I were the ones who twisted their arms to do it, or they'd do the recipe wrong and then come blaming me. no thank you- anything listed on here is absolutely your creation, I am just the one giving you the idea to do it, you're the one doing it yourself.
Hope they work for you, the vinegar/water one works for me in my bathroom and kitchen. Otherwise, my home has carpeting.
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