with everything going up these days I thought I would try something Frugal and be a good steward of what I have.......ok, i lied, i need the money for milk and gas.
So i thought i would take a friends recipe and make homemade laundry soap. It will do 312 loads of laundry.

She also has homemade fabric softner.

here's the recipe.

Quote:

1 cup washing soda (I used Arm & Hammer, can also use A&H Baking soda) 1/2 cup borax (I used 20 Mule Team) 1 bar soap (I used 2 because I like a strong scent and the smell outcome smells like the soap you use) for the first batch I used Dial-White Tea. Approximately 3 gallons water 5 gallon bucket with lid Cheese grater First thing, put about four cups of water into the pan and put it on the stove on high until it’s at boiling, then lower the heat until it’s simmering. While it’s heating up, take a bar of soap and grate it up into little bits. When the water is boiling, start throwing in the soap a little at a time. Stir it until it’s dissolved. The water will have a soupy soap look with suds and will be the color of the bar of soap you used, so color will vary. Next, get out your bucket and add three gallons of warm tap water to it. To this bucket add a cup of the washing soda, 1/2 cup of borax, and the soap solution you made and stir until its all suddy. This will look like a bucket of soapy water. At this point, let the soap sit for 24 hours, with a lid on it. When you take off the lid, you’ll find any number of things, depending on the type of soap you used and the water you used. It might be firm, like Jello; it might be very watery; it might even be like liquid laundry detergent. Just stir it up a bit and it’s ready to be used. Don’t worry about the texture - it’s completely fine. Just use a measuring cup and use one cup of the detergent per load of laundry. If it’s got “globs” in it, get a mix of the water and of the globs - it’ll break up very quickly in the washing machine and wash your clothes well. This recipe is for 1 batch. The 312 loads comes because you still have the borax, and washing soda left to make the rest of the batches. Also I bought the soap that comes in the bundled 12 pack, so I have those left over also. All the ingredients should make 6 batches. Each batch makes enough for 52 full loads at 1 cup a

Fabric Softner. 2 recipes, she liked the 2nd one better.

Quote:

Ingredients 1 cup baking soda 6 cups distilled white vinegar 8 cups water 10-15 drops orange essential oil (optional) or lemon essential oil (optional) or essential oil, of choice (optional) Directions You will need a one gallon container. First add the baking soda to the plastic container. Next add 1 cup of water to start with. Slowly add the vinegar to the bottle as the vinegar and baking soda will start to fizz. Then add the rest of the water swirling around & cover venting the top a few times. Last add the essential oil. Add 1 cup in your final rinse cycle for each load but give the bottle a good shake to stir up the essential oil if using.

Quote:

And for the fabric softener you can use regular hair conditioner also if you like the smell of them. The recipe for it is: 6 cups of water 3 cups of vinegar 2 cups of any hair conditioner Mix this in a gallon container and stir. Do not shake, this will cause foaming. Pour a small amount into the rinse cycle My mom had me make this one and I will be changing to this recipe. She used Suave strawberry, I wont be using strawberry though!lol

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Super Mod

For those that have a hard time finding the washing soda you can call 1-800-524-1328 andgive them your zip code and they will tell you the stores close to you that carries it. The code for it is UPC: 33200-03020 but I did not have to tell them the code.

For locations that carry the Borax you can put in your zip on this site and it will bring up a list of local stores for you http://www.dialcorp.com/storelocator/storeloc2.cfm You have to select laundry care in the brand drop down, then select 20 mule team borax 76 oz in the item drop down

You can cut the recipe for laundry soap in half, ifyou dont have a big enough bucket with a lid.

Homemade Laundry Soap
1/3 bar Fels Naptha or other type of soap, as listed above
½ cup washing soda
½ cup borax powder
~You will also need a small bucket, about 2 gallon size~


My advice, for what it's worth, is that even if you do not want to make your own laundry detergent, keep the ingredients on hand just in case times get tough or you just do not have gas, time, or money to run to the store.

Thats neat Pimp I have had no idea you could make your own laundry soap. Thats cool and sounds easy to do. Would it be okay to use in an HE machine? I can only put the HE one in my washer. Does the recipe foam up alot during the wash cycle?

Reports are that it doesnt foam, and the lady who uses it in her HE machine uses 1/2 cup - 3/4 of a cup. the clothes are soft even without the fabric softner, but they really dont have much scent. so if you like a scent, i suggest making the softner or adding the oil to your laundry soap.

Pimp, this interests me. I have a front loader washer that must use liquid soap and it also uses less than upright machines. I think that I would make the half batch since there is just one of me. Thanks for all this info.

Well, I checked and no problem getting the 20 Mule Team Borax but the washing soda might be more of a challenge. They checked a 100 mile radius from me and didn't find anyone but said that many times Walmart carries but they don't report to them. Pimp what kind of store did you find yours?

i found mine at walmart. You can use the baking soda if you cant find the washing soda.

Thank you.

Sixty Uses Of Baking Soda Bicarbonate of soda or baking soda has many different uses in the household.

Although much more expensive products have been developed over the years to do the same jobs, baking soda can work for you just as well, if not better. Use it in the following ways:

1. To make your own baking powder, stir and sift together 2 parts of Cream of Tartar to 1 part baking soda and 1 part cornstarch.

2. Be sure to keep an extra box of baking soda by your stove in case of grease or electrical fire. Scatter the powder by the handful to safely put it out.

3. Keep a container of baking soda in your garage as well as in your car to put out a fire. It won't damage anything it touches.

4. Baking soda will also put out fires in clothing, fuel, wood, upholstery and rugs.

5. Clean vegetables and fruit with baking soda. Sprinkle in water, soak and rise the produce.

6. Wash garbage cans with baking soda.

7. Soak and wash diapers with baking soda.

8. Oil and grease - stained clothing washes out better with soda added to the washing water.

9. Clean your fridge and freezer with dry soda sprinkled on a damp cloth. rinse with clear water.

10. Deodorize your fridge and freezer by putting in an open container of baking soda to absorb odors. Stir and turn over the soda from time to time. Replace every 2 months.

11. Soda absorbs kitty litter odors. Cover the bottom of the kitty box with 1 part soda; then add a layer of 3 parts kitty litter on top.

12. Always add 1/2 cup soda to your washing machine load.

13. Clean combs and brushes in a soda solution.

14. Wash food and drink containers with soda and water.

15. Wash marble-topped furniture with a solution of 3 tablespoons of soda in 1 quart of warm water. Let stand awhile, then rinse.

16. Clean formica counter tops with baking soda on a damp sponge.

17. Wash out thermos bottles and cooling containers with soda and water to get rid of stale smells.

18. To remove stubborn stains from marble, formica or plastic surfaces, scour with a paste of soda and water.

19. Wash glass or stainless steel coffee pots (but not aluminum) in a soda solution ( 3 tbsp. soda to 1 quart water).

20. Run you coffee maker through its cycle with a soda solution. Rinse.

21. Give baby bottles a good cleaning with soda and hot water.

22. Sprinkle soda on barbecue grills, let soak, then rinse off.

23. Sprinkle soda on greasy garage floor. Let stand, scrub and rinse.

24. Polish silverware with dry soda on a damp cloth. Rub, rinse and dry.

25. For silver pieces without raised patterns or cemented-on handles: place the silver on aluminum foil in an enamel pot. Add boiling water and 4 tbsp. baking soda. Let stand, rinse and dry.

26. Reduce odor build-up in your dishwasher by sprinkling some soda on the bottom.

27. Run your dishwasher through its cycle with soda in it instead of soap to give it a good cleaning.

28. To remove burned-on food from a pan: let the pan soak in soda and water for 10 minutes before washing. Or scrub the pot with dry soda and a moist scouring pad.

29. For a badly-burned pan with a thick layer of burned-on food: pour a thick layer of soda directly onto the bottom of the pan, then sprinkle on just enough water so as to moisten the
soda. Leave the pot overnight, then scrub it clean next day.

30. Rub stainless steel and chrome with a moist cloth and dry baking soda to shine it up. Rinse and dry. On stainless steel, scrub in the direction of the grain.

31. Clean plastic, porcelain and glass with dry soda on a damp cloth. Rinse and dry.

32. Remove that bad smell from ashtrays with soda and water.

33. Sprinkle a bit of dry soda in your ashtrays to prevent smoldering and reduce odor.

34. Clean your bathroom with dry soda on a moist sponge - sink, tub, tiles, shower stall, etc.

35. Keep your drains clean and free-flowing by putting 4 tablespoons of soda in them each week. Flush the soda down with hot water.

36. Soak your shower curtains in water and soda to clean them.

37. To remove strong odors from your hands, wet your hands and rub them hard with soda, then rinse.

38. Sprinkle baking soda on your wet toothbrush and brush your teeth and dentures with it.

39. Sprinkle soda in tennis shoes, socks, boots and slippers to eliminate odor.

40. Add 1/2 cups or more of baking soda to your bath water to soften your skin.

41. Putting 2 tbsp. of baking soda in your baby's bath water will help relieve diaper rash irritations.

42. Apply soda directly to insect bites, rashes and poison ivy to relieve discomfort. Make a paste with water.

43. Take a soda bath to relieve general skin irritations such as measles and chicken pox.

44. Take 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 glass of water to relieve acid indigestion or heartburn.

45. Gargle with 1/2 tsp. baking soda in 1/2 glass of water. Freshens and cleans your mouth.

46. Used as a mouthwash, baking soda will also relieve canker sore pain.

47. To relieve sunburn: use a paste of baking soda and water.

48. Bug bites: use a poultice of baking soda and vinegar.

49. Bee sting: use a poultice of baking soda and water.

50. Windburns: moisten some baking soda and apply directly.

51. Making Play Clay with baking soda: combine 1 1/4 cups water, 2 cups soda, 1 cup cornstarch.

52. Use soda as an underarm deodorant.

53. If your baby spits up on his shirt after feeding, moisten a cloth, dip it in baking soda and dab at the dribbled shirt. The odor will go away.

54. When scalding a chicken, add 1 tsp. of soda to the boiling water. The feathers will come off easier and flesh will be clean and white.

55. Repel rain from windshield. Put gobs of baking soda on a dampened cloth and wipe windows inside and out.

56. Add to water to soak dried beans to make them more digestible.

57. Add to water to remove the "gamey" taste from wild game.

58. Use to sweeten sour dishcloths.

59. Use dry with a small brush to rub canvas handbags clean.

60. Use to remove melted plastic bread wrapper from toaster. Dampen cloth and make a mild abrasive with baking soda.

Thanks Pimp. I had a list like this at one time but lost it.

and why we are talking about saving money.
This is a very cool site which gives a heads up on the best deals at what stores at what times, and coupons as soon as they come out. A great source for the frugal shopper. If these women can't show you how to save a fortune- no one can.


http://www.moneysavingmom.com/

Great site, wish I knew more sites like that in Canada.