SISTER WISDOM

This is a guest post by Rach of Rach’s Blog Bite; if you’re interested in guest posting for Sister Wisdom, check out the guidelines.

A while ago a light bulb went off and I decided to start making my own cleaning products at home. Okay, it really wasn’t a light bulb. It was more like major bolt of lightning, striking right down the middle of our expenses.

It really just ticked me off that I was paying so much for detergent, {laundry and dish}, our cleaning products and our fabric softener. It felt like I was just throwing money away. That crap is just ridiculously over-priced, and a lot of it is super chemically {of the “OMG I can’t believe that is really in there” kind of chemicals}…

So enter me with my bright idea. “I will just make my own.” My friends scoffed. Never had I had a friend actually scoff, but at this idea they did. They seemed to think that Walmart had homemade laundry detergent: the kind that comes in a cardboard box and says TIDE in big blue letters! I was determined. I figured it couldn’t be that difficult or expensive.

So, I did it. Here’s the “recipe” and you can see it is pretty basic.  There are so many different ways to make this stuff.  Me being me-{lazy} I picked the easiest one.  It works. Plain and simple.  Your clothes are clean, there are not chemicals breaking your clothes down {saving you money there as well!}, and it’s just a better way to take care of your stuff.

Rach’s Homemade Laundry Detergent

1 bar grated soap (I use the 3/$1 from the dollar store)
1/2 cup Borax
1/2 cup Washing Soda (Not to be confused with Baking Soda…)

Directions

Mix together until the grated soap starts to dissolve.
Use 1 tbsp./load
***The only place near me that I could find washing soda is Harris Teeter on the laundry aisle. Look up- You’ll find it on the top shelf. [Annie's note: I've seen washing soda at Wal-Marts in my area, greater St. Louis.]
I usually grate 6-9 bars at one time- this makes a HUGE batch that will last for 3-4 months! (Remembering that there are only 3 of us in the house and you only have to use 1 tbsp. /load.)

Once I started making laundry detergent at home I looked around knowing there had to be away to do fabric softener the same way {read: the cheap way!}. I googled it, {I google everything} and this was the simplest, cheapest one that I found.

All you need is a Downy ball, vinegar and any type of fragrance oil that you like. I know what you are thinking… and no, your clothes are not going to smell like vinegar. If you use this oil – Downy April Fresh fragrance oil – that’s what your clothes are going to smell like!
I mix the solution in a pitcher and just pour in the Downy ball- I purchase a 16oz. bottle of the fragrance oil approximately every 9-10 months.
You can do this even cheaper, and not use the oil- that’s just for your nose’s sake anyway!

Rach’s Homemade Fabric Softener

1 gallon white vinegar
2 teaspoons fragrance or essential oils

Directions

Mix essential oils into vinegar. {I mix in the vinegar jug then pour into a smaller pitcher just because it’s easier to handle!} Add to Downy ball and toss it in the wash!
Depending on what EO smell you use- you may need to use a little more- try a test wash first, then add a drop or two at a time.

Rach of Rach’s Blog Bite is a fun, real, and hilarious blogger who keeps me coming back to her blog just to see what she’s going to be up to next. As Rach puts it, she writes about “Misadventures from my kitchen, my attempts at getting crafty and other things I find I think I need to try!” She’s always trying new things, living and learning even when it’s messy, and picking up some great ideas and skills in the process. I’ve picked up some super recipes ( cookies to die for) and what-to-read tips as she shares from her kitchen and her 52-in-52 reading challenge. Great giveaways, too: I just WON my first-ever blog giveaway on Rach’s Blog Bite! Wheeee! Thanks, Rach! Go check out her site and I guarantee you’ll have fun.