Home-Making…

 

In an effort to save money and cut costs to direct our funds in more useful ways I have decided to take a stab at making our own laundry soap.  If I was going to make my own soap…then it better be easy.  So I researched and decided that the liquid variety was to much of a pain.  Mixing and cooking and making sure that it is mixed when you use it…and you need a lot of buckets.  With working 2 jobs, kids who have homework, and Hubs that coaches/bowls 4 nights a week…let’s just say I don’t have a lot of spare time.  I opted for the powdered variety.  Here is my recipe:

HOMEMADE LAUNDRY SOAP

2 cups ivory bar soap (grated/shredded)

1 cup Borax

1 cup washing soda

use 2 tablespoons per load of laundry

The cost for these items (approx. guesses because I didn’t save my receipts. grr) 

• Ivory soap (6 bars) $1.25 @ Dollar General
• Washing Soda $2.50 at Hy-Vee  (this can be hard to find, but I’ll give tips for what to use instead)
• Borax $3.50 ??  I’ve had this in the cupboard forever (from a science project for the Boy a few years ago)
• $5.00 for a container to keep it in (couldn’t resist…I’m a container-addict)

 

So about $7.25 for ingredients plus $5 one time cost for the container.  From what I can figure this amount of ingredients will make about 4 batches.  I certainly can’t buy 4 bottles of laundry soap for $7.25. 

Some worries I initially had was:  Is this going to rinse out?  and How well is it going to clean?  In order to cure the soap residue that I worried about, I put 1 cup of vinegar in the bleach dispenser.   This did work.  Then when I forgot to add it, I didn’t notice any difference, therefore I quick.  I think the residue issue will depend of whether you have hard or soft water and how efficient your washer is.  Ours is only a year old and we use soft water so this is probably why we didn’t have the problem.

My Tips:

The smaller you grate the ivory, the better off you’ll be.  This is because it will dissolve much quicker.  I like to use a micro-plane.  It makes super fine shreds.

 

Washing soda is not the same thing as baking soda.  I’m not sure what the difference is, something to do with the chemicals or something scientific.  It is found in the laundry soap isle.  I couldn’t find it at Wal-mart.  I found mine at Hy-Vee.  From what I have gathered you can also use Oxy-clean as a substitute.  The cost is slightly more, but not by much. 

We made a double batch.  I have no idea how long it will last so we wrote on top of the container the date we started using it.  At 2 tablespoons a load, I’m thinking it was last a while.  I’m most excited about the money savings.   I’ve always had mixed feelings about how much laundry soap cost, only to be washed down the drain!  The great thing about using such a small amount, is that when the kids are doing their laundry (yes, they do their own) I don’t have to worry about them using too much soap.  BONUS!

It has worked well so far.  And the best part is, I don’t think anyone in the family would have known anything different if I hadn’t told them.  I’ll keep you updated on how long it lasts.  

Happy Folding folks…

not mine…theirs.

My birthdays have never been hard for me. My kids birthdays on the other hand…now that’s a different story.

I have no fears about being old. I was fortunate to find my soul-mate in High School. We have been together ever since. All I’ve thought about was growing old together and being old together.

A few years ago was when it first started. The Hubs and I decided to go out for our Anniversary. This was the beginning of August, so he convinced me that we could let the kids stay home alone while we went to eat. There was a long wait at Granite City so I said…”let’s just go to Arby’s or something quick so the kids aren’t home alone too long.” He insisted we wait it out (only to find out later he had it set up for me to receive flowers at Granite City! The Jerk) We had a nice dinner and went to Cold Stone to get ice cream for the kids. We came home to find the house picked up, vacuumed and dishes all done.

Right then it hit me…They were growing up and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I don’t have fears of the empty-nest. When they are out of the house, Hubs and I will still be young. Woo Hoo…PARTY TIME!! I’m more scared of what is in between now and then.

Now that they are more active in bowling and school, Hubs coaches, and I work two jobs, my fear is that I one day I will wake up and 10 years will have gone by and I will have missed something. I realize that I won’t be able to be at everything. I already missed the Boy’s first Youth National Bowling tournament. That will never happen again. Over. Done. I also missed his 2nd Youth National tournament. See…it’s already starting. Am I going to wake up one day and realize I’m 40 and it’s all over. no replays. only memories.

Something that blew my mind …Last week while Hubs was @ practice with his High School team, he was counting how many lower classman he had and thinking about our younger youth bowlers that would be incoming freshman in a few years. Then the Boy’s name came up. It was soon realized that when this year’s freshman are seniors…The Boy will be a freshman. ya…in HIGH SCHOOL!!! That is three short years away. Actually 2 1/2 to be corrected by the Boy.

In a few short days The Boy will be 12. 2 years away from having a permit. 2.5 years away from high school. 4 years away from a drivers license. and 6 years away from porn. What’s a mom to do? Annoy them…embarrass them…and enjoy them…and take lots of pictures!

This is what 10 years ago looks like!