But it still makes me smile to think of it :).
Friday, October 7, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Hmmm
I realize it is October, my favorite time of year. I LOVE Halloween, but I just cant seem to get it in gear and get out decorations. But am enjoying the new cooler days and all the nifty blog posts on Fall and different crafts. There are a bunch!
Not much going on today except that Hubby left for the day and this poor boy so missed him!
Not much going on today except that Hubby left for the day and this poor boy so missed him!
That's just pitiful isn't it?
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Laundry Detergent
I made the laundry detergent :) Did you guess it? I usually use Zote soap but found Fels Naptha this time, and I miss the pink, pink is my favorite color. I know soap is soap, but well, that's how it is.
I use the recipe of
1 1/2 cup Washing Soda
1 1/2 cup Borax
1 bar of soap
2 Tblsp Orange Oil (added to the liquid)
water
on the stove put in about 2 cups hot water into a saucepan and add 3/4 cups of the mixture to the water and heat to boiling and soap is dissolved.
add more hot water to your container you will use for the detergent and once everything is dissolved pour into your container. BE CAREFUL IT IS HOT! Add the Orange Oil and CAREFULLY shake to mix. then add enough cool water to container to make a gallon.
Now let it set for overnight to let it gel. I leave it on my kitchen counter so I can shake it periodically as I walk by. Also "gel" is kind of a misnomer, the mixture does turn translucent once dissolved, but a lot of the times its clumpy. That is o.k.! It will still work. Also wash your pan, spoon, and funnel as soon as you can! I waited one time, thinking "it's SOAP!? What could happen?" HAH it took me forever to get them cleaned up again!
Once you need to wash a load of clothes, use 1/2 cup of the liquid detergent for each load, if the clothes are really nasty or if your washer is small, adjust by 1/4 cup.
Side notes:
Also I have a top loading washer and it is my understanding that front loaders are a little touchy on what detergent is used. Consult your manual for your washer! I have heard from different people that they have used the recipe with their front loader with no problems and others did have problems. I can't judge that for you. Also, there is no cost savings if you ruin a washer or void that expensive warranty! All I can say is I have used this for some time now and have had excellent results with no issues with my washer.
The orange oil is purely a personal choice. You can use any oil for scent that you prefer or none at all.
Altogether this should take maybe 20-30 minutes to do. Let me know how it goes for you!
I use the recipe of
1 1/2 cup Washing Soda
1 1/2 cup Borax
1 bar of soap
2 Tblsp Orange Oil (added to the liquid)
water
Grate the soap and measure out the dry ingredients. Add it to a blender and chop away.
I know this doesn't look like a lot, especially as it is in a 1 gallon jar, but this little bit will make 6 gallons of liquid detergent for you.
Now let it set for overnight to let it gel. I leave it on my kitchen counter so I can shake it periodically as I walk by. Also "gel" is kind of a misnomer, the mixture does turn translucent once dissolved, but a lot of the times its clumpy. That is o.k.! It will still work. Also wash your pan, spoon, and funnel as soon as you can! I waited one time, thinking "it's SOAP!? What could happen?" HAH it took me forever to get them cleaned up again!
Once you need to wash a load of clothes, use 1/2 cup of the liquid detergent for each load, if the clothes are really nasty or if your washer is small, adjust by 1/4 cup.
Side notes:
Also I have a top loading washer and it is my understanding that front loaders are a little touchy on what detergent is used. Consult your manual for your washer! I have heard from different people that they have used the recipe with their front loader with no problems and others did have problems. I can't judge that for you. Also, there is no cost savings if you ruin a washer or void that expensive warranty! All I can say is I have used this for some time now and have had excellent results with no issues with my washer.
The orange oil is purely a personal choice. You can use any oil for scent that you prefer or none at all.
Altogether this should take maybe 20-30 minutes to do. Let me know how it goes for you!
Laundry Soap Cost Breakdown
Borax – 76 oz - $3.54 - $.05 per oz x 12 oz = $0.56
Fels Naptha – $1.05 (Zote is the same price)
Soda – 55 oz - $3.17 - $.06 per oz x 12 oz = $0.69
Orange Oil 32 oz - $14.00 - $.44 per oz x 3 oz = $1.31
Water – 6 gal - $0.015 per gal = $0.09
Total cost = $3.71
Makes 6 gallons.
16 cups to a gallon. Use ½ cup per load. 32 uses per gallon x 6 gallons = 192 loads
Cost per load = $0.02
had to edit realized had old figures with new total - it didnt make sense!
had to edit realized had old figures with new total - it didnt make sense!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
Busy Week!
Well Blogland, it has been a busy week! Went to my mothers home to house sit and storms came through and knocked out the phones and internet. Turned out to be an easy fix... once you know what needs fixing! So 3 (4?) days of NO internet or phones... serious withdrawals :)
You would think though with all the "free time" that was suddenly opened; ie time would have spent on internet, that I would have had more time to get those gifts done... nope!
But I am home now, and have a mess to clean up. Hubby tried, he really did, but his and my ideas of cleaning are completely different. Besides he will do laundry etc, not fold clothes, but will clean and dry them. BUT WILL NOT WASH DISHES. Ever. :) But he did try. And it would have been so much worse than if he hadn't, so it was very much appreciated.
So guess what I will be doing for the next couple of days?
You would think though with all the "free time" that was suddenly opened; ie time would have spent on internet, that I would have had more time to get those gifts done... nope!
But I am home now, and have a mess to clean up. Hubby tried, he really did, but his and my ideas of cleaning are completely different. Besides he will do laundry etc, not fold clothes, but will clean and dry them. BUT WILL NOT WASH DISHES. Ever. :) But he did try. And it would have been so much worse than if he hadn't, so it was very much appreciated.
So guess what I will be doing for the next couple of days?
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Happy Camper
I can't believe it is Tuesday already!
I did get quite a bit done yesterday though. A pretty good dent in my craft room, I can tell I have a work surface now AND a chair! So it’s a start anyway.
Laundry and dishes (those are never ending!) and I got the telescope out of the bathroom – really. (Remember what I said about “paths”?)
I also made Sweety, our Green Cheeked Conure, a “foraging tray”. Some strips of paper-towels, a yarn pom-pom, shells, part of a clothespin, shiny curling ribbon, cotton swab, pumpkin seeds and hazelnuts, all in a bowl for him to scrounge in while I clean his other toys.
Sweety is now a Happy Camper…
I have to figure out how to change the date on the camera...
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