Monday, April 12, 2010

Making

Some of you have asked for an update about the homemade laundry soap. I am happy to report that it has worked out very nicely! We have washed our way through the first batch at this point and our clothes are clean. Nobody has even said that we are stinky. So, I'd say that means it's a success.
This is one money-saving household product that I will continue to make and use! When I mix up the next batch this week, as I said before, I plan to use Lux soap flakes instead of grated laundry soap because I think it will make a more consistent mixture.
I have heard that you can make your own dryer sheets too (some examples here and here)...maybe I'll try that next! I don't usually use dryer sheets or fabric softener because Emma and I both have very sensitive skin, so maybe one of those vinegar/essential oils ones will be my first try. We'll see...
The up side of all of this frugal making is that it is also all a bit "greener." I am, by no means, an environmental activist, but it's nice to know that something I enjoy doing anyway reduces chemicals and waste in my own home.

Also on the "making" front, I have a batch of granola in the oven right now. It smells really yummy. I have only hesitated to make my own in the past because the cost of honey can be pretty prohibitive, but my neighbor keeps bees and I get raw honey for super-cheap now. Hope it tastes as good as it smells!

3 comments:

Kate said...

Thanks for the update! I find that I like the dry mix better, so I checked out your links. I'm at the point where I'll soon (summer?) need to buy laundry detergent again, and I'll give homemade a try. Mark and I had so much laundry detergent (and other duplicates) that we haven't needed to buy any other this in the last 3 YEARS!!!!

I also have very sensitive skin, so we've skip the dryer sheets too.

The only thing that I have to put extra work in every few cycles are the towels. They require first a wash in hot water with 1 cup baking soda; then a second wash with 1 cup vinegar again in hot water. Smells a little funny at this point, but they are good to go in the dryer. Or you can wash them with detergent in a third wash. Our towels are inherited so they don't absorb all that well; this trick seems to help a little bit.

As for stain remover, well, I have a chemical one from the grocery store :/

Mary said...

I'm glad to hear your detergent is working. I have yet to try it. I have another friend who has been doing it for some time and has also shared her recipe. Very similar. I have made granola before and i loved it. Totally forgot where I got the recipe and tried several to see if they were it, but they weren't. What a bummer. I hope yours is super yummy and if it is, I'll try it. We love us some granola around here.

Amy Button said...

Ah, the money saving ideas. That's actually what prompted me to start cooking from scratch. It had nothing to do with desire and had everything to do with us being completely broke. Then I noticed that homemade food tasted better...a lot better!

I applaud your success in laundry soap making! It's amazing the little ways you can come up with to save money.