Sunday, September 6, 2009

Finding and sharing thrifty ideas

So I have been scouring the internet looking for frugal ideas to help save money... I came across a recipe for Homemade Laundry Detergent and I was intrigued...I have tried it, like it and want to share with you:

Ingredients:

3 bars Ivory Soap
1 1/2 cups 20 Mule Borax
1 1/2 cups Arm & Hammer Washing Soda

Directions:

Grate the soap using a cheese grater (or if you have available, a food processor using the cheese grater attachment), add in the Borax and Washing Soda and blend until powdery....and VOILA! Laundry Detergent.... Use 1 tblspn per load (2 if extra dirty) and wash as usual... this makes about 48 oz, I keep mine in a tupperware container with a tight lid.

I am very pleased with it and I doubt I will be going back to the expensive ready made stuff...if you want to make it cheaper you can use a cheaper soap...I just like Ivory because it really has a light scent that I wouldn't mind on my clothes....

I used this detergent for the first time on my cloth diapers...what a great way to find out just how well it works! I pre-rinsed the diapers as usual and then washed in cold water ( a first) with 1 tblspn of the detergent....washed as usual with no extra rinse ( a first)...I checked during the rinse cycle, no bubbles and pretty clear clean smelling water....when the diapers were done, I hung them to dry....I am waiting for them to dry now and I will report back on how "crunchy" they are from line drying... this will be the true test of the detergent...lol...