A few Items that can save you over $50 a month!

Okay... so looking through my cupboards I found a few items...
*Baking Soda
*Borax (the 20 Mule stuff)
*White Vinegar
*Arm and Hammer WASHING soda (not BAKING soda)
*Fels Naptha soap

Do you know how many househod things you can make with a combination of those things? Laundry deterent, Fabric Softner, Dishwasher detergent, tile and grout cleaner, hardwood floor cleaner... the list can literally go on FOREVER!!!

So I have made a few things that have included these ingredients... Now as I mention in my earlier posts... I am a stickler for name brands... I feel that they do a great job. But I thought... what if I could make my own stuff... and it works the same?! GENIUS! So with a help from a handful of friends (who will tell me YAY or NAY) we have tested and tried these two reciepes for you! So let me know your thoughts on these! I love the critiques and how you have made them even better!!

Fabric Softner: Found recipe from ehow.com (Reference # 2331685)
What you need:
Baking Soda
Distilled White Vinegar
Essential Oil (optional)

You will need a large container to mix ingredients in.

Add 1 cup of Baking Soda to your large bucket, and then add 1 cup of water. Give a bit of a stir to get the soda off of the bottom.
Now slowly pour 6 cups of the Distilled White Vinegar into that mixture. It will foam up (if you have little kids... they LOVE TO WATCH THIS!) Give this mixutre about 5 minutes to dissolve the bakig soda, stiring every so often.  When the soda has dissolved you then add 6 cups of water to the mixture. Becareful not to add to early as this will stop the fizzing/disolving process.

You now have your fabric softener!
Here are some additional tips:
The vinegar smell will not stay on the clothing! (THANK GOODNESS!!)

 If you want a scented softner, you can add 10-15 drops of your favorite essential oil. I have used Orange as it was the less costly.. but beware... add a little at a time... you can always add more scent... but you cannot take it away! ;-)

I funneled my Fabric softner into my old empty container, and put 1 cup of it in the wash during the rinse cycle (if you have a downy ball this works too)!

Homemade Laundry Detergent:( found recipe off of www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm)

1/3 bar Fels Naptha- can be found in laundry aisle
1/2 c Washing soda (NOT BAKING SODA!) can be found in laundry aisle
1/2 c 20 Mule Borax- can be found in laundry aisle
(1) two gallon bucket

Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan. Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into the bucket. Now add your soap mixture and stir. Now add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. You use ½ cup per load.

Tips about Laundry Soap:
This will not be a solid gel, it will be a watery gel.
 It will work in a HE washer, becasue of the low suds! :-)

Happy Savings!