My DIY Favorite! My Mix Laundry Soap

DIY Favorite! My Mix Laundry Soap!

We all have our favorites- the ONE recipe or household tip that started the ball rolling for DIY enthusiasts!

This laundry mix was mine- the starter of it all!

 I always had trouble with Laundry soaps. Tide is a hives producer, for me, personally. I always fought the laundry soap blues between budget and quality constraints. When my youngest started getting the itchies from other brand soaps I used, my options kept getting narrowed down. When the options I did have just didn't clean, or seemed watered down, or left bad smells (like some hypo allergenic unscented soaps can)...

...well,  I got fed up! Grrrrrr!

And the search was on.  Thus began my love for DIY!

And oh how my budget can love some of my discoveries.
Hence,  My project for the day!  My Mix!!!!!!! Yay!!!!! 
I'm always Always happy with the results of this one- it has never let me down! I absolutely love it!

I wrote about it before- at this link: My Mix Laundry Soap
So I won't be explaining everything over again, however- I'll give you the recipe once more- :DYay!

My Mix Laundry Soap

1 box 20 Mule Team Borax (4lb+)
1 box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (3lb+)
4 boxes Baking soda (1lb ea)
3 bars Zote soap (grated ahead of time)(14 0z ea)
3 Purex Crystals Laundry Enhancer (28 oz ea., or 2 -55 oz)
1 OxyClean  (3lb.)

step 1: grate the soap - like this:

(Note: A fine grate is best if you only use cold water. The Zote soap dissolves easily enough.)

Step 2: Mix it all into a large bucket! I use a recycled 5 gal. bucket from my hubby's pile in the garage. LOL  - I pour ingredient's into the bucket in layers or parts outside- because - well the powder can Poof! LOL and frankly I do not want Poof! in the house! ;) , Mix it all - well-  with large ladle or slotted spoon and then--- done! Yay!!!!!!!  It's as easy as that!

Step 3: Use it!   I recycle the OxyClean container and the scoop that comes with it. Fill it with my mixture and this sits on my washer for daily use. A large load to the 2 line on the OxyClean blue scoop is perfect!

Note: The remainder of the mix, I store in the garage (keep in a cool dry place, away from the children and label) , refilling as needed.

Also to note: because this is a low suds recipe- it is safe for HE washers, and does not leave a residue like some castile soap mixes can.
It lasts! About 6 months- or longer depending how often you do laundry. The cost is a whopping $35.  ---- (compared to the amount I paid before- averaging $20 a month, or more, on soaps- that's a previous cost of  $120 for 6 months of soaps- and I just paid less than $35 actually because I caught everything on sale. Savings $85. For me, this is a no brainer!)

Easy! Done! Enjoy!

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Oh, How I love DIY All-Purpose Lemon Cleaner!

 DIY All Purpose Cleaner

After a lapse in my routine, and exposure to commercial cleaners for 3 months, I am falling in love with natural cleaners all over again!  Oh, how I missed the sweet fresh smells- the aroma of essential oils- and the nontoxic clean!!!!!!! It just does not compare- really!  

Today was a shining example-  the task of cleaning the stove top and mainly the oven. I hate cleaning an oven- sorry no excuses - just stating a fact- I hate cleaning ovens. Awkward and the worst tough grease ever. People I know scream, "Easy Off!"  I respond with a resounding, "Noooooooo!"
 A former employer of mine would spray it without care- noxious fumes a flying! It was horrible- I won't go that route. Ever.

I made a batch of fresh DIY All Purpose Cleanser, and while the formula was still hot in temp I turned right around and sprayed down my oven! The worst thing that happened in my house is my husband asking-"Did you peel an orange?" (I'd added orange essential oil to this particular mix as well as lemon essential oil.) The result? My oven is shining! and I finished with ease in less than a half hour- that's with complete wipedown inside and out.

The best part- I saved a small fortune making a very effective cleanser, using basic safe ingredients already in the house.  I do not have a headache from fumes, my family isn't running from the house because of the horrible cleaners smell,  no one was exposed unnecessarily to toxic ingredients, and it's clean! So clean I want to bake! I am heading for the store now- Haha!  

All Purpose DIY Lemon Cleaner 

1 tsp washing soda
2 tsp Borax
1/2 tsp liquid soap (Castile soap or dish soap)
2 c hot water
10-20 drops lemon essential oil
pour into recycled spray bottle, cap and shake until dissolved. spray on surface and wipe away!* Works wonders on stoves, and counter tops!

Knowing I was cleaning the oven I added about 5 drops orange essential oil- just because it smelled so good. I was wanting the citrus smell! LOL

I have posted this mix before- I am just resinging the praises due to our personal lapse. You can find my original post at this recipe here: DIY All Purpose Cleaner





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DIY (Fake Comet) Cleaner

"Honey! Where's the comet?!"

My Hubby had to do some clean up last night... I handed him my DIY cleaner - fake comet version- he glanced and didn't say a word. The look was enough- a kind of  'well, if I have to'...a glare that says it all. I left with a grin. :D...no worries!

He later told me it worked fine! By his standards, that's a huge compliment. I knew it would- I'd already used it for a while! But for him- it was new. LOL
It's simple to make-

DIY (Fake Comet) Cleaner

I reused/re-purposed a shaker  bottle and added to it
1 part baking soda
1 part borax
1 part salt
1 part washing soda

and I shook it to mix.
Sprinkle it on what you have to scrub just like you do comet. Take a damp sponge or scrubber, and watch the stains go away. Rinse well.
 Works wonders on the tub and toilet! Love it! Whitens, brightens, grime is gone, cuts grease and residue, without bleach alternatives and extra chemicals.
 No noxious smell. The baking soda naturally deodorizes, borax and washing soda cut grease and residues and whitens, and the salt acts as abrasive- it's a win win.
 That's it. Done. Can't get much simpler. DIY. Effective. Frugal. Green cleaning. No noxious smells. Just clean.
Yay! 

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DIY Homemade Dish Soap

DIY Homemade Dish Soap

Dish soap is so cheap, and so easy to grab, and just too easy...why would I replace dish soap?

Many reasons, actually.
It touches your skin- one of your most important organs on your body.
It touches the dishes you cook and eat off of.
It goes down the drain and flows back through the system, eventually retouching the earth we come from and live off of.
All Three very good reasons to consider using a product with far less toxic chemicals in it. Think green.
Green cleaning is so easy, it is even cost effective if your are on a tight budget.  It is also so much better for your family in the long run!

To make Homemade Dish Soap

you need a mixing bowl, a small sauce pan to boil water in, a grater and a whisk.
2 cups water
1 tbsp. borax
1 tbsp. grated Castile soap bar. (I use Kirk's Castile Original, but any Castile bar will work. Dr. Bronner's Citrus is excellent!) 
Essential oils (lemon is my favorite- but you can also use tea tree oil for antibacterial, or any combination you prefer! Lemon and Lavender is wonderful! So is orange and lemon for a bright energetic citrus smell of fresh and clean!)

Boil the 2 cups of water in sauce pan.
In bowl combine both the borax and grated bar soap
pour boiling water over the soap mixture and whisk until the soap dissolves.
Now let it rest. As it cools it will gel up.
Let it completely cool for a couple hours. 4-6 actually depending on your house's temp.
Add essential oils, if you choose to,  at the very last step.
Pour into recycled/ reused dish soap bottle and use as you normally would for dishes.

Note: This is not intended for dishwashers-just in the sink dish-washing.

DIY All Purpose Cleaner

DIY All-Purpose Cleaner

I got left with a mess when my boys decided to cook, so I am using my homemade all purpose cleaner to wipe it away! This stuff is fantastic and smells too good! I am such a fan of lemon essential oil, not only does it smell bright and full of energy, I understand it's anti bacterial too! It is now a vital part of my cleaning!

I was left with this:



Before
I used my DIY all-purpose cleaner, and now I am cooking on this! Nice! (Starting a small batch of applesauce and using the peelings to make pectin for jelly later, ;) Yay! )

After: 

All Purpose DIY Lemon Cleaner 

1 tsp washing soda
2 tsp Borax
1/2 tsp liquid soap (Castile soap or dish soap)
2 c hot water
10-20 drops lemon essential oil
pour into recycled spray bottle, cap and shake until dissolved. spray on surface and wipe away!* Works wonders on stoves, and counter tops!

No extra chemicals, no noxious fumes, works fantastic and leaves my kitchen or whatever I clean smelling lemon fresh! I do not recommend it on painted surfaces as washing soda can remove paint- however, works like a charm on my kitchen counters, stove, oven, sink,  dishwasher and refrigerator surfaces, and in the bathroom sinks, tub and toilet! Great stuff and so easy to make! One batch cleans the house plus some!





Notes:
*Use a marker and be sure to CLEARLY label your bottle.  Do not swallow or leave within reach of little ones.Although this is safer than most commercial brands with no fumes involved, borax and washing soda are not edible items and still pose a danger to young ones.
** Use at your own risk. Recipe for DIY cleaner can be found on various internet DIY sites as a greener alternate to industrial strength cleaners. I do not claim sole ownership of recipe, or any rights there of. I am Simply sharing a useful recipe that can help others turn to greener clean.









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