Last night I had my first speaking engagement. I was the guest speaker at a honors dinner for parents and teachers. I was so excited to be able to share a few money saving tips and had a great time. I feel so blessed and honored that I was asked to speak, and ready to do it again! :)I was asked to speak about making homemade soap and other items that can help you save some money. So, we sent everyone home with two uses of liquid laundry soap, a genius idea by my friend Valarie was to use these 8oz water bottles, along with a booklet of make it yourself money savers.
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Aren't they cute? :)
Besides for laundry soap and fabric softener I shared a few other items I have been making and the money I have been saving. Now I am going to share them with you!
Dish Washer Soap
1 cup of
Borax
1 cup of Arm
& Hammer Washing Soda
2 packets of
no sugar added Koolaid Lemon Aide
Mix together
well and add 1 tablespoon to each load!
(If you are
making your laundry soap you already own everything except for the koolaid)
Cost to make
this is $0.78 a batch and does 32 loads of dishes!
Rinse Aid
Never Buy
Rinse aid again use White Vinegar (Works perfect with no smell)
Rinse aid
runs $3.99 you use about $.04 of Vinegar
1 cup of
White Vinegar
2 cups of
Water
2 teaspoons
of Dawn dish soap
Mix together
and spray down shower (Watch how clean it stays it is AMAZING)
Hard to find
the cost exactly but I come up with $.11 and the bottle lasted me about 7 weeks
1/8 Cup of Your Favorite Fabric Softener
2 Tablespoons Baking Soda
Hot Tap Water - To Fill the Bottle to the Top 32oz bottle
Shake it up in your Spray Bottle and you're ready to go and fight those Stinky Dog smells.
Fabreeze anywhere from $5.69 Our cost
$.15 cents for 32 oz.
1 empty Windex
Spray Bottle
1/8 Cup (1 oz) white Ammonia
¼ Cup (4 oz) Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol
1 Drop of Laundry Detergent
Water- to fill the bottle
Shake it up
in your Spray Bottle and you are ready to go.
I used a 64
oz bottle of Ammonia and a 16 oz bottle of Rubbing Alcohol that I picked up for
$1.00 each at the Dollar Tree.
Windex
$3.69 Our cost (Ammonia $.02 &
Alcohol $.25) = $.027
1 Empty and Rinsed-Out Bottle of Clorox Cleanup/Empty Plastic Spray Bottle
1/4 Cup Bleach
1 Teaspoon Laundry Detergent
Fill the rest of the bottle with Water and Shake
Clorox
Cleanup $4.99 Our cost $0.02 (The little
bit of bleach you use from the gallon that cost 1.00)
Instead of
buying carpet fresh use baking soda, you will use less and save over half the
cost.
If you have any questions please feel free to ask below or email us @
And don't forget to check out my homemade laundry soap!!
Have a great night and happy blogging,
Posts
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Help! Are you using the borax compound discussed here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borax or the laundry additive shown here: http://www.20muleteamlaundry.com/ ?
ReplyDeleteFrom the Wikipedia article you linked:
Delete"Borax first came into common use in the late 19th century when Francis Marion Smith's Pacific Coast Borax Company began to market and popularize a large variety of applications under the famous 20 Mule Team Borax trademark..."
It's the same thing.
Allison, I do use the one labeled for laundry additive.
Deletewith the fabric softner I use vinegar instead of baking soda and on the carpet fresh i use baking soda and a lil cinnamon mixed in makes your carpets smell great
DeleteHi and thanks for all the great DIY recipes. It really helps to be able stretch our dollars! :-) I was wondering if instead of the limonade if true lime or true lemon would work well?
DeleteCan I use my homemade laundry soap in the Clorox Clean-Up? Thanks. Love this!!
DeleteI love the dish washing detergent! I tried it out today and it worked great! Eventually I'll try a few of the other recipes! Thanks!
DeleteIs the dish detergent you list for a dish washer or sink washing? I am so privileged to be the dish washer.
ReplyDeleteDish washer. :)
DeleteHow much vinegar do you use and do you use? Thanks for the tips!
DeleteOk, maybe I've missed it, but where are the directions to make the homemade laundry soap and fabric softner?
ReplyDeleteThanks:)
http://www.buildingitonpennies.com/2011/12/homemade-laundry-soap-even-he-safe.html
DeleteHere is your link
I need something to remove collar stains from dress shirts as well as washable dress pants. I have had to resort to pet stain products because the products offered do not work.
DeleteI would try this homemade oxyclean.
DeleteDirections are here
http://www.creativelydomestic.com/2009/06/homemade-oxyclean.html
1/3 bottle laundry detergent 2tbsp peroxide fill the rest with water an d shake it up. I haven't found anything this can't get out of clothes
DeleteI also found on Pinterest 2parts hydrogen peroxide & 1 part dawn dish soap. That worked great on my 2yr olds chocolate stain. It was there 6mos and OxiClean didn't take it out. But this did.
DeletePeroxide will remove the stains ......I mix baking soda..dawn and peroxide....collar stains...baby formula stains...grease...you name it Bam !!
DeleteWon't the peroxide make ur clothes dingy or start fadding the color?
DeleteI haven't tried it yet, but white chalk on white cloths is supposed to take out sweat stains.
DeleteI would like to have the laundry soap recipe too! Post please!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.buildingitonpennies.com/2011/12/homemade-laundry-soap-even-he-safe.html
DeleteHere is a link for it.
Where can I get a copy of the labels for the 8oz bottles? I want to give out homemade gift baskets with samples of my homemade treats. Thanks!
DeleteHi Jenny, if you want to give me your email I can email it over for you. Or you can send me a request to my email buildingitonpennies@yahoo.com.
DeleteCan i please get a copy of the labels too? Janette@Cox.net
Deletedec 2011 post
ReplyDeleteThe laundry and fabric softener recipes are in a link just above her name at the end of the post.
ReplyDeleteIn the recipe for the Fabreeze do you use the fabric softener bought from the store or is it from your homemade liquid softener? Also, the laundry detergent used in the windex and clorox cleanup,is it from the homemade laundry detergent? I love all these money saving cleaning recipes. Can't wait to make them.
ReplyDeleteI use all homemade stuff, so if it calls for fabric softener I use the stuff I make, and if it calls for laundry soap I use the stuff I make. :) I hope you enjoy them, I know I do!
DeleteWhat if we are making the dry laundry soap, what would you suggest we do to make the above stated recipes?
DeleteThanks for the great info! So excited to make some of this!
I found and have been using this one http://sewingroomscreaming.blogspot.com/2012/02/homemade-laundry-detergent.html#
Delete...and my husband loves it. Since I only saw liquid on here, I hope the Jeanne doesn't mind I threw it in there.
Tell me what the lemonade mix does. I'd like to use whatever is actually in it rather than buying kool aid.
ReplyDeleteThe lemonade is for the citrus. I did try a recipe that called for citrus from the canning department and it left a film on my dishes that I did not like. I had the best luck with the lemonade.
DeleteCitric Acid is the active ingredient for this use. I've noticed it is best to use straight citric acid instead of lemonade. The lemonade caused a film to build up over time.
DeleteWhere would you buy the citric acid?
DeleteCash & Carry will order it for you, but I go in with several girlfriends and split the cost. Next you will have to research other wonderful uses for it. You will be delighted!! You can also often find it in small quantities at foreign grocery markets.
DeleteWhat is the need for the limonade?
ReplyDeleteThe lemonade is for the citrus. I did try a recipe that called for citrus from the canning department and it left a film on my dishes that I did not like. I had the best luck with the lemonade.
DeleteThe lemonade is used for it's citric acid. You can buy it online in bulk (pure citric acid won't stain the plastic inside of your dishwasher yellow like the lemonade does... did that already:{) Citric acid is a mild-mild-mild acid that cleans away residues left by baking soda and borax and hard water stains.
DeleteThere is also a fabulous product called LemiShine in the dish washing isle at the grocery, once you run it through the dishwasher the first time, you only need a tiny bit each load or you can mix it into the homemade stuff and it works great also.
DeleteOr in the canning section of your grocery store, or big box store you can get straight citric acid (made by Ball). If you ever can tomatoes, you can use it for that as well, and its a pantry ready alternative to lemon juice.
DeleteI had a question for the daily shower cleaner. Do I have to rinse the shower after I spray the shower down? Or leave it as is. Thanks again for posting this!
ReplyDeleteI do not rinse mine. I shower in the am and when I am done I spray the shower done (about 3 times a week) then my son showers at night. It does not feel slimy or anything.
Deletedoes it HAVE to be dawn liquid soap? Or can it just be liquid soap? I want to make it now but dont have that.
DeleteI'm told by a long time user that it has to be blue Dawn or it won't work.
DeleteI've been using some generic liquid dish soap, since I had a few bottles on hand. It works well. I don't know if Dawn works better, or if it does, how much quicker you see soap scum disappear. I've been using it for about 3 weeks, and the shower walls are very clean...just a small area of soap scum remains. Oh, and not a hint of mildew, either. This stuff is awesome.
DeleteDoes your laundry soap work for energy efficient washers? If so, how much do you use for each wash?
ReplyDeleteI use homemade in my HE washer. Just 1 Tbls should be fine.
DeleteIif your HE washer will only hold 1/4 cup of soap you double all 3 of the products and only use 2 gallons of water. But if you machine can hold 1/2 cup soap you can use the recipe just the way it is
DeleteI just made the laundry soap but it didn't gel. What do I do? Can I still use it
DeleteGreat recipes the only issue i had was the clorox spray. Bleach only stays stable when mixed with water for about 24 hours. For this reason 24 hours after making this mixture it would become uneffective for sanitization purposes. The clorox cleaners in the store contain a lot of stabilizers to prevent that from happening. I have worked in childcare in washington state for over ten years and we are required by law to through out bleach solution each day for that very reason.
ReplyDeleteWow that is very interesting, I am going to look into this.
DeleteI have been using my same bottle for almost a month now and this morning I used it to remove food coloring off my counter and it worked great.
Thanks for the information.
I'm not a eco nazi or anything, but bleach is something you may want to use when only when you have a serious sanitation issue and you don't want to take chances. It is really bad for the respiratory system. For sanitation purposes try Lavender or Lemon essential oil in a spray bottle with water. Both are antibacterial and antiviral and completely safe for children and dogs (don't use on a surface a cat would eat from). You can also try vinegar in a spray bottle, it's also a great sanitizer and cleaner. And whatever vinegar doesn't clean (grease) baking soda does. Hope this helps.
Deletei always just sprinkle my counters with baking soda and scrub with a damp sponge.. after im done scrubbing i spray it all down with vinegar and lemon juice. ive never had cleaner counters!!!
DeleteThis is not true. I'm a microbiologist and we use bleach solutions that we make by hand all the time. We make them in giant dispensers and use them until they run out. The bleach does not become ineffective.
Deletei love some of these recipes but most can be replaced with just vinegar - like not using bleach. what a wonderful natural thing...love vinegar! :) your laundry soap is much easier than the one i have ...and totally trying the dishwasher soap as i am almost out....
DeleteWorkimg in a hospital, I have found peroxide is a wonderful cleaner also.
DeleteActually licensing rules for child care centers do state that after 24 hours the bleach water is ineffective ...it willclean, yes, but sanitize...no.
DeleteFor all of us using the staight vinegar for cleaning and sanitizing purposes...add a few drops of your favorite smelling soap. After the vinegar smell settles, you are left with the yummy smell you added.
DeleteDo you happen to have anything to use for mopping tile floors? We just moved into a new place, and the entire downstairs is tile!
ReplyDeleteAt this time I do not. I am looking into it (my swiffer mop is running out and not wanting to buy more). As soon as I find something I will post it!
DeleteI would use the glass cleaner recipe. I use it on my vinyl floor.
DeleteI use a 1-to-1 mixture of white vinegar and water to clean my floors, bathrooms, countertops, etc... It works great! For my floors, I attach a microfiber towel to my old swiffer mop and use a spray bottle for the cleaning mixture. Just spray and mop!! Done!
DeleteI use my Shark steam cleaner and add vinegar to it. That way I'm only using water and steam and a little vinegar to clean my floors. Plus, you just through the mop "pad" in the washing machine. :)
DeleteI use 1/4 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup Arm and Hammer's washing soda and 1 Tbsp blue dawn dish soap added to 2 gallons VERY warm water. It works great on any non-waxed floor and really gets it clean without leaving any greasy residue. I got the recipe here: http://www.food.com/recipe/floor-grease-cutter-cleaner-393210
DeleteWow, I thought I was the only one crazy enough to put vinegar in my steamer. It's works really well. The initial smell is slightly toxic and gets rid of the kids and man in the house. But the peace and quite lasts way longer than the smell lol
DeleteI was told by the tile installer to only use vinegar and water on tile floors. I keep a spray bottle with 50/50 water and vinegar, then put hot water in a bucket (or sink). I pre treat stains and tough spots (like dried dog drool and sticky spots) with the spray bottle, then wait a few minutes and mop the whole floor with hot water. Works great and the vinegar smell goes away after a few minutes. I also spot clean by spraying the vinegar solution on the spot and using my swiffer. I have not bought the swiffer cleaner in years.
DeleteOK so with the vinegar if you are the kind of person that likes the house to smell good what can u add to make the house smell good when you mop.
DeleteOK so with the vinegar if you are the kind of person that likes the house to smell good what can u add to make the house smell good when you mop.
DeleteI am a professional non-toxic, organic house cleaner. I love the recipes shared here. What I use is vinegar and water on floors. I don't use bleach, ammonia or anything toxic. It is vinegar, baking soda, non-toxic dish-washing soap (when I don't make my own)and essential oils. You can add 15-20 drops of your favorite essential oil to the floor washing bucket as another poster indicated these are often anti-microbial, anti-fungal and have the added benefit of offending pests (spiders, silverfish, roaches and fleas) as well as elimination of mold and mildew. Some of my favorites are a Tea Tree & Lavender (together), Peppermint (especially effective on pest control) and a new fav Medivel Mix (which is similar to Theives oil). I also add essential oils to my spray bottles of 1:1 vinegar & water and use microfiber all around, for countertops, dusting, mops. Remember use a fresh set of microfiber for each room so you don't saturate the cloth with germs dust dirt and redistribute all over the house (especially when cleaning bathrooms). Have fun! Safe, fresh, clean :)
DeleteLove the additional tips, K. Rose B. thanks for sharing. Never gave it a thought to use a fresh set of microfiber for each room. (other than bathroom,of course). Sure makes sense. :)
DeleteI read somewhere that you can add lemon or orange peels to vinegar and let it soak for a few days, and the vinegar smells a little more like citrus. Then you could use it in pretty much any of these recipes!
DeleteSo with using the oils in the vinegar does this efect pets such as dogs and cats? I normally use my fav smelling soap and just add a few drops into my vin and water mix. Just wondering if the oils are jsut as safe?
DeleteEssential oils are safe for kids, pets, and all.
DeleteI have a great money saving tip for all, I live in a basic 1200 square foot house and live in the desert. My electric bills average $45 in the summer and $13 in the winter. This is with running the air conditioning and heat. I also use fans for the summer and my house stays at 76 to 78 degrees, a big difference from 110 degrees. How I keep my electric bill down is I don't change the settings on my thermostat, and "ARE YOU READY FOR IT?" I unplug everything but the refrigerator when I leave my house and when I'm sleeping. Yep I even unplug the kitchen stove, I only plug the things I'm using in and when I'm done I unplug them again. This has drastically cut my energy bill down by 2/3's. My sister and I tried it out for the first time when we lived together, there were 3 of us in the house. My electric bill was $75 so we unplugged everything everyday and got it down to $13. This was in the month of December mind you, but my bills in the summer would be over $200 and so far with this technique I haven't seen a bill over $45 in the summer. I have to keep my air on for the dog of course but it doesn't affect the bill all that much so long as the doors and windows stay shut for insulation. Just a word of advice, it does work and you do get used to it.
ReplyDeleteWOW that is an awesome savings!!
DeleteThat is awesome. I've had everything in our house plugged in to power strips and turned them off, but never compared differences. You have definitely sparked my interest.
DeleteI love that idea!!
DeleteI told hubs that we need to disable all but ONE electrical outlet per room and put a power strip on it to just "click" it off every time we leave.
May just do this!
Would turning off the breaker work the same way as unplugging everything? I just think it would be easier then unplugging everything in your house. Of course you would need to know which breaker your AC/heater and refrigerator where on.
Deleteyes turning off the breaker would work. Just make sure you leave the one that has the fridge on.
DeleteWow I thought I was the only crazy person that did this .... I even go as far as turning off my breakers in the breaker box and save about $40 a month. What a great this and thanks for sharing.....if only I could get my hubbub on borde I would save more. :)
DeleteHow much white vinegar do you use in the dish washer as a rinse aid?
ReplyDeleteJust fill up your rinse aid compartment completely full of vinegar, till it runneth over. I've used this as a rinse aid for a year or so and it's great. My dishes are great! I can tell it's time to refill the vinegar when the dishes get spotty and filmy.
DeleteDo your dishes smell like vinegar when they're done after using the vinegar in the rinse aid compartment?
ReplyDeleteNope.
Deleteeven though vinegar stinks initially (you grow to like it), it is actually an odor fighter. vinegar gets rid of all stinky odors...and doesn't leave anything smelling like vinegar. stinky room ? bowl of vinegar. moldy swim towel smell? vinegar in the washer. dirty windows? dirty counter? germs to kill? shower...bathroom...toys..anything...spray bottle with half vinegar and half water. perfect natural item!
Deletecan you use apple cider vinegar instead of white vinegar to clean?
ReplyDeleteI have never tried it or heard of anyone using apple cider vinegar. I would think the white vinegar is preferred just because it is so much cheaper.
DeleteCider vinegar is great for washing your face or removing buildup on your hair. It is mild and leaves your natural oils on your skin and hair. Because it contains sugars it is not good for housecleaning.
Delete***WARNING***
ReplyDeleteRead the owner's manual of your dishwasher before using vinegar regularly as a rinse aid. It can gradually erode and wear the parts of your dishwasher. Our owner's manual recommends doing it only once or twice a month. It still helps. :)
I have a natural stone tile shower and I'm hesitant to use a harsh chemical to clean it. What would you suggest?
ReplyDeleteWe had had natural stone floors put into my parent's house last year, and asked the sales man what was best to clean them with. His answer was to mix 1:1 white vinegar and water and just mop away. The smell goes away in a couple of minutes and the floors are completely clean. Works perfectly!
DeletePerfect! Thank you so much!
DeleteAnd you can add some lemon juice to the mix and it helps with the vinegar smell
DeleteHi The Fells,
DeleteI love the suggestion you were given above. I am going to start trying a few new cleaners this week and will share them as soon as I find a few I am happy with.
I'm in the UK, could you explain what Arm & Hammer Washing Soda actually contains, please? I might be able to find a different brand of whatever it is.
ReplyDeleteAlso, what is Dawn dish soap? Is it just regular washing up liquid that you use in your sink for dishes?
Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol - has to be kept under strict controlled conditions in this country, apparently, and so I'm having a hard time locating some.
Neither do I know where I might find white Ammonia!
Is there anyone here who can either help or translate US to UK, please? Thanks in advance. :-)
I live in Germany and, as far as I can tell, most of the make-it-yourself recipes like this cannot be replicated here. There are some great recipes that use mainly vinegar and baking soda in various concentrations that could be done here. Here is a link that seems to have a LOT of them to choose from: http://frugalliving.about.com/od/cleaningtipsandrecipes/a/Clean_Vinegar.htm
DeleteWashing Soda is typically found in the laundry aisle in the states, but I'm not sure what it is made of. Dawn is similar to Palmolive, but better. Why it isn't available here is beyond me because it's the safest, best cleaner I know of! I too have problems finding Rubbing Alcohol and Ammonia. The rubbing alcohol surprised me because in the states, it's everywhere! Personally, I would stick with vinegar because it's really cheap and easy to find. The rest seem to be more hassle than they're worth overseas.
Hope this helps!
Thank You V!
DeleteYes, thanks V - I'll have a look at your link now.
DeleteCheers! (And kinda glad I'm not the only one struggling) :-)
Washing soda is baking soda ash. So, basically it is baking soda that is cooked at 400 degrees.
Delete*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online. Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!
DeleteYes baking soda will work but first you must turn it into washing soda which is really simple here is a link with instructions it is just about changing the chemical make up with heat. http://naturesnurtureblog.com/2012/05/08/ttt-turn-baking-soda-into-washing-soda/
DeleteI often use vodka in place of rubbing alcohol. I just buy the cheapest one on the shelf. I have a house full of ceramic tile. A great floor cleaner is 1 cup each of Alcohol(vodka or rubbing), vinegar, hot water, 3 drops of dishsoap, 10 drops each lavender and lemon essential oil. I literally use this on all my hard surfaces and it works great. It works on windows and mirrors too.
DeleteI know this is a conversation about not being able to obtain the ammonia but to those of you you who can...this works great in a carpet cleaner and will get all kinds of stains out! My brother used to shine his shoes on our cream carpets and what a mess it would leave. I thought forever. My gma showed up and directly put the ammonia (lemon low-suds)in teh carpet cleaner and the carpets looked brand new. It also eliminates the smell of cat or dog urine when potty training. Because it is harsh use a mask and maybe at max once every other month.
DeleteOnly use the ammount of ammonia you would normally use of the cleaner. Its still VERY strong and needs lots of ventalation!!!!
DeleteDo you have the recipe for Laundry detergent and do u have one for fabric softener?
ReplyDeleteYes Apryl,
DeleteHere it is
http://www.buildingitonpennies.com/2011/12/homemade-laundry-soap-even-he-safe.html
For fabric softener, I use 6 c warm water, 3 c vinegar, 2 c of your favorite conditioner. Just stir it together until the conditioner is dissolved. I use a lavender scented conditioner.
DeleteHave any of you ever heard of Norwex?
ReplyDeletehttp://kristinelies.norwex.biz/
It is a chemical free way to clean your home. I know it sounds crazy, but I've been using it for over 2 years now and my home is almost chemical free! I don't sell it because I don't want a job at this time. But I do whole heartedly Love it! It started as a way to get rid of "super bugs" in Norwegian hospitals. It has been based in Canada and has slowly been moving north. Check it out!
Thank You I will check it out.
DeleteWanted to share a tip with you. We have extremely hard water and the scale build up is a real problem. I was using vinegar to remove it from our shower but have discovered citrus acid is amazing. Mix a couple of tablespoons with water in a spray bottle and apply. The first time I used it I made it rather strong and let it sit for about ten minutes then scrubbed the tile with a scotch pad. It dissolved the scale into a gritty residue that I lightly scrubbed the rinsed off. Now I spray the tile every couple of days and rinse the walls while I'm in the shower.
ReplyDeleteThank You for the tip!! We do not have hard water but I am going to share this with my next cleaning blog.
DeleteWhere do you get citris acid?
DeleteUsually canning isle at the store.
DeleteI absolutely love these recipes as well as the ones for the laundry soap and fabric softener. I run a money saving/frugal living blog called More With Less Today and I show case your website's post. Please look at the link: http://morewithlesstoday.com/more-homemade-cleaning-recipes-to-save-your-pennies-well-dollars-in-this-case/
ReplyDeleteI'd be happy to write another post crediting your website if you can recommend more money saving ideas. Thank you. Josephine
Thank You very much for the shout out!! Keep watching out we are working on more ways to save money. :)
DeleteThese recipes are fantastic... however, IF you want a more holistic approach to these, the idea is to not use any commercially named products in your cleaners (i.e., Dawn soap in your shower cleaner) and never to use something as harsh as ammonia or bleach. Vinegar & water makes a PERFECT glass and all purpose cleaner and your best bet for fabric softener is white vinegar (especially if you've got bed wetters). I will definitely try your dishwasher soap though! I've also used vinegar as the rinse aid, but I honestly haven't had much success with it. Gonna try it again.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info!Hope you enjoy the dishwasher soap.
DeleteI also use vinegar to clean a lot in my house. I use it on the floors and as a fabric softener in my washing machine. I will be trying some of these other recipes too! I'm always looking to save a little $ and I have 3 little ones so I don't like to clean with harsh chemicals. Great website!
ReplyDeleteThank you :)
DeleteFor those out of the country so to speak...if you have access to baking soda then you have washing soda! Baking soda when baked in 400* oven for about 45 minutes (1cup-ish) becomes washing soda because of the chemical change. Once its appears clumpy then you have washing soda. Plenty of tootle searches will turn up this fact and provide more.info that I did scientifically.speaking ;)
ReplyDeleteI made my own laundry detergent 4 months ago and I do A LOT of laundry !! I have probably used a total of 3 cups since I made it. I will never ever BUY detergent again. It does a great job and it is pennies a load. I did not love the fabric softener that is made of conditioner and vinegar. . Any other recipes for this?
ReplyDeleteI do not, the only other one I came across was just vinegar which I did not like.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
Delete1 Container of Name Brand Fabric Softener
Delete4 Inexpensive sponges, cut in half
Pour entire container of softener into a 5 gallon bucket. Fill empty softener container with water twice. (2 parts water to 1 part softener) I added this to a spray bottle and kept old rags with it. when i need dryer sheets i spray the cloths and throw them in the dryer. The original idea was using sponges or rags soaking in the solution but because i dont do laundry as often i was worried theyd mold or become gross.
hello!
ReplyDeleteI just made some of the laundry soap last night. The directions I followed are very close to yours, however I was told I could use ANY bar soap and I used white dial. I see you use fels-Nefla(sp)do you think mine will still work? If not do you think I can add the Fels-nefla to what I have already made and how should I add it? Please Help! Thank you!
I know people who use Ivory soap instead of the Fels naptha and they are happy with their soap. I would suggest try it and if you are not happy with it add some fels naptha.
DeleteI use Ivory the first time I made it. The only thing I found you couldnt use was any moisturizing soap. Hope you enjoy it I love mine. Have been making it for over a year now.
DeleteI followed the directions precisely for the dishwasher soap, but it left a film that you could both feel and see. Pretty disgusting. Do you have any ideas of what I could do to remedy that? I had to rewash the dishes by hand to get rid of the film. I hate to totally
ReplyDeletegive up, b/c I'd really like to save some $$!
Oh I am so sorry, I did the recipe that called for salt and citrus and ended up with a nasty film that was hard to get off. I am not sure why this recipe did it for you, I have had zero problems with it.
DeleteDon't give up, try other recipes!
When making the Febreze, you stated to use your favorite fabric softener. Can the homemade fabric softener be used here?
ReplyDeleteI use the homemade fabric softener when I make mine. Works great.
DeleteYou're so awesome! Thank you for sharing these recipes!!
ReplyDeleteThank you :)
DeleteCan you use your DIY fabric softener and dishwashing detergent in the above recipes? ie, DIY fabric softener for the DIY Febreeze?
ReplyDeleteYes, I use all my DIY cleaners/soaps when making other cleaners.
DeleteI work for a window & door company, please use caution when cleaning your glass with ammonia, the newer windows have a Low-E film on the glass and it is NOT recommended to clean the glass with any products using ammonia. Depending where the LowE is bonded to the glass, ammonia can cause it to delaminate making the glass look grey & streaky. We recommend using 1 part distilled white vinegar to 10 parts water.
ReplyDeleteThank You for the information. :)
Deletedo you have any suggestion for fabric softners..
ReplyDeleteI do check it out here
Deletehttp://www.buildingitonpennies.com/2011/12/homemade-laundry-soap-even-he-safe.html
thanks for all the recipes. haven't tried any yet but im excited to and the electric bill idea im gonna try our bill runs around 400 a month. and i have all of the new bulbs and the house is well insulated so staying on kids to uplug things.
ReplyDeleteI made the dishwasher soap and tried it for the first time yesterday, with the same result - a film on the dishes that I could both see and feel. I ran the dishwasher a second time to try to get rid of it. Even after a hand wash, I can see spots on my dark-colored Mikasa dishes. Well, at least I only made half a batch...
ReplyDeleteI just noticed that my heating element in my dw is coated too... just hoping I haven't ruined my dishwasher now! I did find this recipe for a liquid dishwater detergent - it's almost the same, but mixed with warm water. Might try that before I dump the rest down the drain.
Deletehttp://www.ehow.com/way_5778849_homemade-liquid-dishwasher-detergent.html
just a thought for those of you who don't like the smell of vinegar... buy oranges! When you peel an orange, save the peel. Scrape the pith (the white stuff inside the peel) and drop the remaining peel into a jar (recycle a mayonnaise jar)and cover with white vinegar. Put a lid on it and set it in a cool, dark place. After a week or so, you'll have citrus vinegar. Voila! Most of that pungent vinegar smell is gone! I've been doing this for months now. LOVE it! I use it on my counters, my floors, sinks..anywhere I use an all purpose cleaner.
ReplyDeleteAwesome, I am going to do this.
DeleteI have also just started doing this and I love it!! I use orange peels, lemon peels, and clementine peels. They're pretty sitting on the counter, too, waiting for the week or 2 before they're ready to be used! (I put mine in a Mason jar.)
DeleteAwesome! My husband HATES my white vinegar cleaner. He doesn't understand that the ease of scrubbing the bathroom now makes one love the smell;)
DeleteI gotta try.
Woops also-- can you take a gallon of white vinegar (like I buy at the store) and just plop in a bunch of peels? will that still work instead of storing in such little containers like jars? (I use a TON of white vinegar... for everything! :))
DeleteWhere did you get the tin water bottles? did you just buy them full or find some place to buy them empty in bulk?
ReplyDeleteThey were purchased with water in them. :)
DeleteI made the laundry soap tonight. I had 2 questions. 1 when boiling with the soap it kept boiling over!! How did you boil it without it spilling over? 2nd When I stired in the cold water it did not gel up. What I got was like a water consistancy. Not gel like at all. Did I do something wrong?
ReplyDeleteWhen I boil it is barely boiling, just a rumble in the pot. If it gets to hot it will take off and boil over. It will gel as it cools, so the more it cools the more gel you will get.
DeleteHi, I didn't read all 104 comments so I hope this isn't too redundant, but can the laundry soap be used in a high efficiency washer? Thanks for all the great diy tips!
ReplyDeleteYes you can use it in a HE washer.
Deletemy flatware came with a little label that said never to use any lemon detergents. I'm guessing it's due to the citric acid...are there any other alternatives to the lemon koolaid?
ReplyDeleteYou can purchase straight citrus acid in the canning department. I did substitute the first time I made it with the acid and did not like the way my dishes turned out but every dish washer is different.
DeleteI have a problem. I used white vinegar as a rinse aid in my dishwasher. Unfortunately, I now have a brown streak running down the inside of my dishwasher door. I definitely used white vinegar because that's all I buy. Why would this have stained my door?
ReplyDeleteThat is weird, I would have to say it is not from the vinegar (since it is clear in color) and is used to help remove stains. Sorry I can not help beyond that.
DeleteMaybe try to run it through another rince with vinegar. Maybe there were more stains than were realized and that is the brown stuff...Not sure though since Vinegar is a great cleaner.
DeleteWell I just made the fabric softener. Shared it with my mom and she used it already! We love it. My daughter is using it now. Thank you for sharing. I am going to make the Febreze and the cleanup. My question is can you use the fabric softener I just made for the Febreze? And can you use the dry homemade laundry soap for the clean up?
ReplyDeleteI would say yes on the dry laundry soap just use warm water to help it melt. And yes I do use my homemade fabric softener in the febreze.
DeleteHi I made the febreeze but It left filmy spots when it landed on solid surfaces I have always used regular febreeze without any spotting or film I am worried if i continue using it around the carpet and stuff it will build up and become noticeable to touch if not visible any suggestions on making the febreeze more disolved or non spotting I dont know the proper term but it would be nice to not have scummy feel after a while!
ReplyDeleteCan u use apple cider vinegar in place of the white vinegar for the shower spray?
ReplyDeleteI have not tried it so I am not sure. The color concerns me since it might stain the shower.
DeleteArm and Hammer Super Washing Soda is not recommended to be used in dish washers. It can be used regularly in the washing machine and to clean around the house. Contact Church and Dwight consumer relations for more information and tips.
ReplyDeleteI woner if you can switch the Washing soda for baking soda?
DeleteI make my own laundry soap, fabric softener, shower cleaner, and use the vinegar in the dishwasher! I can't believe the savings! I also make my own cleaning wipes. I use a large plastic coffee container. Cut a roll of paper towels in half and place half the roll in the coffee container. Combine 1/4 c pine sol and 3/4 water. Pour over the paper towels. Let sit about 4 hour. Cardboard tube should slide out. I use Bounty basics paper towels.
ReplyDelete1/2 roll = 5o cents,pine sol used = ~25 cents
total for wipes equals about 75 cents and it makes a lot!
I have a house I rent out, my last renter was a slob! The shower is so filthy, orange scum all up the walls!!! What can I use to clean it.
ReplyDeleteYes, use 1 cup blue dawn dish soap and 1 cup of warm vinegar. Mix well and spray it on. Wait 1-2 hours and it wipes off easily.
DeleteYou can use borax. Just sprink on and scrub with a wet brush
DeleteIf you have ever visited a nursing home you know that they can be smelly! We use LOTS (Think a gallon a week on average) of vinegar.
ReplyDeleteOne of the best tricks we have is to take any soiled clothing or bedding and drop it into a sink filled with a small amount of Oxyclean, liquid detergent, water, & vinegar. Not only does it greatly reduce stains & remove the smell but it also is a fantastic place to leave things until the washing machine is free. I use the same trick for my son that has accidents at night.
For the homemade carpet fresh.... I use baking soda as well. But, I add a few drops of an essential oil. Mix it into the baking soda really well and there wont be any residue left behind. But, the oil makes the room smell great!
ReplyDeleteI love to use Fels-Naptha for stain remover. I keep a bar above my washer and get it wet and apply it to the spot. Works wonders!! I plan to grate a full bar and mix with enough hot water to dissolve it and make it thin enough for a spray bottle or leave it rather thick and put it in an old (cleaned) lotion bottle. I will probably try both to see which works best.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to mention that I like to let it sit a while before washing. Don't always get to and it still works well.
ReplyDeleteIm trying to find the recipe for the liquid laundry soap but i dont see it listed. i tried clikcing on the picture & nothing can youu send it olivemyboy@gmail.com. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI have been making this for a while now, and Love it. You can find the recipe on the "Duggers Family" website...
ReplyDeleteI have a quick question for everyone...I made my first attempt at making Liquid Dish and Hand Soap. My problem is that when the soap sits for a while, the water and soap "seperate". So you have to give it a shake before you use it. Does anyone have any tips on how to thicken it so it does not seperate???
I have the shake mine too. The product companies use to keep it from separating is a chemical :( my suggestion is to buy a couple bottles with easy handles to shake the bottle with.
DeleteThank you for the idea's I make my own fabreeze but use a little different recipe. Love your site. xoxo
ReplyDeletelani
I absolutely love the laundry detergent. I am now going to try making and using some of the other recipes. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteTo make the carpet fresh scented, add some essential oils, shake itvup, then sprinkle...
ReplyDeleteTo make the carpet fresh scented, add some essential oils, shake itvup, then sprinkle...
ReplyDeleteTo make the carpet fresh scented, add some essential oils, shake itvup, then sprinkle...
ReplyDeleteTo make the carpet fresh scented, add some essential oils, shake itvup, then sprinkle...
ReplyDeleteDo you have any carpet cleaning solutions?
ReplyDeleteTo use in a carpet cleaner? I just use the homemade clorox clean up bleach when I use the carpet cleaner. But other than that no.
DeleteI use vinegar in my Hoover carpet cleaner.
DeleteFYI white vinegar as dishwasher rinse aid took the red type off my new Anchor Hocking measuring cup and faded the cat bowl designs Don't much care about them but will not try it again
ReplyDeleteCould someone give me some ideas of what to use on stains on my fabric sofa? The stains are from food. Thanks
ReplyDeleteI am going to start making my own laundry detergent. Thanks for the reminder...I need to buy stuff today! I also make my own chocolate syrup :)
ReplyDeleteThe dishwasher recipe, including the vinegar rinse aid does not work well. It made my dishes filmy and disgusting. I have yet to find a really good, homemade dishwashing cleaner.
ReplyDeleteI have however been using my own, homemade, no-grade laundry detergent for months and it is incredible:
3 Tablespoons Borax
3 Tablespoons Washing Soda
2 Tablespoons Dawn Dish soap
Put these ingredients in a one gallon jug. Pour 4 cups boiling water into the jug. Swirl until ingredients are dissolved in the liquid. Let liquid cool. Then fill almost to the top with cold water. The bubbles will overflow out of the bottle.
I love this because you can pick an awesome scent with the Dawn dish soap. This dish soap works the best because it gets grease out.
DON'T BUY WASHING SODA, MAKE YOUR OWN:
Put baking soda in the oven at 400 degrees. Cook for about 2 hours. Stir once in a while. Voila!!! Washing soda.
Oh yes... use the Blue Dawn Dish Soap, not the green.
DeleteOlivia... I love this... does it work better than the Fels-Naptha one ? I LOVE mine from this blog... but I'm not such a fan on the grating the bar and boiling and stirring in a huge pot part. I use a homemade- grease & stain fighter that is equal parts Baking soda, Peroxide, and dawn. It's better than oxy clean! I'll have to try your's with the boiling water.
DeleteIt's not too watered down?
Also-- how much do you use per load? A whole cap full or so?
Oh also, I do have to say-- washing soda is not that expensive at walmart.. to save myself the trouble and electric/gas of running the oven for 2 hours I'd rather buy it. It comes in way bigger boxes than baking soda so it might even be a better deal. Especially since you're only using 3 tablespoons per gallon of detergent. :-P
DeleteOne more thing-- if you'd like to save yourself the trouble and buy washing soda-- you can use it to un-clog drains as healthier, cheaper Drain-O! Just ciphen a half cup of washing soda (not baking soda!) down the drain, and pour a whole cup of white vinegar down. Immediately close the sink off, so it forces the super fizz down the drain. Wait 1 minute and run boiling hot water (or really hot tap water) down the drain. If it doesn't work (for bad clogs) try one more time. Works every time for me! :)Hope you find what you're looking for.
The tip about washing soda is for those of us who cannot buy it. I live in Costa Rica and I'm still looking for borax. And Yes, how much of the homemade laundry soap do you use, please.
DeleteMeant no-GRATE
ReplyDeleteJust tried your shower cleaner recipe but am using it for counters and floors in my kitchen since I have seen so many vinegar~dash of soap recipes. I posted your link and hope it works well for my white floors!
ReplyDeleteGreat finding you and I'll put you in my rss feed!
have a great day!
Placing a cup full of white vinegar in to keep odors down. many years ago we were adopted by a cat who loved to get sick in the tub and use it as little box), and in our bedroom- (he relocated across the road when he threw up on my treadmill) I put out a glass bowl of vinegar and shut the bdrm door for an hour... no sick smell. will work for smoke odors also.
ReplyDeletein a ROOM to keep odors down. :)
DeleteDo you have a recipe for hand soap? I found a recipe for grating Ivory soap and melting it, then mixing it with water. It is not a good recipe and does not work well. The soap is very slimey and does not lather well. Do you have any suggestions for hand soap?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Rose B... windex recipe (instead of Ammonia) you can use 1/2 teasponn dish soap,
ReplyDelete3 tablespoons vinegar, 2 cups water and shake.
Also... I'm finding this dish washer soap recipe really, REALLY doesn't get my dishes clean and leaves a powdery residue everywhere :( I read that citric acid is what works best to cut through that gnarly stuff... do you use this homemade dish wash recipe youself? If so... do you use the heat dry function on it? I am not looking forward to having to hand dry my freshly dishwashed items, if you catch my drift. I had to switch back to regular dish powder. I still use Vinegar as rinse aid though. Any tips would be lovely!
Good info...Love pinterest!
ReplyDelete