When Your Piggy Bank Don't Jingle (4 of 10)

#4: MAKE YOUR OWN LAUNDRY DETERGENT!!!

I was a little skeptical at first and rolled my eyes a bit at the idea of making laundry detergent after growing up a hardcore Tide user.  Since being in a position where I need to cut corners wherever I can with money, this caught my attention.

What do you save???

Tide - right at 20 cents per load

Homemade - between 1 & 2 cents per load

In general, what I've read shows that you'll pay around 1/10 of the cost over a year.

Does it work???

So far I've been pleased.  I've read several blogs and articles about it and you can see actual picture comparisons of people who compared Tide with the Homemade stuff.  They turn out very similar.

Need Proof???  Do this Google search "Make My Own Laundry Detergent".  I'll let you pick which link to click...there's over 1.7 million of them.  You'll see slight variations of ingredients or steps to making, but this is one of the many and what I have been using for a couple years now.

Below are a few pictures from the last batch I made.  You'll find others if you do the Google search.  Good luck!!!

Laundry Detergent

Makes: 3-4 gallons.

Time: 15-20 minutes.

INGREDIENTS/MATERIALS:

Bucket (5gal size)

Water

2/3 Bar - Fels Naptha Soap (grated - use cheese grater)

1 c. Washing Soda (Arm&Hammer)

1 c. Borax Powder

OPTIONAL – 30 drops lavender essential oil OR 20 drops tea tree oil (for scent)

DIRECTIONS (Lots of steps, but it's EASY & fast):

1.    In large stock pot, heat 3 quarts water.

2.    In a second (medium-sized) pot, begin heating 2 quarts water.

3.    Into large stock pot, stir in 2/3 bar grated soap until dissolved. 

4.    Into large stock pot, stir in Washing Soda and Borax.

5.    Stir often until mixed well.

6.    Remove from heat.

7.    Pour 2 quarts hot water into bucket from second pot.

8.    Add soap mixture from stock pot into bucket.  Stir well.

9.    Add 6½ quarts hot water to bucket.  Stir well.

10.  IF using essential oils, add these now.

11.  Set aside for 24 hours to cool and thicken to a jelly-like consistency.

HOW TO USE:

Use ½ cup of detergent per full load when washing.

TIPS:

- You don't need to boil the water, just "heat" it.

- Look for the ingredients at WalMart and grocery stores.

- Grate 2 bars of Fels Naptha at a time and store the left over in baggies marked "2/3 bar Fels Naptha" to save time and clean-up down the road.

Ingredients (minus the fragrance - I don't use it)

What you'll get when you're done.  Good luck!!!



RECIPE: NO WAY Rachel Ray!!!

My wife just made a Rachel Ray smoothie: "Super Strawberry Smoothie".  Hands down the recipe we usually use wins the taste test EVERY time.  Sorry Rachel.....you're show is cool, but this smoothie has GOT to go!!!  Cooking shows are cool and they look like experts, but does all the junk they make REALLY taste as good as they make it seem???

For once, I'd like to see a chef take a bite and go, "Blaahhhhh!!  That's sick!  Never mind, DON'T make this at home.  It's really nasty!"

OK, here's the recipe I use AND at the bottom is Rachel Ray's if you don't believe me...

STRAWBERRY - BANANA - ORANGE SMOOTHIE
by: Unknown

Servings: 1 very large or 3 small glasses
Time:  Less than 5 minutes. AWESOME!!!

Ingredients:
1c.  Orange Juice
1     Banana
8-9 Strawberries (frozen)
6oz Yogurt (Strawberry OR Strawberry-Banana)

Directions:
1.  Put all in a blender and push GO. 

TIPS:
- Put your frozen strawberries in LAST so they don't jam your blender.
- A variation is to use blueberry yogurt and add a few frozen blueberries.
- I've tried blueberry juice and it's pretty good, but OJ seems to be best overall.
- To increase servings add 1/2-1c. OJ and 1 banana.


(NOT-SO) SUPER STRAWBERRY SMOOTHIE
by: Rachel Ray

Servings: 1-2

Ingredients:
1c. Milk
1 Banana
6 Strawberries (frozen or fresh)
4oz. Low-Fat Strawberry Yogurt

Directions:
1. Put all in a blender and push GO.

WHERE DID RACHEL GO WRONG???
- DON'T use milk in a fruit smoothie....use fruit juice.  Right???
- I wouldn't use thawed strawberries.  Frozen fruit gives a better texture.