So Rich and I have been making some drastic changing to our spending and general financial habits lately. We read Dave Ramsey's, Total Money Makeover, and have been taking his Financial Peace course. I HIGHLY recommend both by the way. It has completely changed our thinking on financial matters in a very positive way. We are talking paradigm shift, 180 degree kind of change! As a result we have been looking for lots of ways to save money and pay off any and ALL debt ASAP! I thought I would share a few of the ways I have been doing that.
Now I will admit that not all of the changes we have made have been fun ones, but there are some that I have actually come to like and/or appreciate. These are the ones I will share with you from time to time. The first one I am going to share is the most recent. Are you ready for this? I made my own laundry detergent. Yep. Rich and I actually made it together and I will go so far as to say that it was actually kind of fun. Rich totally digs this kind of stuff. One time (just for fun) he tried to make batteries using only water. Yeah, I don't get it either, but to each his own, right?
Anywho. I admit that I probably would have never tried this if I had not actually tried a sample that a friend gave me and liked it. Of course, it took me about two years to get around to actually making it myself, but here I am nonetheless.
So, here is the recipe that I used. It is actually REALLY easy. The hardest part was actually finding the ingredients. Btown friends, let me know if you want to try it and I will give you a sample of what I made. Also, I can tell you where to find all the ingredients in one place instead of traipsing all over town for the various items.
1/3 bar Fels Naptha Soap
1/2 cup Borax
1/2 Cup Super Washing Soda(Arm & Hammer)
2 TBL Glycerin
2.5 Gallon Bucket
Heat 6 cups water on medium heat in a pot on the stove. Grate the bar of Fels Naptha Soap into the hot water and stir until dissolved. Add the washing soda and borax. Stir until thickened. Remove from heat. Pour into 2.5 gallon bucket. Add glycerin and fill to top with hot water, mixing well. Let stand 12-24 hours until cool and gelled. Mixture can be scented with pure essential oils. (about 12 drops for the whole recipe or divide it up into smaller amounts and experiment if you like) Shake well before each use and use 1/2 cup per load.
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10 comments:
I haven't seen the recipe with glycerin added in. What does that do?
The financial stuff isn't easy, is it? But it CAN be fun...especially when you turn the shopping into a game. I come home from the store & tell my man to guess what I paid. He's always amazed!
Well, I have to say, I am still pretty shocked at you MAKING laundry soap, but I am also highly impressed! You are awesome! I'd love to do it, but we have to use the HE detergent, so I'm not sure it it would work?
Just out of curiosity, I would love to know where all that came from.
Not committing quite yet, just curious.
I would love a sample! Did you use a scent?
I'd like to know where to get the ingredients too! I've been wanting to do that at home, but it would also save the Ronald House a ton of $$ if we did it there too!
So is it safe for the high efficiency washers? I'd hate for it to suds-up too much.
Remember the episode of The Brady Bunch where they put in too much laundry soap, and there were suds over-flowing, covering the entire laundry room??
Okay, I'm going to stop now.
hmm....i may just try this! where can you find everything?
Well, goodness. Your own laundry detergent?? That is serious, girl. How does it work? That stuff all sounds like it might just do the trick. I'm with Shelley - I have the HE stuff -- does it cut the mustard there?
You go, by the way. I will stay tuned for more tips. Like - ya know - how to just DO IT ALL. :)
way to go!!!! fpu changed our lives but i haven't done the home made detergent. i may have to give it a try. do you add scent? do you feel like it does as good of a job as other store bought detergents? how many loads does this last for you?
i'm assuming this is cheaper than buying a $13.99 container of kirland from costco?
how many loads can you wash?
nonetheless it is just great that you are working together to tackle debt!
i look forward to reading more of your story.
I have been making my own laundry soap, too, only mine is all powdered. I have a HE washer and it works just fine. Here's my recipe:
http://southbreezefarm.blogspot.com/2009/07/laundry-soap.html
Love your new blog look, too!
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