Homemade Laundry Soap Recipe

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By on Dec 2nd, 2012

Avoid the harsh chemicals of conventional laundry detergent, and save a considerable amount of money from every load! With this laundry soap recipe you will spend pennies on the dollar to have an effective laundry soap (not a detergent) capable of cleaning some pretty difficult stains.  (Tip: Use this in conjunction with the Homemade Fabric Softener Recipe)

These instructions make a single batch which is approximately 2 gallons (64 loads). Recipe may be doubled.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 Bar of Fels Naptha soap (you can replace this with any other bar soap, the less chemicals and more organic the better).
  • 1/2 Cup of Washing Soda
  • 1/2 Cup of Borax
  • Water
  • Essential Oils (about 1/2 oz. to 1 oz.) for a desired scent (not required) - DO NOT use soap scents as they will ruin your batch.

Amount of ingredients may be adjusted depending on your own preference. For example, some people prefer to use 1/3 bar of Fels-Naptha instead of 1/2 bar, etc.

Other items Needed

  • Cheese Grater / Hand Grater (to shred the soap)
  • Large Wooden Spoon (to stir the mixture)
  • Bucket with Lid (to store the soap) – 5 gallon bucket from hardware store is fine
Directions
  1. On your stovetop, place grated soap in a large pan with 6 cups of water and heat until the soap melts.
  2. Add washing soda and borax and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat.
  3. In your storage bucket, pour 4 cups hot water. Add soap mixture and stir well, then add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir again until mixed well.
  4. Put the top on the bucket. Let the soap sit for about 24 hours; it will congeal into a gel.
  5. Stir the soap before each use. Use ½ cup per load (a little more or a little less depending upon how soiled your laundry is).

Please note: This is a low-sudsing soap, so you will not see bubbles or suds in the water.  The suds aren’t what do the cleaning – it’s the ingredients!

Homemade Fabric Softener Recipe

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By on Dec 2nd, 2012

Soften your towels and clothes for a level of comfort at a fraction of the cost of conventional, store-bought fabric softener.  Use this in conjunction with the Homemade Laundry Soap Recipe and you’re saving a considerable amount!

The process of making your own homemade fabric softener only takes a couple minutes!


Ingredients

Directions

Pour all ingredients, except essential oils, into an appropriate container and stir the mixture thoroughly until fully combined. Do NOT shake the mixture. Add the essential oils if desired and stir again to your liking.

Usage

To use, simply add approx. 2 oz to the rinse cycle of your wash.

Expired Food – Keep It or Toss It?

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By on Aug 16th, 2012

StillTasty.com is a great resource for getting average shelf life times for virtually any food item you can imagine.  A search allows you to iron down the details to get more specific based on what the items are stored in, and with. Every result has tips regarding storage temperatures, and things to look for that may alert you to be concerned about the item in question.

Check out StillTasty.com

Global Disaster Live Map and Database

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By on Aug 14th, 2012

The RSOE EDIS (Emergency and Disaster Information Service) is a live map that shows current events around the globe, with instantly updated information pertaining to major events.  Everything from “Earth approaching objects” to Volcano Activity, Tornado Reports, Tracking Hurricanes, Wind Damage Reports, Wild Fires, Airplane Crashes, Mass deaths of animals, Epidemic Hazards, and a lot more.

It is amazing to see all of the events that occur globally every day that you don’t typically hear about!  Be sure to scroll down and check out all the details, and (my favorite part) check out that “Earth approaching objects” section which shows objects expected to come near or collide with earth within the next 30 days!

Check it out Here

How To Dry Fresh Herbs

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By on Aug 12th, 2012

Growing and drying your own herbs is very rewarding, and will save you money considering many store bought herbs can be pretty expensive.

When drying your herbs start with fresh cuttings, and always remember to wash them off well before starting the drying process of your choice! You never know what kind of little “presents” birds or other little critters decided to leave!  For some reason, I occasionally forget to do this, and it can be quite frustrating to realize this after the fact!

Herbs are considered dried completely once leaves crumble easily and the stems should crack in half when bent.

Once your herbs are dry, store them in airtight containers that are labeled and dated, as they are best used within a year. Place them in a cool, dry place away from sunlight.

Hanging Herbs – Air Drying

Hanging herbs is my preferred method simply because it is the easiest, and doesn’t require the use of electricity, or any special contraptions.  Simply bundle and tie the stalks together and hang them in a well ventilated, warm, dark area. Some people prefer to stick them in paper bags with the stalks poking out, but I find that sometimes they don’t dry as fast.

It is important to know that some of the thicker, higher moisture content herbs such as various mints, tarragon, basil, lemon balm, bay leaf, and oregano will mold if they are not dried quickly.  With those especially, I suggest the air drying (without the paper bag) approach.  It will also help to have them in smaller bundles so airflow and drying can occur quickely.

Drying Herbs with a Dehydrator

Drying herbs in a dehydrator is a pretty quick process taking anywhere from 2 -4 hours, mostly depending on what type of herbs you are drying. Sometimes I do resort to this method if I have a lot of high moisture content herbs to dry to avoid any potential mold issues.

Drying Herbs in an Oven

To dry herbs in an oven, place your herbs flat on a cookie sheet or aluminum foil and heat them for 2 – 4 hours with the oven on Bake at 180 °F.  Be sure to leave the oven door cracked open to allow some airflow.  Check often and consider flipping them over on occasion.

Drying Herbs in a Microwave Oven

While microwaving is the quickest option, I absolutely do NOT recommend this method.  Microwaving herbs kills the nutrient and mineral content, dulling the flavor, and eliminating the oils.  Therefore eliminating the great nutrient and medicinal qualities they have to offer.