Homemade Fabric Softener

I got this great recipe from my good friend Tricia over at The Money Badger.  I don't think she has posted this great recipe so I am on it!  I've been making my own laundry soap for a while now and was wondering about fabric softener.  I am a self proclaimed Downy-aholic.   I had a stock pile so I didn't try this recipe out until recently.  It is really simple.

What you'll need:  

2 cups hair conditioner

3 cups vinegar

6 cups hot water

I used Suave conditioner that I got free at Walgreens.  My dear Tricia informed me that the conditioner in hair conditioner is the same in clothes fabric softener.  

Vinegar I also bought with coupons.  Vinegar is a natural softener.  

Mix your hot water and conditioner until the conditioner is diluted.  Use some of your hot water to rinse out your bottle.  Then stir in vinegar.

That's it! 

I used an old Downy container to store my fabric softener.  

My clothes come out nice and fresh.  The scent is rather light.   You can add a fragrance if you like.  I would use a fragrance free conditioner and then add a couple drops of your favorite fragrance oils.   Tricia uses the clean cotton fragrance.  I have not invested in a fragrance oil yet but I will. 

Total cost:  about $.30 that I paid for the vinegar. 

I found that you should shake it up before each use.  

Homemade dishwasher detergent

This is so easy you will wonder why you haven't done this before.
The old stand-bys are in this recipe.  Arm and Hammer Washing Soda and 20 Mule Borax.   These 2 things are in so many homemade cleaners.

1 cup washing soda
1 cup borax
1/2 cup kosher course salt
1/2 cup citric acid.  I used Lemi Shine (found at Walmart right next to dishwasher detergents).

Mix all ingredients in a bowl.  Store in an airtight container.  You may have some clumping.  Use a silica packet that is found in so many things such as aspirin to help control clumping.
Use 1 tablespoon per load.
You can also use white vinegar instead of jet dry for spot free dishes.
It is Dad approved.

Thanks Dad for the revised recipe and the research :)

UPDATE:

I've used my dishwasher detergent a couple times now.  No problems.  Dishes come out nice and clean.  The Lemi Shine gives it a nice lemon scent.   I did mention that there would be some clumping.   Mine seems to be one big clump.
Which gave me a great idea.  I think the next time I make this I will spoon my dishwasher detergent into ice cube trays.  Since the mixture hardens together it should hold it's shape.  Making your very own dishwasher detergent cubes.

Homemade Sugar Scrub

Homemade Sugar Scrubs 

I have seen lots of different ideas for this including using olive oil. 

After trying all a couple recipes I decided if I was going to do 

this I might as well invest in some better oils.  

Sweet Almond oil is a great base for sugar scrubs.

I also add Jojoba oil and glycerine and a coconut fragrance oil.

You can also use coconut oil.  I wouldn't use this as your main oil because it 

is a solid oil.  You have to melt it and it will re harden.

I have also used Dr Bronner's Castile liquid soap for the fragrance.  

Whatever you choose to use the basic recipe is the same.

Use 2/3 sugar to 1/3 oil mixture.
I start by putting 2/3 cup of sugar in my container.
Then measure out 1/3 cup of oils.  I looked into glycerine and
found out it's great for your skin so I add that in with my oil.
Add a couple drops of fragrance oil or Dr Bronner's Castile Soap.
I love using the peppermint soap with this.  It makes a great
peppermint foot scrub.
I use 1 cup ziploc containers.  You can also dress this up by putting in jars.

I found all of my oils on Amazon.  

Homemade laundry soap

I have heard of many people making their own laundry soap lately  I first heard of it from my father. He has been making liquid soap for years.  I looked into it but being that I had a stock pile of laundry soap I never followed through. Then I found a powdered recipe.
It is so simple and it is great for people with sensitive skin.  And it works!


What you need:

1 cup of bar soap.  Ivory or Fels Naptha.
1/2 cup borax
1/2 cup washing soda

You can grind your soap up many ways.   Use a box grater, a food processor, or my way.   I use the ninja blender the hubs got me for Christmas.   I'm sure this isn't what he had in mind but it works great!

Mix all ingredients.
Store in an air tight container.
Use 1 to 2 tablespoons per load.



As far as costs..
The washing soda costs $3.25
Borax :  approx $9  ( I haven't bought it in a while)
Ivory:  Less than $1 with coupons.

I've made many batches of this laundry soap and still haven't had to replace the borax or the washing soda.  It will cost you pennies a load!

Homemade Household Cleaner. This stuff is amazing!

Today I just have to share my all time favorite household cleaner.  I first learned of this from my friend Brittany's site .thetruckerwife.com.
To make your own household cleaner you need 3 things.
Vinegar,
washing soda (found in the laundry detergent aisle),
and Dr Bronner's Castille soap.

I found the castille soap on Amazon and at Vitacost.  Found HERE on Amazon.  You can use any scent you like but make sure you get liquid castille soap.


I bought new spray bottles at Sam's for a dollar a piece.

Take all ingredients and mix in your spray bottle:
1 tsp washing soda
1 tsp Dr Bronners liquid castille soap
3 Tablespoons vinegar
2 cups hot water  


Your mixture will foam up a bit at first.  shake well.

I made this the first time thinking how can this possibly work?!  I mean, come on, there is basically no cleaner in there at all.  Boy was I surprised when it worked better than the expensive cleaners.
To put it to the ultimate test, I took it to work.  I sprayed the hood and literally wiped it off with a towel.  Normally,  I would have to scrub it with harsh de greaser.
I was amazed.  It costs me pennies to make after your initial investment.  The Bronners soap goes a long way when you consider that you are using only a teaspoon per bottle.
I love it because it is cheap and works so much better than other cleaners.  I bought some tea tree oil to add to it because it is a natural disinfectant.
I've read not to use it on windows because it streaks but I have used it on almost everything else with great results.  Bathrooms, kitchen, floors.
I'm in love!!

btw... these cleaners can be used in a variety of other homemade cleaners.   More on that to follow..