There’s something simple about feet. We all have them. And you could be the richest person in the world; own private jets, islands, harems of cats…but you still have to take your shoes off at the end of the day to reveal hairy toes, ingrown nails and bunions.
You might have gnarly feet that never see the light of day for fear of banishment from society, or hairy feet that could use a good razor-ing that you proudly display throughout the summer. Or you could be hiding the fact that you haven’t done your toenails in weeks and so you wear garden clogs when outdoors.
I’ve noticed that feet are peculiar things. I’ve seen small feet on big men-my Grandpa wears a size 10 and he’s 6’2″. I’ve seen huge feet on little cats. It seems feet know no boundaries and they are no respecter of persons.
Regardless of what type of feet you have-cute pudgy ones, big hairy ones or small normal ones and whether or not you tend to them frequently, they are still going to stink if you forgo socks.
And they are still going to bleed if you run to far. I think feet have a way of keeping us all humble-hairy or not.
Once again, I will be LIVE on Fox23’s “Great Day, Green Country” this morning discussing my recipes for Homemade Laundry Products. Each of the recipes are easy to make and fit my frugal (cheap) lifestyle.
If any of the people at Fox23 ever read my blog, they would realize what a nervous, sweaty and dorky mess I am when I’m on air. That might deter them from another invitation. So, let’s just keep this information our little secret, shall we?
Here’s the video from this morning. Be kind…. Here are the links to my first and second appearances on Fox23.
This morning, I highlighted Homemade Laundry Soap, Laundry Softener and Stain Stick, which I will briefly outline for you here.
If you click on the recipe titles, the links will take you to a more in-depth and pictorial step-by-step tutorial for each recipe. Also, these more in-depth tutorials offer printable recipes at the end of the posts.
(I also have a few links at the bottom of this post with more Homemade Household Cleansers, Homemade Beauty Products and Yummy Food Recipes.)
Easy, Homemade Laundry Soapmakes 48 loads
1 Bar (14 oz) Fels-Naptha, Zote Soap or Ivory Soap
2 C Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (make sure it says “Super Washing Soda”)
2 C Borax
Blender/Food Processor
Cut the soap into manageable chunks and grind in a food processor or blender. In a large bowl, combine the soap, Super Washing Soda and Borax. Stir until mixed. Store in an airtight container. Use 1/8 cup for a normal load, 1/4 cup for a dirty load.
Homemade Laundry Softenermakes about 6 Cups
Here’s all the you’ll need to make your own Laundry Softener:
Container
1 Cup of Baking Soda
6 Cups of White Vinegar
(8 drops of Essential Oil if you are worried about the vinegar smell in your house. There will not be a vinegar smell on your clothing.)
Pour the 1 Cup of Baking Soda into your container. Slowly add the vinegar a little at a time. It will fizz and bubble up. Allow it to recede and then add a little more. Add the essential oils if desired. I’m cheap so I skip this step. Allow the detergent to breathe for a little while (5 minutes or so) before capping it. Add about 1/2 Cup of this mixture to your laundry’s rinse cycle or in the detergent reservoir if you have one.
Homemade Stain Stickmakes about 3.5-4 oz
Here’s all that you’ll need to make your very own Stain Stick:
1/6 of a Fels-Naptha Soap Bar
1/7 of a Kirk’s Castille Soap Bar
3 TBS Water
1 clean, recycled Deodorant Tube (about 3.5-4 oz)
Blender
Small Saucepan
Spatula
Slice about 1/6 off of the Fels-Naptha Bar and 1/7 off of the Castille Bar. Cut into smaller chunks and transfer to blender. Finely grind the soap. Transfer the soap particles to a small saucepan and turn the heat to medium-low. Add the 3 TBS of water and stir. When the soap has become a thick paste, remove from heat and let slightly cool. While the paste is still slightly warm, use a spatula to transfer the mixture into the empty deodorant tube. Let cool completely before placing the cap on.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • •
I hope you have enjoyed these recipes! It may seem overwhelming at first to rid your home of toxins and store-bought everything. And maybe you don’t want to make these products, but would like the benefits of non-toxic products in your home without going broke. I have found some simple solutions to replace the things that I cannot make/don’t want to make myself by purchasing them from a non-toxic green company online. Without directly endorsing them, if you are interested in knowing more, Feel free to email me with questions.
Here are links to my other Homemade Household Cleansers and Beauty Products:
Good-bye store bought stain stick. Hello, non-toxic, good smelling, homemade Stain Stick!
For most of this past year, I have been ridding my home of toxic chemicals by creating my own homemade products in the comfort of my kitchen, in my pj’s from time to time and usually accompanied by a glass of wine. (More of my DIY household recipes are at the bottom of this post.)
I don’t use a whole lot of stain stick, but when you need it, you need it. I came up with my own recipe that’s very simple to make, works great at removing stains, is super cheap ($.39 a tube) and smells fantastic.
Here’s all that you’ll need to make your very own Stain Stick:
1/6 of a Fels-Naptha Soap Bar
1/7 of a Kirk’s Castille Soap Bar
3 TBS Water
1 clean, recycled Deodorant Tube (about 3.5-4 oz)
Blender
Small Saucepan
Spatula
Slice about 1/6 off of the Fels-Naptha Bar and cut into smaller chunks.
Finely grind the soap up in a blender. Inhale the heavenly scent of the Fels-Naptha bar. Transfer the ground soap into the small saucepan.
Follow suit with the 1/7 of the Castille Bar Soap. Cut, chunk, grind, transfer.
Turn the burner to a medium low heat.
Add the 3 TBS of water and slowly stir the soaps as they are melting.
Once the soap is melted down to a consistency of paste, remove from heat and let slightly cool.
While the paste is still slightly warm, use a spatula to pack full the deodorant tube.
Let cool completely before placing the cap on. Use as you would any other stain stick, but do it with a little bit of cockiness knowing that you are saving some serious mula.
This recipe costs only $.39 a tube. Even the cheapest stain stick around can’t beat that price.
Here’s the financial breakdown:
1/6 of a Fels Naptha Bar ($1.50 / 6 = $.25)
1/7 of a Castile Bar ($1 / 7 = $.14)
I don’t use a whole lot of stain stick, but when you need it, you need it. I came up with my own recipe that’s very simple to make, works great at removing stains, is super cheap ($.39 a tube) and smells fantastic.
Ingredients
⅙ of a Fels-Naptha Soap Bar
1/7 of a Kirk’s Castille Soap Bar
3 TBS Water
1 clean, recycled Deodorant Tube (about 3.5-4 oz)
Blender
Small Saucepan
Spatula
Instructions
Slice about ⅙ off of the Fels-Naptha Bar and 1/7 off of the Kirk's Castille Soap Bar and cut into smaller chunks.
Finely grind the soap up in a blender.
Transfer the ground soap into the small saucepan, turning the heat to medium-low.
Add the 3TBS Water, stir frequently.
When the soap has become a paste, remove from heat and let slightly cool.
When the soap is still slightly warm and pliable, use a spatula to transfer into the deodorant container.
Let cool completely before placing the cap on top.
2.2.8
• • • • • • • • • • • • • •
I hope you have enjoyed these recipes! It may seem overwhelming at first to rid your home of toxins and store-bought everything. And maybe you don’t want to make these products, but would like the benefits of non-toxic products in your home without going broke. I have found some simple solutions to replace the things that I cannot make/don’t want to make myself by purchasing them from a non-toxic green company online. Without directly endorsing them, if you are interested in knowing more, Feel free to email me with questions.
Here are links to my other Homemade Household Cleansers and Beauty Products:
As you may know for the past year, I have been concocting my own household items with little more than what I have on hand or what I can find at the organic market. I am determined to rid my house of harmful toxins and chemicals by making my own homemade products.
(More of my DIY household recipes are at the bottom of this post.)
photo source unknown But the products must meet or exceed three important expectations for this frugal gal:
1. It must be easy to replace-no beakers or science lab experiments. Thank you.
2. It must be just as good or better than the current product I’m using and,
3. It must cost the same or less than the current product I’m using.
I thought I hit a brick wall when it came to Laundry Softener and I would have to settle for store bought. My fluffy towels are very important to me.
I began to experiment when I remembered that vinegar is not only a wonderful cleansing agent, but a water softener as well. And baking soda is not only a whitener, but it regulates the pH level in the water, cutting through the mineral deposits (which makes your clothes feel stiff). So, why not combine the two?
Here’s all the you’ll need to make your own Laundry Softener:
Container
1 Cup of Baking Soda
6 Cups of White Vinegar
(8 drops of Essential Oil if you are worried about the vinegar smell in your house. There will not be a vinegar smell on your clothing.)
Pour the 1 Cup of Baking Soda into your container.
Slowly, I REPEAT-SLOWLY-add the vinegar a little at a time. It will fizz and bubble up. Allow it to recede and then add a little more. Do not pour all at once, as I did, and watch your kitchen enjoy a nice vinegar shower. I am an idiot-was I not paying attention in science class?
Add the essential oils if desired. I’m cheap so I skip this step.
Allow the detergent to breathe for a little while (5 minutes or so) before capping it.
Add about 1/2 Cup of this mixture to your laundry’s rinse cycle (I set a timer as I start my load for about 20 minutes in to the washing cycle). Or, if you are impatient, it doesn’t hurt to add it at the same time you add your laundry soap. However, adding it to the rinse cycle will give you a little more fluff for you buck. I think that’s the saying….
This Laundry Softener leaves your clothes feeling soft and fluffy. It replaces the store bought laundry softeners that contain chemicals and perfumes, which only mask the odor. And, the best part is-it’s only about .01 per load.
I began to experiment when I remembered that vinegar is not only a wonderful cleansing agent, but a water softener as well. And, baking soda is not only a whitener, but it regulates the pH level in the water, cutting through the mineral deposits (which makes your clothes feel stiff). So, why not combine the two?
Ingredients
Here's all the you'll need to make your own Laundry Softener:
Container
1 Cup of Baking Soda
6 Cups of White Vinegar
(8 drops of Essential Oil if you are worried about the vinegar smell in your house. There will not be a vinegar smell on your clothing.)
Instructions
Pour the 1 Cup of Baking Soda into your container.
Slowly, I REPEAT-SLOWLY add the vinegar a little at a time.
It will fizz and bubble up. Allow it to recede and then add a little more until you have added all 6 Cups of Vinegar.
Add the essential oils if desired.
Allow the detergent to breathe for a little while (5 minutes or so) before capping it.
Add about ½ Cup of this mixture to your laundry's rinse cycle (I set a timer as I start my load for about 20 minutes in to the washing cycle) or place it in the softener reservoir (if you have one).
2.2.8
• • • • • • • • • • • • • •
I hope you have enjoyed these recipes! It may seem overwhelming at first to rid your home of toxins and store-bought everything. And maybe you don’t want to make these products, but would like the benefits of non-toxic products in your home without going broke. I have found some simple solutions to replace the things that I cannot make/don’t want to make myself by purchasing them from a non-toxic green company online. Without directly endorsing them, if you are interested in knowing more, Feel free to email me with questions.
Here are links to my other Homemade Household Cleansers and Beauty Products:
This site is made by Rebekah for all of you. If there is something wrong, defunct or just plain stupid, please let me know by emailing me (you can find a little contact form on the "About Me" page near the bottom).
But be careful, I do bite.
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