Organic Dishwasher Detergent

I am on a month long challenge to slowly rid our house of anything with nasty chemicals and large price tags. Just recently, I shared my Recipe for Facial Moisturizer.

I am concocting my own household replacements with little more than what I have on hand or what I can find at the organic market.

But the replacements 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.

photo source unknown

If the product I create passes the final test-me using it for over two plus week to make sure it doesn’t stink-then I’ll be sharing it with you. I will break down the cost for you, provide you the recipe and give you my honest opinion of the final product.

Without further ado: here is Phase 2 of ridding my house of chemicals-Organic Dishwasher Detergent.

Although this Organic Dish Detergent isn’t as cheap as the current “Best Choice” Dish detergent I’ve been using, I can rest easy knowing I’m not putting chemicals down my drain-and it cleans my dishes better.

The “Best Choice” ends up being about $.15 per load, whereas this recipe will cost about $.25 per load. I’ll show a detailed breakdown at the end of this post.

Here’s what you’ll need to make your very own Organic Dishwasher Detergent:

4 C Liquid Castille Soap (I found mine at Whole Foods for the same price you can buy it online)
1 C White Vinegar
1 C Water
1 TBS Lemon Juice
1 tsp Tea tree oil

1 Recycled Squirt Top Bottle (I used a 55 oz Ketchup Bottle)

Start by pouring the 4 Cups of Castille, 1 Cup Water and 1 Cup Vinegar into the squirt bottle.

I recommend using a funnel.

Next, add the 1 TBS Lemon Juice.

Lastly, add 1 tsp (about 7 drops) of Tea Tree Oil.

Screw the cap onto the bottle and shake thoroughly.

Make a cute label for your detergent and store in the refrigerator. Use about 2 TBS per load.

That’s it. Pretty dang simple.

Here’s the financial breakdown:

$10 for 32 oz of Castille Soap
$2 for 32 oz of Lemon Juice
$13 for 2 oz of Tea Tree Oil
$2.40 for 1 Gallon of White Vinegar

Needed per 6 Cups/50 ounces:

4 Cups of Castille Soap= $10
1 Cup of Water= free
1 TBS Lemon Juice= $.03
1 tsp Tea Tree Oil= $2.16
1 Cup White Vinegar=$.15

TOTAL = $12.34 or $.25 load

My Detergent=$7 for 75 oz (need 3 TBS per load/49 loads)=$.15 per load

Linking up to this party, amongst others:

Eleven Questions and a Throwback to Highschool Times

One of my favorite blogs to read is The Bold Abode, written by a weirdo lady named Gwen. She is so weird, she even likes me. Or at least she puts up with me. At any rate, she invited me to do this throwback “answer-these-questions-and-pass-it-on-to-others” thingie.

I mean, who doesn’t like to talk about themselves? I think that’s the reason blogs exist, aren’t they?

Mine exists because I had to expel some creative energy when I finished a project. Oh, and also because the world needs to know about my weirdo cats and my awesome husband, Biceps. But, I’m the exception to every rule, right?

Here are the strict rules that Gwen, “The Gestapo” demanded of me and others involved in this thingie.

RULES
**You must post the rules
**Answer the 11 questions that the tagger posted for you & then create 11 questions to ask the people you’ve tagged
**Tag 11 people and link them in your post
**Let them know you have tagged them

So, here are the questions from Gwen and my answers:

1. What’s on your iPod/Mp3 player right now?
This man is always playing some little ditty at my house. I cannot live without Antonio Carlos Jobim. (Photo Source)

2. What do you do when you get stressed?
Say I’m building a shed and it’s 114 degrees out and I’ve hit my hand once again with a drill/hammer/piece of wood. And, I’m hungry and have to pee. Say that’s all happening and it might be a little stressful. That’s when I do this and goof off.

3. E-reader or good, ole, printed book?
Please, sister. Printed book, fo sho.
Especially if it’s written in ancient German. I like the challenge. (Photo Source)

4. If you could cure ONE disease, what would it be?
Cancer.

5. What is your earliest memory?
The orange carpeting in our third story apartment in Germany. It looked something like this (thanks Plaid Stallions) and my parents looked something like this back then. Life was pretty much awesome.

6. Has a movie made you want to get up and walk out of the theatre?
Oh yes-and I did. The movie “Jade”, which I knew nothing about. My date chose the movie and I wanted to look cool. But, I almost threw up in the opening scene and walked out. I had to wait in the lobby until the movie was over and he then drove me home. I was never asked out by that butt munch again-and I say, good riddance.

7. If you could have a private conversation with Madonna, what would you tell her?
I would ask her if she knew that Jesus loves her, forgives her (just like he did for me), has died for her and rose again and-that he wants her back. (Photo Source).

8. If you could have a do-over on your wedding, what would you change?
Alive Butterflies instead of dead ones being released. That would be nice…(Photo Source)

9. What would you do if Publisher’s Clearing House showed up on your front step with that super-huge check?
Pay off Sallie Mae (Photo Source) ,

pay off our rent houses and our home mortgages,

and then buy this.

10. What is your biggest flop to date?
I can’t honestly think of one. I usually cover up my flops so no one knows what a screw up I am and re-invent them into something pretty, pretending that was my intention all along. (Photo Source)

and last, but not least…

11. What’s the BOLDEST thing you’ve ever done?
I live in boldness. Just ask Biceps.

Thanks so much Gwen, for including me in this insanity. Now, here are my questions:
1. If you had to choose one over the other for the rest of your life, House Shoes or High Heels?
2. What was the worst meal you cooked and who had to eat it?
3. What was the best meal that you cooked and who got to eat it?
4. It’s a perfect 65 degrees outside, with a blue sky, the kids are at Grandma’s and you have nothing on your calendar. What do you do?
5. When was the last time you updated your bio picture?
6. What is the first concert/live show you ever attended, how old were you and who were you with?
7. What is the most embarrassing piece of clothing that you still own and wear?
8. If someone looked through your purse, what would they find?
9. When was the last time that you cursed and what was the reason?
10. What’s your greatest accomplishment in life, sans kids?
11. What famous person do you feel a kinship to-past or present?

Here are the peeps that I’m tagging:

Allison at The House of Hepworths
Molly at The Waffler
Tara at The Trendy Treehouse
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors
Leigh at Tales from Bloggeritaville
Jamie at C.R.A.F.T.
Kristen at Ladybug Blessings
Mindi at Bacon Time
Maggie at Passionately Artistic
Amy at One Artsy Mama
Julie at Just Wingin’ It

That’s it!

Happy Valentine’s Day-an Homage

Today is Valentine’s Day-obviously. And, I wanted to give an homage, not just to my husband-but to all of the men that have stayed committed husbands to their wives and fathers to their children.

To all the men that are stand-ins for photo shoots, on a hot day-thank you.

Thank you to all the men that rise early to provide for their families-and do so happily.

For the men that stay longer than they want at a beach, a mall, or a girl movie because their wife isn’t quite ready to go-thank you.

Thank you men that have chosen a lifestyle of protecting and serving others.

Thank you men, that retrieve snacks and treats for your wives because she is already seated and “snuggled in”.

To the men that honor their mothers-thank you. We know you will in turn honor your wives.

Men-you have an important role in this society. Thank you to the men that stay strong, stay focused and stay committed. Your legacy is better than money, status or fame. Instead, you will boast of a solid family, a happy marriage and a good reputation.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you!

The Fireplace Incident

I was working away in my office (my office at home-what do you think-I leave the house? HA!) when I heard a distinct thump in the living room, cat claws skidding out on the hardwood floor, a rustling of some plastic substance and then–silence.

Curious, but not unaccustomed to such shenanigans, I made my way out to find the reason for the scuffle. Nothing in the house seemed to be destroyed, knocked over or out of place-this time.

That’s when my “cat-dar” went up. After much searching, I only located a very wigged out Max, hiding on the top ledge in the bathroom.

Look at the size of those pupils.

His tail was puffed out and upon further inspection, which I later regretted-was found to be sticky and wet.

Ew.

After several minutes of calling for Bianca, this little lady greeted me by the front door.

Ms. Perfect White Pants was covered in soot, head to toe.

Now, Ms. Bianca will vacate the house and hide in the dirty chimney in order to escape one of three things:

1. Kayle’s drumming
2. Small, Noisy Children
3. An unnamed source on this day in question

And the story began to unfold….

I decided to inspect the amount of soot she must have brought down with her from a romp in the chimney, and assess vacuuming vs sweeping.

If you’ll notice, in the upper left hand corner of the fireplace, there is something protruding from the chimney.

A Wal-mart bag was hanging out of, and partially stuck inside of the chimney. I had known one of my earlier grocery bags went mysteriously missing this morning.

I’m weird that way.

Secondly, the hearth was covered in wet, sticky residue-reminiscent of Max’s tail.

Upon removing the bag, one can easily see it had been ripped to shreds.

And Bianca returned to the scene, trying to cover up whatever it was she did with her little sooty paws.

Max would not join either of us for the rest of the day. He stayed perched on his ledge, with wigged out eyes if Bianca ever entered the room.

The Nancy Drew side of me wanted to know the full story. Someone knows something-but no one was talking-to me or to each other. I will just have to chalk this up to an unsolved case.