Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Pinerest Inspired Creation #1 - Laundry Soap


I alluded to my Pinterest addiction in my last post. Not that long ago, I had never heard of it. When I started reading about Pinterest from other bloggers, I didn't really get it, but my curiosity was peaked. So I requested an invite and waited a couple of days for it. The rest is history. Addicted is putting it mildly. I'm in love!

But as much as I love it, I have had to limit myself or I would get nothing done...which I haven't in a while, mostly for other reasons, but still, all that time spent pinning could be put to use actually making something!

I'm not going to stop pinning. The inspiration is wonderful, but I am finding balance now that the newness has worn off a bit. I found a blog that is posting 365 days of Pinterest creations. It is inspiring. I am not planning on making something everyday, but will shoot for one or two a week.

I've already made homemade laundry soap. I tried it once before, but didn't like it.  I tried the liquid version, which was a pain and took up a lot of room as it had to be stored in a 5 gallon bucket.   It called for Fels Naptha soap. I didn't like the smell and my whites started looking gray.  Also it wasn't removing odors from the clothes very well.

I recently pinned another recipe from Amanda at The Eco-Friendly Family that used Oxiclean in the mix.  It also said you could use ivory soap.  So far I'm loving it.  The smell is so fresh and clean and my whites are staying white. 

It is a dry mix which is so much easier to make. I doubled the small batch and put some of it in a blue Ball glass jar, then stored the rest in an ice cream bucket.  I also tied a measuring spoon to the the jar with a bit of twine.

Amanda suggests using a food processor to grate the soap, but for the smaller batches I'm doing, I just grate it on the fine side of my grater.  She also has a recipe for making a huge batch.  You would have to invest about $60 to make that.  I'm content to make a couple smaller batches at a time. 

Here's the recipe I used:

2 cups washing soda
2 cups borax
1 cup of oxiclean
2 bars of ivory soap, finely grated

This is a double recipe.  You can cut in in half to try it if you like.  I use a heaping tablespoonful for a normal load; a little less for a small load and a little more for a really dirty load.

There will be little or no suds with this soap. I usually put my soap in the washer and start with a little hot water in the bottom to melt the soap, swish it around a bit, then continue filling with warm or cold water.  However I've also just started with warm water, and had no problem with the soap not melting or leaving residue on the clothes. 

For the most fantastic smelling clothes use this soap, then hang them out in the sunshine.  I just love crawling into freshly washed and sun dried sheets at night!  Hope you try it...happy washday!




I've linked to these parties:

Get Your Craft On at Today's Creative Blog
Making Mondays Marvelous at C.R.A.F.T.
Inspiration Board at Homework
Great Ideas Day at Infarrantly Creative

8 comments:

  1. oh I am def going to try this one. I love that pin all natural stuff on Pinterest!!
    Tana

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  2. I have been making my laundry detergent for a couple of years now and really do enjoy it. You are right about the amount that it makes though. It really is hard to store a big 5 gallon bucket. I do transfer it into a smaller jar and refill when I need to. I also know what you mean about the whites sometimes looking a little dingier than what they should. I may need to try this recipe that you have shared.

    Question...I don't know how to get "an invitation" to pinterest. I have asked them a couple of times and don't really know what to do. Any advice...

    Hope you have a great homeschooling year. Our oldest just started at a local community college but I am still homeschooling my other two. Blessings abound....

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  3. I used to us this soap too and I loved it but with my front loader the Fels-Naptha that I used got clogged and my washer flooded, I was really bummed. I couldn't get it into small enough pieces to drain through. oh well.
    I hope you enjoyed your weekend, back to school we go!! :)
    xoxo

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  4. I'm going to have to try this. I love how you used a mason jar. I would be thrilled if you shared this project on my Inspiration Board {link party}. I know my readers would really enjoy it.
    http://carolynshomework.blogspot.com/2011/09/inspiration-board-link-party-15.html
    Thanks for the inspiration.
    carolyn | homework

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  5. I'll have to try this recipe sometime. Thanks!

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  6. We live in rural Montana. Where would we purchase washing soda?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I sent you an email, but as the anonymous commenter said below, you can purchase it at Walmart. If you don't have a Walmart, your local grocery store might order it for you. Amazon carries it it too, but for about twice the price. Good luck!

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  7. Washing soda is sold on the laundry detergent aisle at our Wal Mart. As a matter of fact, all of the ingredients to make this are all grouped together!

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