We've Come A Long Way Baby!

Making your own laundry detergent, something that people have done for a very long time.  I remember my Grandmama washing clothes in an old wringer type washer.


photo credit Lehman's.com

I would stand there for a long time watching her wash and push those clothes through that wringer. It was so scary to me because sometimes her arm would get caught and she would have to undo that wringer to get it out.  We women sure have it so much easier now don't we?

I first saw this laundry detergent kit on Lehman's website quite a few years ago. This kit is for making liquid detergent

I did buy this clothesline kit from Lehman's and I love it.  Don't get me wrong, I have an electric dryer and this line certainly doesn't see much action but I sure is a good thing to have around. It has always been in my head since childhood playing house.  First you have the house and then you must have a clothesline to feel at home in my mind.  Fresh laundry blowing in the breeze...I love it.

 I decided to bite the bullet and make my own laundry detergent.  I found so many recipes online and intend to try some of them but for now I did try this one.

Powdered Laundry Detergent

1 cup grated Fels Napha Soap

1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda

1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax

Use 2 tablespoons for front loading machine

Use 2 to 3 tablespoons for top loading machines

I advise you to wear a mask or at least be careful not to breathe it in.

Grate the soap, I had to use my Kitchenaid grater attachment

my food processor did not do a good job of grating the soap, but it did very good chopping it fine.

excuse the mess I made

Temporary container. I am happy because I found a glass container for a very reasonable price today.

Chuck would be angry because he always tries to get me to go to Walmart with him. I won't go for some reason I am sorry but I don't care to go there. Well today I am eating my words because I found the soap ingredients and my beautiful simple covered glass container to hold the detergent, at Walmart!  There are many more recipes for liquid detergent also liquid dish detergents even recipes for the automatic dishwasher, I have always wanted to make soap and candles.  I can't wait to make them.  My girls don't know who I am..one said in amazement ,"Mama wants to know where she can find essential oils....Who is she?"  Then she said I was kind of acting like a hippie....I told her, "Well I did grow up in the 70's."

I have been researching online and found out about a very smart woman named
Leslie Reichert The Green Cleaning Coach...



I hope to have her say a few words soon about her knowledge of green cleaning products.

You might want to check out this also

Paula Deen Cleaning Tips 

Lemon A Natural Household Cleaner

Well that's some of what I have been up to this week.  What have you been up to?

Please share with us what you've been doing to make your
country home a happy place

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Dolly