Why?

Why?

So some of you who know me asked why do I have all the cleaning products(seen in the pictures of my stash) if I don't like chemicals.....well....

#1...I do use Lysol in my toilet....well because they are gross and I like them clean and I don't like to buy the expensive stuff with less chemicals and since I get that stuff for free or almost free....but I am open for other ideas???

#2...I use those items all the time in gift baskets for brides or for house warming gifts. So basically I am saying that I don't like to breath those fumes but I will give them to a new bride????? That sounds bad for sure! If you are a new bride come by and I will teach you how to save enough money so that you don't have to use those products! That is the best I can offer :)

I use Shaklee Basic H for so many things! It costs about 15-16 bucks after shipping but is so worth it! I love all their products and honestly if I could afford it I would buy a whole lot more from them but if you can only get one thing this is the one to get.

While it looks expensive it is not at all. I mix 3 drops....literal drops.... with 16oz of water and use it to clean and wipe down everything! All windows and counters, hardwood floors, walls....anything that doesn't need to be disinfected. It is great...it is extremely cost effective....no chemicals...organic material....no stinky vinegar :) 3 drops makes a great many spray bottles. I use 1 teaspoon in my homemade laundry detergent as well and I have had the same 16 oz bottle for 8 mos. I will order some next month because I only have about 2 tablespoons left.

My friend swears by the scour off paste but I haven't tried it yet....I am going to order it next month as well...I'll let you know what I think!

Homemade Laundry Soap!!??

OK......Have any of you ever watched the Duggars on Lifetime television??? I am always interested in how others save money. I have never seen the show..because we save money and don't have those cable channels :)..... but one of my friends told me about how their family makes their own liquid laundry soap. I was curious so I looked it up on the web and sure enough I found the recipe. This was my issue......with 7 of us.....laundry detergent is quite expensive! I started using the cheap stuff and our clothes started stinking...UUGG.

So I thought this seems way to simple to actually work.....will my clothes smell fresh or will they start to smell stale?? Will it get out the normal stains???? The cost is so low per recipe that I decided to give it a try. Much, much, much to my surprise it works!!!! I have been using it for 6 weeks now without any problems! Love it! What an easy way to save some cash!

Here is the low down...... total cost per recipe less than $3.....yep you saw that right less than $3.00 for so many loads!!!!!

Top Load......5/8 cup....180 loads
Front Load...1/4 cup.....640 loads

Here is how I made it:

*1 bar Fels Naptha Soap(I found this at Publix on the laundry aisle)
*1 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda...not baking soda!!!!
*1/2 cup 20 mule Borax
*1 teaspoon Shaklee Basic H( I use this stuff for EVERYTHING!! So many uses...without chemicals! Order Here) Duggars recipe does not call for this ingredient I added it because I love it!
*one 5 gallon bucket with lid

Cut up bar soap in very small pieces or grate and put it in a pot with 4 -5 cups of hot water.....turn on medium low heat and stir occasionally until soap is completely melted.

In the 5 gallon bucket combine Washing Powder, Borax and fill half way with hot tap water. Continue stirring occasionally until powders are dissolved completely. After the powder dissolves add the teaspoon of Basic H(this product is a fabulous cleaner and degreaser....it is very concentrated!) When all of the bar soap is melted add to the bucket and stir.

Add water to the top of the bucket and continue to stir. When you have is all well incorporated......put the lid on it and leave it overnight. When you open it up you will have a yellowish....semi jelly looking goo......I promise this is OK!!! Fill one of you old liquid containers half way with solution and the rest with water and shake until it is mixed....then you are ready to go.

Remember......it does not take as much of this solution as others.....measure out the amount you need....see above....If you are using your old liquid lid you may want to make a mark on the lid at the proper measure!

When you run out refill half way again...add your water and shake....make sure you get you lid back on the concentrate tightly and it will stay fresh for months! I re-stir the "goo" every time I refill. This cleaner smells fresh but it does not have a strong scent....I use a fabric softener with a strong scent because we like it! You may want to use unscented softener of none at all!!

Let me know what you think!!! I put a picture below of all the ingredients so that you will know what you are looking for!!!

Best cleaning tip ever.

My mom has been using Shaklee Basic H since I was in middle school. That was long before all the fuss about using organic, nontoxic, earth and kid friendly products. I mix up 16 oz. of filtered water in a spray bottle and put 2 drops......seriously 2 drops of Basic H and I clean windows and glass. Honestly I was looking for the math on that somewhere on their web site and it says that one 16oz bottle equals the cleaning uses of 5,824 bottles of 26 oz Windex. The member price of that is $10.35....you do the math. I buy it by the gallon because I use it for everything and 1 gallon lasts us for about a year. It is really the best degreaser on the market. I use a stronger solution 1 teaspoon per gallon to mop my hardwoods and tile floors and to clean cabinets and tables. I am telling you the stuff is amazing. Check it out here.

I thought it was kind of funny when I heard that Oprah featured it on her favorites show. I have been using it for so long because it is good and economical and it is a huge bonus to me now that I have kids because I do not like them surrounded by so many chemicals.

Love those babies!