Not really sure where to post this, so I'll just put it here. If the powers that be want to move, please do. I make my own laundry detergent (well, kinda anyway). I use 1 C Borax, 1 C A&H Washing Soda and 2 C shredded Ivory bar soap. Use only a tablespoon per load of laundry. I have found that this works better than most commercial laundry detergents, and is cheaper to boot! A box of Borax and Washing Soda are about $2.00 each and Ivory soap I think can be got for about .50 each. I have found that I usually use 2 bars of Ivory soap and a 1 1/2 cups each of Borax and WS. I've go more homemade recipies on my hard drive somewhere. I'll post them if I find them and y'all wanna see more. Thanks Ryan
To be able to paint galvanized hinges or whatever soak it in vinigar for a while, the acid in it will etch the galvanization and it will hold paint. yeppers keep the homemade suff comming.
There is a recipe section somewhere on the forum. No pointers from here, browsing is too much fun for me to deprive you of it. Originally intended for eatin' stuff, but I can't see any reason not to expand it. Keep 'em comin' --
Here's all I can find right now, there may be more somewhere on my harddrive you can find more at www.homestretcher.com & http://www.recipegoldmine.com/house/house.html Window cleaner: 2 cups alcohol (half of one of the tall 32 oz bottles you can get in walmart or target) 1/2 cup ammonia 1 cup water I mix it in an old generic window cleaner spray bottle ======================================================== LIQUID LAUNDRY DETERGENT 1 Bar Fels Naptha soap 1 cup of Arm and Hammer Washing Soda 1 cup of BORAX 1/2 cup Dawn (or any liquid dishsoap) In a saucepan heat 4 cups water and the grated Fels Naptha soap. Stir over medium heat until the soap is dissolved. DO NOT BOIL! Pour 3 gallons HOT water into 5 gallon bucket. Add soap mixture. Add other ingredients and stir until dissolved. Use 1/4 - 3/4 cup per load ======================================================== Powder laundry detergent 1 cup Fels Naptha or Ivory bar soap (1 bar, grated finely, allow to dry overnight) 1/2 cup washing soda 1/2 cup borax Mix and stir in lidded container. For lightly soiled loads, use 1 TBS. For heavily soiled loads use 2 TBS. Estimated cost: $1 for 32 TBS ======================================================== "Tide w/ Bleach" alternative: Homemade "Tide with Bleach" or whatever 2 bars Fels, finely grated 8 cups washing soda 4 cups borax 4 cups powdered all-color bleach ======================================================== "Oxyclean" Homemade Oxypower Spray - for those who like oxiclean and oxypower 1 Qt hydrogen peroxide a generous squirt of handwashing dish soap in a sparay bottle ========================================================= All Purpose Cleaner All-purpose Cleaner and Disinfectant 1 tsp borax 1/2 tsp washing soda 2 TBS lemon juice In a pint spray bottle, combine ingredients. Add 1 cup very hot water and shake to dissolve. Store indefinitely. ========================================================= Dishwasher soap Equal parts borax and washing soda Increase the washing soda if you have hard water. ========================================================= Baby wipes 1/2 roll Bounty towels, regular size, plain white (You can cut it in half with a kitchen knife and then remove the cardboard) mix: 1/8 cup baby oil 1/8 cup baby shampoo 1 1/2 cup warm water pour over 1/2 roll It fits perfitly in a "especially for baby" brand Baby Washcloths container I think they clean better then store wipes and I even wipe up the kids with them if we don't have time for a bath. ========================================================= Fruit & Veggie cleaner: I dissolve some baking soda into water and soak my veggies and fruits for about 10-15 minutes. I do this especially with grapes and strawberries.
I've tried way too many products and have found that the tried-and-true cleaners are those simple solutions that grandma used to use! I've got a solution for just about everything (just ask), but here are some for every-day problems: Spills on carpet or furniture come up easily with either Baking Soda, Borax, or Corn Starch - make a paste of them on the stain and LET SIT until it dries. Vacuum it up (or sweep it away) and the stain goes with it! Lemon Juice + water + sunshine brightens whites better than anything. Mineral Oil does wonders for wood without all of those drying agents in commercial products - and your wood looks great! If you find it's too thick, you can add lemon juice (just a touch) - which also leaves a nice scent - and put in a atomizer for quick/easy use. I find the spray bottle is the best way to evenly distribute it onto wood floors, too.
Here's one I found out... I've got two dogs and their poop tend to smell up the trash can... actually any smells in the trash can ... I've put a branch cutting or some leaves from the orange or the grapefruit tree in the cans and it neutralizes the smell.... guess citrus is a known cleaner... but it works great... I eat the oranges off the tree... and squeeze the skin into the trash can... leaves it smelling nice and citrusy.... is that a word?.. :0)
I know that using a paste of Baking Soda will help get rid of stains on a counter top as well. Things like juice stains, kool-aid stains. Just make a paste of BS and scrub the stain away. Also, (well, this one should go under first aid, but I'll put it here) if you get a bump or bruise, before the swelling and bruising starts or gets too bad, put some petroleum jelly on it. The swelling will go away the the bruising will be much less. I don't know why it works, it just does. As an example I have a nephew who fell down and hit his head, and started getting a knot on his forehead. My mom put some petroleum jelly on it and in just an hour the swelling went down and he never got a bruise. Ryan
