Make Your Own Laundry Soap

How to make homemade laundry soap:

First you will need the following ingredients (you can find these at your local grocery store):

1/2 Cup: Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda {not Baking Soda}

1/2 Cup: Borax

1/3 Bar of Fels-Naptha Soap {you could also use Ivory soap, but if using Ivory… use the whole bar}

Bucket {2 gallon size or larger}

Empty laundry detergent containers or bucket with lid to store detergent.

What you are going to do is: 

• Grate 1/3 bar of Fels-Naptha Soap over large pot or saucepan

• Add 6 cups of Water.
• Heat over medium-high until soap dissolves and melts.
• Add Washing Soda & Borax, and stir until dissolved.
• Remove from heat and set aside.
• Pour 4 cups Hot Water into bucket, then add Soap Mixture.
• Stir, then add 1 Gallon + 6 Cups of additional water. Stir.
  Transfer to a bucket with a lid, or pour into empty laundry detergent containers.
• Set aside, and let it sit overnight, or up to 24 hours, to thicken and gel up.
• Consistency and color will vary depending on your soap & water ~ it may be lumpy and watery… kind of like a watery gel, but it works great!
• Stir or shake before each use, as it will continue to gel.

Good job… you did it!

I have made this personally and it works really well!  You can also find out how to make homemade fabric softner by clicking HERE.

~Thanks to:  


Read more: http://thefrugalgirls.com/2010/08/how-to-make-homemade-laundry-detergent.html#ixzz1qlBYcCDZ

Cleaning The Bathroom With Vinegar

Vinegar Tips: Cleaning the Bathroom

Today I'm excited to share 6 ways to use vinegar in the bathroom!

#1 Drains: deodorize & unblock

I'm sure you've all noticed that at times the bathroom drain can stink. If you want to know what the awful smell is then you can read this post, but if you don't want to know what it it, you just want to get rid of it then here's a great tip for you. "Using a funnel, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda followed by 1 cup of white vinegar down the drain. When the foaming subsides, flush with hot tap water. Wait 5 minutes and then flush again with cold water. This will kill [the] odor-causing bacteria" without having to use any harsh chemicals.

If you're drain has been running a little slower than normal "pour in 1/2 cup of salt followed by 2 cups of boiling white vinegar. Flush [down the drain] with hot and cold tap water " {same as above}.

#2 Bathtub/Shower
To keep the bathtub/shower clean keep a spray bottle of vinegar and a sponge in the shower and spray it down every couple of days. This will eliminate the build up of bacteria and keep the shower extra shiny!

#3 Toilet Bowl

To clean the toilet bowl and get rid of that awful water ring, that's just above the water line, "pour 2 cups of white vinegar into the toilet bowl and let the solution soak overnight before flushing."

#4 Hard water spots

"To remove hard water spots from sinks, showers and baths, wipe using a cloth soaked in full-strength vinegar. Allow to stand for about 5 minutes and then rinse with water."

Another great way to stay on top of water spots is to keep a spray bottle of white vinegar in the bathroom and just before brushing your teeth, going to the bathroom, etc. spray the bathroom fixtures down with vinegar and then when you are finished brushing your teeth, etc. rinse the fixtures with cold water and dry them off with the hand towel.

#5 Jacuzzi tub

It's important to clean jacuzzi tubs and to keep the jets clean and free from bacteria and clogging. To clean a jacuzzi tub fill it up and "pour about 4 1/2 liters of white vinegar into the water." Run the vinegar/water mix through the jets for a few minutes, then drain the tub and wipe it clean.

Do this at least once a year, I recommend every 6 months as part of your Spring Cleaning and Fall Cleaning routines.

#6 Vinyl Floors

To keep vinyl floors clean scrub them with a mixture of "1/2 cup of white vinegar in a bucket of hot water." "Not only [will] this keep the floors shiny but it kills dust mites." Woo-hoo for tackling 2 tasks with one chore!

Courtesy of:  AskAnnaMoseley

Decorating Easter Eggs with Natural Colors

Source: design-decor-staging.com via Shelia on Pinterest

iMac Aquariums~Beautiful

Source: treehugger.com via Shelia on Pinterest

Here are some simple, easy tips to cleaning your baby's room:

5 Minutes to a Green, Clean Baby Nursery

As I mentioned in a previous post, Moms are willing to give up quite a lot to make sure their houses are clean. Me? I’d rather sleep. Especially with a preschooler in the house and a newborn on the way, sleep will be the difference between a functioning me and a non-stop weeping me. So with that pretty picture in mind, let me make your nursery room cleaning routine that much faster so you can spend your extra time in whatever way you like best!
Wipe Down the Wipes. The changing table is a host of grime and other unmentionables, so definitely put that one high on the list of Must Cleans. Use a solution of warm water and a bit of naturally-derived laundry detergent to wash off the pad and surrounding area. Be sure to hit the wipes and any other tubes or lotions you might touch regularly during the process.
The Joy of Toys, Part 1. I have written before about how to really clean those kid toys, but if you’ve only got five minutes, use a disposable wipe to hit the ones the baby plays with most.
The Joy of Toys, Part 2. Anything that goes into the baby’s mouth (and at this point, isn’t that everything?) should be rinsed in hot water and a mild dish soap . Make sure they’re fully rinsed and air dried before returning them for another round in the ring with your little tyke.
Wash that Sheet! A crib really only needs one fitted sheet for safety reasons, but you should make sure to give that thing a good wash in a naturally-derived detergent – and frequently. Depending on your baby’s “output,” frequently could mean every few days… or every few hours. So buy an extra sheet or two to save your sanity while you’re at it.
DIY Diaper Pail. If that pail really was a genie, you wouldn’t have to clean it at all now, would you? And yet, here we are. The easiest and fastest way to clean a diaper pail inside and out is to make quick work of the task with a disposable – and compostable! – wipe.
Okay, you’re done. And the baby is still asleep! Go get some Zzzzzz’s yourself with your remaining four minutes of free time. Or better still, update that Facebook status, down a sandwich or call your Mom. So many options – enjoy!



Green Works Cleaners

Bamboo or Bust

If you are looking for new decor for the bathroom, this would be great!  Bamboo is eco-friendly and looks awesome!

Source: goodhousekeeping.com via Shelia on Pinterest

Making your own Spring Garden

5 Tips on How to Start a Family Garden this Spring!

Switch Up Your Suds

Source: ivillage.com via Shelia on Pinterest

Easy Ways to Be Green: Switch Up Your SudsWhen you suds up with shower gel, you’re left with an empty plastic bottle, and many communities don’t have the facilities to recycle these. Try swapping your shower gel with super-low-waste soap, preferably from a hand-cut bar or with recyclable paper packaging.