Suds-n-Duds {Homemade Laundry Soap and Other Adventures in Cleaning}

It's hard being a domestic goddess.  I should know because I have been one lately.  It's my other job, right after wife, mom, and 4th grade teacher.  Really, I do not know what has come over me.  The new me is dreaming up cleaning schedules to clean one or two parts of the house each day, and planning meals, and making her own cleaning products.  The new me has even missed watching some episodes of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood.  Don't tell the old me, she'll be mad!

Update: I'm now all caught up on my fave shows.  Just in case you were wondering, or concerned.  Thank you OnDemand!

With all this cleanliness (as you know, it's next to Godliness) going on, I thought I'd share my secrets that I found on Pinterest, of course (not so secret).  You can be a domestic goddess, just like me!

Here's the Homemade Laundry Soap...

You need the following ingredients, all available at Wal-Mart in the laundry aisle.  The cost is about $11.  I already had the large box of baking soda on hand at home, so the washing soda, Borax, and Fels-Naptha only cost me 7 bills, dawg. 

Grate the bar of Fels-Naptha with a cheese grater.  You can also throw it in the food processor to break it up a bit, but not necessary.  Add 1 cup of Borax, 1 cup of washing soda, and 1/4 cup of baking soda.  Stir it up, as Bob Marley says.  Use 2 tbsp. per load.


Don't worry, you'll make more than this.
We've done a few loads since I made this batch.



Looks a bit like shredded cheddar cheese in white powder.  If you don't like such big chunks of soap, put the grated soap into a food processor to break it up a bit.  It still gets the clothes clean either way.

This recipe doesn't make a ton, but at just 2 tbsp. a load, it'll go far.  Next time, I'll double or triple the recipe.  The great thing is, I will only have to buy the Fels-Naptha (only $.97 a bar).  The sodas and Borax will last me a long while, making this very inexpensive.

It gets the clothes clean (which is the point), they smell fresh, and not too shabby on stains.

And, speaking of stains, I'm still trying to get through my last bottle of OxyClean stain remover spray.  But, when that bottle is empty, my next project is homemade stain remover. Stay tuned.




I also recently went homemade with my all-purpose spray cleaner.  I LOVE this stuff.  I use it mostly in the kitchen, but it's great on glass, furniture, and in the bathroom. 

Homemade All-Purpose Spray Cleaner....

One part vinegar, one part warm water, and a few drops of tea tree oil (or any scent of essential oil, although the tea tree oil has some disinfectant qualities that I like).  Put it all in a spray bottle and you're ready to rock and roll.  This is livin'!

The vinegar is really cheap at less than $2 for a gallon size jug (found in the cleaning aisles at Wal-Mart).  The tea tree oil is pricey ($10 for a small bottle), but you only use a few drops, so it lasts a while.  Plus I use it for soap making.


And for those tough to clean areas that need a little extra, this little magic potion will change. your. life. 

Homemade Non-Abrasive Scrub

Some baking soda (now you know why I keep such a large box on hand) and some hydrogen peroxide.  Mix whatever amounts you need in a small bowl to make a paste.  Use your hand or a sponge and rub this stuff on whatever and it's like buttah.  I used the concoction on my glass-top stove.  So clean.  Not a scratch.  Hallelujah!  It's amazing on bathroom sinks, too, to get off any soap scum.  My blender got some new life breathed into with a quick cleaning with this stuff.  Looks like new, I tell ya. 




Well, there you have it.  I may sound like a real granola, but I'm lovin' the homemade cleaners!  I call it being light green.