Is Making Your Own Laundry Detergent Worth the Cost?

by Briana Carter on April 2, 2013

Recently I added a Tipton Library educational program on Spring Cleaning. Some of the many tips that were compiled was making your own cleaners. I’ve been trying out several of the recipes and will be sharing them here on the blog. All of the ones I will share will be easy to make, work as well or better than store bought cleaners, and will save you money.

DIY Laundry Detergent Ingredients

This recipe claims to be a year’s worth of laundry detergent. Time will tell for our household of six if this does last us a year.

  • 1 box Borax – $3.38
  • 3 bars Fels-Naptha Soap – $0.97/each = $2.91
  • 1 box Washing Soda – $3,24
  • 2 cups Baking Soda – $0.56 (8 cup box costs $2.24)
  • 1  containers of Oxyclean  - $7.52
  • Fabric softener crystals (optional) – $5.99 on sale at Meijer

Total Cost: $23.60

Use 1 – 2 tablespoons per load of laundry. If you have a HE washing machine, put directly in with your laundry. I haven’t had any issues with my laundry or my washing machine do so.

So if I did my math correctly, this makes this laundry detergent around $0.07 per load. For comparison purposes, Amazon sells Tide with Downy powder detergent for $17.90. This makes 53 loads or $0.33 per load! If you used coupons or bought an inexpensive brand, you could save even more on your store bought detergent.

Looking at these numbers, making your own at home seems to have significant savings and it takes less than 30 minutes to make. The part that took me the longest was going to the store and finding the ingredients. Walmart seems to have everything you need. The Meijer I went to first, did not have the Fels-Naptha or Zote, which you can use in lieu of the Fels-Naptha. The Walmart I did visit only had a 5-6 bars of Fels-Naptha left even in their store.

You can hand grate the Fels-Naptha soap or you can use a food processor or a Ninja Kitchen Prep like I did. Be careful using your food processor because I’ve read that some people have ruined their food processors trying to do this. The Ninja Kitchen Prep handled it with ease, though! :)

kitchen prep

Several pulses with my Ninja and it looked like this….

crumbled

Note: I rinsed with hot water several times before putting in the dish washer. It doesn’t have a soapy taste to it at all. In fact, it looked cleaner than it has for awhile! LOL

After that is done, mix all the other ingredients together in a large container or use a kitchen trash bag if you don’t have a large container.

add soap

Sof helping

add unstoppables

pretty

Then you can put it in smaller containers for your laundry room. I used a ice cream bucket that I knew I was saving for a reason.

diy laundry detergent in container

 

I purchased several measuring cups and spoons for $1 and I”m using the tablespoon to measure out for the detergent.

detergent

Print
Is Making Your Own Laundry Detergent Worth the Cost?

Is Making Your Own Laundry Detergent Worth the Cost?

Ingredients

  • 1 box Borax
  • 3 bars Fels-Naptha soap
  • 1 box washing soda
  • 2 cups baking soda
  • 1 container Oxyclean
  • 1-2 containers of fabric softener crystals

Instructions

  1. Grate Fels-Naptha soap.
  2. Combine all the ingredients together.
  3. Use 1-2 tablespoon per load.
http://bargainbriana.com/is-making-your-own-laundry-detergent-worth-the-cost/

Find more DIY Household Cleaners and Spring Cleaning and Organizing posts.

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{Spring Cleaning} Decluttering the Linen Closet

by Briana Carter on March 28, 2013

Linen Closet DeclutterI’m slowly decluttering my house! This area focused on the upstairs linen closet, which was a mess with towels and blankets just stuffed in the closet. It still could use a little work but I’m happy with the room I was able to make in this closet.

What I did: 

  • Removed all the nasty and torn bath towels. These can be used as rags and will be stored in a container in the garage.  Plus, the kids had way too many towels they were using at a time, which clogged up their laundry baskets and I think has caused them not to re-use their towels as often. Less towels hopefully equals less laundry! 
  • Removed unused sheets and comforters. We had quite a few extra comforters in the closets, which were just taking up space. I have a hard time parting with stuff but it’s not worth it to keep these items around if it’s just cluttering up areas. I was able to sell quite a few sets of sheets and comforters on the Facebook garage sale boards in my local area. Made a little extra cash while cleaning out this area!
  • Top shelf is sentimental blankets and quilts that I can’t get rid of! These include items made by grandmas, aunts, and great-grandmas including a few things that belong to my husband and I when we were babies. Top shelf so they are out of the way.

Read more on the Decluttering Your Home: Start Small, Really Small series as well as reading the most recent decluttering posts as part of my Spring Cleaning!

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The Best Homemade Shower and Tub Cleaner

by Briana Carter on March 26, 2013

Shower and Tub Cleaner

When I visit my dentist office, I not only get great dental care, I come home with cleaning tips for my home! Somehow we got talking about homemade cleaners and Mindi told me about this great trick she found on Pinterest for cleaning your tub and shower. It really works and I know many of you can find cheap or free Dawn dishwashing detergent to use with this homemade cleaner.

Print
The Best Homemade Shower and Tub Cleaner

The Best Homemade Shower and Tub Cleaner

Double or Triple this recipe for a larger tub or shower!

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup vinegar
  • 1/2 cup Dawn detergent - blue bottle
  • spray bottle

Instructions

  1. Warm vinegar in microwave for 90 seconds.
  2. Combine vinegar and Dawn in spray bottle.
  3. Spray on your shower or tub.
  4. Let sit for 1-2 hours. (Time to play Candy Crush!)
  5. Wipe clean.
http://bargainbriana.com/the-best-homemade-shower-and-tub-cleaner/

Find more DIY Household Cleaners and Spring Cleaning and Organizing posts.

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50+ Easter Egg Decorating Ideas

by Briana Carter on March 24, 2013

50 Easter Egg Ideas

Photo Credit: Flickr via Willow Gardeners

Did you know there is an unlimited amount of ways you can decorate Easter Eggs? Personally, I have a hard time even getting around to doing a basic dying of eggs for the holiday. I do think these ideas are all super cute. I’ve pinned over 50 of my favorite Easter Egg Decorating Ideas to this Pinterest Board. I’ve also compiled the links to the sites directly below.

View more on my 50+ Easter Egg Decorating Ideas Pin Board!

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Shaklee 180 Program: What I Eat on the Program

by Briana Carter on March 22, 2013

I completed my first Shaklee vlog. There is always room for improvement but please be patient with my vlogging skills. I HATE, HATE to watch myself or listen to my own voice, which I why I never watch myself when I do a news segment. AND, I always say, when I lose weight, I’ll do more vlogging…the time is now folks….

Read more about my fitness and weight loss journey as well as specific posts with the Shaklee-180 program.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post as part of the Shaklee Corporation blogger program. I have received free products, online support and incentives for participating. My opinions are my own. People following the weight-loss portion of the Shaklee 180™ Program can expect to lose 1-2 pounds per week. This Post was written by me and was not edited by the sponsor.  Read more on my Disclosure Policy.

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Decluttering Your Home: Start Small, Really Small

by Briana Carter on March 21, 2013

Decluttering

It’s spring time and many of us are thinking of spring cleaning and organizing. I feel like I live in a house full of clutter. I feel overwhelming evening thinking of where to start! Anyone else feel like this?

I read Amy Clark’s book The Good Life for Less and one of her tips, which is so simple, is to start small – really small. Taking this advice, I created a list of over 40 very specific areas to declutter knowing when I have a little extra time, I can work on these areas and feel like I’ve accomplished something by crossing even the smallest task off my list. The list seems extremely long right now but I know with time it will diminish.

Part of my organizing issue is once I get started or I’m in the mood to organize and clean, I can’t stop. So a simple task of cleaning out the junk drawer will lead me to the laundry room which will lead me to cleaning out behind the laundry to cleaning out the washing machine and then my day is gone and I have messes everywhere. My style of decluttering is it has to get worse because it gets better so I will have piles around the house trying to organize where items go or a giveaway pile or even a pile of lost and found items from friends and family.

My Decluttering Plan: 

  • Create a list of small steps.
  • Complete at least one small step on the list daily.
  • Reuse, recycle, donate, sell, or giveaway items I find within one week.
  • Spend 10 minutes a day ensuring the areas I have already decluttering do not get cluttered again.

This is exactly what happened to me on Sunday when I started this list. I got distracted but I was able to accomplish quite a bit on my decluttering list.

Here’s My Start Small, Really Small List:

  1. Junk Drawer
  2. Silverware Drawer
  3. Utensil Drawer
  4. Plasticware Cabinet
  5. Pantry
  6. Drawers beside stove
  7. Pan Cabinet
  8. Spice Cabinet
  9. Medicine Cabinet
  10. Coffee Cabinet (Just my description of the area  - there is WAY more than coffee in that cabinet!)
  11. Dishes & Glass Cabinet
  12. Island Cabinet
  13. Hall Closet (Done)
  14. Bathroom Drawers and Cabinet Half Bath (Done)
  15. Bathroom Drawers Master Bath
  16. Cabinets in Master Bath
  17. Bathroom Drawers Boys Bath
  18. Books in Living Room
  19. DVDs in Living Room
  20. Wine Cabinet
  21. Wii Games in Living Room
  22. Shelves in Office
  23. Cabinets in Office
  24. Master Closet (My Side)
  25. Master Closet (His Side)
  26. Master Drawers (Mine)
  27. Master Drawers (His)
  28. Master Under the Bed (Incentive: I’m sure I’ll find a ton of lipbalms hiding under there!)
  29. Sofia’s Closet
  30. Sofia’s Drawers
  31. Sofia’s Toy box
  32. Sofia’s Toy Stand Organizer
  33. Sofia’s Books
  34. Boy’s Closet (Major Project)
  35. Nightstand
  36. Laundry Room Above W&D
  37. Laundry Room (Drawers under W&D) – Done
  38. Laundry Room Cabinets – Done
  39. Laundry Room Shoe Area – Done
  40. Upstairs Linen Closet – Done
  41. Sock Basket – Done
  42. Baskets on top of Washer & Dryer

I’m sure I’ll be adding items to this list as time goes on. Hopefully, once I cross the item off, it stays decluttered until at least I finish the entire list.

{ 2 comments }

DIY Dishwasher Detergent Recipe

by Briana Carter on March 19, 2013

DIY Dishwasher Detergent

Recently I added a Tipton Library educational program on Spring Cleaning. Some of the many tips that were compiled was making your own cleaners. I’ve been trying out several of the recipes and will be sharing them here on the blog. All of the ones I will share will be easy to make, work as well or better than store bought cleaners, and will save you money.

The recipe of dishwashing detergent is very simple with just three ingredients: Borax, baking soda, and unsweetened lemon Kool-Aid packets. If you can find citric acid, you can use that instead but it’s easier to find and probably cheaper to use the packets.

Mix together and use 2 tablespoons per dishwashing load. Use 1 tablespoon if you are only doing half a load. I’m finding my dishes are just as clean if not cleaner than they were when using the packets.

I even used my old tablet container to store my new mix in, which saves money on not having to buy a new container. I picked up a few sets of measuring spoons for just $1 for each set at the Deal$ store.

DIY Dishwasher Detergent in Container

I wrote in Sharpie on the top of the container the instructions so when the kids use the dishwasher, they will know exactly what to measure out.

instructions

So easy!

dishwasher mix

It cost around $8 for all of the ingredients but I didn’t even use half of the box of borax or baking soda! Be sure to pick up those lemonade packets when they go on sale for 10 for $1!

Print
DIY Dishwashing Detergent

DIY Dishwashing Detergent

Ingredients

  • 2 cups borax
  • 2 cups baking soda
  • 4 packets of unsweetened lemon Kool-Aid OR use 1/2 cup citric acid

Instructions

  1. Mix together and store.
  2. Use 2 tablespoons per load in your dishwasher compartment.
http://bargainbriana.com/diy-dishwasher-detergent-recipe/

Find more DIY Household Cleaners and Spring Cleaning and Organizing posts.

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Under $10 Easter Centerpiece Idea

by Briana Carter on March 16, 2013

Easter centerpieceThis centerpiece is super easy to make and just under $10 for the project!

Here’s What You Will Need:

  • 6-7 bags of Crazy Candy Company Assorted Jelly Beans @ $0.69 ($4.14 – $4.83)
  • Easter Grass from Deal$  - $1
  • Easter Eggs on Sticks from Deal$ – $1
  • Glass Vase from Deal$ – $1
  • Square Platter – from home (cost around $1.99 at Target)

Method:

  1. Simply layer the glass container of your choice with jelly beans.
  2. Top off the layered glass container with decorations of your choice.
  3. For extra fun I added in a package of Choceur chocolate eggs from ALDI for just an extra $1. 

The fun part about this centerpiece is it is mostly edible and you can reuse the glass containers. It took me less than 30 minutes to create this centerpiece. The kids loved it and they could be very helpful in sorting the jelly beans.

Easter Jelly BeansI had also purchased a small square container at the Deal$ store for just $1 and wanted to do something fun with it. So I added the remaining Choceur chocolate eggs to that container and topped with the package of Choceur bunnies and ducks I had purchased for just $1/each!

Choceur BunniesThe finished complete centerpiece with the additions looks like this….

Aldi Centerpiece

 

Seriously so cute and so gone in two days!

ALDI Choceur Bunnies

I’m not the most creative person but this project was super easy for even me to create and less than $10 to create!

A gift certificate was provided for ALDI for me to gather these materials. Rest assured, this Post was written by me and was not edited by the sponsor. Read more on my Disclosure Policy.

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