tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26951108998478533202024-02-20T03:06:36.925-08:00Saving Money and Recipes!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695110899847853320.post-47706727054479632982012-07-28T22:30:00.001-07:002012-07-28T22:30:14.888-07:00Homemade Laundry Detergent<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 cup grated ivory soap (the pokey side of the grater works
best to make a powder)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 cup Borax<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 cup baking soda<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This recipe can be used in both HE and top loading washers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Use approximately 2 tablespoons per full load. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you find that your darks are coming out with white soap
spots on them then use a measuring cup and hot water to create a liquid
detergent before adding it to the wash. There is no need to wash in hot water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If this problem persists you may want to melt your soap
ahead of time and store it as liquid laundry soap instead. It will thicken into
a gel like substance and must be stirred or shaken. Then add 2 tablespoons of
the gel to your wash loads. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For cloth diapers I personally dump my diapers into the
washer (top load) with this mixture and hot water to soak overnight. Come
morning I run the spin cycle and the rinse. Then I add my 2 tablespoons of
detergent and wash as normal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">*If your diapers come out hard or have an odor soak
overnight in hot water with ¼ cup of vinegar, then spin and rinse and add
detergent as normal, the baking soda in the detergent will return your diapers
to the proper PH balance for your baby’s delicate skin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many people use a recipe similar to this but replace the
baking soda with washing soda. However, the washing soda can be rather caustic
and damaging to clothing, it can also cause rashes if not rinsed completely
because it does not have a PH balance that is as close to our body’s PH like
baking soda. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another trick to
saving money is to always use a rag instead of paper towel for your basic
cleaning. My rags include dishtowels, washcloths, and old t-shirts. When done,
rinse thoroughly and place your rags in their own bin or pail beside or on top
of the washer. When it is full wash your load of rags using my laundry
detergent recipe. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695110899847853320.post-33874499821421819982012-07-28T22:28:00.001-07:002012-07-28T22:28:05.665-07:00Window Cleaner<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A new trick I stumbled upon that gave me an “Aha!” moment is
to use up the old Windex, rinse my spray bottle well and purchase windshield
washer while it is on sale. If you live in a northern area like I do purchase
the -40 washer fluid.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fill you old spray bottle and wash your windows inside and
out all year long. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A bottle of windshield washer from Walmart or a bulk store
is far cheaper than the gas station, about 2 dollars for a jug, which is
cheaper than the small bottle of Windex and it can be used year round and since
you know it is for your windshield you are guaranteed a streak free shine every
time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another trick to
saving money is to always use a rag instead of paper towel for your basic
cleaning. My rags include dishtowels, washcloths, and old t-shirts. When done,
rinse thoroughly and place your rags in their own bin or pail beside or on top
of the washer. When it is full wash your load of rags using my laundry
detergent recipe. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695110899847853320.post-65300177971415983732012-07-28T22:25:00.001-07:002012-07-28T22:25:47.208-07:00Ant Problems<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">While reading the directions on a name brand ant trap I
noticed that the main ingredient was Borax, so instead of purchasing the very
expensive ant traps, I purchased a box of borax, which can be used for MANY
things. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I asked the local produce manager at my grocery store for
any rotten/bad fruit. He gave me a bag of apples.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I arrived home I mashed the apples up slightly to make
them even softer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then in the bag they came in I put approx. one cup of Borax
and shook it until the apples were well coated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then I went outside and placed the apples near ant hills,
the ants were attracted to both the Borax and the apples.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The ants carried the apples back to their hills as food, the
way the expensive ant traps claim to work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After a big rain I noticed many small ant hills in the
cracks of my sidewalk and I gently sprinkled some Borax on my sidewalk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since then I have only had to kill 2 ants in the house and
this was the beginning of June. Before I had done this I had ants all over the
house and on me, biting me in my sleep, biting my dogs and trying to take over
my house. All of the plants and grass that the Borax touched survived. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I offered this advice to a friend at the grocery store and
she sprinkled Borax where she knew the ants were entering her house and has
told me with extreme thanks that the ants are no longer a problem for her
either. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another trick to
saving money is to always use a rag instead of paper towel for your basic
cleaning. My rags include dishtowels, washcloths, and old t-shirts. When done,
rinse thoroughly and place your rags in their own bin or pail beside or on top
of the washer. When it is full wash your load of rags using my laundry
detergent recipe. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695110899847853320.post-20321713334117243372012-07-28T21:29:00.001-07:002012-07-28T21:29:27.910-07:00Homemade Air Freshener<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Homemade Air Freshening Spray<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Purchase or use a non-aerosol refillable spray bottle that
has a mist setting. Using an old cleaning bottle, like Windex, will do just
fine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Add about a quarter of an inch of mouthwash to the bottom of
your bottle and fill your bottle with water. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gently mist the air as needed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fabric Sprays<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Use a bottle similar to the one used above.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Place several drops of your favorite essential oils or
perfume to the bottle and fill with water. Gently mist your linens, rugs,
furniture etc. for a fresh smelling home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For a more organic scent use lavender or your favorite
flower pedals (I use peonies) and add them to the spray bottle. Add water which
will bring out the scent that you have chosen. You can leave the pedals in the
bottle or strain them out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mist your fabrics and the air as needed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another trick to
saving money is to always use a rag instead of paper towel for your basic
cleaning. My rags include dishtowels, washcloths, and old t-shirts. When done,
rinse thoroughly and place your rags in their own bin or pail beside or on top
of the washer. When it is full wash your load of rags using my laundry
detergent recipe. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695110899847853320.post-6869191575847411482012-07-15T13:54:00.000-07:002012-07-15T13:54:02.118-07:00Being Frugal<br />I recently posted on a "how to save money" question on a money saving website and thought I would post here my writing on ways to save money.<br /><br />Make the initial investment (because thats what it is) in bins that seal well and fill your pantry with bulk items like flour and sugar (both can go in a big bin and stay fresh) buy bulk spices and pasta's. Use powdered milk so you can run to the store less often, powdered milk can be used in most recipies the same as other milk, if your recipe calls for a cream use condensed milk, if you want whole fat milk use condensed milk and add water. The savings are immense and having a full pantry and spending a few extra minutes at home preparing these things keeps you out of the store. Preparing food from scratch is expensive for the initial ingredients but when you realize you are making bread for 50 cents a loaf instead of the dreaded 3+ dollars that most stores charge you realize just how important those ingredients can be. If you dont know how to cook from scratch there are MANY websites that offer free scratch recipies. <br /><br />For most cleaning tasks you can use old rags and not paper towel, you can make your own laundry soap with borox, washing soda and a bar of grated soap for only pennies on the dollar. <a href="http://theprudenthomemaker.com/">http://theprudenthomemaker.com</a> has many recipes for a lot of these ideas.<br /><br />Borox has been arround forever, add some to a wash pale with hot or warm water and clean your cabinets, walls and most furniture. It has directions on the side of the box for "other uses". The only "neccessary" cleaners for your home are bleach, borox, dishsoap and ammonia (for cleaning glass).<br /><br />If you have an infant breastfeed if you can, if you cant, buy the store brand of formula because it is cheaper and it has to, by law, meet the nutritional requirements for your infant. Use the powdered formula instead of premade or liquid that you add water too because powdered is far cheaper. Use cloth diapers, this is not only a very simple thing to do, but they will last through several children, are easy to wash and will save you a lot. Most babies use around 3000 diapers before they are potty trained, if you buy good quality all in one cloth diapers that are adjustable from 9 to 35 pounds (about 20 dollars each for quality) you will only need about a dozen and possibly a few spares and this is obviously going to save you a boat load over time. If anyone wants information about cloth diapers feel free to message me.<br />
Keep a grocery list that is premade on the fridge so when you do need something you can put it on while your in the kitchen thinking about it. <a href="http://grocerylists.org/">http://grocerylists.org</a> has wonderful lists that can be downloaded and printed as required. They even have a vegetarian list available. Watch the ads and flyers of stores you do your shopping at, they often have great sales and when combined with coupons you save even more. In September Walmart usually has an anniversary sale that offers food as well as household items at great prices, I got my microwave 5 years ago for 40 dollars and I got my coffee pot last year for 12 during their anniversary sale.<br />
Finally, if you live in a town that charges you for garbage and not for recycling look for the recycling symbol on the packaging of what you purchase. I normally have about 1 bag of garbage per month which costs 2 dollars a bag and i always have my recycling out and ready to go usually consisting of a bin of cardboard, paper, shredded documents, cans, cleaning bottles, shampoo and hygeine containers etc.<br />
I hope my list helps some of the more frugal people out there!!!<br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0