DIY~Wool Dryer Balls

A few months ago, the Mister and I attended our 2nd Mother Earth News Fair. While we enjoy listening to our favorite farming "peeps", we also enjoy perusing the different vendor booths, dreaming about all the things that could make our lives easier if only we were millionaires. One vendor that we especially liked was selling all kinds of green laundry supplies, most of which I already did. Except one.

Wool dryer balls were created to take the place of toxic dryer sheets. Made with 100% wool yarn, they help to eliminate static cling, decrease drying time, and keep your towels and unmentionables properly fluffed. But, at $21.00 for a set of 4, buying them just didn't make economical sense. So, I googled it.

You should know that there are literally hundreds of posts dedicated to the making of dryer balls. Either people have entirely too much time on their hands, or they balked at the high prices as I did. For me, it is a little of both. I have a really difficult time watching television and not doing something else at the same time. Maybe I'm just too ADHD to sit still for an entire 2 hour flick. Or maybe it's because I know that my restless hands drive my family nuts.

That's probably it.☺

Making wool dryer balls is easy, and for $10 (or less), you too can have your own 4 fancy balls to toss in the dryer.

And if you're as fortunate as I, your family will burst into fits of giggles when you ask, "Where are my balls?"

I really need to get a life.

Here's what you'll need:

1 skein of 100% wool yarn (Make sure it is NOT machine washable or the yarn will not felt.)
1 nylon stocking (I use cheap knee highs.)
1 tapestry needle
acrylic yarn (for tying)

Start by wrapping yarn around two fingers several times.

Remove the yarn from your fingers, turn the loops sideways and wrap a few more times.

Now fold this in half and continue wrapping, turning often to make a ball.

Continue to roll until the ball is 5-6 inches in circumference. Cut the yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail.

Thread the end of the yarn through a tapestry needle and draw the end through the ball.

Tie into a knot by looping around 1 strand of yarn. Cut off the tail or tuck back into the ball. Place the ball into a nylon stocking and push to the bottom. Tie off the stocking just above the ball with a piece of acrylic yarn. (Don't use wool yarn for this, you don't want it to felt.)

 

Make 3 more balls, adding each one to the stocking and tying off.

 



Place the balls in the washing machine and wash on hot with no soap. When finished, toss in the dryer and dry on high heat.

After the balls are dried, untie the yarn and remove the balls from the stocking. Increase the size of the balls by adding more yarn until the balls are approximately 9-inches around. Tie off as before and return to the stocking. Again, wash on hot with no soap, and dry on high heat. If you want, you can repeat the wash/dry cycle for a third time. You don't have to; the balls will continue to felt as they are used.

The dryer ball on the right is new; the one on the left has been in use for a few months.

 

To use, place a minimum of 4 balls in the dryer per load. (I use 8 for large loads.)

Just one word of caution when making these~don't, I repeat don't ever watch a movie with high adrenaline action, such as "The Amazing Spiderman." You may find your balls rolling half way across the living room...

 ...while the family comes up with more reasons to giggle.☺

This post is linked to Farm Girl Blog Fest at Fresh Eggs Daily.

Lavender Orange Powdered Laundry Soap

I've been making my own laundry soap for quite a while now, and while I've been content with it, I have missed the lingering scent of store-bought soap.

What I don't miss is the chemicals.

My go-to recipe for laundry soap is this liquid soap. Many people use this recipe. My only problem with it is the mess. I have a space between my counter and washing machine that is too small to place a shelf unit, but too big to miss with the soap dripping from my scoop. In fact, that space is the perfect size for a folded step stool, which is usually gummed up with gunk.

I'm not a fan of gunk.

When researching alternative powdered soap recipes, the formula seemed to be the same in all. Borax, Washing Soda, a low-suds bar soap, and Baking Soda. Most used Zote, Fels Naptha, or Ivory. But I was after a specific smell.

Lavender.

Here's what I came up with~

For the lavender scent, I didn't use the unscented bars in this picture~they were for another batch.

 

~The Players~

3 bars lavender Dr. Bonner's castile soap
1 4lb. box pure baking soda
1 box borax
1 box washing soda (not the same as baking soda)

Using a large hole cheese grater, grate all 3 bars of castile soap.

Put half the grated soap into a large food processor. Add 1 cup baking soda or washing soda and pulse until fine. It is important that you add one of the soda's or the castile soap will not grate fine enough. (Ask me how I know...☺)

Repeat with the remaining grated castile soap.

Using a large bucket or stockpot, mix together the powdered castile/soda, the remaining box of washing soda, baking soda, and borax. This is best done outside or in a well ventilated area. Try not to inhale any dust.

The soap is ready to use as is, or you can add 40-50 drops of sweet orange essential oil and mix well. Store in a dry container. For a large load of laundry, use 2 Tb.; smaller loads, 1 Tb.

I stored my first batch in 7-quart jars. Each jar will last 40-60 loads, depending on size. By my calculations, that's at least 280 loads of laundry (or as much as 420!) for less than $20.

Take that, Tide.

*I also like to use the unscented castile soap with 30 drops of lemongrass and 20 drops of cedar essential oils.

**For chemical-free dryer sheets, use a matching essential oil.
 



So Long Swiffer

For the sake of honesty, I'm about to share something so horrible, so vile, and so disturbing that it may cause some to stay awake tonight.

For that, I am sorry.

But, it will be very comforting to know that I won't be alone.

See, I have dogs. Two of them to be exact. 

Maisie and Molly.

Champion shedders.

What that means for us is a lot of vacuuming. Or a lot of dollars spent on those little paper hair magnets that attach to the end of a Swiffer. Which translates to a lot of money spent to keep said dog hair out of my gluten-free cereal bowl. 

Until now.

Thanks to another Pinterest cheapskate enthusiast , I decided to try my hand at making my own reusable Swiffer pads. But unlike the other pinner, mine doesn't require any sewing. 

Which is just fine with me.

It leaves me more time for therapy, which is what I'll need after seeing the yuck on my floor.

After it was cleaned by Mr. Swiffer and his box of $10 slacker pads.

Poke the micro-fiber towel into the holes used for gripping the paper pads.

Here's what you need:

1 micro-fiber towel (I bought a 4-pack for $3.00 at a hardware store.)

1 Swiffer Sweeper tool (found in the back of most broom closets)

The soundtrack to *Mama Mia! 

 Double shot of espresso: optional

My dining room floor after the original Swiffer pad went through.

Even though I was thoroughly icked out, I had to take it one step further.

I went outside for a better look.

After I finish my therapy session of Key Lime Pie, I'll be sleeping with a light on tonight. 

Just in case the dust bunnies decide to retaliate.

Homemade Spring Cleaners, Part 2

Sometimes in my zest for all things new, I forget to make note of where I find these "new" ideas. Like now. While researching natural cleaners and jotting down everything that sounded good, some of my notes got all jumbled.

Meaning, I didn't make note of the source.

So, if either of these are your recipes, please forgive me. Please also note that I love you. Forever.

And you can write that down to help you remember who loves ya baby.

Today, I'm talking cleaners again. Not just any cleaners, but of the all-purpose and garden variety. Why? Because they work. Because they are non-toxic alternatives to a very toxic world. Because someone went to all the trouble to post the recipes on the world wide web for all to enjoy. And because they smell really, really good.

I've been using my own version of an all-purpose cleaner for a few years now. While it works well enough, sometimes it takes a couple of extra squirts of the spray bottle to completely get a mess cleaned up. Maybe my initial ratios were off. Or maybe I forgot to add something. Or maybe I am just afraid of unleashing too much elbow grease on the mess. (Sometimes I don't know my own strength.) Whatever the reason, I've been searching for a new and improved recipe.

Houston, we have a winner.

~All-Purpose Cleaner~

2 Tb. white vinegar

1 t. borax

1 c. hot, filtered or distilled water

1/4 c. liquid peppermint castile soap (like Dr. Bonners)

20 drops sweet orange essential oil

Mix vinegar and borax into the hot water. Stir well to dissolve. Let cool.

Pour into a 12-oz. spray bottle. Add castile soap and essential oil. Replace the spray nozzle and gently shake to mix. Use on kitchen and bathroom counters.

~Produce Wash~

1 c. filtered water

1 c. white vinegar

1 Tb. baking soda

20 drops of grapefruit seed essential oil

Spray on produce. Rub all over for approximately 1 minute. Rinse well under running water.

(This one smells amazing!)

Next up~Hair "conditioner" and a homemade bleach alternative. And I do know where at least one of those came from!☺

Homemade Spring Cleaners, Part 1

According to the calender, spring has officially arrived. Of course, not everyone is enjoying it. Those of us in the Pacific Northwest have been battling the most bizarre winter in years. 

We've actually had snow. 

More than once.

I live at a lower elevation than some of my family members, but according to them, they've had several inches of snow in the last couple of days. Since they're a shady bunch over on there on the other creek, I'll have to take that with a grain or three of salt. And a little vinegar.☺

Speaking of vinegar...

Because I've given the calender instead of the relatives the benefit of the doubt, my spring cleaning has officially begun. My dust bunnies have been multiplying like, well, bunnies. And if you've ever had bunnies, you know what I mean! (We did once. Started with 3 females and let them run wild because they were so cute hopping around the farm. Woke up one day to about 30 cute little bunnies hopping around the farm. A few months later we were up to about 100 cute little bunnies hopping around the farm. And in the orchard, which no longer had any bark on the trees. Never saw a single jack rabbit before we had female free-hoppin' bunnies. Who knew?)

But I digress. Again.

Vinegar. It is good. You can clean with it. Mix it with some other stuff and it actually smells less like vinegar and more like cleaner. Which is a very good thing. 

Did I mention that it's cheap? 

Since you already know that I'm obsessed with Pinterest, you should know that I'm equally obsessed with homemade cleaners. And I've been pinning like crazy. Then I try my pins out. Some of them aren't worth the time it takes to press the "repin" button. But others. Well, let's just say that my dust bunnies are on the run.

Here are my first two winners. And trust me, these are gold...even if these don't technically have vinegar in them.☺

~Disinfectant~

3 Tb. peppermint castile soap (can use unscented)

25 drops tea tree essential oil

distilled water

14 oz. spray bottle

Fill bottle 3/4 of the way full of water. Add castile soap and tea tree oil. Top off with more water. This is great for cleaning the toilet seat area and bathroom counters.

~Sink Cleaner~

Empty Parmesan cheese can with lid

baking soda

15 drops lemon or grapefruit seed essential oil 

Using a wide mouth funnel, pour baking soda into can. Add essential oil and replace lid. Shake it up and use to clean the sink. Use straight vinegar to clean stainless steel faucet.

Make sure to label all of your homemade cleaners or you'll end of with a bunch of bottles of whoknowswhats.

Next up...All-purpose cleaner (with vinegar) that fizzes and a produce cleaner that smells good enough to eat!

when life gives you lemons...

It's no secret that I love lemons. It may be due to the fact that I can't grow lemons in my neck of the woods, but I'm willing to bet that even if I could, I would still love them. 

Lemons are my Zen. They elevate my mood when the rainy days start to wear on me. Aromatherapists use lemons to help people purge feelings of imperfection and to build up confidence. Lemons boost the immune system, are used as an antiviral, an antidepressant, and an antiseptic. They decrease indigestion and can stop bleeding. Inhaled, the scent of lemons has been shown to reduce blood pressure and used on the skin is helpful in the treatment of blackheads.

That, and I really, really love them.

When I go grocery shopping, lemons always have a way of finding their way into my grocery cart. It doesn't matter whether I need them that week or not. I'll find a use for them even if it's just to decorate the kitchen table. (Okay, that only happened once and the blue fuzz that grew on them kind of ruined the whole color scheme thing I had going.)

Here's a few ways I like to use lemons~

*Mix the juice of 1/2 lemon with 2 Tb. olive oil for a natural wood furniture polish.

*Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon into a 12 oz. plastic spray bottle. Add 3/4 cup white vinegar and 1 tsp. unscented castile soap. Fill remainder of bottle with water. Use as an all-purpose cleaner.

*Mix equal parts lemon juice with olive oil for an easy vinaigrette. 

*Squeeze lemon juice onto fresh fruit to prevent browning.

*Place juice of 1 lemon into a microwavable bowl with 1 cup water. Microwave for 1 minute. Clean inside walls of microwave with damp towel. 

*Add lemon juice to water for a refreshing change. Add a little sweetener and you have lemonade. Better yet, try lacto-fermented lemonade for even more health benefits.

*For coughing: Squeeze juice of 1 lemon into cup of hot water. Add honey. Drink. Helps calm the cough and break up any phlegm.

*Flavor baked goods with lemon zest, or replace vanilla with lemon juice. (This is especially good in sugar cookies☺)

*Disinfect cutting boards by rubbing 1/2 lemon all over the board. Let set for 5 minutes. Wash as usual.

*Use lemon juice when cooking fish, or in a marinade for meats that will be grilled. The acid in the juice helps to break down the toughness of the meat. (I also add olive oil to the marinade.)

When I purchase lemons, I usually do it in bulk. If I don't have an immediate use for the lemons (it happens), I'll juice them for later. Here's how...

First~I wash then zest the lemons. To save the zest, place in dehydrator on lowest setting overnight. Or preheat oven to 150F., turn off, then place cookie sheet of lemon zest in oven. Leave overnight. Store zest in jar and use in favorite recipes.

Second~place a mesh colander over a pourable measuring container. Squeeze juice into bowl, but through the colander. (Meyer lemons have a lot of seeds.)

Pour lemon juice into ice trays; cover with plastic wrap and freeze. When frozen, remove from tray and place in freezer bags. Each cube equals approximately 3 Tb. of juice. When needed, just take out as many cubes as needed and allow to thaw in a cup on the counter. (Microwaving the juice destroys all those delicious vitamins that make lemons so very special.)

This method works well for oranges and limes too!☺

Homemade Dryer Sheets

In a perfect world, my dryer would be unplugged full-time. For now it gets a May-October vacation. (Weather permitting.) When the sun is shining the laundry dries on a clothesline. When it's raining, we have indoor racks to hang our wet clothing on. But with 11 people in the house and only so much floor space (we even have suspended racks from the ceiling), the dryer gets it's fair share of service.

A couple of years ago, we switched our chemical-laden fabric softener for white vinegar, but I've had a difficult time parting with the dryer sheets. Yes, I use a "natural" brand from the health food store, but these are expensive and too easy to leave off my grocery list. Sadly, sometimes I succumb to the pleasing aroma of vanilla & lavender wafting down the laundry aisle.

Not anymore.

A couple of weeks ago my middle son decided to help me out by throwing in a load of laundry on his own. Never mind that this son has never washed a load of laundry in his life, he wanted to help. (I'm finding myself gritting my teeth as I type this~the memory is still too fresh!) This helpful son placed 12 pairs of jeans (12!!!) in the washer, went downstairs and grabbed an unopened bottle of store-bought detergent, filled the soap dispenser with the highly scented detergent, added Oxy-Clean, then filled the fabric softener dispenser with the same smelly liquid detergent before turning the machine onto the delicate cycle.

Here's what went wrong.

1. Our washing machine holds 6 or 7 pairs of full-size jeans, tops. Any more than that, the machine doesn't agitate. He knows this as the washer repairman knows us by our Christian names. All of us.

2. I make all of our laundry soap, which sits right next to the washing machine. You know what it is by the sign on the front that says "Laundry". BTW, up til now I thought my son could read.

3. The store-bought laundry detergent has been down in our garage for 2-1/2 years. Yes, years. Never opened, and hidden behind the Murphy's Oil Soap...buried under 2-1/2 years worth of garage dust.

4. There is a "How to do laundry" page taped to the cabinet door above the homemade laundry soap. For jeans it says, "No more than 6 pairs of jeans at a time. Always wash on warm. Press the heavy duty button. NO FABRIC SOFTENER EVER."

About 10 minutes after my son started the load of jeans, the family (who was watching t.v.) started complaining of headaches and sore throats. I kept sniffing the air and asking who fell into the perfume bottle. We traced the source of smell back to the laundry room and the machine that had bubbles about to spew like a volcano erupting.

I realized two things that evening.

1. The chemicals in laundry products are toxic. Once we found the source, opened the windows, and rinsed the now 2 loads of blue jeans, the headaches and sore throats disappeared. So did the bubbles.

2. My son can't read as well as I thought.

So now the store-bought laundry products are lying in the garbage can, destined for the local landfill. I wish there were some other place for them, but that's the best place I could come up with. My laundry soap can is newly filled and my supply of vinegar has been replenished. And the dryer sheets that I had already run out of? I now have an unlimited supply of reusable, non-toxic, and scented to my perfection dryer sheets. And I didn't pay a dime for them.

Here's how~

Cut an old cotton towel into strips 4-6 inches wide. Pinking shears work best.

Not pinking shears here~I'm a quick learner and switched over after the first strip.

 Cut the strips into squares. I ended up with about 25 squares.

No need to cut the selvaged edges.

To use: Add 3-4 drops of favorite essential oil to cloth. Toss in dryer.

 Homemade dryer sheets can be used up to 3 times before they need to be thrown in the washer. Just refresh with more drops of oil. My favorites are lemon, lavender, and grapefruit. Smells like summer, even if I do have to resort to using the dryer.☺

Emmie and her attempt at becoming a real-life Smurf.

 

Looks like it's time for another load to go in...

This post is linked to The Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop.

***UPDATE***

 

Since I started using this method, I've found that these work much better when the dryer sheet is wet. Add the essential oil to the wet towel, then toss in the dryer. I still love these!!

A Shampoo Making Adventure

So, here's the deal. A few, or 12 months ago, I was sitting standing in my bathroom, pondering the meaning of life when I noticed the massive amounts of bottles, bars, razors, and sponges that had accumulated in the shower. Since I have the luxury of having my very own shower (hubby uses the guest bathroom so he can have his own little luxurious space without the flowery scent of the reed diffuser), I found the quantity of all that was there disturbing at best.

Because I had no one but myself to blame it on.

Sad, but true.

I had Costco-sized bottles of shampoo and conditioner, a large bottle of castile soap (for shaving~awesome!), face soap for everyday use, blemish soap for those embarrassing-because-I'm-in-my-mid-forties pimples, body wash that reminded me that somewhere, someone was enjoying some sunshine and it sure wasn't me, a condiment bottle of vinegar/water for clarifying (my hair, not my memory), a razor for my underarms and a razor for my legs (I may be a little OCD~jury's still out on that one), a loofah sponge, a big fluffy sponge, and a sponge for cleaning the shower, and a 7 yr. old, never-been-used bottle of bath salts, just in case I ever had time to soak in the tub. It may come as a surprise, but my mobility in the shower was limited at best.

Some might call that an "aha" moment. In actuality, it was my Mister who had been nagging encouraging me to rid myself of all the different bottles of crapola product that were slowly pushing me in the direction of his shower. Looking back, it was most likely his self-preservation mode kicking in. Too bad for him that his teenage daughters have now moved into his bathroom (while we're remodeling another one), so my bottles seem mild compared to theirs. They have different shampoos & conditioners to match whatever mood they're in! Freaks.

After I had a talking-myself-down-from-the-ledge moment (with myself), I decided which bottles I could live without. There were tears. There was gnashing of teeth. There was frantic rooting around in the garbage can moments that are better left forgotten. (Not that anyone in this house ever will.) But then I realized that I'm a lot stronger than I give myself credit for. I could do this. What, I didn't know yet, but the possibilities were endless. I would be the writer of my own shower-taking destiny.

Fast forward a few, or 12 months, and I now know what those possibilities are. I have finally realized my true potential. I was born for greater things than to be a slave to the shampoo & conditioner companies of the world.

I was born to make soap. Specifically shampoo bars of soap.

First, I gathered the supplies, which in my area wasn't easy. It seems that the soap-making craze has only hit the rural areas. Or maybe just my house.

Besides the ingredients, a digital scale is a must as everything is measured by weight.

Then I donned my rather fashion forward attire of goggles, gloves, and a face mask. Once I was properly suited up, the measuring commenced.

Pouring the lye~I had taken off the mask because it was interfering with my ability to breathe...then I realized I was just anxious about the lye, so I put it back on!

Here's where I should point out that we have really good health insurance, and my Mister, who is an emergency room nurse, was working that day. Safety first!

The lye mixture was set under the vent hood fan...the duck nostrils are courtesy of one of my boys. Nice, huh? I should also mention that under this mask, I was smiling like a Cheshire cat while saying, "Cheese". Blame it on the fumes...

The kids wanted to know how much my life insurance policy was worth. I replied, "A lot, but I'm taking you all out of the will."

That'll teach 'em.

The lye mixture gets hot so it's important to have it on a hot pad, not the counter.

After the caustic materials were mixed, I enlisted the help of my beautiful daughter, Kelsie.

She also has tremendous patience to slowly melt the oils and beeswax.

After all, she is the mother of these little cutie-patooties.

Bathtime for Emmie & Maddie.

Can't have her blowing her face off...not that I want mine blown off either, but it would save me thousands of dollars in botox treatments later...if I didn't already have an aversion to needles...or vanity.

A coconut oil greased bread pan worked great!

After achieving what is known as a "false trace" (apparently that is NOT what we were striving for!)we had to remelt it all and try to salvage our first botched shampoo making endeavor.

10 bars of homemade Coconut Lime Shampoo Bars

In a couple of weeks, when we're certain (or mostly certain) the lye is inactive, we'll be offering the kids a reward to the first one brave enough to use our homemade shampoo bars.

We're also currently taking donations for hair replacement therapy, just in case...☺

For the recipe, go here.


This post is linked to The Homestead Barn Hop.

Dastardly Dishwasher Detergent and Why You Shouldn't Make Your Own!

Growing or buying organic foods is a great start to a healthier toxin-free life. But how often do we think about those chemicals that absorb through the skin, or vapors that we inhale, from products we use on a daily basis?

I love flowery or tropical fragrances and could spend days at Macy's sniffing the bottles of not-going-to-happen-on-my-budget perfumes. My favorite fabric softener is a lavender/vanilla scent that smells like summer in a bottle. And I remember buying laundry soap, not for it's ability to remove stains, but for it's ability to make me feel like I wasn't doing laundry at all! (I've since switched to a natural perfume, white vinegar for the rinse cycle, and homemade laundry soap with a little added essential oil.)

"Petroleum, toluene, ethanol, acetone, formaldehyde, benzene, and methylene chloride are all in fragrances and are known to cause cancer, birth defects, infertility, and nervous system damage. Even fabric softener contains chloroform..." (The Ultimate Guide to Homesteading) Remember high school biology? I can still remember how the classroom smelled on frog dissection day. It smelled bad because we were inhaling toxic fumes!

I personally believe that many illness and disorders are preventable. Before the "discovery" of most of our modern day conveniences, people did not die from the diseases that are so prevalent today. They died in war. They died in childbirth. They died in accidents. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that small pox was caused by microwaves. I'm not talking about viruses or bacterial infections.

I'm talking about illnesses caused from chemical exposure .

There are modern conveniences that I am not willing to give up. The coffee pot, hot water heater, washing machine, and hair dryer to name a few that I would find it hard to live without.

Then there is the dishwasher. As a mom of many, the dishwasher is the appliance that I love the most. I can handle my children smelling like the Beagle and dirt. I can tolerate reading by candlelight. What I cannot, no, what I refuse to give up is the dishwasher. Even if it meant that I had to use pedal power to make it run! (Great, my Mister will be all over this one.)

If you know me, you know that's love.

For every pro though, there is usually some con lurking about. I thought pro's and con's naturally had to go together.

But do they really?

Here are the ingredients in a popular dishwashing detergent.

Aqua~good old water

Sodium Laureth Sulfate~can cause skin and permanent eye damage, is toxic to the liver and since it cannot be metabolized by the liver, it stays in the body tissues for a longer period of time.

Sodium Choloride~salt

Cocamide DEA~used as a thickener; known to cause cancer in laboratory animals

Triclosan~may cause cancer in humans, endocrine disruptor; when mixed with tap water, creates chloroform or other chlorine byproducts. 

Aloe Barbadensis~aloe; can cause contact dermatitis on sensitive skin
Cocamidopropyl Betaine~a synthetic surfactant; associated with irritation and allergic contact dermatitis.

Glycerin~low toxicity, a simple compound used in many applications
Parfum~most fragrances contain petroleum; can also contain acetone, formaldehyde and benzene among others. (Found in the Ultimate Guide to Homesteading)
Citric Acid~a weak organic acid found in citrus fruits; helps to cut grease; can also cause skin irritation.
Benzoic Acid~may cause irritation to the respiratory tract (nose & throat)
Benzyl Alcohol~Warning labels states: Harmful if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. Causes irritation to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. Affects central nervous system. Combustible liquid and vapor.
Benzyl Salicylate~has been associated with allergies and contact dermatitis
Butylphenyl Methylpropional~Synthetic fragrance. A skin irritant, its use is restricted in both leave-on and wash-off products because of its powerful sensitisation potential. In animals, skin applications at high concentrations caused sperm damage and CNS effects such as drowsiness and breathing difficulties.
Methyparaben~Parabens mimic estrogen and can act as potential hormone (endocrine) system disruptors; has been linked to cancer, neurotoxicity, and allergies.
Methylchloroisothiazolinone~used preservative; has been associated with allergic reactions; linked to cancer.
Methylisothiazolinone~has been associated with allergic reactions. Lab studies on the brain cells of mammals also suggest that methylisothiazolinone may be neurotoxic.
Magnesium Chloride~a natural mineral
Magnesium Nitrate~may cause irritation and burns to the respiratory tract; can cause permanent eye damage; causes irritation and burns to the skin.
Propylene Glycol~may cause irritation to the skin and eyes.
Triethylene Glycol~causes eye irritation; may cause skin irritation
CI 42090~colorant; animal studies show brain, nervous system, or behavioral effects at very low doses; organ toxicity, linked to cancer.
CI 19140~colorant; linked to cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity; classified as a medium human health priority.

So why am I showing you this?

Because it's not enough to just keep these chemicals from touching our skin. These chemicals are used to clean the plates, glasses, and utensils that hold our organic foods & beverages.

How many times have you taken a plate or fork out of the dishwasher and found debris still clinging to it, despite the dishwasher detergent's claims to "cut grease and make dishes sparkle!"?

And for all of the times you've noticed the debris hanging from your coffee mug,how many times have you not noticed?

Your checking your glass now, huh?

I don't know about you, but it's gross enough finding the previous users lip prints on the rim of my glass without having to worry about the chemical residue hanging on it too!

While I can do nothing about the efficiency of my dishwasher, I can do something about what is used to clean my dishes. But here's where it gets tricky.

Houston, we have a problem.

While researching natural alternatives and homemade dishwasher detergents, I stumbled across one that piqued my interest. But then my Mister suggested that I do the fair thing and research the ingredients in the homemade soap.

Ummm...apparently, Borax is NOT a good thing to use on your dishes. While Borax includes a natural trace mineral called boron, Borax itself has been linked to reproductive issues in both men and women. There is also a warning that says, "Harmful if swallowed." (This link is just one of many~Google safety of Borax and check it for yourself.) It doesn't appear that using Borax as an ingredient in homemade laundry soap is a problem though. At least, I couldn't find anything saying so.

I guess it could be problematic if you're prone to eating your t-shirts.

So, this is where I was going to post a recipe for homemade dishwasher detergent. I actually made up a batch, didn't like the results of that recipe, and made up a new, more-improved version.

The results were mixed. The first batch, made with Borax and Washing Soda (equal parts) left a filmy residue on everything. So I ended up rewashing everything by hand.

Second batch was better, but there was still a residue. This one had citric acid and Kosher salt added into the mixture. Both used white vinegar as a rinse aid. And still, I ended up rewashing all of the dishes by hand.

My conclusion is to spend the extra money and purchase a truly green, organic, chemical free dishwasher soap. (I did find Biokleen on sale at our local Fred Meyer store for $6.39. For 32 loads that's less than $.20/load!) It may cost a little more up front, but with the alternative being sickness, dermatitis, or loss of vision, it is a cost well worth spending.

My other choice is to hand wash all of the dishes and use the dishwasher as a drying rack.

Maybe once the nest empties out a bit more. ☺ 

Homemade Fabric Softener

When my family and I decided to use more natural products, we had no idea just how many "natural" products there were. It seems as if all of the cleaning companies decided to jump on the "fad wagon" and promote their products as healthier choices.

And make a pretty little profit off of the consumer in the process.

Personally, I'd like to keep a few more of my pennies.

Here's the deal. I use distilled white vinegar in my rinse cycle, both in the laundry and in my dishwasher. And while the smell NEVER attaches itself to my socks and saucers, it is offensive to my olfactory senses going in! *shudder*

I came across this recipe for Lavender Fabric Softener. I had some dried lavender that I had picked up a the farmer's market during the summer and now have a nice little batch steeping in the laundry room. I must admit, it smells better than I thought it would!

Homemade Lavender Fabric Softener

1 quart distilled, white vinegar

1 cup dried or fresh lavender buds

2-4 drops lavender essential oil

Place lavender buds in wide mouth, quart canning jar. Add vinegar and cover with plastic lid. (Always plastic. Metal corrodes!) Let mixture steep for 1 week. Strain through cheesecloth. Add essential oil, if desired. Add 1/2 cup to rinse cycle of laundry.

Green Floor Freshener

Baking soda + essential oil = FRESH!

A couple of years ago, my house underwent a major transformation. It used to be a girl's group home and as such, was decorated with a lot of pink. For the record, I am a fan of pink. Not the singer, but the color. Although there was this one song that she sang that...oh, sorry, got a little sidetracked again! Here's the problem...pink+farm+kids+dogs+husband=very difficult to keep clean! I could almost hear my steam cleaner moaning every time I pulled her out of the closet. "Oh, please, not again. Even the Lord rested on the 7th day." Maybe that was me...I don't know. Apparently it got loud, because one day my Mister said, "Let's put in wood floors!" Since he is the head of the household, I conceded. (There may have been happy dancing as well.)

We replaced the dining room and hallway with wood floors and had new carpet laid in our living room and bedroom. The wood floors are so much easier to clean up, but we still have to be diligent with dirty feet in the living room. (We have a "no shoes" rule, but our children think that their dirty, BARE feet are still allowed. Not sure how to handle that one!) We were smart and had stain resistant carpet put in, but it still needs to be steam cleaned occasionally. Not so much for the dirt, but more for the peace of mind.

To freshen the carpets in between deep cleaning, I mix 1 cup of baking soda with 5 or 6 drops of lavender oil (any favorite scent will do), then sprinkle it all over the carpet. Of course, the kiddos and dogs are banned to the basement during this time. Hmmm...maybe I should do this daily! Anyway, let it set for about 1/2 hour before vacuuming. Not only does it freshen the carpet, but it is safe for pets and kids.

Healthy All-Purpose Cleaner

One of my favorite "recipes" isn't about food at all. It's about a non-toxic cleaner that I use for my counters, tables and appliances. The surfaces that we eat from or store food in should be "clean enough to eat from", but most cleaners contain chemicals that have been linked to all sorts of health issues! If I'm not going to put bleach in my soup, why would I serve my soup on a table that has bleach residue? And don't even get me started on the warning labels of these chemical-laden products! A gas mask is not an option in my house!

All-Purpose Cleaner

3 T. distilled white vinegar
1/2 tsp. washing soda (washing soda, not baking soda! I use Arm & Hammer)
1/2 tsp. vegetable oil based liquid soap (Castile works great!)
2 cups hot water

Mix all ingredients into a spray bottle. Apply and wipe clean.

Now your counters will be clean (and safe!) enough to eat from!

Laundry 101

I do a lot of laundry. I mean, A LOT of laundry. Having 9 children makes me somewhat of an expert on laundry. I don't hate doing laundry, but I'm not singing and dancing when I see/smell my youngest son packing a basket that is twice his size, down the hall. In fact, I'm pretty sure that the laundry baskets are magically filling up while we are sleeping because I sure don't remember my kids wearing that many articles of clothing! No matter how many kids have left the "nest", (3 at last count!), the laundry pile never really seems to decrease in size. And my washer is going ALL DAY!

When my husband & I started breaking down our grocery bill, we discovered that about 30% was going to laundry soap, fabric softeners, and other miscellaneous cleaners! That is almost 1/3 of our food bill!!! Yikes! I know that I would rather buy food, the kind that you can eat, more than I want to do laundry! Then there was the unexplained rashes that only a few of my children had. My husband is an emergency room nurse, but also worked in pediatrics for a few years, and said that it was dermatitis, probably caused by allergies. Now, I'm no a rocket scientist or anything, but shouldn't soap that has LESS ingredients, COST LESS? So, what's a girl to do?

I had read about making homemade laundry soap and thought it was too complicated for me to try. Of course, the book that I read it in, was about life in the good old "pioneer days"! So, it WAS complicated. I mean, where does one purchase lye? And using wood ashes? Huh? I thought the idea was to clean my clothes, not burn my skin off or make the dirt worse by using ashes! I decided that homemade soap was NOT for me.

Then I read a couple of modern day articles about soap. 4 ingredients. And one of them is water! I might be able to do this! So one day, with my husband's help, we made our first batch of laundry soap. The articles had different variations of the same ingredients, so we had to play around with it a little to find what worked for us. We have well water that is treated with salt, so it is really soft. We just increased the bar soap a little. It smells a little like lemons, but leaves no scent of any kind behind. I didn't know if I liked that. I wanted my clothes to smell like they had been washed, so I added another ingredient.

Homemade laundry soap

1/2 cup Borax

1/2 cup Washing Soda (Arm & Hammer has one)
1/2 bar of Fels Naptha soap, grated
1 tsp. essential oil (I use lemongrass, but you can use lavender, orange, whatever you like)
(1) 5-gallon bucket (we use an old kitty litter bucket that has a lid)

Grate 1/2 bar of Fels Naptha into large pot. I use my food processor, it washes clean. Add 6 cups of water and heat it until the soap melts. Don't stand there stirring it the whole time, or you won't be able to tell when the soap is melted through all of the suds! Add the Borax and washing soda. Stir and remove from heat. Pour 4 cups of hot water into bucket. Add soap mixture and stir. Add an additional 22 cups of cold water. After you make this the first time, mark on your bucket where the water line is at the end. This keeps you from having to measure out 22 cups everytime! Stir in essential oil.

Let your soap sit overnight. It doesn't look like store bought soap, but it works very well! A friend of mine keeps her laundry soap in old liquid laundry containers so she doesn't have to keep a bucket on display. Wish I would've thought of that!

To save even more money, use white vinegar instead of fabric softener, (I promise, your clothes will NOT smell like pickles!) and line dry your clean clothes! I use my clothesline from spring until the fall rains defeat the whole "drying" purpose. Then I bring them indoors, where my hubby ingeniously hung 2 nifty little dryers (from Ikea) with pulley systems, over our wood stove. The dryer rarely gets used. Maybe that's why we have had the same dryer for almost all of our 22 years of marriage! And the rashes? They are gone. Now, if only we could figure out how to make the laundry disappear!