Just did some laundry
Posted By: LinK on 2008-03-15
In Reply to: So, what's everybody got planned for the weekend? - MT
Tonight just relaxing, my husband's making his famous chill. My daughter is having a friend over to watch a movie. Tomorrow a little work to do, but otherwise nothing special planned for this weekend.
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Laundry
I am thinking about getting a clothes line and hanging clothes outside this summer. The only reason why I never have in the past is because I have numerous allergies and usually try to keep the "outside" out. With the cost of everything rising and after reading an article about the cost-saving/energy-saving of not running a dry cycle on your dishwasher and hanging clothes outside to dry I want to considering it. Does anyone here have allergies and hang their clothes outside? I am thinking that I could tumble them through the dryer before folding and that might help.
Laundry detergent
Do you have a specific laundry soap that you buy or just whatever's on sale?
Powder or liquid?
With bleach or not?
Looking for a new laundry scent...
I am currently using Gain - Mandarin Lime Fusion, which is awesome, but have been using it a while now and the smell is starting to fade. Taking a poll on your favorite scent...
Laundry Detergent
Simple Pleasures Lavender Vanilla (by Tide) - I buy the dryer sheets too. I love to smell it on my sheets! It doesn't really smell like lavender or vanilla, sort of a pleasant cross between the two, or something. They have one with roses too, which I love, but I don't care for the scent of that soap, it is too "off" or something. My husband doesn't even mind and he is a truck driver! He says the Lavender Vanilla smells pretty "fresh" and good. Lucky, because I would still use it and have to listen to him whine if he didn't like it! My little grandson likes it too and asks to have his jammas washed in it.
You go girl on the laundry....sm
both of our kids know to not even breathe to us that they have dirty clothes as they know how to use the washing machine & dryer and how to use them. It's up to them to do their laundry and clean their bathroom, not me!
Hang out your laundry if possible
Start hanging your wash out rather than using the dryer. It will save big, not those pennies they claim you'll save by unplugging your toaster. (By the way, my son, an electrical engineer, claims unplugging your toaster saves nothing. Unplugging a coffee maker if it has a clock does save a little.)
My little one did this, too! Took days of using laundry detergent to get rid of
s
How I make my own laundry soap. . sm
The basic ingredients are Borax, Washing Soda, and Fels Naptha. You could also use Ivory soap instead of the Fels Naptha. I also use the Fels Naptha to get out stains by wetting the fabric and rubbing the Fels Naptha directly on the stain.
I really like the laundry soap, but it did take a little while to get used to it. It doesn't make hardly any suds and I was worried about whether or not it was doing a good job of cleaning. My DH is very picky, especially about laundry soap. I didn't even tell him I was making my own soap, and he didn't notice! I do put a little bleach (about 2 tablespoons) in with my towels because they never smelled fresh. I had to do this even when I used Tide or Era. We have well water, and our water has an odor sometimes. When I first started using this laundry soap, I would only use it for clothes that weren't heavily soiled. I gradually started using it for everything when I realized that it was doing a pretty good job. It is fun to make and so cheap.
I hope it is okay to post links on this website. This is where I got my recipe- http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm
Laundry - brightening whites
Over the weekend I went searching for bluing as discussed in the previous thread. No luck finding it so far but have a few more small, independently owned stores to check. However, I did find a whitening agent in the Rit dye section. A little pricey, $2.00 something for 1 load. It worked well on T-shirts and clothing but for some reason it did not seem to work on my towels. They were all in the same load I used a long cycle for it to soak also. I'll see how long the white T's last. Oh, I also have well water and a softener system if anyone is wondering. 
I keep mine in the laundry room also
I also have a fat kitty who LOVES to get in there and pretend he's at the beach. I keep a tiny dustpan and broom in there and probably sweep 3 times a day. Sometimes there will be a huge pile of cat litter. Considering he's an indoor kitty and can't seem to find anything else to do, I just let him be and ask him if he had fun!
make your own laundry detergent
Lots of different recipes out there for liquid and powdered.
I like the liquid but have a terrible time finding the Arm & Hammer wash SODA.
How many of you are making the homemade laundry soap?
I just did this week and I love it. Its going to save so much on laundry detergent. I'm very happy with the results.
HOMEMADE LAUNDRY DETERGENT
Ingredients:
3.1 oz bar Ivory soap or 2 regular bar sizes(Ivory is chosen because it's all natural. You may use a soap of your choice)
1 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
½ cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda or Baking Soda (I used baking soda since I couldn't find the washing soda)
Water
Tools:
5 Gallon container
Knife
Pot large enough to hold 5 cups of water
Long stirring stick/spoon (for 5 gallon container)
Instructions:
Shave the soap into small strips or grate it up finely with a grater and place in the pot with 5 cups of water. Bring the water just shy of a boil and stir until the soap is completely melted. When the soap is just about melted, pour 3 gallons of hot water into the 5-gallon container and let it sit until the soap in the pot is totally melted. Once all of the soap shavings are melted, pour the mixture into the 5-gallon container and stir.
Once the soap and water are thoroughly stirred, add the ½ cup pf washing soda and stir until dissolved. Once the washing soda is dissolved, pour in the cup of borax and stir again until dissolved.
***You can add essential oil flavors for the smell but I prefer without.
I was off today and pretty much was a slug all day. I did 2 loads of laundry,
I never do that, but it sure felt good at the moment. Of course, tonight, I spent some time in the bathroom...what goes in, must come out I guess. 
Old part-timer - the laundry soap recipe
I found this online and it's the closest to my own recipe. It also includes the directions and the pricing comparisons included are also very similar to prices in my area.
The only difference is, in my part of the country, Arm & Hammer wash soda isn't common on the store shelves and I have to order it online.
Since one of the kiddos is sensitive to perfumes, I will sometimes divide part of one batch into a couple of smaller bottles and add a drop or two of lavender essential oils just for the master bathroom towels and bedsheets.
The love of my life does all the cleaning, cooking, laundry, shopping etc..
He even has decorated the house with Christmas villages, lights etc.., wrapped all the presents, even his own..LOL (I did put them in brown boxes). I'm sorry but I sit here all day working..he can do something. I know how lucky I am. Going from being a single mom to this has been heaven. For every dream I had, it was answered by him. I shouldn't brag..but...last year he took me on 3 cruises..and it just never stops. So kudos to all of you who have a wonderful man in your life. Lord knows they are few and far in between..
I have been making my own laundry soap. It only costs me about $10 for a 6-month supply. nm
xx
Basically stick to a schedule. Laundry is only "housework" while I"m working. Keep calls sh
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