DIY Laundry Detergent

Since the beginning of the year, well actually a little before that, I was at a ladies gathering, where we talked about frugality and organizing our time and home.
We walked away with a lot of notes, really useful advice, a sample DIY of laundry detergent and a overwhelming feeling at the thought that we were far from getting there LOL

I went home and tried the liquid version... and though it did a good job I wasn't completely "in love" with it.
I don't really know why it just didn't seem to make the cut.
So I went online and searched for what seemed like ever till I came across a blog and read several versions of how to make your own Laundry detergent.
Jillee's blog on DIY Laundry Detergent (<<< check it out)

so I tried the one where you boil the Fels Naphtha's soap and pour it in a bottle..
I substituted the Naptha for Zote and tried it out for a while.
And though I like that version the trouble with that was that EVERY time I wanted to use it, I had to "shake" it to un-clump it and maybe sometimes had to use a little hot water to help it liquefy.
Well that got old Real Quick. To me it was time consuming.
So I again went on searching, but this time I didn't search nearly as far and long as I had before.
It was actually already on her blog (she has this whole page dedicated to Laundry Detergents, DIY Shout stain remover, DIY bleach pen... The Works!!)
It was a trial version of a powdered one.
Now I was very hesitant because i prefer liquid soap
BUT when push came to shove I went for it.
I had ran out of liquid soap and so I decided to try the powdered one since this one was for a trial size.

I normally don't give my opinion until I know for sure I have a pretty solid opinion about it.
Well dun dun DDUUUUUNNNN!!!

Drum Roll Please...

I LOVE this version.

However the ONLY down Side (whomp whomp whomp) is that I don't Have a powerful blender or a food processor so I HAVE TO GRATE (AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!)

Yes time consuming and painful, my hand hurts afterwards.. LOL

Okay so here is what you need ...

This is The DREAM TEAM .. lol

~BORAX~ ~ARM N HAMMER SUPER WASHING SODA (not the same as baking soda)~

~ARM N HAMMER BAKING SODA~ ~PUREX CRYSTALS~ ~ZOTE (substitute for Fels Nalpha)~

*And it also calls for Oxygen Bleach  which I decided to omit and use only for heavily soiled clothes*

I kinda forgot to take pictures during the process of making it so here's a quick run down

*1st- Grate the Fels Naptha (in my case the Zote)
     OR if you were smart you purchased the ALREADY grated Zote for a few extra bucks
*2nd- Pour all the ingredients (measured of course) in a container with a Tight Lid
*3rd- Close tightly and give it a couple of spins and shakes to make sure all the ingredients are Well Mixed.
*4th- Use about 1-2 Tablespoons per load

Okay so a few more pictures (since I missed the process of it) and then to the recipe.

All of the Products

Pour them into a container....

One with a tight lid (you will be shaking to mix them up)

The Finished Product

The amount I use per Load: About 2 Tablespoons

Here's the How To and The link To where I got this "recipe" from

onegoodthingbyjillee trial-size-version of Laundry Detergent

 HOMEMADE LAUNDRY DETERGENT 

• 1 bar grated Fels Naptha soap
• 3 cups Borax
• 2 cups washing soda
• 3/4 cup baking soda
• 4 1/2 cups oxygen bleach
• 1 cup (heaping) fabric softener crystals – store-bought or Homemade (optional)

A FEW SIDE NOTES: (PLEASE TAKE A QUICK NOTE OF THIS)

I SUBSTITUTE FOR "ZOTE" THE WHITE ONE (i love the smell... childhood memories)

AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO USE IT AS WELL HERE IS MY VERSION OF IT

USE "ONLY HALF" OF THE "ZOTE" SOAP BAR FOR THE RECIPE ABOVE.

~OR~

I GRATE THE WHOLE BAR SOAP AND USE IT ALL "BUT" I ALSO DOUBLE THE REST OF THE RECIPE

AND I ALSO DON'T USE THE OXYGEN BLEACH

Why? 

Well here's why.. 

Just keep in mind this was MY Experience and therefore have chosen Not to Use it. 

So try it out and form your own opinion about it.

(id love to hear if you did and what you thought!)

*I noted a quick color fade in my clothing, not sure why. 

I re-read the reviews and comments on a couple of blogs and only a handful of people actually had the same experience, while others, mainly all, claimed they hadn't seen the colors fade at all..

So I decided to omit this one and not even include it at all (you can half the request if you'd like too.

I chose not to use it unless it was a heavily soiled load or my whites.

I haven't noticed any more color fading since

Like i said JUST MY CHOICE. Doesn't have to be yours.

 HERE'S MY VERSION 

• 1 bar of Zote Bar Soap (I prefer the white, there's also a pink to choose from)
• 6 Cups of Borax
• 4 Cups of Washing Soda
• 1 1/3 Cups of Baking Soda
• 4 1/2 Cups Of Oxygen Bleach (I only used half the first time, I Don't include this ingredient any more)
• 2 Cups of Purex Crystals (any scent of Choice or you could use Downy Unstoppables. You can even choose to Omit this part since this is used for fragrance only, if you choose to skip this part keep in mind  your clothes will have No scent but they will still be clean.. Your choice.)

***And to be completely honest... I add a little more than 2 Cups Of Purex Crystals, I love the scent of Clean Laundry***

Hope you enjoy this if you try it out.

And Id Love to hear if you do.

Kill The Giant 2013

Have you read the story of David and Goliath??

This Is Goliath:
1 Samuel 17...(The Message)

^4-7 A giant nearly ten feet tall stepped out from the Philistine line into the open, Goliath from Gath. He had a bronze helmet on his head and was dressed in armor—126 pounds of it! He wore bronze shin guards and carried a bronze sword. His spear was like a fence rail—the spear tip alone weighed over fifteen pounds. His shield bearer walked ahead of him.

^8-10 Goliath stood there and called out to the Israelite troops, “Why bother using your whole army? Am I not Philistine enough for you? And you’re all committed to Saul, aren’t you? So pick your best fighter and pit him against me. If he gets the upper hand and kills me, the Philistines will all become your slaves. But if I get the upper hand and kill him, you’ll all become our slaves and serve us. I challenge the troops of Israel this day. Give me a man. Let us fight it out together!”

This Is David:

^12-15 Enter David. He was the son of Jesse the Ephrathite from Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse, the father of eight sons, was himself too old to join Saul’s army. Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to war. The names of the three sons who had joined up with Saul were Eliab, the firstborn; next, Abinadab; and third, Shammah. David was the youngest son. While his three oldest brothers went to war with Saul, David went back and forth from attending to Saul to tending his father’s sheep in Bethlehem.

So the Story Goes that for 40 days, Goliath (this Giant Monstrous of a man) came out and taunted Israel (Gods Chosen people) ..

(im thinking really??? no one did nothing??)

SO then Davids dad goes and tells him to take some food to his brothers ...

He happens to arrive at the time when Goliath comes out every morning and shouts and challenges..

David is repulsed!

He volunteers to battle the Giant.

Then he brakes through the formation ranks and faces his Foe.

^V43 The Philistine ridiculed David. “Am I a dog that you come after me with a stick?” And he cursed him by his gods. ⁴⁴ “Come on,” said the Philistine. “I’ll make roadkill of you for the buzzards. I’ll turn you into a tasty morsel for the field mice.”

So what does David Do??

I love this part! 

^45-47 David answered, “You come at me with sword and spear and battle-ax. I come at you in the name of God-of-the-Angel-Armies, the God of Israel’s troops, whom you curse and mock.!!!!"

His strength and courage lies there..
He has nothing but stones in his hand and God at his side..
"I come at you in the name of the God Of The Angels Armies!"
That's His Weapon, His Shield, His Tactic ... All Of it, is Faith.
All Of it; God.

This is a very interesting story..

For 40 days there's this Giant, and Every day for 40 days First THING in the morning He presents Himself along with all the things that intimidate and humiliate, causing fear and coward-ness to steadily take over.

Then some young misfit takes the challenge AND ends up having More Courage than the experienced warriors???

I wanna be a MISFIT like that.

So the story goes he hits in the head with a smooth stone so hard The Giant Falls to the ground And David Runs over To him takes THE GIANTS Sword and Cuts OFF His Head...

Gruesome...

Anyway i shared that because we are doing a campaign called "Kill The Giant 2013"
What it is is we are raising an amount to help pay off Jordan Ranch
A Retreat center in Schulumberg Texas.
>>> Heres the Link to the retreat Center Jordan Ranch
>>> Facebook Link Jordan Ranch Facebook Page

Heres a little crash course:
It started as a vision from our Pastor to have Fine Retreat Center without the "Distractions" for people to get away and get completely submerged in God's Presence.

A facility that would offer peace, tranquility and healing through Christ with a elegance, class and passionate service.

It really is breathtaking. I have participated in a couple of events at Jordan Ranch.

Its overwhelmingly stunning.

So we do this campaign for about 2 months and we make a pledge.

My husband and i have made a pledge.

An Amount that physically we know we could not do on our own.

Why an amount we dont know we will fulfill?

Because of Faith.

We want to give Sacrificially, We want it to challenge every thought every emotion every want.

Because at the end i want to know That My Husband and I Truly believed that Jesus is more than enough for us. That is A God Of Abundance that He is Overflowing.

That we truly gave all that we had

That what we say WE BELIEVED we actually truly BELIEVE.

I want to invite you to  read along on Killing My Giant this Year.

I believe this is the Year Healing is Pouring Down. 

I will Be completely off Rheumatoid Arthritis Medication by the end of the year.

If you feel moved to give have a plan write it down make it plain..

However let Faith Take the Driver seat in meeting that Pledge.

We made a spreadsheet with amounts of $20 in each box, and when we give we cross out that amount off the spreadsheet. We placed it in a place were we WILL daily see it to remind us that we have given our word and when we see spare change in our pockets we know not to waste it foolishly.

A journey Begins with One Step, its Endured with Determination and Finished with Heart