The Original Tupelo Honey

RV TIP - Cheap Awning Lock

2014-06-10T17:26:00.000-07:00

It's a $3 gate latch from the local hardware store. With the extended latch pin positioned in the end-cap hole, drill four holes in the awning arm and mount the latch with four 1⁄8 × 1⁄2-inch screws. When the latch is in the closed position, the awning roller can’t turn, so the awning stays tightly shut. A short twist-tie prevents the latch from opening accidentally. I got this idea from the Good Sam RV Club blog, originally submitted by Vern Dalke of La Mirada, California, on June 1, 2014.

Seasoning Cast Iron the CORRECT Way

2014-02-15T05:13:00.001-08:00

It does matter what oil you use. So what is it? Here are some hints: What oil do artists mix with pigment for a high quality oil paint that dries hard and glassy on the canvas? What oil is commonly used by woodturners to give their sculptures a protective, soft-sheen finish? It's the same oil. Now what is the food-grade equivalent of this oil?

The oil used by artists and wood turners is linseed oil. The food-grade equivalent is called flaxseed oil. This oil is ideal for seasoning cast iron for the same reason it's an ideal base for oil paint and wood finishes. It's a "drying oil", which means it can transform into a hard, tough film. This doesn't happen through "drying" in the sense of losing moisture through evaporation. The term is actually a misnomer. The transformation is through a chemical process called "polymerization".

Go to your local health food store or organic grocery and buy a bottle of flaxseed oil. It's sold as an omega-3 supplement and it's in the refrigeration section because it goes rancid so easily. Check the expiration date to make sure it's not already rancid. Buy an organic flaxseed oil. You don't want to burn toxic chemicals into your cookware to leach out forever more. It's a fairly expensive oil. I paid $17 for a 17 ounce bottle of cold-pressed, unrefined, organic flaxseed oil. As it says on the bottle, shake it before you use it.

Strip your pan down to the iron using proper techniques. Heat the pan in a 200°F oven to be sure it's bone dry and to open the pores of the iron a little. Then put it on a paper towel, pour a little flaxseed oil on it (don't forget to shake the bottle), and rub the oil all over the pan with your hands, making sure to get into every nook and cranny. Your hands and the pan will be nice and oily.

Now rub it all off. Yup - all. All. Rub it off with paper towels or a cotton cloth until it looks like there is nothing left on the surface. There actually is oil left on the surface, it's just very thin. The pan should look dry, not glistening with oil. Put the pan upside down in a cold oven. Most instructions say to put aluminum foil under it to catch any drips, but if your oil coating is as thin as it should be, there won't be any drips.

Turn the oven to a baking temperature of 500°F (or as high as your oven goes - mine only goes to 450°F) and let the pan preheat with the oven. When it reaches temperature, set the timer for an hour. After an hour, turn off the oven but do not open the oven door. Let it cool off with the pan inside for two hours, at which point it's cool enough to handle.

The pan will come out of the oven a little darker, but matte in texture - not the semi-gloss you're aiming for. It needs more coats. In fact, it needs at least six coats. So again rub on the oil, wipe it off, put it in the cold oven, let it preheat, bake for an hour, and let it cool in the oven for two hours. At that point it starts to develop a bit of a sheen and the pan is ready for use.

Natural Fruit and Vegetable Wash

2012-07-31T15:30:00.000-07:00

ALL NATURAL ALL FRUIT HOMEMADE POPSICLES

2012-07-27T01:09:00.000-07:00

ALL NATURAL ALL FRUIT HOMEMADE POPSICLES

3 cups watermelon puree (about 1/4 to 1/2 a watermelon)
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup chopped fresh strawberries
1 kiwi, peeled and sliced
1 peach or nectarine, diced small
Handful fresh cherries, pitted and chopped

Make sure to wash all the fruit you will be using before you begin. If you have other fresh fruit, feel free to substitute what you prefer/have on hand to the ones listed in the ingredients.

Cut the watermelon into chunks (be sure to get all the seeds out) and then puree it in a blender until smooth. Set aside.

Set out about 1 dozen popsicle molds (amount needed will vary depending on size of molds). Fill each one with the chopped fresh fruit. Pour in the watermelon puree until each mold is full to the top. Place a popsicle stick into each one. Place into your freezer and freeze for about 6 to 8 hours.

When ready to serve, run the popsicle molds under warm water for a few seconds and then pull each one out. Enjoy!

Make Your Own Flavored Coffee Syrups

2012-04-13T04:42:00.000-07:00

Do you like the flavored coffee syrups at your favorite coffee shop? This is how to make your own flavored coffee syrups that you can use at home and save some money.

VANILLA SYRUP

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups water

2 cups sugar, brown or white

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (the clear kind is better here)

DIRECTIONS:

In a small pot, heat your water and sugar over low/medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar has dissolved. Now stir in your vanilla extract and pour into your dispenser. You can experiment with other extract flavorings.

RASPBERRY SYRUP

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups water

2 cups sugar, brown or white

1/2 cup fresh raspberries

DIRECTIONS:

In a small pot heat, your water and sugar over low/medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar has dissolved. Mash up the raspberries a little and then stir them in with the syrup, allow this to mingle for 3-5 minutes. Pour through a fine-mesh strainer to filter out any large raspberry pieces and seeds. Then pour into your dispenser. You can experiment with your favorite fresh fruit, like strawberries, blueberries, etc.

CARAMEL SYRUP

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups water

2 cups sugar, brown or white

1/2 cup caramel syrup

DIRECTIONS:

In a small pot, heat your water and sugar over low/medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar has dissolved. Stir in caramel until well combined and pour into your dispenser.

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Label the syrups. You can add decorative labels or ribbons to these for gifting. You can wrap a piece of craft paper (labeled and decorated any way you like) around the bottle(s). These do not need to be refrigerated. The shelf life value is unknown by me at this point.

Adding a CONTACT ME widget/gadget to your blogspot

2012-04-10T08:53:00.001-07:00

This is what to do if you are interested in adding a contact button to your blogspot page.

From the dashboard, choose the layout option.

Click Add a Gadget

Choose Picture

Type in your title (example: Contact me via e-mail)

In the Link box type: mailto:youremailaddress@wherever.com

Load your chosen image and save

Go back to your layout page and move your gadget wherever you want it and then save. This will allow others to send you an e-mail directly from your blog.

Singer's "Tea"

2012-04-10T03:03:00.004-07:00

SINGER’S “TEA”

INGREDIENTS:

1 ginger root (4-6 inches long)
6 ounces apple juice concentrate
Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/3 cup honey

DIRECTIONS:

Chop the ginger root in 1/4 inch slices using approximately 4-6 inches of the root. Add enough water to cover the slices in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, and then simmer for 45 minutes.

Add cayenne, honey, lemon juice, and apple juice concentrate, using relative amounts to suit your taste.

You can use Singer's Tea to warm and soothe the throat, to cut through mucus, and to stimulate the circulation in the vocal tract.

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I have also seen this same recipe with a couple of different ingredients:

1 fresh ginger root (4-6 inches)
2 cups water
1 caffeine free tea bag
1 tbs. apple cider vinegar
1 Fresh lemon
1/4 tsp. Cayenne
1/3 cup honey

How to know if your EGGS have gone bad

2012-04-09T06:00:00.002-07:00

Oh, my. I need to use eggs in a recipe and am not sure if my eggs are still good. Well, have no fear. Simply fill a bowl with water. If your eggs SINK to the bottom, they are still good. If they float? They are no longer fit to eat.

HONEY is the ONE food that NEVER goes bad

2012-04-04T13:01:00.000-07:00

Who knew?

You're making a recipe and suddenly realize that you need honey. You remember vaguely seeing some in the back corner of the cupboard. Thankfully, it really is there and you pull it out to use it, only to realize it has crystallized. You're going to have to go to the store, after all, and buy... wait a minute, there. Hold on to your horses. Honey never goes bad. So what if it has crystallized? All you do is throw it in the microwave (if it has a metal lid on the jar, please take the lid off. I don't want you burning your house down) for 45 seconds. Take it out, stir it up a bit (or shake it if it's in a plastic container). Continue to microwave it in 45 second bursts until it is back to it's regular consistency. You can also place the container (if it's glass, not sure how plastic containers would fare) in a pot of boiling water and that will do the same thing. It does lose a little of it's nutritional value over time, but never again throw away that crystallized jar of honey. Unless said crystallized jar of honey contains mold. You CAN throw THAT puppy away.

Homemade Shampoo Recipes

2012-04-04T05:44:00.001-07:00

Homemade Shampoo Recipes

So how can you make your own shampoo? Fortunately there are tons of great homemade shampoo recipes out there. Here are just TWO:

CASTILE SHAMPOO

1/4 cup water
1/4 cup liquid Castile soap
1/2 teaspoon oil (like jojoba, olive oil, or grapeseed)

Mix all the ingredients into a plastic or glass bottle and you’re good to go! Don't forget to label your shampoo with the ingredients listed.

As far as the results, it’s a mixed bag with this recipe. Some people love this combination; others says it leaves a film on their hair. Again, a lot will depend on your hair type and your water type (hard water seems to leave more film).

BAKING SODA SHAMPOO

The awesome ways to save money with baking soda extend to shampoo, as well. The biggest benefit to using baking soda is that it really helps get rid of the buildup that settles on your scalp from other hair care products. But, you have to rinse with vinegar if you want your hair feeling as light and fluffy as it always does. Alone, baking soda has a tendency to dry hair out.

INGREDIENTS:

Baking Soda

Water

Vinegar - - - used for rinsing ('flavor' of your choice)

Here’s what you do:

Mix 1/2 cup baking soda with 3 cups water (this will make enough for several washings). Store in a LABELED plastic or glass container. You can also make it one serving at a time. Mix 1 Tablespoon of baking soda with 1 cup of warm water.
When you’re ready to use, shake and apply to your scalp, scrubbing it in.
After you’ve scrubbed your scalp with the baking soda, rinse with 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar (or regular white vinegar for a lighter smell). You can also use 1 Tablespoon of vinegar mixed with 1 cup of water for a lighter mixture.

Keep in mind that there are as many natural shampoo recipes as there are people experimenting. You might need to play with proportions before you find a combination that works great for your hair.

Tip: It might take a couple of weeks or more for your hair to “settle in” to being washed with baking soda and vinegar. The reason is because right now, your commercial shampoo (and daily washing) strips your scalp of natural oils. When you go natural, your hair might feel greasy or thick as your body adjusts. Stick it out! It’s also best not to wash your hair every day, whether you’re using natural shampoo or not. Washing every other day will help keep your hair and scalp healthy. I usually wash my hair a couple of times a week.

Homemade Dryer 'Sheets'

2012-04-04T05:36:00.000-07:00

HOMEMADE DRYER ‘SHEETS’

1 bottle fabric softener (your choice and size)

Water

4 sponges

1 air-tight container that will hold all of your ingredients

Pour one bottle of fabric softener in the (I suggest lidded) container of your choice and another bottle and a half (use the empty fabric softener bottle you just emptied) of water. Add 2-4 sponges. When you are ready to use your homemade dryer 'sheets', simply wring out 2 of the sponges and toss them in the dryer. Voila! Reusable dryer 'sheets'. Be sure and label your reusable dryer 'sheet' container. It might be nice to also note on the label which fabric softener you have included :-)

Homemade Deodorant

2012-04-04T05:27:00.004-07:00

HOMEMADE DEODORANT

INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup Arrowroot powder

3/4 cup Baking soda

3/4 cup Organic coconut oil

1/4 tsp Tea tree oil

8 drops of Lavender oil

Directions:

In a bowl using a pastry cutter, mix arrowroot powder, baking soda and coconut oil. After working it all together it should be a firm consistency but dissolve easily when rubbed through fingers. Add tea tree oil and lavender oil and mix until blended. Store in an air-tight container of your choice.

When applying it, simply scoop out a very small amount with your finger and apply.

Homemade Pre-Wash Stain Spray

2012-04-04T05:12:00.001-07:00

Homemade Pre-Wash Stain Spray

1⁄2 cup white vinegar

1⁄4 cup baking soda

3 cups water

Stir together and fill a labeled spray bottle. Spray on soiled spots just before washing. Always test a hidden spot first.

Homemade Laundry Stain Lifter

2012-04-04T05:11:00.000-07:00

HOMEMADE LAUNDRY STAIN LIFTERS

REGULAR STAIN LIFTER

Laundry stain lifter needs a stronger cleaning power than just detergent, therefore we have to include a stronger chemical compound, hydrogen peroxide. Make this recipe to remove your stain in your clothes. Here is a recipe for one cup of homemade stain remover:

1/2 cup HOT Water

1/4 cup Hydrogen Peroxide

1/4 cup Baking Soda

Mix all ingredients and put it in a spray bottle. TEST ON HIDDEN PORTION OF FABRIC BEFORE USING. Soak or spray to the stain only. Leave for at least 30 minutes before you wash the cloth as usual. Don't forget to label the spray bottle with the ingredients listed so there is no confusion as to what's in it.

DEEPER/STRONGER STAIN LIFTER

1/2 cup ammonia

2 quarts water

2 Tablespoons Laundry Detergent (liquid or powder)

Blend ammonia and water. Add laundry detergent and stir well. Store in spray bottle. TEST ON HIDDEN PORTION OF FABRIC BEFORE USING. Spot to stain, then soak overnight. Don't forget to label the spray bottle with the ingredients listed so there is no confusion as to what's in it.

Edible Play Dough Recipe

2012-04-04T05:01:00.002-07:00

Edible Play Dough Recipe

1/3 cup margarine
1/3 cup light corn syrup
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract or flavorings
1 lb. powdered sugar
food coloring (optional)

Mix first 4 ingredients together. Add powdered sugar. Knead it. Divide and add food coloring. Keep the homemade play dough refrigerated to keep from spoiling when not in use. You can replace vanilla with flavored extracts to give flavor other than just plain sweetness.

Homemade Honey-Cocoa Butter Lip Balm

2012-04-04T05:00:00.000-07:00

Homemade Honey-Cocoa Butter Lip Balm

(Makes 100 applications)

2 tbsp. olive oil
1/2 tsp. honey
3/4 tsp. beeswax — grated
1/2 tsp. pure cocoa butter
Flavored oil of your choice (like peppermint or vanilla)
1 vitamin E capsule

Directions:

In a small saucepan, heat oil, honey, wax and butter over a low heat until just melted.
Remove from heat and allow to cool for 2-3 minutes.
Stir in flavoring and contents of vitamin E capsule.
Pour into containers of your choice.

Easter Egg-Stravaganza

2012-04-04T04:59:00.002-07:00

Easter Egg-Stravaganza

Here are some old standards for egg dying with a few new ideas for you.

Before decorating Easter eggs, cover the entire table with newspaper. Keep a huge roll of paper towels or rags handy for messes. Have each kid wear an old (now disposable) tee shirt.

Making Easter Egg Stands

Cut toilet paper roll cores into one inch cylinders and use for egg stands. Decorate with stickers or paint.

Decorating Easter Eggs

Traditional Method

Hard boil eggs. Fill several mugs with boiling water and add 1-2 tsp. vinegar. Place a few drops of desired food coloring in each mug. Place eggs in mugs for several minutes until eggs reach desired shades.

Remove with a spoon. Place on paper towel to dry. When dry, polish with a small amount of shortening on a paper towel. Buff until glossy.

You can draw or write on the eggs with a light colored or white crayon before dipping. The drawing will remain white after the egg is dipped.

To clean out mugs, put a little bleach water in the cups and soak for a few minutes.

Natural Easter Egg Dyes

If you would like to try decorating Easter eggs with natural dyes, try the following:

Yellow– yellow onion skins, turmeric (1/2 tsp. per cup water) celery leaves
Orange–any yellow dye plus beet juice
Red–beets, paprika, red onion skins
Pink–cranberry juice
Blue–blackberries, grape juice concentrate, red cabbage
Brown–black tea, white oak, juniper berry, coffee, barberry
Light purple–blackberries, grapes, violets
Green–alfalfa, spinach, kale, violet blossom plus 1/4 tsp. baking soda, tansy, nettle, chervil, sorrel, parsley, carrot tops, beet tops or dip yellow egg in blue dye

Hard boil eggs with 1 tsp. vinegar in the water. Place dying ingredients in non-aluminum pans, cover with water and boil 5 minutes to 1 hour until desired color is achieved. Use enough material to make at least 1 cup dye. Crush ingredients as they boil to extract as much dye as possible. Strain the dye. Most dyes should be used hot. Let each egg sit in the dye until it reaches the desired color. Some dyes will take longer than others to make the desired colored on the egg. Remove the egg and let dry.

Glitter Eggs - Place 1 tablespoon each of glue and water in a cup. Stir the mixture and then paint the eggs with it. Sprinkle with glitter. This can also add sparkle to already dyed eggs!

Decoupaged Eggs – Tear small pieces of wrapping paper, napkins, stickers, or clip art. Mix equal amounts of glue and water. Paint egg with glue mixture. Place paper on top and then cover with more glue mixture. Let dry.

Spotted Eggs – Place 1 tsp. of cooking oil in dye. Dip the egg. The oil will cause the dye to make an irregular pattern on the egg.

Waxed Eggs – Dip a portion of the eggs in melted paraffin or candle wax. Then dip them in the dye. Remove from dye. Dry and peel off the wax. The egg will be white on one half and colored on the other half. You can also dip in dye before waxing to get two colors.

Hollow Eggs – Poke a hole in one end of an egg with a very small needle. Poke another slightly larger hole in the other end. Then blow on the small end and the egg will come out the other side. Decorate Easter eggs as desired.

Homemade Bubbles Recipe

2012-04-04T04:55:00.002-07:00

Homemade Bubbles Recipe

1/2 cup liquid dishwashing liquid
2 cups water
2 teaspoons sugar

Put the dishwashing detergent in the water. Carefully stir in sugar trying to avoid suds. Take a regular drinking straw and cut into 4 pieces. Then dip into the solution and blow your bubbles. Tie a rope loop up to a foot in diameter on the end of a stick and make a gallon of bubbles. Dip the rope in the bubbles and run with them. This will give you giant bubbles. To make your own bubble blowers, cut the tops off of recycled juice or water bottles.

Homemade Powdered Laundry Detergent

2012-04-04T04:38:00.002-07:00

HOMEMADE POWDERED LAUNDRY DETERGENT

Seriously? Make your own laundry detergent when you can go to the store and snatch some off the shelf really quick? Seriously. Make your own laundry detergent no matter how convenient it is to run to the store and buy some. I mean, with the price of gas these days, it may cost you more in gas to go get the detergent off the shelf than the store-bought detergent is actually worth. Spend a little time to make your own, save a TON of money on detergent over the next few months, and use that extra mulah to go get yourself a manicure or a pedicure. Your clothes will be just as clean as when you bought the stuff straight off the shelf. Try it. You might be PLEASANTLY surprised.

INGREDIENTS:

1 box (4 lbs 12 oz / 76 oz / 2.15 kg) 20 Mule Team Borax (Wal-Mart $3.38)

1 box (3 lbs 7 oz / 55 oz / 1.56 kg) Arm & Hammer All Natural Super Washing Soda (Wal-Mart $3.24)

4 bars of soap (Fels-Naptha, Ivory, Zote or Kirk’s Castile), finely grated (Dollar General 10-pack Ivory $4.12)

*1 box (4 lbs / 64 oz / 1.81 kg) Baking Soda (Wal-Mart $2.21)

*1-2 container(s) (1.87 lbs / 30 oz / 860 g) oxi cleaner (Dollar General – store brand - $2.25, but I found another generic version later at my favorite DOLLAR store)

TOOLS:

Hand-held grater, or you can use your food processor to grate the bars of soap (DOLLAR store for a grater)

Container/bowl in which to grate your soap bars (I actually use one of my end-product storage containers in which I grate my bar soap) (*FREE* if you re-purpose a container, which I do, or go to your favorite local DOLLAR store)

Large container (at least 4 gallons) in which to mix all of the ingredients together (I use a large 4 gallon pail which I purchased years ago at my favorite local DOLLAR store)

Large slotted mixing spoon (metal, wood or heavy plastic) for stirring ingredients together (DOLLAR store)

Air-tight storage container(s) in which to store your finished product (mine were ‘free’, or you can visit your favorite local DOLLAR store)

1 tablespoon measuring device (If you have any liquid medicine dispenser cups you got with any over the counter medicines, these are great, and for the most part have 1 and 2 tablespoon measuring lines. THESE ARE FREE!!! Or you can buy a measuring spoon at your favorite local DOLLAR store)

*Large solid mixing spoon (metal or heavy plastic) for the sifting process (DOLLAR store)

*1 (one) large in size with small hole strainer/splatter guard for the sifting process (DOLLAR store)

*Face mask - - - the powdered ingredients can dust up during mixing (I found a 12-pack of these at my favorite local DOLLAR store)

* * * * * * *
*NOTE: These ingredients/tools are TOTALLY OPTIONAL. However, I DO recommend them, ESPECIALLY the face mask.
* * * * * * *

DIRECTIONS:

I hate measuring things, can you tell? One box of this, one container of that, one bar of something else - - - that’s about as complicated as I like my recipes. The hardest part of this entire recipe is FINELY grating the soap bars, and that is the first thing you do. If you know a couple of days ahead of time that you will be making this, go ahead and take the paper wrapping off of the bar soap to let it dry out some. This helps with the grating process. Some people use their food processors for this, and I am assuming they have a dishwasher for clean-up afterwards. I do not, and have no desire to hand wash the soap off that disc once I am done, so I actually purchased a hand-held grater at my favorite local DOLLAR store to use specifically for making my homemade laundry detergent, and it worked beautifully. Also read reviews that people using the F-N bar soap ruined their food processors, that the F-N really DOES have to be hand grated. Now I have to pass along a really cool tip. Don't grate the soap, microwave it for 45 seconds to a minute (if you have a microwave). It expands a whole bunch and afterward, you can crumble it into the perfect fine powder. I know this works with Ivory, however I did see one comment that this does not work with some of the other soaps I've listed, so cut off a small piece and try it first if you want to. Once you have grated all four (4) bars of soap, it is time to get down to the mixing. (Put on your face mask now if you plan to use one, I do.) You simply pour a little bit at a time out of each box of ingredients, not forgetting to add some of your grated soap, and stir them all together with your slotted spoon, until well mixed. Keep adding a bit of the ingredients at a time until it is ALL thoroughly mixed together. Some people use their food processors for this mixing process step as well. More power to you if you want to do that, but I will stick with my handy-dandy pail and slotted spoon mixing process. Pour your finished product into your air tight storage containers. I actually use two (2) clean ( re-purposed for use here) one-gallon (4 quarts / 3.78 litres) ice cream buckets with handle/lid. You only need to use 1-to-2 (one to two) tablespoons of the finished product PER LOAD of laundry. If you have a large or heavily soiled load of laundry, you can use up to 4 (four) tablespoons per load, but you should NEVER have to use more than 4 tablespoons (which equals 1/4 cup) per load of laundry. I have seen SEVERAL different recipes and NONE call for more than 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup) per load. Of course, you can adjust this per-load measurement recommendation to your own personal preferences. *NOTE: If you have hard or well water, you will use more. If you have soft water, you will use less. A good rule of thumb is to try less first, and then if you need more, use more. Also, if you have a HE or front loading washer, less is needed. Top loading washers need more. If you have a HE or front loading washer, you may want to use hot water to dissolve the powder first and THEN add that mixture where you put the liquid laundry detergent on your machine. This recipe is good for people with sensitive skin/laundry detergent allergies. THIS RECIPE SHOULD LAST A FAMILY OF FOUR WELL OVER A YEAR. You can do the price comparison break down if you want to, but I trusted others online who said the cost breaks down anywhere from ONE PENNY TO JUST FIVE CENTS PER LOAD of clothes (depending on the cost of your ingredients, which we all know not only vary from store to store, but from city to city as well, but if you're a good couponer, your cost will be on the lower end), compared to the least expensive GENERIC/STORE BRAND detergent which was 12 cents per load. If you use the higher end detergents, you can save over a hundred dollars a year on detergent alone.

Now we get to the *OPTIONAL* part(s) of this recipe. I did extensive online research and reading of reviews to include these ingredients/steps to the making of my homemade laundry detergent. Baking Soda is purely optional, but it acts as a natural fabric softener, so I choose to add it into the powdered laundry recipe instead of adding a (natural) fabric softener (i.e. vinegar) to my rinse cycle water. I save a step AND money by adding the Baking Soda into my main laundry detergent mixture. The oxi cleaner is also an optional part of the recipe. When you look at the ingredients, make sure it says SODIUM PERCARBONATE. Again, after much online research and reading of reviews, I decided to go ahead and add this ingredient to my recipe as well. It surely can’t hurt.

I’ll bet you’re wondering about that whole sifting process by now, aren’t you? Have no fear. I am about to explain. And just let me tell you UP FRONT that THIS is a very tedious and time consuming process, but I believe WELL worth the effort. As I have already stated, I read NUMEROUS recipes and online reviews of said recipes BEFORE I made my own homemade laundry detergent. And in my online research, I found out a few things. ONE - - - this recipe IS safe for HE washing machines. TWO - - - this is a low-to-no-sudsing laundry detergent formula, so don’t freak out when your laundry doesn’t suds up like you’re accustomed to it doing. THREE - - - choose your bar soap wisely. I chose Ivory. HOWEVER, I kept seeing the occasional review/comment stream with warnings about the bar soaps from appliance repair people. Bottom line was this - - - these appliance repair people said to use bar soaps with NO ANIMAL FAT. Apparently bar soaps containing animal fats can lead to build-up in your machine itself, hence the need for said repair man. Ivory and Fels-Naptha BOTH contain animal fat. (F-N is made by the DIAL Corporation, incidentally, and should be found on the laundry aisle. If it’s not there, look on the aisle with the bath soaps. If your local store does not carry the F-N, they can most likely order it for you since it is made by DIAL.) The Castile soaps do NOT contain animal fat, they are ALL NATURAL INGREDIENTS, vegetable based. As a matter of fact, the Kirk’s Castile soap only has 4 (four) natural ingredients - - - PERIOD. Here is Kirk’s website, http://www.kirksnatural.com. You can find a list of local retailers, or buy it straight from the company. And almost without fail, the repair people commented that the bar soap used in these homemade laundry detergent recipes was not finely enough grated. If it had been, they said the repair probably could have been avoided. Hence, my own ‘sifting process’ was added to the recipe.

I place the splatter guard (which I bought specifically for this purpose at my favorite local DOLLAR store) over my original 4 gallon mixing pail. I scoop a little (I used a measuring cup and scooped about one cup at a time) of my finished product out of my final air-tight storage containers and pour it onto the strainer/splatter guard. Once all of the fine powdered ingredients fall through your splatter guard/large sifter, all that is left are the pieces of grated bar soap. I use the back of my solid spoon to continue to crush the bar soap into very fine granules while the soap is still on the strainer/splatter guard. It takes a while to do this - - - you have been warned! Using the back of the solid spoon, I press it all out, use the solid spoon to scrape it all back up again in the middle of the splatter guard/screen, then press it out again, repeating this process, until I have VERY fine pieces/granules of the bar soap. I press out/scrape up the bar soap pieces SEVERAL times. Once the bar soap pieces are VERY fine, I dump them into the bucket along with the sifted powders, and mix all of the ingredients together again. Repeat this process until all of your homemade powdered laundry detergent has been sifted and re-mixed. Then place the TRULY finished product back into your air-tight storage containers along with your tablespoon measuring device.

Here is one final side note. In one further effort to avoid any bar soap build-up in your machine itself or your drain, I DO recommend that about once a month that you DO add some vinegar to your laundry IN A HOT WATER LOAD OF CLOTHES (I am assuming that would ONLY be your all-white items). The traditional combination of baking soda and vinegar added to drains followed by VERY HOT WATER is used to keep drains unclogged, so I am assuming here that using vinegar (since my recipe already contains baking soda) once a month will help alleviate ANY soap build up, either in the machine itself, or your drain lines.