Homemade Fabric Softener and "Dryer Sheets"

This is a very simple and very inexpensive recipe for home made fabric softener

• 6 cups HOT water
• 3 cups white vinegar
• 2 cups of your favorite conditioner

I use Suave even though it is not an organic all natural conditioner. However, I do not have to use the fabric softener very often. Also, I noticed that Suave actually has less ingredients then most market conditioners. I am searching for a conditioner that is more natural/organic that is affordable. I will let you know when I find it.

You simply mix all the ingredients together and stir vigorously with a wire whisk until all the conditioner is dissolved.  Once it is dissolved you pour it into a container (the container shown is NOT big enough).

For "dryer sheets" I place 2 sponges in a rectangle shaped bowl as shown below.

Then I pour some of the fabric softener over the top of the sponges as shown below.

I put the lid on and let them set while the clothes wash. Then I pull out one or both sponges depending on how strong I want the clothes to smell and I throw them in the dryer. I do NOT wring them out first. Just repeat every time you want to use them. I only use these on occasion as it takes up a lot of my softener. I put some links below on other ideas for homemade dryer sheets. Hope you find something you like. Just as an added note, I do have an HE washer.

Dryer sheets with old sheets and essential oil

Made with rags that can be reused up to 6 times.

Requires sewing, but very cute!

How to Make Homemade Wet Wipes or baby wipes.

I've been using this recipe since my teenage girls were babies! I loved using them because I KNEW what was in them and what was going on my baby's skin. The wet ones are not super cheap although they are a lot cheaper then the store bought ones. It is and was more important to me that all natural ingredients are being used when it comes to the skin of my darling children. There is also a great satisfaction that comes from making your own products for your family.

I stopped using them for the longest time because I didn't have a need for "wet ones". However, I found myself wishing I had some in the car, my purse, and in the bathroom. I keep them in the bathroom for the times when my girls are too tired/lazy to wash their face. They use the wet wipes to wash their face at night or in the morning. Again, the picture tutorial is self explanatory, but I will post the recipe. Also, when I made them years ago, I actually would have dh cut the roll in half, put them in a round bowl, then pull the center out (after it was wet), and would then pull the wipes out from the center. That is probably the quickest and easiest way to do it, but we don't make the mass amount now like we used to. My girls actually enjoy helping me to make these.

1 roll of good paper towel (the cheap stuff doesn't work well) I use Brawny select-a-size (102 sheets)
2-3 cups of water (depending how wet you want them)
2-3 Tbs. Dr. Bronner's Castile soap (baby mild formula)
1/4-1/2 t. vitamin E oil (optional)
10-15 drops of favorite Essential Oil (optional, I didn't do this when I used it for my babies)
Be sure to pour the mixture in a few different layers (bottom, middle of wipes, and top of wipes). They will not be saturated at first, so let them set for a while with the lid on and all of the towels will get wet eventually.

Homemade Laundry Soap for only 2 pennies per load

Source: iparker.com via Melissa on Pinterest

(Click Here To See Video Tutorial)

With a large family, doing laundry is an everyday chore no matter how much we have minimalized!For a large family who wants to be as natural as possible and leaving a smaller footprint, homemade seems to be the only way to go. This batch makes 2 gallons and cost just pennies per load. click on the picture to see a video on how to make it. If you don't have a pinterest account you can email me for details at ctradams11@gmail.com

Dishwasher detergent

Source: beingcreativetokeepmysanity.blogspot.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Source: beingcreativetokeepmysanity.blogspot.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Dishwasher Detergent ingredients:
1 box Borax (4lbs 12 oz or 76 oz ) (2.15 kg) found in the detergent isle
1 box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (55 oz or 3 lbs 7 oz) found in the detergent isle
24 packages of unsweetened lemonade drink mix, like kool-aid. (**Note: lemonade will stain soap dispenser yellow, another option would be to use citric acid instead of lemonade. You can usually find citric acid in the canning isle )
3 cups Epsom Salt
Lemi Shine rinse aid (this recipe does not work very well without it) You can find Lemi Shine in the dishwasher detergent isle at just about any store. You can also use vinegar as a rinse aid. If your dishes are coming out with spots on them that means you do need a rinse aid.

Homemade all natural household cleaner

We switched to all natural cleaning products years ago, but the cost really got pricey. We decided to make our own at a fraction of the cost! This recipe mimics the "Theives" oil cleaner from Young Living costing $112 for 64 oz!  It is easy to make, makes my house smell super yummy, and only cost me $11 to make about a GALLON(double the recipe below)! That gallon lasts a long time as it is very concentrated. It goes to show you can be healthy, natural, AND frugal even with a large family. 

You'll need:
                 The PEEL of one large lemon
 4-5 cinnamon sticks
1/4 C whole cloves
       4 "sprigs" of rosemary
        5-8 drops Eucalyptus oil

Put all the ingredients (EXCEPT the Eucalyptus oil) into about  8 cups of water
and set it on the stove, covered. Bring it to a boil then turn it down, cover it, and let
simmer for 30 minutes. Or you can turn it off , cover it, and let it steep for 2 hours. Your house
will smell SO yummy while this is "cooking".
This picture shows double the amount of ingredients.

Strain the mixture through a strainer and let the mixture cool. Once it is
cool, put the Eucalyptus oil in.

                                                                   

These ingredients can be used AGAIN to make another batch or two.

Because of the size of our family, I usually make a double batch. I store the cleaner
in a large glass jar. I use 4 TBS of cleaner to 2 C of water. You can add a 1/4 C of vinegar to
make a window or glass cleaner.
Wood Surface Recipe:
  2 C Warm water
               3 TBS oil blend cleaner
       2 drops dish soap
1 tsp olive oil

I love to put my leftover ingredients in my dehydrator so I can continue to enjoy the smell :)

You will find a recipe video here :)