Midwest Country Living: Homemade Laundry Soap

Monday, February 13, 2012

Homemade Laundry Soap

A recipe for SAVINGS! Make your own liquid laundry soap. All items can be purchased at Wal-Mart in the same aisle. See complete recipe on the right-hand side of blog under Household Tips.

Yields: 2.25 gallons. Usage is 1/4 to 1/3 cup per load. 144 loads per recipe. Supplies cost us $3.00 (based on recipe amounts) which makes the Cost Per Load: $0.02. WOW...what a savings!

Household Tips

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap
Yields: 2.25 gallons

2 cups grated Fels-Naptha Bar Soap
2 cups Borax
2 cups Washing Soda
2 gallons, plus 1 quart water

Grate bar soap to equal 2 cups. Dissolve the grated soap in 1 quart water on stove. Do Not Boil. Only gently warm to completely melt the soap (takes only a few minutes).

In a bucket, add Borax and Washing Soda. Add 2 gallons of Hot tap water. Stir to dissolve. Add the melted soap to the bucket. Stir until well mixed. Allow to cool completely (maybe overnight). Mixture will be thick and gelled...stir completely to mix to a smooth consistency.

Pour into smaller containers. Shake well before each use.

Usage: 1/4 to 1/3 cup per load

Cost per load: $0.02 (approx.)

Gardening Tip

Timing is Everything

You may be itching to get a head start on this year's vegetable or annual flower beds, but you'll do serious damage to your soil if you till--or even tread too heavily--while the ground is too wet. Soils with high clay content are particularly susceptible to compaction and, once an area is compacted, it's much more difficult for water, air, eartherworms and seedlings to push through it.

Not sure if it's safe to dig? Form a ball from a small handful of soil and give it a squeeze. If you notice any water dripping out, it's too early; if the soil crumbles easily, you should be able to work the ground worry-free.

Farm-Style Fast Food

Zucchini Chocolate Cake
Serves 12

1/2 c. oleo (Crisco)
1/2 c. oil
1-3/4 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
1/2 c. sour cream
2 c. zucchini, shredded
2-1/2 c. flour
4 T. cocoa
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/2 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda

Icing (optional; see below)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a bowl, cream together the oleo, oil, and sugar. Add eggs, vanilla, sour cream, and zucchini and mix. Add flour, cocoa, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder and baking soda. Pour batter into a floured, 9x13 inch glass pan. Bake for approximately 45 mintues.

Icing (optiona): Bring to boil 1 stick butter, 6 T. milk, 2 T. cocoa. Remove from heat and add 1 box (1 pound) powdered sugar, 1 t. vanilla, and 1 c. nuts. Beat until smooth. Immediately pour over warm cake.

Midwest Country Living

Monday, February 13, 2012

Homemade Laundry Soap

Household Tips

Gardening Tip

Farm-Style Fast Food

GENERAL STORE

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