This & That Junk Drawer Wednesday!!

Spent the day at the doctor's office....Had blood work and x-rays done, more meds prescribed and still feel lousy...My head is killing me....Well maybe in a few days it will get better....

Here are some recipes to save you money plus save the environment

Home Made Laundry Softener and Stain Remover:

You can save lots of money using these homemade softeners, I know I do!
I didn't "invent" these recipes, they were passed along to me. I have used them with much success, so I want to share them with you...

LAUNDRY SOFTENER
Recipe #1
2 Cups White Vinegar
2 Cups Baking Soda
4 Cups Water

Combine slowly and carefully over sink. The baking soda and vinegar will fizz.
Pour into plastic bottle, cover, and shake.
*Hint - Reuse your "Downy" bottle.
Use 1/4 cup in the final rinse or in a "Downy Ball".

Recipe #2
2-3 Cups Water
1 Cup Liquid Fabric Softener
Large Sponge
Combine water and liquid softener. Cut sponge in 1/2 and keep in liquid. When drying clothes, remove sponge, squeeze out excess liquid and place in dryer with clothes. When dry, just place sponge back in liquid to be used for next load.

You can also use these products alone to soften:
Plain White Vinegar - Add 1/2 cup to final rinse.
Baking Soda - Add 1/4 cup to final rinse
Regular Fabric Softener - Dilute and use normally.

Hair Conditioner or Cream Rinse - Pour 1 tablespoon into damp washcloth and toss in with clothes.

STAIN REMOVER

Recipe #1
1/2 Cup Ammonia
1/2 Cup White Vinegar
2 Tablespoons Liquid Laundry Detergent (Use Homemade)
2 Quarts Water
Mix well, and store in spray bottle.
*Hint - Reuse your "Spray and Wash" bottle.

Recipe #2
1/2 Cup Ammonia
1/2 Cup Liquid Laundry Detergent (Use Homemade)
1/2 Cup White Vinegar
1/2 Cup Water
Mix well, and store in spray bottle.
*Hint - Reuse your "Spray and Wash" bottle.

Recipe #3
1/4 Cup Borax or Washing Soda
2 Cups Cold Water
Sponge on and let dry, or soak the fabric in Borax mixture before washing in soap and cold water.
Recipe #4

For Heavily Stained Clothing

NOTE: This is for use with white cotton, nylon and polyester only.
1/2 Cup Liquid Laundry Detergent (Use Homemade)
1/2 Cup Electric Dishwasher Detergent
1/2 Cup Non-Chlorinated Bleach or Ammonia, Not Both.
Soak clothes in washing machine overnight or until stains disappear. Launder as usual. You can also use these products alone to remove stains:
Plain White Vinegar
Hydrogen Peroxide
Fels Naptha
Castile Soap

HOMEMADE LAUNDRY DETERGENT:

Save hundreds of dollars per year using these recipes!
I didn't "invent" these recipes, they were passed along to me. I have used them with much success, and have saved tons of money, so I want to share them with you...
Included are 3 liquid recipes, a powdered recipe, tips, and instructions about where to find ingredients.

Liquid Laundry Detergents:

Recipe #1
3 Pints Water
1/3 Bar Fels Naptha Soap, Grated
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax
2 Gallon Bucket
1 Quart Hot Water

Mix Fels Naptha soap in a saucepan with 3 pints of water, and heat on low until dissolved. Stir in Washing Soda and Borax. Stir until thickened, and remove from heat. Add 1 Quart Hot Water to 2 Gallon Bucket. Add soap mixture, and mix well. Fill bucket with hot water, and mix well. Set aside for 24 hours, or until mixture thickens. Use 1/2 cup of mixture per load.

Recipe #2
1 Cup Grated Fels Naptha Soap
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax
2 Tablespoons Glycerin
2 Gallons Water (NOTE: This recipe originally called for 2 Cups Water)
Mix all three ingredients together. Add glycerin and water.
Use 1/2 - 3/4 cup per load. Best when used with cold or warm water.

Recipe #3
1 Bar Fels Naptha Soap, Grated
5 Gallon Bucket
1 Cup Washing Soda
4 1/2 Gallons Water

Place grated soap in a small saucepan and cover with water. Heat on low until dissolved. Fill bucket with hot water, and add soap. Stir to combine. Add 1 cup washing soda and mix well. As it cools it will thicken. May be used immediately. Use 1-2 cups per load.

Powdered Laundry Detergent:

1 Cup Grated Fels Naptha Soap
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax
For light load, use 1 tablespoon.
For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 tablespoons.

TIPS

Liquid detergent can also be used as a pretreater for stains.
Ivory Soap, Deodorant Soap, and Beauty Bars can be substituted for the Fels Naptha Soap.
Essential Oils can be added to soap for fragrance.

This & That Kitchen Junk Drawer Wednesday!!!

DRIED POTATO CHUNKS OR POTATO GARLAND

These make great fillers for mixing up a bunch of spicy fixins' If you catch a sale, good old white potatoes are much less expensive than squash or yams. You will get the same look for less!
Peel and cut potatoes into one inch chunks/cubes. You can be as fussy about this as you like...I like a more mixed up look, but sometimes I try and have the perfect shapes...
Make a pot of coffee or strong tea and once your potatoes are peeled and cubed, let them soak for about an hour in the coffee or tea.
Ready a large sheet cake pan and grab a mixing bowl. Mix in the bowl a generous blend of dried ground spices - I like cinnamonn, nutmeg and cloves the best - but you can use whatever spices you like.
Preheat your oven to 200 degrees F or use your dehyradetor....Using a strainer,
remove the potato cubes from the coffee or tea and let drain...Now place them a handful at a time in the spice mixture. Mix them around until they are thoroughly covered and then place in a single layer on the cookie pan . Repeat with remaining potato chunks.
Bake at 200 degrees F for 8-12 hours. The actual size of your chunks as well as the elevation and humidity in your area will impact the total drying time necessary. Check your potatoes periodically. When they are firm, they are finished!
If you wish to make a garland instead of just chunks, you will string the chunks on hemp thread (wal-mart craft section). String and place the potatoes as close together as you can. The way I did it was to let the potatoes dry for awhile till almost done, then I strung them, along with some laurel leaves and hung on pegs to finish drying. When my potatoe chunks were dried, I sprinkled on some more spices, put in a plastic bag with some dried orange peels and cloves. Now shake them to mix everything together....

LAVENDER COOKIES:
"Delightful little cookies that add a wonderful atmosphere to any afternoon tea. They have a delicate lavender flavor that is not overpowering at all! cookies will disappear before they have a chance to cool!"

INGREDIENTS
5/8 cup butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon lavender flowers
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup colored sugar for decoration (optional)
1 tablespoon lavender flowers
DIRECTIONS
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
2.Cream together the butter and sugar. Beat the egg, and blend into the butter and sugar. Mix in the lavender flowers and the flour. Drop batter by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheets.
3.Bake 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden. Remove cookies to cooling racks, and sprinkle with decorative sugar and additional lavender flowers if desired.

Looking Good- Making Fabulous Eyes for Cloth Dolls:

Do you want to know how to do this type of doll eyes?..Then click on Art Doll Blog of Rivkah Mizrahi . This is such a neat site for learing to make beautiful dolls.

HOMEMADE STAIN REMOVER:

This home made stain remover is a pre-wash meaning that you put it onto the stain before you wash the item. You can mix up this home made stain remover and then store it in a bottle until you are ready to use it. It will last indefinitely and if you put it into a squirt bottle you can easily take the bottle and apply it onto the stain.To make this home made stain remover all you do is mix together one part dish soap to one part house hold ammonia and one part water. In other words you put in the same amount of all three ingredients. Then just mix the ingredients together and put them in the permanent container. Store your bottle of stain remover near your laundry soap and you will always have it handy when you are doing laundry.

If you get grease on your jeans then try spraying with WD 40 to remove the stain...