The Duggar’s aren’t the only family who makes their own laundry detergent; years ago, I did too! It’s really more of a gel-like consistency. Here’s my recipe.

Traci’s Homemade Laundry Detergent

3 cups Fels Naptha Bar Soap, grated
2 cups Borax (*I actually liked to use Biz better than Borax)
8 cups hot water
3 teaspoons essential oil of your choice (lavender, peppermint, etc..)

Heat soap, borax and water slowly in a large pot, until the mixture is clear. Let is cool; then stir in the essential oil and stirring well. Pour into a container with a tight-fitting lid and use 1 cup of gel per load, make sure the gel is dissolved before adding clothes.

*Note:  My husband reminded me that my original recipe used Washing Soda.  It did, however, when I started using the Biz either alone, or along with the Borax, I found I got better results. Just thought I would add this note, as I know there are a lot of laundry detergent recipes on the web and almost all of them call for washing soda.  Mine is unique, especially with the use of Biz.   However, this recipe is very flexible, and you could certainly add in the Washing Soda to this recipe, if you feel you needed extra cleaning power.

Fabric Softener
Add 1/2 – 3/4 cup white vinegar in your fabric softener dispenser in your washing machine, or to a Downey Fabric Softener Ball.

Here’s a good book for more information on living with less toxins in the home.

Better Basics for the Home

My Mark had to return to work yesterday, but my self-imposed vacation continues this week. Although Mark is taking Friday, Saturday and Sunday off for this coming weekend; so we’ll jump back into the fun for the long weekend. Until then, I am working on organizing and cleaning the house. I did my bedroom closet yesterday. It was a pitiful mess, and so I pulled everything out, sorted, folded, hung and organized the whole thing. I also got all the laundry done. I feel much better now. Today I need to clean bathrooms and sweep/mop floors.

It’s supposed to be hot and humid again today. We are really beginning to feel that our a/c is not working properly. We had someone come out and give us an estimate on replacing our furnace (which went out completely in March) and a/c units. While here, the repair guy charged our a/c, as it was 3 pounds low on freon. That helped immensely, for the first day, and decreasingly each day since. Now we’re at the point that yesterday (which was hot and very humid) showed my weatherbug telling me it was 83 degrees outside and the thermostat inside was telling me it was 81 degrees. The only thing that kept me from opening all the windows and turning on the attic fan was that it was less humid in here than outside. But still….. it was not pleasant. I love my air conditioning and make no excuses for it. I’m a wimp.

So today, Mark is going to buy a free-standing room air conditioner for our bedroom (we have odd side-cranking windows, so a window unit won’t work). We have the same thing upstairs in the girls’ bedroom and it works beautifully. Even though we are also calling today to get us on the schedule for replacing the furnace and air conditioner, I believe we could still use this new free-standing unit. I like it cold enough to see ice hanging from the ceiling (remember, I’m in menopause); so to avoid burning up a brand new air conditioning system – we’ll use this room one to help ease its burden.