Cloth Diapering | 10 Cloth Diapers Researched

Hello ladies, fellow bloggers, and readers! I was debating whether or not to write a post here about my research in the cloth diapering department, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to share what I've 'uncovered' through reading reviews and research on the different diapers and brands listed in the next section of this post.

I am the main person who keeps track of our monthly budget, and since we have a baby coming in January I've been re-figuring numbers and added expenses to see how things will work with the added expense of having a baby in the house. Disposable diapers alone add a whole number to our budget that is just ridiculous to pay out each month. The cost alone is bad enough, but the fact that you have to KEEP buying them is the real killer. I just don't see how we are going to be able to afford full-time disposable diapers and so my research into cloth diapering began.

At first I didn't think I'd be able to handle cleaning the diapers, but a lady in my pregnancy group suggested buying a pair of rubber gloves like you'd use to wash dishes to wash off the diapers. I am SO glad she suggested that, and those will be on the list of things to get when we get a little closer to the due date. After talking with several ladies I really feel much more confident about venturing into the cloth diapering world. I'm not sure that I want to cloth diaper full-time, but I am willing to give it a try and we'll see how it goes from there.

Enough of me talking, on to what I've researched about different diapers and brands. Most of these I've researched different types of diapers in a brand just to see what other people thought about them, what the used them for, and how well they worked. The links go directly to the pages I looked at (although I didn't include links to every single page I did research on because I didn't think to write this post until I got to the last one on the list) and on there you can read even more about the different brands/diapers. Most of the links have reviews you can read through as well. I read though almost all the reviews on all the pages that had them.

I have yet to purchase any cloth diapers (this post was written 11/30/13), but as you will see in the 'lets review my thoughts' section, I've made some decisions on what type of diapers I want to get or try. When I move to the next phase (purchasing) I will try to share my thoughts again and when we get to the testing stage I'll share my thoughts there as well. Lots to look forward to on this subject in the future!

What I've Researched

(these are in order of when I researched them)

Kissas Marvels & Cloth-eez Pre-fold. These are both sold separately online through Green Mountain Diapers. The lady I talked to who told me about these uses them both together. I am honestly not really liking the type of fabric used on the covers (Kissas Marvels). The PUL fabric is on the inside instead of on the outside of the cover. Supposedly this makes it easier to 'wipe clean'. The pre-folds have different sizes depending on how big your baby is. There is a chart which helps you decide which  pre-folds to buy based on your babies size. I don't like this because you have to buy multiple sizes to change to as your baby grows.

Trend Lab Cloth Diaper with Liner -These are sold online through Target. There are mixed reviews on these diapers. Somewhere I read that they were not sturdy, as in someone had covers which were coming apart after not too long (I'm not sure which page I was on when I read that though, sorry!). After reading through the reviews on the link provided and in general research I wasn't really thrilled with the idea of buying these particular diapers.

BumGenius One Size -These are sold online through different retailers listed on the BumGenius site. Although these look nice, I'm not really sure about the whole stuffing the lining in the diaper part while your changing the baby's diaper. That sounds pretty complicated to me.

BumGenius Elemental One-Size All-In-One -I believe these are the diapers that my cousin is currently using. I am not for sure on that, but it looks almost exactly like the ones she showed me in a video she sent me. This system does not require stuffing (which sounds great to me!) and it has snaps. **If I could afford to spend about $18 on one diaper then I might do this, but I just cant afford it right now.**

Gerber Pre-Fold Birdseye 3-Ply Cloth Diaper -These are sold online and in stores at Walmart. Even before I had considered cloth diapering I had planned to pick up a package of these to use as burp clothes for the little man. There are mixed reviews on this item. Some people liked them, some people didn't. Many people purchased them as burp clothes (I plan to do so as well), and others have purchased them for cloth diapering. Some of the reviews written compared these with more expensive pre-folds and they liked these better because they were not as thick so they washed easier. **I plan to buy at least one package of these to use as burp cloths. If I end up using them as pre-folds for cloth diapers I will be making the burp cloths with something on them so I will be able to tell them apart.**

Gerber Flat Fold Birdseye Cloth Diaper -These are sold online at Walmart. Just from reading the reviews I would not want to use these for inserts in a diaper cover. It doesn't sound like they are very thick or absorbent, both of which would be highly important if you were going to use them for cloth diapering.

Gerber Pre-Fold Gauze Cloth Diapers -These are sold online at Walmart. From reading the reviews it sounds like these would make great burp cloths. Not so sure if they'd work great in the actual diaper department. They are 6-Ply so I assume that means they're thicker than the 3-Ply cotton pre-folds mentioned above?

Econobum, One-Size Cloth Diaper Trial Pack -These are sold online at Walmart. I have read through the 30+ reviews on this trial pack and almost everyone who shared said that this was a good system. Just a quick view at some of the comments: One lady said 4 of these trial packs with washing every other day works for her. Some people have said the prefolds are a little chunky for toddlers or for day time use, but work great at night. Another lady said that with a minimum of 3 covers and 12 inserts (she recommends doubling those numbers) the diapers pay for themselves in 2 months time. **I plan to buy this trial pack to try it out. It's inexpensive, and though Walmart only sells them in white that is ok with me.**

Econobum, 3 Covers & 12 Pre-Folds Diaper Kit -These are sold online at Walmart. This is the diaper kit which is where the trial pack mentioned just above comes from. The reviews here are almost all good and I'm not really surprised after reading all the reviews on the trial pack. **Going with the current price (at time of this post) on the trial pack of $9.63 x4 vs. the $39.29 of the kit it would be about $0.77 cheaper and you would have FOUR covers, not three. So I think I'd rather buy multiple trial packs vs. the kit.**

Sunbaby -I researched the ones sold online through Rock n Bottoms. This is a pocket diapering system. There is a girl in my pregnancy class who has made her own cloth diapers for her baby boy (who will arrive a few weeks after my little man!) and these look very similar to the ones she brought to show our group. I really liked the texture of the PUL fabric (which is the outside waterproof layer). The price of the diapers on this site look fantastic. Most of the diapers are just the outer cover and do not include inserts. There are lots of really cute patterns for boys and girls and there are several designs which could be either/or.

Let's Review My Thoughts

I'm liking the Econobum One-Size Trial Pack and of course I like the BumGenius Elemental One-Size All-In-One's. Both of these diapers seem to be the same style and system, but the first is obviously much less expensive than the second and as money is the whole reason I was looking at cloth diapers in the first place I think we will be going with the Econobum vs. BumGenius. I am nervous about buying cloth diapers period, but I think I'm going to see how long the return policy is for the Econobum's sold at Walmart (if I buy multiple trial packs and don't open them until I've tried one and end up not liking it how long do I have to take the rest back). That will probably be the deciding factor in how many I buy before little man gets here.

On cloth diapers in general: I've decided I don't really like the pocket system (stuffing the lining inside the diapers), and I don't want velcro. Snaps seem to be the most reliable when compared to velcro. I can only imagine we'll be having more babies down the road (I always said I wanted 10 kids, then I got pregnant...now I think 5 will do just fine!) so having a cloth diaper stash the next go round will save money then too.

Questions

I think at this point I don't really have any questions to ask. Thanks to my cousin, I was able to figure out how to use, clean, soak, wash, and dry the diapers (which I might do more sharing on in another post if I go with the cloth diapering system vs. disposable). I've talked to several people all together about how many covers and inserts they have for one baby and how often they wash everything. Most of them wash the diapers every other day. Most of the ladies suggested about 10 covers, and anywhere from 25-35 inserts (or prefolds). Of course they said you could get more than that, but this seems to be the recommended amount for starting out.

Your Help

If you have any thoughts, comments or suggestions which have to do with cloth diapering in general or on either of the two products I am interested in I'd love to hear from you! Especially if you've used either of the diapers I've picked out from both of the brands. Thank you very much!

Frugal Monday | Make a Budget

Although this is probably something you have heard before...it is the truth. You CANNOT be frugal if you DONT plan! Part of planning, is making a budget for how you spend the money that comes into your care. This is something that my mom has always been extremely good at...and I hope to do half as well as she has in this area.

About two months ago Autry & I sat down and wrote out a list of things we would need to pay for once we were married and on our own. A very important discussion for any couple who plans to get married! We made a general list at first and then later I divided it into two parts: the essentials, the luxuries. I will share these lists with you to give you an idea of how to make/start figuring out your own budget.

The Essentials
Rent/House payment
Car Insurance
Cell phone/home phone
Electric/gas
Non-Food (toilet paper, shampoo, cleaners)
Food
Gas for Car(s)
Renters Insurance
--and for us--Meds (for me)

The Luxuries
Internet
Netflix

Others
Health Insurance

Explanation of our Lists
~Essentials: things you have to have in order to keep living on your own. It is SO very important that you plan in your budget the very basic things like food, gas for the car (this should include extra trips to town, etc.), house payment/rent, car insurance, phone plan, electric/gas, and non-food items.

Other things you may have on your essentials list, like we do, is renters insurance (I'll explain soon!), and the money set aside each month for my medicine (which runs about $15 a month now).

~Luxuries: things that are not necessary to survival, but are nice to have WHEN you can afford them. Internet is something I'd really like for us to have. Why? Well, I can't work and I cannot drive so I will be home a lot and I don't want go crazy without all my creative sources to pull from. Plus, I am just getting my blog to a point where I feel really good about it and I'd hate to lose that. Netflix (a site where you sign up to watch movies and TV shows for about $8 a month) is one of our favorite ways to spend time together. It's not a need, and we don't have to have it even if we do end up with internet, but it is nice to have. There are so many good documentaries and informational sources on there! Plus, if you're into movies and TV shows, there are literally hundreds to choose from!

~Others: things that are neither a necessity nor a luxury. For us the only thing falling into that category is health insurance. We have looked at several different health plans and none of them are any good. The main reason we are looking is because I will eventually lose the plan I am on and will need my own. One of the medications I am on would be over $100 a month if it wasn't for my health insurance I currently have. If it came down to it I would change to a different medicine which would not be as expensive, but for now we are still looking at plans and seeing what our options are.

Renters Insurance
Many people may not know this, but renters insurance really does not cost that much and is something to consider especially if you live in an apartment where a fire could break out and you would have no control over it. What does renters insurance do? It replaces what you had in that house/place; a very nice thing to have, especially if you are starting out and don't have much anyway. A fire would be absolutely devastating to me and Autry if when we get married in the next 3-6 months. I feel much better paying the few dollars to have that security than losing everything and having no money to start over again.

Pricing
When you are putting your budget together you need to know how much money will be in your bank account, and how often, each month. Once you know that amount you are now ready to start dividing that money up between each item. Start with the most important: housing, electric, transportation. A phone is not a necessity so it should be added later on down the list once more important things are covered.

If you have any questions about making your own budget please feel free to ask away! This is something that anyone can do: college student, single person, couple, etc. I wish I had made a budget back when I had two jobs and went to school full time. Maybe I would still have a little money in my bank today if I'd done that. It is never too late to start a budget, so grab a piece of paper and a pen and get your list going!

Notes
~Even if you still live at home, but work a job you should/could still make a budget. Your budget will look much different than mine, but it will help you save for bigger things such as a car. Make a plan now for your future!

DIY Cloth Napkins

After seeing this post via SecondHand Couture I was inspired to sew some cloth napkins for when I get married and move out. I am working on finishing up as many projects as I can before then so working on this tutorial was a good use of time today.

I love how frugal this project is! Autry doesn't really use/need napkins, but I sure go through a ton! I know this is one thing I will love having in my new house!

Making cloth napkins is really simple. Basically there are 5 steps. 1. Find the fabric you want to use. 2. Cut it into squares. 3. Pin the edges under. 4. Sew the edges. 5. Wash the napkins for use.

I chose this fabric because it will look nice with my white dishes. I had a blue and white fabric I liked better, but it would've only given me four napkins and I wanted 12 total.

Tutorial

1. Cut the fabric into squares. I chose to do 13 inch by 13 inch so that I would have a 12 inch by 12 inch napkin once it was finished.

2. Fold under and pin the raw edges of two opposite sides of the napkin. Sew them down.

3. Fold down the remaining two raw edges and pin in place. Sew them down.

4. Repeat steps 2-3 for each napkin.

5. Cut off any strings which may be hanging off the napkins.

6. Run them through the washer and dryer and then they will be ready for use!

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5 Things To Get Your Closet Ready For Colder Weather

The last few days, or week rather, I have spent a lot of time thinking about writing a post to the girls who choose to dress modest and give some fun fashion tips for the coming fall weather. Last fall I was just starting to wear skirts all the time. There were a few things I discovered: skirts keep your legs warmer than jeans, leggings and tights are a must, boots & scarves are a girls best accessories, and cardigans/sweaters are the best for layering. Unfortunately I didn't figure all this out until February of this year...but these few things are going to help me a ton these next few colder months.

I have spent most of the past 8 months searching for tights, leggings and scarves which are both cute and on clearance or less than $3 each. Thanks to this I now have over 8 pairs of tights (most of which I bought for $1 each), more than 6 scarves (several of which I made), and, so far, three pairs of leggings. I also have found a large number of cardigans and sweaters which I wear year round.

The first few weeks/month of fall is actually not that cold so wearing lots of layers generally isn't necessary. But the closer to winter it gets, the cooler the weather is. These are a few things to get your closet prepared for the coming colder weather.

1. Go through your closet. You might be asking why I say this, but really it is important. If you keep clothes in a box in the garage or anywhere else, go through it too. Why? Well, you need to know exactly what you have for the coming cooler months. I know right now, without looking, that I have at least 5 skirts which I can use for the rest of the year. Of course, I will be making a few more because I already have the fabric on hand...but I don't "need" them. You need to know what you have so that if there is anything you might need you can be on the lookout for it. What items to you need to have for keeping warm? What item's can be used with multiple outfits?

2. Check your shoe supply. Some people wear the same shoes all the time. I am not one of them. I have a lot of shoes. Mostly because they were given to me or I bought them when I worked at Payless so they weren't full price. Unfortunately, the only thing I'm really lacking in are boots. I have one pair of black almost knee high boots. I love them! They are comfy and can be worn with so many outfits. I have multiple pairs of flats which I plan to wear with tights in the colder months. Although it is not a need, I am on the lookout for a pair of brown boots so I can wear them with my other skirts which don't match the black boots. Do you have shoes which can be worn with your fall/winter outfits? If not, what do you need?

3. Accessories. In the fall/winter I like to wear scarves because they keep your neck warm. They are also great for adding a cuteness factor to almost any outfit. Scarves can be found at thrift stores, or regular clothing stores and some other odd places like Walgreens. You can also make scarves from old t-shirts, something I plan to make a post about soon. Do you have/need/want scarves? What two colors would go with most of your wardrobe?

4. Make a list. Now that you've gone through your clothes what things do you need for the colder months? For example, I needed leggings (black, navy blue, and brown). I also needed a gray cardigan (and I found several at a thrift store...one which is light weight for spring and one which is a heavier fabric perfect for winter). I would also like to find a few more long sleeve shirts. Now that I had in mind what I needed I knew exactly what to look for when I went to the thrift store or other stores. All that is left on that list are the brown and black leggings and I may end up breaking down and buying them at regular price from WalMart. Of course the long sleeve shirts I will probably find at the thrift store. What is on your list? What stores can you find those things at for the best price?

5. Start looking. Every time you go shopping (for some of us that's not very often, but still) look for items on your list and stick to it. Check the price tags; don't spend a lot on clothes. There's no need. Look at clearance racks first and then expand to regular priced items if you don't find what you're looking for there. Yes it may be a cute sweater, but it's not worth $20 bucks...try finding one on clearance before buying one at regular price and save that money for something better. I personally love thrift stores because you can find almost anything and it's never more than $5 each. Garage sales are another great way to pick up items even for $0.25 an item. I recently found four items (shirts & cardigans) and only spent $1 at a garage sale. Don't spend a lot and get good deals.

I hope that these few tips have helped you think about the coming cold months. I do plan to post a tutorial on how to make your own scarf from an old t-shirt in the next few weeks. I will also be posting modest fall outfits to show examples of layering and keeping warm while wearing a skirt!

Happy cold weather!

Homemade Almond Butter

I saw this on Pinterest about a month and a half ago and knew I needed to try it. I read about this recipe/experiment at Judicial Peach. The almond butter that my mom has purchased lately from WalMart runs about $5 for a 12 oz. jar. I wanted to attempt to make my own and see if it was better, cheaper, etc. Was the experiment successful? I think yes. This almond butter is so rich and delicious! I love the flavor and the texture. Even though it is not as smooth as the store bought kind I would prefer to make my own over buying it from the store.

Here is what I did. And it made 12 ounces of delicious homemade almond butter!

Ingredients

2- 2 1/2 cups almonds

2 Tablespoons honey (optional)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Spread the almonds over an un-greased cookie sheet.

3. Bake the almonds for 15 minutes.

4. Let them cool for 5 minutes.

5. Pour the nuts into a food processer. Set a 5 minute timer and start blending. You may have to stop blending two or three times to get the clumps down to the blades again but don't stop the timer.

6. After the 5 minutes is up add in the honey and vanilla.

7. Set a 2 minute timer and let the food processer run. This time the mix will be a little clumpy looking, but it's fine.

8. Store in a good container. I used an old container I had from the store bought almond butter. I also had to mash the butter into the jar since it was clumpy. It is soft though so that's good.

9. Let the jar sit out on the counter for 2-3 hours before closing it and storing it in the fridge.

Notes

~I would assume the almond butter would stay good for AT LEAST two weeks.

Savings

It's been a really long time since I bought almonds because I buy the 48 oz. Member's Mark from Sam's (or rather my mom buys them...but still). Best I can remember it is about 14.50 for that bag. There are about 9 cups of nuts. Divide 14.50 by 9 that equals 1.611111... So $1.60 per cup of nuts. I used about 2 cups of nuts today in this mix that would equal about $3.00 for a 12 oz. jar of homemade almond butter. The store bought version (Maranatha Almond Butter) from WalMart? $4.50-5. So it's not a huge savings, but it is a savings AND I think the homemade stuff is a lot better. Try it out yourself and tell me which you like better: store bought or homemade.

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Homemade Whitening Toothpaste

I am the Queen of White Teeth! I spent most of my senior year whitening my teeth just cuz and ever since I am always trying something new to keep them white. So far I have used to packages of Crest whitening strips (6 months between each set), and for the past year or so I've been using Crest whitening toothpaste to keep up the whitening I paid so much for.

Whitening strips are not my favorite things, but I have been known to use them to keep my teeth white. Recently my goal has been to come up with something a whole lot less expensive which basically does the same thing. I think I have landed on a frugal winner!

I was using the Crest toothpaste mentioned above, but not noticing the results I thought I would see. I read somewhere that you could use straight peroxide to whiten your teeth (since that is the main ingredient in whitening strips after all). I started brushing my teeth with the toothpaste and then brushing my teeth with peroxide. However, brushing my teeth twice was something that was getting old fast and I needed a new remedy.

I read a few articles about using peroxide and baking soda together. None of the articles said it was a bad idea so I decided to give it a try. I have been very pleased with the results of how clean my teeth feel and how a good long time after I've brushed my teeth my breath still feels fresh. This is a huge bonus for me since I am one of those people who will run and brush their teeth in order to avoid bad breath. I might be slightly paranoid about bad breath, but I don't consider that a bad thing.

After a little experimentation, and a week of using the experiment, I am now proud to tell you that I have a wonderful homemade whitening toothpaste for you to try! I will warn you: the mix has a really strong salty flavor which will take some getting used to, and you will have an excess of liquid in your mouth so stay close to the sink to spit often. Oh yes, and if you don't like the flavor of peppermint, you can always try a different flavor from the baking section at WalMart. I love peppermint so that's why I chose it for me.

Ingredients
1 Tablespoon Baking Soda
2 teaspoons Hydrogen Peroxide
1 teaspoon Peppermint extract (or another flavor)

You need a PLASTIC container to store the toothpaste in. The mix will erode anything with paint on it!

1. Put the baking soda and peroxide in the container. Add the extract.
2. Stir the ingredients together. It will make a smooth, slightly liquid paste.

To Use
~Dip your toothbrush in the paste and brush your teeth like usual.
~You can also run your toothbrush under the water before dipping it in the paste.
~After you brush your teeth with the paste, brush your teeth and tongue with just water to get all the baking soda off everything.
~Make sure to rinse your mouth out really well to get rid of all the baking soda bits.

Notes
~I tripled this recipe for myself for one week. I still have a good bit left.
~I did notice that if I got the mix on my lips I would have to use Vaseline to keep them from drying out, but this doesn't happen often.
~The plastic container is really important!
~I kept my toothpaste stored in my bathroom cabinet and it seemed to do just fine.
~Read this post written on September 8, 2012 to see the major difference this toothpaste made on my teeth!

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Fill Out Receipt Surveys!

Lately I have been very interested in what is printed on my receipts when I make purchases at stores or restaurants. Back when I worked all the time I would fill out surveys and get promo codes for free things or a percentage off my purchase price. In a time when money is tight this is a habit I have started back up and already it is paying off! Just last week I was able to get a free RT 44 drink (Cherry Coke!) from Sonic because I filled out a survey. Now this week I have a free buffet dinner for an adult/or large 1 Topping Pizza at Cici's Pizza! I have entered a survey for WalMart, but so many people enter them I'm sure so I have no clue if I will get anything out of it but that's okay.
I know almost all stores have a survey and most of the offer a bonus for you filling it out. I strongly suggest taking the five minutes of time to fill out that survey and get that code for your bonus. I have nothing but time so this is easy for me. Before you throw away a receipt, check to make sure there isn't a bonus for filling out the survey! You never know what you could get for free!

Places that offer survey's with free things or a percentage off code:
~Cici's Pizza (3.99 off a meal or 3.99 off a pizza with one topping)
~Old Navy (10% off)
~Sonic (RT 44 Drink)

These are just a few that I can think of off the top of my head, but there are so many more out there! Just keep an eye on the receipts to find surveys with a bonus!

The Envelope System

Three years ago, before the car wreck, I had a regular envelope system which I used to keep track of my money and save for big things like car repairs, a laptop, etc. I love this system. It is simple and practical and easy.

Using an envelope system requires planning ahead and keeping track of what you have in a way that a bank account can't. When you have the actual cash in hand you will be far less likely to spend more money because you are seeing it literally flying out of your hand. This is a great way to help save money for things you need: a new car, a trampoline for the kids, a vacation to see the family, etc.

We use the envelope system in addition to a checking and savings account. The checking account is like the emergency fund. It has anywhere from a hundred to three hundred which is almost never used since the envelopes are where the cash is organized. The savings account is used in place of a savings envelope. Savings accounts draw interest and if you have a lot of cash in them that makes more sense than keeping the money in an envelope at home.

What You Will Need
Money (in $20, $10, $5)
Envelopes
Sticky Notes
A sharpie
A pen

Directions
1. Make a list of what things you spend money on each month. Examples: insurance, gas, groceries, movie rentals, date nights, drinks at sonic or a coffee shop on the way to work, hygiene products, clothes/shoes/socks/undergarments, electric, water, house payment/rent, savings etc.
2. Make an envelope for each category you are going to be putting money in. Place a sticky note on the front of each envelope and write the month (aka July for this month). If you will be putting money from separate checks number each check by when it comes in (#1 check of month, #2 check of month, etc.)
3. Next decide how much money each category needs. Some things, like drinks may only need $10 a month, while others, like gas, need much more than that.
4. When you have the money figured out put it in the labeled envelope.
5. On the front sticky note next to the month and check number write the amount you put in the envelope. This is so you can easily keep track of how much money you put in the envelope. Doing this also helps you see if you are putting enough, too much, or too little money in the envelope at the end of the month. Adjust accordingly.
6. When you get ready to go out for a date just grab the cash from the designated envelope and have fun! If there is anything left, put it back in the envelope for another date later on. Same for grocery shopping, and paying the bills. Some envelopes may have just enough in them for the month like rent or electric. Generally you will already know how much you need for those kinds of things.

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A More Organized Daily Life

I just want to be the first to say that I am not very organized. Yes, all of my clothes in my closet are in a specific spot, and yes all my crochet yarn is stored in the same box...but when it comes to everything else it's pretty much a disaster waiting to happen if anyone but me (even me sometimes) touches it.

However, this post is about daily life organization. This would be more like having a schedule for your day of things you want to do, need to do, have to do, etc. There are a few simple things to making this chart. I love it. I make them all the time because my life is always changing so what I do daily changes as well.

You need a pen and two pieces of notebook paper.

1. On one piece of paper write everything you do, should do each day.
2. Organize the things into a semi schedule as pictured above. Make a section for Morning, Afternoon, Evening and Other.
3. Post this where you will see it lots through out the day. During the day check the schedule to make sure you're getting everything done that you needed done.

DIY Homemade Laundry Soap

With laundry soap prices being so high we experimented with several soap recipes and came up with one that worked well for us. This is a much stronger recipe that I have seen anywhere else online.

Ingredients

2 1/2 Fels Naptha soap bars

2 1/2 cups washing soda

1 1/4 cups borax

3/4 cup baking soda

Directions

This is what my soap looks like once I've covered it with water.

1. Grate the soap bars into a small saucepan. Cover with lots of water.

This is what your soap/water mix will look like in the beginning.
Keep stirring until it's mostly dissolved. Less time is better than more tiime!

2. Cook over high heat stirring constantly until the soap dissolves almost all the way. You don't want to overcook the soap because then it will become solid again if you do and that won't be good. 5-7 minutes should be enough as long as there are no major clumps of soap.

See all those huge chunks?
Well they have to be mashed out before you dump
 in the wet soap mix or it will be impossible to stir up.

3. Put washing soda, borax, and baking soda in the 5 gallon bucket and mash out any chunks you can before adding the hot melted soap mix. Stir well until all the powder is dissolved. Make sure to mash out as many of the big clumps that are there as possible.

4. Add in the dissolved soap mix into the borax mix and stir.

5. At first your mix will look funky and lumpy...

6. But eventually it will become a thick, even mixture. When it gets to this point you're ready for the next step.

Right now we have an indoor faucet (much like the one's you see in gardens)
and it only gives out cold water, but my laundry soap has turned out okay with it.
I still like the hot water better than using cold water.

4. Fill the bucket to the top with hot tap water. I usually do this once I have the bucket where it will be staying for the next few months.

All white and foamy from adding the water via our indoor faucet.

5. Stir the soap mix, cover securely and let it set overnight.

6. The next morning stir the mix and then you're ready to use it!

How To Use

Use 1 cup of soap per load. This bucket lasts several months for us doing laundry for about 10 people washing laundry several (at least 1-2) loads of laundry a day.

Family of 3 -using this recipe we are getting through 4-5 months of laundry.
Family of 5 - using this recipe we are getting through 3 months of laundry.

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