Soap, Soap & More Soap! Part III (Dishwasher Detergent)

I Always Do Dishes In My Heals!

I was on the phone with my girlfriend, Six, the other day...  Really, I do call her Six.  If I refer to her by her given name, my family has no idea of whom I am speaking.  Anyway, I digress.  When I asked what she was doing, she replied, "Making dish soap."  Really?  Dish soap?  More specifically, she was about to mix a batch of dishwasher detergent.  O.K., now I am intrigued.  After finding out what ingredients she was using, I was grinning from ear to ear.  The ultra cool thing here is that I all ready had the required ingredients on hand.  I use them to make my homemade laundry detergent.  And wouldn't you just know it, we had just used the last of the dishwasher soap the night before.  Experiment time!  Cool!

Team Dishwasher

One load later, I was impressed.

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Arm&Hammer Super Washing Soda
• 1 Cup Borax
• 1 TBSP Regular Dishwashing Soap (optional)

Directions


Mix all ingredients and keep in a sealable container.  Use 2 TBSP of detergent per dishwasher load. For an even better, super spot-free rinse, use white vinegar in the rinse-aid reservoir.

Them's some clean dishes!

For around $1, I made enough detergent for 48 dishwasher loads.  Top that Cascade!

Soap, Soap & More Soap! Part II (Fabric Softener)

So, now we are saving millions of dollars and our clothes are much cleaner, all because we are making our own laundry detergent...  How about some inexpensive fabric softener recipes?  Yes, yes & yes!

Recipe #1


Ingredients

• 1 Cup White Vinegar

Directions

Add the vinegar to the rinse cycle (I put it in the fabric softener dispenser thingy of the washing machine).  Works Great.  Removes residue and odors and also helps to keep the washing machine and hoses fresh and clean too.  I have to admit I was concerned about any vinegar smell.  There is a slight vinegar fragrance as the clothing leaves the washer but, by the time they come out of the dryer...  Mmmmmmm, an ultra fresh scent!  For around $1.60 or less per gallon, this is the way to go.

Easy "Dryer Sheets"

Recipe #2

• 1 Container of your favorite, name brand, liquid fabric softener.
• 1 Sponge (cut in half)

Directions


In a container (with lid) of your choosing, mix 3 parts water to 1 part liquid fabric softener.  Add sponge pieces.  When ready to use, wring out excess liquid from one sponge and use as you would a dryer sheet.  After the load is dry, return said sponge to the diluted fabric softener.
These silly things last FOREVER and do not shed all over the laundry.  The fabric softener bottle pictured is still just over half full and has lasted over 6 months now.  Ummm, $7 a year for "dryer sheets"???  OK!