But now, Part 2 of my continuing "Goin' Green" saga is more of what you would expect it to be -- using natural cleaning agents.
Now, before you scoff and tell me I need to go hug a tree, there are more reasons to "go green" than just Saving The Planet, and if you adopt these 'green' tactics, you won't find yourself being drawn to floral-embroidered bell-bottoms, or inexplicably reeking of patchouli (at least not against your will). Sure, Saving The Planet is a noble and worthy cause in and of itself, but Saving Money probably captures people's attention a little bit better. Maybe instead of the phrase "go green", they should change it to "save green", and then more people would probably be interested. (Get it? Save Green = save yourself some money)...oh dear...
Anyway, I guess it all began back early this month when I was looking through the free Kindle book offerings for green smoothies, raw food diets, and what-not. Intermingled between those types of books were all kinds of other books about being frugal, tips & tricks for saving money, household uses for items you can find in your pantry, etc.
Well, this intrigued me. I always hated having to buy cleaning/washing stuff; I always seemed to run out of everything at the same time, and even if I shopped for the items at the dollar store to get everything for a cheaper price, it still drove up my grocery bill for the week. That, and since I am a newly, self-made, stay-at-home mommy now, and our last electric bill was the highest it has ever been in the entire 12 years we've lived in this house ($195), I decided that it was high-time to cut down on anything and everything, to save as much money as possible.
On a related side note, I think that the #$%^&*# electric company drives their prices up in winter, and lowers them back down in the summer, which should be against the law. Additionally, the electric company also charges more for electricity used during the daytime, and lowers their prices during the night, which should also be against the law. It makes me so mad, and makes me wish that I could just fill up my yard with windmills and solar panels, and flip the #$%^&*# electric company the bird.
- Keeping the thermostat on 65 (we have an electric heat pump), and using our gas logs along with the heat pump during the day, so the heat pump doesn't have to work as hard. Sometimes when we're feeling too cold, we will bump the temperature up to 68, but not very often. (I'm a pretty mean Thermostat Hitler)! ;)
- Keeping the doors shut to rooms we're not using at the time.
- Closing all the window blinds in the house when the sun goes down in the evening, and opening the blinds back up again when the sun comes up in the morning.
- Keeping all lights in the house off, unless they're absolutely needed.
- Keeping everything unplugged that is possible (within reason), until needed, and then unplugging again after use. Even if the item you have plugged in isn't turned on, it still uses energy.
- Turn off and open the dishwasher when it is just going into its drying cycle, and let the dishes air-dry. This saves electricity, and adds warmth and moisture into the dry, wintertime air in the house.
- After using the oven, leave its door open to allow the heat to come into the room, instead of being wasted.
- Not using the clothes dryer; hanging up our laundry on the clothesline instead (luckily, our clothesline is under our covered porch, so we don't have to worry about the rain). We also have one of those wooden drying racks that we use inside the house, too.
- Washing the clothes in Cold water instead of Warm or Hot.
And on the subject of laundry, I have begun making my own laundry detergent, and other cleaning supplies. I have gotten many free Kindle books containing all kinds of different recipes for all different kinds of natural cleaners and stuff. The good thing about these cleaners is that they're cheap, healthy to use (no weird, super-toxic chemicals like the stuff you buy in the store), they work just as good as the expensive store-bought stuff, and yes, they're better for the planet. (You wouldn't dump all kinds of toxic waste inside your own house, would you? Well, why would you allow toxic waste to go down your drains? Sure, it leaves your house, but it doesn't really leave for good; it just goes right outside and pollutes the ground, water, and air; and the planet is still your home! You can never really throw things away; there is no 'away')!
But enough of that crazy talk. Here are some recipes for some cheap, easy, good, healthy, home-made cleaning solutions if you'd like to give them a whirl:
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***NOTE: 'washing soda' is NOT the same as baking soda. You can find washing soda and borax in the laundry detergent aisle of the grocery store.***
Powdered Laundry Detergent:
1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda
1 bar of Ivory soap, finely grated
Mix all ingredients together, and store in a container.
Use 1 Tablespoon of the mixture for regular loads,
Use 2 Tablespoons of the mixture for heavily soiled loads.
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***The recipe below is similar to one I have tried. I tried it first because I already happened to have a large empty liquid laundry detergent container, which had a spigot on it, to use, which is what I would recommend you use, if you're going to try this particular recipe.***
Liquid Laundry Detergent:
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup borax
1 bar of Ivory, Dial, or Irish Spring soap (you can basically use any kind of soap as long as it is NOT moisturizing soap, such as Dove), finely grated
Put the grated soap into a large pot, along with 6 cups of water.
Heat the grated soap and water over Medium heat, until the soap is dissolved.
Stir the washing soda and borax into the pot with the melted soap, until it is dissolved.
Using a funnel, pour the mixture into a large empty liquid laundry detergent container (with a spigot on it).
Fill the container the rest of the way up with hot water, and shake it to combine the ingredients well.
Shake the container before each use, just to make sure it's still mixed up, and that nothing has settled.
Use 1/4 cup for Small loads,
Use 1/3 cup for Medium loads,
Use 1/2 cup for Large loads.
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***NOTE: If you use these laundry detergent recipes, be aware that they won't make suds, like you're used to with store-bought detergents, but it doesn't matter; they clean just as well.
In addition, your clothes will come out having little to no scent at all, but they will be clean. If you would like for your clothes to be scented, you could put in about 1 teaspoon (give or take, depending on your preference) of essential oil (lavender, tea tree; whatever you like) to your jug of home-made detergent, which is completely optional.***
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Fabric Softener:
All you need to use is plain White Vinegar.
Small loads = 1/4 cup vinegar
Medium loads = 1/3 cup vinegar
Large loads = 1/2 cup vinegar
I PROMISE your clothes WILL NOT stink like some kind of rancid salad. You will probably catch a faint whiff of the vinegar when you first open the lid of the washing machine after the cycle is done, but the vinegar smell WILL NOT be on your clothes. Trust me on this. ;) I do it all the time, and nobody has ever mistaken me for salad dressing.
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So why stop with laundry? Well, you don't have to. Below are some more recipes for other kinds of home-made cleaners. I haven't tried all of these, but I definitely will. I've mostly been waiting until I run out of whatever store-bought cleaner I have before experimenting with the home-made versions (mainly so I can re-use the bottle or container).
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Dishwashing Powder (to use in your Dishwasher):
2 Tablespoons baking soda
2 Tablespoons borax
Mix together and put in the powder dispenser of your dishwasher.
Then splash 1 cup of white vinegar into the bottom of the dishwasher.
Run the dishwasher as usual.
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All-Purpose Spray Cleaner:
2 cups water
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
1 Tablespoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon dishwashing liquid
1 teaspoon borax
Put all ingredients into a spray bottle.
I PROMISE that the lemon juice WILL NOT leave a sticky residue on anything!
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Toilet Cleaner:
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup baking soda
Dump the baking soda into the toilet, and pour the vinegar on top of the baking soda. Let it foam for 10 minutes, then scrub.
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Soap Scum Remover (great for cleaning showers/bathtubs):
Use equal parts dishwashing liquid and white vinegar.
Put in a spray bottle.
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Glass/Mirror Cleaner:
3 drops of dishwashing liquid
1 cup of water
1/4 cup white vinegar
Put in a spray bottle.
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Mold Buster:
1 cup hydrogen peroxide
1 cup water
Put in a spray bottle.
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Drain Cleaner/Freshener:
1 cup baking soda
1 cup white vinegar
1/2 gallon boiling water
Pour baking soda in the drain, and pour the vinegar on top of the baking soda. Let it sit for about 5 minutes. Then pour boiling water down the drain.
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Liquid Hand Soap:
3 bars of any kind of soap you like, grated
6 cups water
Heat the grated soap and water over Medium heat until dissolved. Pour into a container so it can cool, and allow it to set up for 2 days. Then you can pour it into your hand soap dispenser.
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Leave-In Hair Conditioner:
1/4 cup hair conditioner
2 cups water
Put in spray bottle.
I am definitely going to try this on Lilly. One day I told her she had "rectangle hair". She said "why do you think I have rectangle hair"? And I told her "because it's a WRECK and it's a TANGLE"!
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Natural Bug Repellent Body Spray:
Combine equal parts white vinegar, water, and dishwashing liquid in a spray bottle. Use as needed. Apparently, once the vinegar has dried, it won't stink.
~also~
To Prevent Bug Bites:
Drink 1 to 2 spoonfuls of any kind of vinegar (white, apple cider, etc.) every day to keep biting bugs away. (Or, I suppose you could mix it into a drink). Supposedly, the vinegar causes your sweat to have a repellent effect on bugs, but it doesn't make you stink to other people.
I CAN'T WAIT for summertime to give these a try! The stupid bugs eat me alive every year! >:{
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There are numerous recipes on the internet for all kinds of home-made concoctions. From cleaning supplies, to beauty supplies, and beyond. Next time you are about to run out of something, look it up, and see if it's something that you can make yourself. It's fun, fast, and frugal, and a great way to STICK IT TO THE MAN! :D
And while we're on the subject of Tips & Tricks, here are some I ran across while I was surfing the web today, which inspired me to write this post. We've all been cooped up in the house all day since work & school was closed due to the icy road conditions (GEEZ, I can't wait for spring and summer; we've all got cabin fever sum'n' fierce)!!! >:{
Good Luck! And Happy Frugalizin'! :D
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