Monday, February 7, 2011

Betty Crocker, I am not.

Considering my latest attempt to make microwave popcorn has left my house smelling like burnt popcorn for 4 days, I need something else to make.
I don’t like the smells of laundry detergent: not ocean spray, mountain breeze, or clean (does that have a smell you can add?!)
I don’t like lilac or whatever pretty flower is included to mask the smell of dirty clothes
And why if I want a product that’s dye free and scent free do I have to give my right arm and my first born to buy it?!
Not only do I not like it, but I’m allergic to them. Just walking down the laundry aisle gives me a large headache and it’s gone when I leave the aisle.
Similar feeling happens when I accidentally go down the pet food aisle – although that might be because I don’t like animals and it’s outrageous the price to feed those little monsters.
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I searched high and low for that fels-naptha bar in the front – found it at FRY’s on 51st & Baseline (in the laundry aisle), top shelf, very corner/end of the aisle closest to the milk section.
Author of the blog I found the recipe – she has 2 other recipes you could use, one is a dry batch and one is a small liquid batch.
Liquid Laundry Soap-Family Sized Batch
Water
1 bar grated Fels Naptha soap
5 gallon bucket (got one of the orange ones from Home Depot)
1 cup washing soda (Again, Arm and Hammer)
1 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
4 1/2 gallons water
Put grated Fels Naptha in saucepan and cover with water. Heat on low until dissolved. Fill bucket 1/2 way with hot water and add soap. Stir to combine. Add 1 cup washing soda and 1 cup borax and mix well. Fill bucket with more HOT water (I add enough water so it reaches the rings near the top of the bucket) As it cools, it will thicken.
If mixture becomes too thick, add hot water to thin it to desired consistency. May be used immediately. Mix well before each use. Use 1/2(normal) to 1 cup per load (heavy). Cost per load .04
Edited to add:
TIPS:
When mixing the melted soap into the hot water my friend told me it's best to add some boiling water to the bucket, it helps break down the lumps better. And she is right, it worked great!!
I ladle my soap into a used Orange juice container as shown above and just give it a good shake before using.
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It was much easier than I thought - mine looks a little more like lemonade, a little less like orange juice - but it works and my clothes are fragrant free!

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