Helpful readers: I am in desperate need of your help. I am looking for a dish soap recipe and dishwasher soap recipe. As you are probably aware, I love making my own cleaning products. I have tried and tried to make my own dish soap and dishwasher detergent, but every time it either doesn’t work, or turns out horrible. I want to “be green” and also be frugal at the same time. Here are a few things I have tried.

Dishwasher detergent recipes:

Mix and use per dishwasher load:
1 Tablespoon Borax
1 Tablespoon Baking soda

and
1 Tablespoon Borax
1 Tablespoon Washing soda

These recipes never seemed to get my dishes clean!

Dish Soap Recipes:

I’ve also tried melting soaps down to a liquid consistency and then using those as dish soap. I have a ton of bars of soap that I wanted to use up. I used Dr. Bronner’s bar soaps, melted them, and then used it as dish soap. The problem is that it doesn’t lather up very well. It works fine for hand soap, but when you put it in the sink to wash dishes it just stinks.

I have tried googling, asking around, and asking my mom, who normally knows how to make everything. No one has a dish soap recipe to make your own dish soap or dishwasher detergent!

Do you make your own dish soap and dishwasher detergent or know of a recipe that I can use?

Posted under DIY, How To

Well, just when Mr. Money thought I couldn’t get any more frugal or crazy as he probably thinks, I’ve shown him. Not only did I do laundry and hang it out to dry, I also baked bread. That’s right, I made homemade bread.

Last month I decided I was going to give it a try because I was sick of all the crap that is put into bread you buy at the store and I was tired of paying $3 a loaf for store brand organic whole wheat bread. My plan didn’t work out so well last month. I tried using my bread machine, and needless to say, my beautiful homemade bread tasted like sawdust. With a little glue.

In all my domesticness yesterday, I went grocery shopping and bought all the ingredients to make my homemade bread. I had high hopes for it this time. This time I was skipping the evil bread maker.

Here’s the recipe:

1 cup warm water (110-115 degrees F)
1 tablespoon milk
2 tablespoons oil (you can use vegetable or olive oil)
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt (I used sea salt)
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons dry yeast

Next time I may substitute the all purpose flour with whole wheat flour to be a little more healthful.

Combine the first 6 ingredients in a large mixing bowl (I used my KitchenAid mixer)

Add flours and yeast and knead until bread is smooth and elastic. I put the mixer on the second speed and watched it. Place dough in a bowl, cover with a clean towel, and let sit for about 40 minutes, until it’s doubled in size.

Punch it down; knead until smooth and then form into your loaf.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 30-35 minutes, watching carefully.

Remove from oven, cool, and enjoy!

This bread turned out so much better than my last loaf! As it came out of the oven, I cut a piece and buttered it. It was heavenly! Not only did I (hopefully) save money, but I also avoided having to eat High Fructose Corn Syrup in conventional breads. I will definitely be making this again!

Posted under Food, How To

So far I’ve written on how to make your own laundry detergent and dish soap and dishwasher detergent . Today I’m going to tell you what other cleaning products you can make yourself using a few common household items. I’ve always got these on hand, not only because making my own cleaning products saves me money, but I also feel better about using these around my family. Next time you are at the store pick up some of these:

Glass Cleaner recipe:
2 cups ammonia
1/2 cup vinegar
1 gallon of water

This is such a simple recipe and my mother has used it for years!

All Purpose Cleaner Recipe:

1 tablespoon borax

1/2 cup liquid soap

1/2 cup white vinegar

1 gallon hot water

20 drops of essential oil (optional)

Combine and pour in spray bottle

This is great for cleaning any surface, whether it be kitchen, bathroom, our outdoors. Works great!

Scouring Powder

1 cup baking soda

¼ cup washing soda

Mix together and use as you regularly would

These are my favorite, besides the laundry detergent.

If you decide to make these, please drop me a line to tell me how they work for you!

Posted under How To