Automatic Dishwasher Detergent Recipe

Ok so there are a few things that I need to talk about before making this. DO NOT add the citric acid directly to the detergent or it will become one solid rock and you will not be able to use it lol. I have done this and it sucks. It is way easier to just add it separately. I just keep the Citric acid in a mason jar and add 1/4 tsp to each load after I add the 1 Tb of actual detergent. Also I make a double batch so that I am not making this all the time. It is very quick and does not involve any grating :)!! However I choose to use a food processor (vitamix) to blend all the ingredients into a fine powder. This is just a preference and not necessary. I just do it so I know everything is blended well and I do not have to stir it when I need to use it. Also you may want to play with the amount of citric acid that you add to the load. If you dishes are coming out a little cloudy try adding a little more citric acid to the load to meet your needs! Have fun.

Dish Detergent Recipe

• 1 cup Borax 
• 1 cup Washing Soda 
• 1/2 coarse Kosher Salt 
• 1/4 Citric Acid ( I keep mine separately to avoid my detergent from turning into a solid rock and I just add 1/4 tsp per load when I add the other detergent). 

This will yield about 24 oz of detergent. I usually double the load so that I do not have to make it as often. Citric acid can be tricky to find sometimes but I have found it in the canning section of the grocery store by the plastic freezer bags. I have also found it at our local home brew/hydroponic store for a great deal creeper since you will be using it frequently. I believe I bought a 1 lb bag for roughly $3.00 and it has lasted me a long time since I use 1/4 tsp per load. 

 

Word to the wise: DO NOT add the citric acid directly to the detergent itself. It will turn it into a solid rock and you will be chiseling it out!!! I have done it and it sucks. I usually keep a 1/4 tsp next to the container and will add t when I add the Tb of detergent. It takes 1 extra second and is total worth it. Another thing is that I use White distilled Vinegar as my rinsing agent and with works wonders. I am obsessed with vinegar. It is cheep and in my opinion is one of the best things ever found!!! You just add it in replace of "jet dry". 

Price Break Down: 

• 1 Box Borax = 76oz $4.29 / 8oz = $0.45 per batch 
• 1 Box Washing Soda = 55oz $2.19/ 8oz = $0.32 per batch 
• 16oz Citric Acid = $3.00 / 4oz = $0.37 per batch
• 1 Box Kosher Salt = 48oz $1.99 / 4oz= $0.16 per batch 
• 1 Gal White Distilled Vinegar = $1.49 / 4oz = $0.06 per batch

Price Per Load 

• Palmolive eco gel - 75oz detergent = $3.79 for 28 loads / $0.14 per load 
• DIY Dishwasher Detergent - $2.28 for 48 loads / $0.05 per load 

Savings of $0.09 Per Load 

Price Per Fill 

• Jet Dry rinsing agent - $3.99 per fill 
• White Distilled Vinegar - $0.06 per Fill

Savings of $3.93 per Fill 

DIY Laundry Detergent

Laundry Detergent

Ok so here is the recipe that you need to make the Laundry Detergent! There are a few ways to make this but I feel that this one works the best for me. I have never had an issue with it and it smells great. Joe is a huge advocate of great smelling clothing and has a very strong nose and this passes his expectations. You may also add those "unstoppable" fabric softener ball things if you really need to but I feel that it is unnecessary. Zote actually smells really good. Zote is a bar of soap that I find at Walmart in the laundry section since it is a "Laundry Bar" made for doing laundry and it states on there that it is safe for children's clothing as well. I do not have sensitive skin but it should be safe for those of you who do. You might however prefer to to stick to the White Zote bar to ensure less coloring to prevent irritation. Both the pink and the white bars smell the same. Here is a picture of the items that I use below and all can be found that you local grocery store mostly in the Laundry isle.

Recipe & Instructions: 

2:1:1 Ratio between products    Use: 2 Tb - 1/4 c. depending on clothing soil. ( I use 2 Tb almost every time) 

• 1 Bar Zote Soap (grated equals 6 cups)
• 3 cups Borax
• 3 cups Washing Soda

First you are going grate the zote. I use a fine cheese grater that I got from Ikea. I would not worry about buying a specific grater for this. It is just soap and it washes clean off. Then measure out the rest go ingredients and mix well together. Store in a air tight closed container. 

For the Fabric Softener I use just straight distilled white vinegar about 2Tb- 1/4c as well depending on the size of the load. I know I Know… "you do not want your clothes smelling like vinegar"but trust me try it!! it works amazing and helps with static as well. You clothes WILL NOT smell like vinegar. Vinegar is like a miracle cleaner and is naturally antibacterial. so TRY IT!! You will not be disappointed. 

Finally Feel free to make this your own. For instance adding Baking Soda to the recipe if you have some extra funk to workout clothing, work attire (restaurant, mechanic act.), or stinky boys haha. Or change it up according to your needs. This recipe is just the best one that I have found to work for me and it truly last a very long time because you do not need to add so much to the wash and it is HE friendly. 

Price Break Down: 

Borax -  $3.99

Washing Soda - $4.99 

Zote - $0.97 

Price per Load: 

DIY Laundry Detergent: $5.96 - 72 Loads = $0.08 Per Load 

Tide Liquid Laundry: $20.32 - 95 Loads = $0.21 per Load
Arm and Hammer: $6.79 - 32 Loads  = $0.21 per Load 

That is a SAVINGS of $0.13 per Load!! 

Labor Meals

Labor Meals 

I started to make a bunch of freezer friendly meals that would make our lives a little bit easier when the baby comes. Hopefully this will alliviate some of the stress while we are lacking sleep in the first few weeks. Here is a list of some of the meals that I have prepared so far. All are crockpot approved except the burritos. Those can be heated via the oven or microwave. 

•  Beef and Barley Soup
• Chicken and Dumplings 
• Cheesy Chicken Broccoli and Potatoes
• Chili 
• Black Bean Soup
• Bean & Cheese Burritos 

Beef and Barley Soup 

Ingredients: 

• 1.5 lb Stew Beef ( I chop mine smaller than packaged) 
• 2 c. Sliced Carrots 
• 1/2 Onion 
• 2 Cloves Pressed Garlic 
• 1 c. Uncooked Pearled Barley 
• 29 oz Beef Broth ( about 2 cans) 
• 2 cups water 
• 4 oz sliced mushrooms 
• pepper to taste 
• 2 Tb chopped fresh parsley 
• 14.5 oz diced tomatoes in juice

Chop all ingredients and place except the 2 cups of water into a gallon sized freezer bag. Write the name of the recipe, date, and instructions on the bag such as "Add 2 cups Water and cook on Low 6-8 hours" so you do not forget. Freeze flat in freezer and de-thaw the night before you need to cook it and place ingredients directly in to the crockpot and you are all done for dinner. 

Chicken and Dumplings 

Ingredients: 

• 2-3 Chicken Breasts
• 2 cans Cream of Chicken Soup
• 1/2-1 bag frozen mixed vegetables  
• 2 russet potatoes ( peeled and diced) 
• 1 c Onion diced 
• 2 Tb fresh parsley 
• 2 Tb butter diced 
• 1 Tb dry sage
• pepper to taste
• 1 package biscuits

 In freezer bag add all ingredients except the biscuits.

Write on freezer bag:

Chicken & Dumplings

- Cover with water 

- Cook on high for 4 hours. 

- Cut each Biscuit into 4s and drop into crock pot. Cook for 30 minutes

Chocolate Eclair Dessert

Chocolate Eclair Dessert 

This Dessert is AMAZING and very easy to make! Total people pleaser, and perfect for anyone who loves Boston Cream Donuts, Eclairs, or Puff Pastries. I love all of them lol

Ingredients: 

     

       Filling

• 2 (3.4 oz) Pkg of French Vanilla Instant Pudding 
• 3 c. Milk 
• 1 pkg Whipped topping (thawed) 

      Chocolate Topping:

• 1/4 c. Milk
• 1 c. Sugar 
• 1/3 c. Coca Powder 
• 1 stick (1/2 c) Butter 
• 1 tsp Vanilla 

     One Box Graham crackers 

Directions: 

Mix pudding and milk together to form pudding. Then fold/mix in the thawed whipped topping .  Begin to lay the graham crackers in the bottom of the 9x13 pan followed by half of the filling. Continue again by layering graham crackers on top of the filling, then filling, and the final layer of crackers. To make the topping combine milk, sugar and coca powder in a sauce pan and bring to a rolling boil. Once boiling, continue to stir and remove from heat. Add in the stick of butter and stir until the butter is completely melted. Add vanilla and stir.  Pour over the top of the Graham crackers. Cover and refrigerate over night. ENJOY!!  

Money Saving on Grocery Bill!

Ok so after a recent talk with a friend I had began to think about all the ways that I save money on our grocery bill while shopping. Do keep in mind that I do shop at our local Commissary on Camp Pendleton and Trader Joe's, but I am sure you can find similar savings at either a Walmart or an Aldi grocery store.
    First off there are certain things that I just do not buy at a grocery store. For instance I do not even remember the last time that I had bought Automatic Dish Detergent. I prefer to make my own after using some dishes that were washed with Cascade Lavender. The smell left on the dishes just made me think that I was drinking and eating chemicals. I prefer the natural route and my dishes come out sparkling. I also use distilled vinegar as my "jet dry". It makes them sparkle and is all natural. The detergent consist of Borax, Washing Soda, and Kosher Salt. The recipe is extremely simple and cost effective like 1/3 of the price of leading detergents. The recipe can be found under the Cleaning DIY tab at the top of the Blog.
    Secondly I do not buy Laundry detergent. Laundry detergent is way to expensive and even though I personally so not have sensitive skin I prefer to use something with the least amount of chemical and additives as possible. Plus I do not like adding all of this gunk to the water supply that I am supposed to be swimming in and consuming!! Also the way I see it what ever is left on your clothes seeps in to your pores when you sweat and you yourself are consuming these products. I have never had an issue where my clothes have smelled after washing them by using my DIY detergent (unless I left them in the washer and forgot about them OOPS! We have all done it haha). A bonus is that you use almost the same stuff that you used for the Automatic Dish Detergent. So no double buying. The only thing extra is Zote soap which is like $0.97 at Walmart. You only use 2 TB per load and it lasts FOREVER!! And again I use Vinegar as the laundry softener.
      If you haven't figured it out I am a little obsessed with distilled vinegar. I use it for everything!! The third thing that I do not but at the grocery store is household cleaners. I really enjoy making them myself. It takes all of 5 mins to mix up and is completely safe to use around kids, animals, and use while pregnant. Here is a link that goes into vinegar a little more if you have any questions about is it really a good household cleaner or not. Trust me it IS!! 1001 ways to use Vinegar  If you cannot stand the smell of vinegar you can always add essential oils that enhance the cleaning ability as well like Tea Tree oil. To clean the toilets I use Borax straight.