Fun Friday

I thought we could make Friday's blog fun and interactive! Every Friday I will share a tip or a recipe and ask you an interactive question that you can answer in the comment section of the blog. This will only work if you join in on the fun so don't be shy!

 Last week at MOPS we talked about finances and in the spirit of saving money, they made laundry detergent and sent home a container-full with each one of us. I loved it! It smells so good and actually works! So, yesterday I made my very own batch of it. I know what you are thinking "isn't that for the Amish and people with 20 kids?" Actually, yes it is. You will find the same recipe on the Dugger Family (19 Kids and Counting) website. BUT that doesn't mean that a family of 6 can't save a little - actually A LOT of money on laundry detergent too! So I am going to share the recipe with you all...just in case you would like to try it too.

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap

4 Cups - hot tap water

1 Fels-Naptha soap bar

1 Cup- Arm and Hammer Super Wash Soda* 

1/2 Cup - Borax

-Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover, and let sit overnight to thicken.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of the way with hot water. Shake before each use (will gel).

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machine- 1/4 Cup per load (approx. 640 loads)

*Must be Arm and Hammer "Super Washing Soda" because of the sodium carbonate. You should be able to find all the ingredients at your local grocery store.

To make a stain pre-treat put one cup of the undiluted solution in a spray bottle and fill with hot water. Shake detergent and pre-treat before each use.

Ingredients you will need.

What it looks like after adding all the ingredients to your 5 gallon bucket. One of the ladies from MOPS told me they store theirs in a storage tub with a lid.

Ok, so this Fun Friday's question is:

How do you save money for your family? You can give us tips that you use, something that you heard works, websites to checkout etc.! I want to hear from you!

Until next time.....