I said I would get back with you guys on Homemade Laundry Detergent and HE machines. In the original post I gave you the link for a detergent recipe site. This is the recipe I am currently using – IN MY HE MACHINE. These items can be found in the laundry aisle at Wal-Mart or Kroger. I doubled this recipe in a five gallon bucket with a lid. I love it so far and it is much cheaper then the name brands. Here goes:
- 1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
- 1/2 cup Borax
- 1/3 bar Fels Naptha Soap (grated)
- In a large pot, heat 3 pints of water. Add the grated bar soap and stir until melted. Then add the washing soda and borax. Stir until powder is dissolved, then remove from heat.
- In a 2 gallon clean pail, pour 1 quart of hot water and add the heated soap mixture. Top pail with cold water and stir well.
- Use 1/2 cup per load, stirring soap before each use (will gel).
I decided to add a scoop of OxiClean powder to my loads, directly into the basin. I wanted to boost the colors and whites. I still use bleach for all white loads, without the OxiClean. And I did not buy the name brand OxiClean but went with the Kroger off brand instead. Works fine. Back to HE machines…
I did do a bit of research on using this recipe in HE machines. I read one claim as follows: Fels Naptha and Zote are animal-based fat soaps which can cause build-up in your machine over time. They do not break down as easily as Kirk’s Castille and other vegetable-based fat soaps. Using castille soaps that are vegetable-based along with vinegar as a softner will help cut down on the residue and extend the life of your HE machine.
With this in mind I encourage everyone to do their own Google search on Homemade Laundry Detergent and find the right recipe for you and for your machine. I may try a different soap bar after I finish the Fels Naptha, but I am surely not going to waste it. So now that we broke this topic down let’s move on to Date Day!
Do you know how hard it is to find a sitter for three kids? Three active kids? Maybe you do. I do. It’s hard. Especially when the best parents in the world live a hour away… So, Brad and I did something different. We found a sitter or two (his fantastic cousins) to watch Sawyer, while the girls were in school ,and we had Date Day. What did we do first? Eat! Lynn’s Paradise Cafe. Oh boy, it was soooo good. Brad had an Omelet and I had this French Toast concoction, with Bourbon Creme and Strawberries and Walnuts! So fattening, yum! Then we browsed the little gift shop and giggled while trying on funny hats and sunglasses. Take a peek.
I will definitely be back! Next time I want to try the dinner menu and take some friends. After this great start to a fun day, we did a little shopping, and finished the afternoon with a couple’s massage at Massage Envy in St. Matthews. Need I say more? It was an awesome Date Day and leaves me wondering what I can plan for the next one that will be just as good. I am sure I will come up with something. Cheers and to all and a good-night!
