Homemade Laundry Detergent

One of my favorite blogs is Young House Love. They are now working on their second house renovation and blog about all the details. I love seeing their projects take shape and turn out beautifully. Another aspect of their blog that I have really liked is the extensive list of homemade cleaners and detergents. I have tried several and all have turned out well. A few weeks ago, I decided to try their recipe for liquid laundry detergent. Not only will it save money but it is much better for our skin. I was able to buy all the ingredients at our local Publix supermarket on the laundry detergent aisle. My cereal keeper on the right has a box of Borax. I had already opened and wanted to store in a sealed container. I used something I already had on hand. The 3-gallon bucket I purchased at Home Depot. 

Liquid Laundry Detergent:

• 3 pints water
• 1/3 bar Fels Naptha soap, grated
• ½ c. washing soda
• ½ c. borax
• 2 gallon bucket
• 1 quart hot water

Mix soap in saucepan with 3 pints of water. Heat on low until dissolved. Stir in soda and borax until thickened. Remove from heat. Add 1 quart hot water to bucket, then soap mixture, mix well. Fill rest of bucket with hot water, mix and let sit for 24 hours. Use ½ c. per laundry load.

I also added a few drops of lavender essential oil to each container of detergent.

Grated Fels-Naptha. I love the way this bar smells!

                         

It took longer than expected for the grated bar to dissolve.

All mixed and poured in to the bucket for overnight wait.

I waited to pour my detergent up for several days. When I did open the bucket I noticed the detergent had separated some. I used my wooden spoon to try and stir but it wasn't an easy task. I eventually used my immersion mixer which took about two minutes. I then poured the contents into plastic containers.I bought three of these 3 Quart plastic containers at Dollar Tree. 

This batch made almost three containers full.

I am finding that the detergent tends to continue to separate. I just give a shake when I need to use it and it mixes easily.

http://www.younghouselove.com/2009/10/clean-up-your-act-all-natural-homemade-cleaners/ 

is a huge compilation of recipes.

Linking up with: http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/; http://www.niftythriftythings.com/; http://anoriginalbelle.blogspot.com/2012/02/make-it-yourself-monday-17-link-up.html; http://craftomaniac.blogspot.com/

Last Day of Vacation. Headed Home Tomorrow.

An early morning walk on the beach was breezy and chilly.

Stan picked up several pieces of very old wood 

that had washed up in the tide.

I told Stan this look reminds me of the Unabomber! 

But my hubby is so much sweeter. :)

Lots of ocean trash washed up this morning.

 There were storms last night that must have stirred so much debri.

This is some type of plant pod that Stan had to investigate.

It was so chilly the birds were huddling.

This  profile photo of Stan reminds me so much of his dad. 

Friday - Hilton Head Island

I had the sweetest surprise this morning. My friend, Sarah, sent me this beautiful bouquet of flowers for my birthday. My birthday is Sunday. Aren't they just lovely? 

I finished my bird embroidery. I used colors that are in my new quilt for our bedroom. I am going to make this in to a throw pillow. 

I looked at this pitiful chipping nail polish on my toes and decided attention was in order.

I gathered my supplies and my new nail polish. Have you tried the new Salon polish by Sally Hanson? I have several colors. It has the base, top coat and polish all in one. Just two coats and you are good to go. I love it.

Now, aren't these better?

It was rainy today. We stayed in and did some reading, worked on my embroidery, watched some of the first season of Justified, and then went to dinner. We ate at Old Oyster Factory. It was so delicious.

http://www.oldoysterfactory.com/

We started with a Crab Corn Chowder.

Stan had a shrimp and scallops pasta dish.

I ordered broiled talapia with shrimp, scallops, mushrooms and tomatoes with a side of rice and steamed veggies. I think I ordered the same thing last year. 

Today it is much cooler and a bit breezy. We are hoping the winds die down. We would like a last day walk on the beach.

The Week Is Rushing Along - Thursday

Last year while at Hilton Head Island, we found a restaurant that we just  loved. It is A Lowcountry Backyard Restaurant. The food is fresh southern cuisine with a twist. Stan and I both had the meatloaf. I had potatoes and cornbread. Stan had mac and cheese and salad. You may think meatloaf is nothing special but believe me, this dish is not your typical meatloaf. It is made with both ground pork and beaf and instead of bread crumbs it has potato chips. It is topped with a peach BBQ sauce that is just perfect with the mix of meat. Yummy good.

http://www.hhbackyard.com/ is the link for A Lowcountry Backyard Restaurant.

Stan's sweet tea was served in a Bell Mason jar.

They have homemade desserts daily. Stan chose the Snickers Cupcake. The inside was a candy bar filling.

I chose their homemade Banana Pudding served in a Mason jar. The special touch for this dessert is the homemade vanilla wafers!

View from our deck looking straight down.

It was a beautiful warm day. It was almost 80*!

My handsome hubby relaxing on the balcony.

Wednesday on Hilton Head Island

It was a beautiful morning. Blue skies, warm sands, no breeze. We decided to take a walk. This is out the front side of our condo. I have been showing you the ocean front side. This is the street side. Nice and neat but just doesn't compare to the ocean.

Shots from our walk to Coligny Market Place. You know you are in the deep south when you see Spanish moss hanging in the trees and azaleas are in bloom in February.

Surely this cup was designed with me in mind. I do love my coffee first thing in the morning.

A quaint theatre. I love the old fashioned murals, don't you?

Fountain at the boardwalk. It is such an inviting area with benches, swings & rockers.

 

Was Stan doing a Forest Gump impersonation?

Our walk on the beach was so nice and peaceful. We came in and had a relaxing afternoon. Stan decided he wanted Japanese food for dinner. Kumara is where we headed when we got hungry. We didn't realize how early it was but we even beat the senior citizens! 

Our poor chef. He had us and one other lady to cook dinner for. He did a fabulous job.

We both chose the Shogun dinner, prime rib, shrimp and chicken. Oh my...I may never eat again.

I know, crazy. Crazy good!!!

A gift from our chef. 

It was a lovely day and evening. We are tucked in to the condo for a restful night.