Homemde All-Purpose Cleaner/Disinfectant Spray

I’m sure that most of you know that vinegar can be used as a disinfectant. If you fill a spray bottle half way with vinegar, and the rest of the way with water, you will have what you need for your kitchen, bathroom and laundry area cleaning needs. Be sure to label the bottle accordingly.

Homemade Laundry Detergent

My nephew and I recently made  a batch of homemade powdered laundry detergent. It is supposed to work very well, and is also supposed to be fine for baby clothes.

We doubled the recipe so that I won’t have to make it as often. I have read that 1/8 cup per load should be enough, maybe just a tablespoon for baby clothes. I will experiment to figure out what will work best in my machine.

Here is the way to tell how much (store bought detergent) you need: Measure small amount into washer under where the water falls when you turn it on. If it suds’, you are fine. If not, add another small amount.  I use less than 1/2 cup per load.

As for this mixture, I hear that suds is not an indicator of cleanliness, so I’m not sure that it will suds much. I will have to see.

My nephew and I doubled this recipe so that it would last longer.

1 box washing soda

1 box borax

1 bar fels naptha soap, grated

All of the above are found in the laundry aisle at our local grocery store, Hannaford.

Just mix them all together in a container with a lid.

Do you believe in karma?

I help the couple across the street out when they need it. I did not let them pay me at first, then the husband gave me a $50.00 gift at Christmas. It is rude to give back a gift, and the money was helpful. The wife had given us clothes, spring bulbs to plant, baskets and many other small things. We were very grateful for these things, and didn’t feel that it was necessary to be paid as well.

The wife is in need of some help again, and the husband told her that he wouldn’t let me help unless I allowed him to pay me $10.00 and hour. At this time, we can really use the money. This is fine. And I am happy to help.

I have cleaned for them about 3 1/2 hours this week, so I will be paid $35.00. This is great. Another small bill paid.

Today, I cleaned out the food cupboard and swept and washed the floor. I also did some dishes and took the trash out.

The woman sent me home with magazines, 2 boxes of slim fast, 2 boxes of cereal, 2 boxes of coffee filters and a bath tub whirlpool unit.

The whirlpool unit regularly costs about $100.00. She purchased it new for about $20.00, and it was used twice. It has been collecting dust, so a little cleaning and we can use it. I usually shower, but will try it out. My daughter is so excited over using it.

They say that if you do bad things, bad things will return to you. But, if you do good things, good things will come to you. This is karma, which I fully believe in. I guess it is my turn for the good karma’s return.

I have wanted one of those bath whirlpool setups, but could never afford one. I will use the slimfast for a snack sometimes, and there is enough cereal now to last about a month. That is a month where I only have to provide fruit and milk at breakfast. That is great. I will read a couple of the magazines, then I will send the rest to my sister. I will also give the coffee filters to someone who can use them. Plus, I can pay a bill.

All of these free items help me to save money in the long run, or to have things that I would never have been able to afford otherwise.

Happy Days,

Shannon

Wholesome Baby Food

Wholesomebabyfood.com

The above link will take you to a wonderful site that discusses baby food stages, how to make and store homemade baby food, and even gives you numerous recipes. It is a wonderful resource, and will aid you in your frugal adventures.

Making your own baby food would certainly save you a lot of money at the grocery store. Most, if not all, recipes can be made very cheaply.

This is the most well thought out site that I have come across so far.

The Diaper Hyena

Visit The Diaper Hyena, which pegs itself as the definitive cloth diapering resource site.

Indeed, you will find links to many helpful resources, including how to make your own cloth diapers.  Cloth diaper is not only frugal, it also helps the environment.

Karen’s Cloth Diapering Site

This is a great site that has usable information about using and making cloth diapers and covers. It is a very useful site. Cloth diapering is very frugal.

Karen’s Cloth Diapering Site

Homemade Baby Wipes

NaturalBirthand BabyCare.comgives you a few different recipes for homemade baby wipes. Visit the site today.

I have another suggestion, though. Why not use baby wash cloths rather than paper towels. It will make the baby wipes more frugal in the long run, as well as be better environmentally speaking.

Amy’s Homemade Onesies

Amy made these for her daughter Hannah. There are directions and photographs of her little one wearing the finished product.

I am still looking for patterns for sewing the onesies so, if anyone has them, please pass them along.

Warmest Wishes,

Shannon

How to Make Homemade Onesie Tutu’s

Sewn 4 You Designs shows us how to make these cute little things for our baby girls. I believe she is using pre-made onesies, but the fnished project is so cute.

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

Visit the Keeping the Homeblog for this recipe.

It uses simple, affordable, easy to find ingredients, and will not take long to make. I plan to use this recipe when we run out of dishwasher detergent.