My bathroom has been remodeled!

I made a video to e-mail to a friend……and then I decided I had LOTS of friends I would like to show it to.   So here is our newly remodeled bathroom:

****Please NOTE****   My son’s room is going to be remodeled!  His roof will be lifted!  We are waiting on the contractor to ‘loan’ us his employees for a couple of days – so far they are not available…….we must be patient, but,…..I…..WANT…..IT…..NOW! 

Home Made Laundry Detergent

 

I made laundry detergent this morning – it took about 5 minutes.  This is the BEST soap, the clothes turn out SO WHITE, I love it!  My beautiful sister, Sarah Vines makes and sells all types of natural products, from the most wonderful hair shampoo and (oh my goodness, I ADORE this stuff) hair conditioner, also DRY LAUNDRY DETERGENT, and body soap here:

Click to See more :

 

Here are the ingredients:

and the recipe:

1 Bar of Ivory Soap
2 c Washing Soda
2 c 20 Mule Team Borax
50 drops of essential oil (optional)

The Washing Soda (2.50) has 54 ounces, and the Borax ($3.00) has 72 ounces, so this is very inexpensive, but superior to any store bought detergent.

Step 1:  Shred the Ivory into 1 quart of water.  Dissolve over low heat, about 30 minutes.

Now dissolved:

Now, add 2 gallons of water, the washing soda, borax, and dissolved ivory.  Stir with a slotted spoon or whisk.  It will get thick and gel-like.

You can stir in the essential oil if you want fragrance to your detergent (but make sure it's essential oil and not just fragrance).  Either put a lid on the bucket, or pour into other containers.  Use as much of this as you would of any other detergent.

I put it into milk jugs, but if you have curious babies, toy might want to do something different:

Again, the recipe:

1 Bar of Ivory Soap
2 c Washing Soda
2 c 20 Mule Team Borax
50 drops of essential oil (optional)

Shred the Ivory into 1 quart of water.  Dissolve over low heat, about 30 minutes.  In a 3 gallon bucket (consider one with a lid unless you have 2 - 3 large detergent containers to put it into), add 2 gallons of water, the washing soda, borax, and dissolved ivory.  Stir with a slotted spoon or whisk.  It will get thick and gel-like.  You can stir in the essential oil if you want fragrance to your detergent (but make sure it's essential oil and not just fragrance).  Either put a lid on the bucket, or pour into other containers.  Use as much of this as you would of any other detergent.

The Washing Soda (2.50) has 54 ounces, and the Borax ($3.00) has 72 ounces, so this is very inexpensive, but superior to any store bought detergent.

*FairCompanies video of our home

*FairCompanies is a blog that focuses on sustainability, and highlights efforts to promote sustainability.   We were honored to have Kirsten Dirksen tell our story.  Our reason for choosing this lifestyle is tha we want to have money for our priorities.  As a family we have determined that we want to travel (and so have a two month trip to the Dominican Republic planned for the end of the year), and we want to be available to help in case of natural disasters.  I have friends that sold homes and moved to Louisiana when Katrina Struck, and we want our son to know how to help others.

*NOTE* Our son's room is being remodeled, some folks have questioned it.  We had to leave it as is to be able to tow it down the road.  In the summer we plan to raise the roof, (in spite of his objections, he loves it the way it is).