POWDERED LAUNDRY DETERGENT

My goodness, it's been almost a year since I've posted to this blog!!  Nice to know it is still hear waiting :o)

Previously, I posted about making a Liquid Laundry Detergent.  After doing so, and using it, I was not that pleased with the results so I then tried making a Dry Laundry Detergent and have been very pleased with both the ease of making it and the cleaning results.

So, one of the things I've done since being snowed in during our February Blizzard is making another batch. 

Here is the recipe:  Powdered Laundry Detergent

2 cups Fels Naptha soap, finely grated.  

1 Cup washing soda (not baking soda)
1 Cup Borax
Mix well & store in an airtight plastic container.

Use 2 Tablespoons per load.

This amount I have made will last me a good long time and is sooo very much cheaper than purchased laundry detergent.

Let me know if you try it, and if you like it.

What do you do in a pinch?

I thought I'd throw out a question for you, my frugalite friends. And here it is (nothing like getting right to the point!):

What are some things you've had to do or you've used when you've been in a pinch and needed something now? For example, using baking soda in place of toothpaste or taping up a hem because you couldn't find a needle and thread.

Got any fun, crazy or unusual substitutions and/or stories to share?

A VARIETY OF ITEMS USED FOR VARIOUS THINGS

I have not tried these, but received this via e-mail and felt it was worth posting here.

Eliminate ear mites. All it takes is a few drops of Wesson Corn Oil in your cat's or dog's ear... Massage it in, then clean with a cotton ball. Repeat daily for 3 days. The oil soothes the cat's skin, smothers the mites, and accelerates healing.

Kill fleas instantly ... Dawn Dish washing Liquid does the trick. Add a few drops to your dog's bath and shampoo the animal thoroughly. Rinse well to avoid skin irritations. Good-bye fleas.

Rainy day cure for dog odor: Next time your dog comes in from the rain, simply wipe down the animal with Bounce or any dryer sheet, instantly making your dog smell springtime fresh.

This also works on Human hair too! No time to wash your hair or just want your hair or clothes to be refreshed.

Did you know that drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately-without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional pain relievers?

Did you know that Colgate Toothpaste Toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns? Works on zits too! It shrinks them overnight and reduces redness.

Before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled with mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong Altoids peppermints. They'll clear up your stuffed nose.

Achy muscles from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 tablespoon horseradish in 1 cup of olive oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as a massage oil for instant relief for aching muscles.

Sore throat? Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey and take 1 tablespoon six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria.

Rinsing with Listerine daily prevents sore throats and colds.

Cure urinary tract infections with Alka-Seltzer. Just dissolve two tablets in a glass of water and drink it at the onset of the symptoms. Alka-Seltzer begins eliminating urinary tract infections almost instantly-even though the product was never been advertised for this use. This is very good to know!

Honey remedy for skin blemishes... Cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a Band-Aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile, and speeds healing. Works overnight.

Listerine therapy for toenail fungus: Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine Mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again.

Balm for broken blisters... To disinfect a broken blister, dab on a few drops of Listerine, a powerful antiseptic.

Easy eyeglass protection... To prevent the screws in eyeglasses from loosening, apply a small drop of Maybelline Crystal Clear Nail Polish to the threads of the screws before tightening them.

Cleaning liquid that doubles as bug killer... If menacing bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets get in your home and you can't find the insecticide, try a spray of Formula 409. Insects drop to the ground instantly.

Smart splinter remover: Just pour a drop of Elmer's Glue-All over the splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue.

Hunt's Tomato Paste boil cure... Cover the boil with Hunt's Tomato Paste as a compress. The acids from the tomatoes soothe the pain and bring the boil to a head.

Vinegar to heal bruises... Soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the bruise for 1 hour. The vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process.

Quaker Oats Oats for fast pain relief... it's not for breakfast any more! Mix 2 cups of Quaker Oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the microwave for 1 minute, cool slightly, and apply the mixture to your hands for soothing relief from arthritis pain.

WALKING THE WALK - Lip stick

Hi all!!! Seems like most of us have totally forgotten this blog. Or, like me, you've been too busy with lotz of other things!!! I just wanted to post a silly post to see if anyone was still coming by to read when we did post :o)

I went to throw this tub of lipstick away this morning and was teasing my husband saying, "Do you think I got my money's worth?" Then I decided to post it here so you would know I truly do walk the walk and not just talk the talk!!!

One of the tips I've given is to buy a lip brush and use your lip sticks for months longer by using all the wasted lipstick below the metal band. Here is my proof that I truly do this.

Good to the Last Drop

I'm sure everyone has noticed the way manufacturers are doing their packaging these days. The most noticeable for me is the upside-down squeeze bottles. From mayo, ketchup, and jelly to shampoo, lotion and makeup. And the way some of them are shaped, you can't get the top off...at least by unscrewing it.

Here's where I break out the scissors!

My makeup used to come in a small bottle, now it's in an upside down tube. When I can't shake, squeeze or cajole anymore out, I've been cutting the end off. I have gotten at least five more applications by doing this (I store it in a ziptop baggie so it doesn't dry out). The same goes for toothpaste. Unless you're the type that can flatten it flatter than a crepe', cutting it lengthwise can get you three, maybe four or more uses.

The list of items you can do this with is endless, and it just takes a minute or so.

~Adding a little water to shampoos and conditioners (or cutting into it if it doesn't unscrew).

~I use the same brand of lotion all the time. It's a pump type, so I know I'm definitely not able get all of it out. Rather than using my scissors on the bottle, I'll start on the next one for a several uses then turn the old bottle upside down onto the new one.

~What about the never-ending bar of soap. Always sticking the sliver of soap to the new bar, or saving all the slivers, adding a little water and remolding them.

~In the kitchen I liked the Bottom of the Jar segments I'd seen on the Rachel Ray Show where she'd add other ingredients to what was left in a jar that we'd normally just throw away. Dressings out of the last dollop of mayo. Marinades out of the last couple spoons of jellies.

Any other ideas you've done with squeeze bottles?

Coupon Binder Tutorial

My Litter of Six is a wonderful blog to subscribe to for grocery store sale/coupon match ups.

She offers lots of advice and great ideas for frugal shopping.

Right now she has a detailed Coupon Binder Tutorial on her web page and is giving away a coupon - loaded binder.

Go check her out. You'll learn something I promise.

Internet Shopping

If you enjoy shopping from your computer instead of shopping at stores, I read a really good tip yesterday that I want to share with you.

If you see an item you want to purchase at an online retailer, sign in and place the item in the shopping cart. Don't purchase it yet. Wait a day or two if possible. Some retailers will see it in your cart and notice haven't purchased it and will e-mail you an incentive to purchase it. You may get an extra percentage off. Not guaranteed, but worth a try if you are willing to wait.

Also, remember to create an account and shop thru ebates.com. You get cash back based on your total purchase and also they provide coupon codes. Checks are mailed quarterly.
You can also g**gle coupon codes and double stack some codes when you check out.

Example: Recently I had to order flowers for an out of state funeral. I went to www.ebates.com
and decided to use 1800flowers. I also searched the Internet for a coupon code. I found one for free shipping. On a $100.00 order I only paid $80 after my cash back and the free shipping.