We can all fall into the trap of commercialisation and be made to feel that we have to buy certain products or our house will fail us and be unclean but that is not the case.
When my children were young I made a lot of homemade cleaners and they were all successful, I could still make them now but with only two of us here, its just as easy to buy it.
I do still make some of the things listed below and they will always be in the back of my mind if I ever need them, so check them out as there are some good ones here.
Homemade Laundry Liquid
Do not use this on any whites, as the washing soda brings out a natural grease in clothing and discolours it
First make sure you have empty containers to put it in, I use empty 2 litre milk containers as I make up 30 litres at a time and so use 3 x 10 litre buckets to mix it up in.
Dissolve 1 cup of Lux flakes and 1 cup of washing soda (both available at supermarket for about $8-9) in a bucket of boiling water.
Then divide the mixture in that bucket so that all 3 buckets have equal amounts of mixture.
Top each bucket up to a full level with cold water and pour the final mixture into your containers.
I use about one cup of mixture per full load of washing, gets the washing nice and clean.
I have been using this mixture for over 2 years and it is so easy and cheap to make.
By the way 30 litres of liquid laundry wash will last approximately 3-4 months
To make up a smaller quantity
Here is a simple 2 litre version of the recipe ,
About half fill a two litre container with very hot water. Add (funnel, can be made of paper) 1 level dessertspoon (10ml) lux flakes, and 2 level tbsp (30 ml total) of washing soda.
Turn up and down to mix, fill with hot water, and turn a few more times as it cools.
When cool, turn again couple of times.
Use 1 cup per load of washing.
Use: Fine in cold water but make sure it dissolves completely, run cold water into EMPTY machine, and when there are couple inches water in the bottom, add 1cup of mix and swish about with hand or wooden spoon or whatever. Once a bit more water in the machine, fire in clothes and continue.
Works as well as commercial powder, costs virtually nothing, and non irritating and non polluting detergents.
Babies nappies
Go back to old school ways and collect all your friends old cloth nappies and dye them flash colours if you want to be really trendy or keep them plain, ok you have to wash them , but they are much better for your babies bottom, and also there is no added cost except for washing and drying them but who cares make some cheap laundry powder, recipe above.
Baby Wipes
Cut up an old soft towel into squares and sew around the edges so they don't fray and make these babies so that only baby can use them as wipes
Nappy rash
All these flash cream and lotions are good but an old fashioned baby cure for nappy rash is cornflour, just sprinkle on after each nappy change.
Toothpaste
Mint Toothpaste - Ingredients: 6 teaspoons baking soda 1/3 teaspoon salt 4 teaspoons glycerin (chemist) 15 drops peppermint or wintergreen extract
Directions: Mix thoroughly. Should be a tooth paste consistency. Store in a container. You'll be surprised with how fresh your mouth feels
