my daily pix #9

[forestdale]

Today I had laundry to do and laundry liquid to make. I've been making my own liquid for a while now and have the perfect mix that cleans like a breeze. It really does work - even for my DS's chef's uniforms. Here is the recipe:

INGREDIENTS
• 1 cup of soap flakes OR bar pure soap - this can be any laundry or pure soap.
• Half cup borax
• One cup washing soda
• Very hot water - from the hot water tap, not boiled

Utensils
• 10 litre Bucket
• Wooden or metal spoon for stirring
• 10 litre container with lid

METHOD
Grate the soap with a cheese grater. Add grated soap or soap flakes to very hot water in your bucket. Stir this until the soap is completely dissolved.
Add the borax and washing soda and fill the bucket to almost the top. Stir this mixture until it’s completely dissolved. When everything is dissolved fill the bucket to the top with water. Pour the mixture into a container with a lid and use one cup per wash.
The laundry liquid will thicken up and be jelly-like when it’s cold.

NOTE
This liquid will not make bubbles, as it doesn't have the degreaser added to it that enables commercial liquid to make suds.

HINT:
When washing clothes in the washing machine, add half a cup of white vinegar to the final rinse to help remove all traces of soap. A white vinegar rinse is much better for you and your clothes than any other rinse (fabric softener). The vinegar smell will disappear when your clothes are dry.

COST
It costs me between 20 and 30 cents to make a litre of this laundry liquid, compared to around $3 to buy a litre of commercial liquid.

As you can see by this pic, I store my laundry liquid in a plastic box that has a lid on it. I use two of the green scoops per wash. It only takes about 2 or 3 minutes to make, it saves money and is gentle on clothes.

One of the things I washed was my bed sheets as it's turned cold again and I replaced the cotton sheets with the flannel ones. I like the process of making a bed. I like fluffing everything up and having it nice and cosy and ready to slip into at night.

I usually colour coordinate my bed linen but today I'm missing pillow slips and some doona covers. I lent one to DS#1 that hasn't been returned yet and DS #2 spilled coke on his bed and had to replace his cover yesterday. So as I looked at my bed this morning it looked kind of odd but I realised that it's not necessary that a bed look good, although often they do, but it is necessary for it to be comfortable, and this bed wins that race hands down.

Most of you will be sleeping soundly while I type this out. Have pleasant dreams, my friends.

[forestdale]

This quilt holds a lot of memories for me. My sister made this quilt when our mother was dying of non-hodgkins lymphoma in 1993. My sister hand quilted the quilt at mum's bedside in hospital and my mother made her spread it over her bed so she could pretend to be at home.

I miss her.

[Julia Kimber]

A great laundry recipe Bethany!

Love the quilt, it's beautiful! Although it holds sad memories for you no doubt they are special ones from your mum's last days.
Julia

[simplemom]

Thank-you Bethany for you laundry recipe....I've been wanting to make some for so long--I don't know what is stopping me...

Your quilt is beautiful, in all ways, Bethany....

[DaisyLady]

I quite often make my own laundry detergent when I have a little spare time.

The quilt is beautiful, thank you for sharing the picture and the memory of mom with us.

[Jayne]

Bethany, that is a beautiful quilt and it was so wonderful of your sis to make it for your mom.I'm sure it brought your mom much comfort....Thanks for the soap recipe, I just might try this

[Katybird]

What a beautiful quilt! Thanks for the laundry soap recipe. I am going to try it.