New, Improved DIY Powder Laundry Detergent

For quite a while now, I have made my own laundry detergent. I have been fine-tuning the recipe, and wanted to share my new, improved process.

Rather than grate the soap, I have found that if you turn it into a fine powder, it dissolves, mixes, and cleans much better. To do this, start with 1/2 bar of Ivory soap.

Unwrap it and place it into a microwave-safe pie plate or casserole dish (you want something wide).

Place it into a microwave and set the timer for 1 1/2 minutes. Watch it closely while the microwave is on - the soap will grow and expand, much like volcanic lava. When it stops growing, stop the microwave (mine usually goes for a little more than a minute).

Remove the soap from the microwave and let it cool. Once cooled, you'll be able to pull off pieces and crumble it into a fine powder, which you'll be able to easily mix with your Borax and washing soda.

It's also a fun project for kids - my daughter loves to watch the soap while it's in the microwave, and she helps crumble it afterward. Just don't let your kids inhale the fine powder, keep it down near waist level while working with it.

How to Make Your Own Stuffed Animal Hammock

A couple of days ago, I realized that my daughter has developed an addiction to stuffed animals. It's getting to the point that if we don't intervene soon, she very well may end up on a Preschool edition of Hoarders. Don't believe me?

I'm ashamed of this picture, and this isn't even all of them...more are already stored in tidy cubes along a wall behind me. These didn't have a home, though, other than the floor or bed, and I vowed to find some way to get all those little dust gatherers off the floor.

I have had my eye out for a toy hammock for some time, but the few that I found didn't appeal to me. So, I set out to try something on my own.

What You'll Need:

-1 pair of long, lightweight sheers or drapes (can usually be picked up for a couple of dollars at a Thrift store)
-8 small screw-in hooks

I started by screwing the first four hooks into the ceiling, near the corner but out a bit and at an angle. I didn't worry about measuring or straight lines - the fabric will cover the hooks.

Next, I took one of the sheers and laid it on the floor. I folded it in half to find the middle, then tied a knot about a foot up from the middle / bottom. I then tied a second knot near the top.

I hung this on the four hooks by pressing the four corners of the top of the tied sheer onto the four ceiling hooks. Yes, I ripped the fabric by doing this, but it should hold if you're sure to hook the fabric below the hemmed edges.

I filled both levels with the animals that my daughter doesn't usually play with, and made sure to leave a few peeking over the edges for a decorative effect.

I then placed the remaining four hooks into the two walls, and hooked the remaining sheer in a hammock fashion.

This bottom layer holds her favorites, and she's able to easily reach them whenever she wants. The best part of this solution (other than no longer having all these animals spread around the room) is that I can easily take it down whenever needed. I keep hoping she'll outgrow this stuffed animal obsession soon, but that may just be wishful thinking on my part.

Make Your Own Laundry Detergent

If you're looking for easy ways to save money on household items, one easy way you can do so is to make your own laundry detergent. I started making my own a little over 2 years ago because the commercial detergents' scents were too strong for me, and the "Free" products were expensive. This recipe works well in our front-loading machine. It cleans well (I do still use Oxyclean spray to pre-treat heavy stains, but everything else comes right out), has a very light scent, and is easy to make. Plus, I love the fact that as long as I'm well-stocked on the ingredients, I never run out - I just make more when I need it!

What You'll Need:
-2 cups Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (in the laundry aisle, but regular baking soda works if you can't find it)
-2 cups Borax
-1 bar Ivory soap
-Air-tight storage container

First, grate the bar of soap.

Then, add the Washing Soda and Borax. Mix it all together.

Transfer the mixture to air-tight storage, and that's it! I use 4 Tbsp. of this powder in our small front-loader. If you have a larger machine, you may want to try a little more.

Getting Organized for the New Year

I frequently find myself going through piles of stuff that, over time, accumulate on our kitchen table. It drives me crazy. I have also been on the search for a tidy way to keep my four-year-old daughter's art supplies in a place that is convenient for her to grab them whenever she wants.

After searching for weeks, I picked up a few things at the office supply store that worked for us. This is how they look in action! I also added a chalkboard area where we can write messages, menus, and other important info.

This is what I used:

-Cordless drill/screwdriver

-Chalkboard paint and paintbrush

-Drywall screws

-Metal mesh office organizers (I used two small trays out of a four-drawer storage cabinet, two wall file holders, and one small round pencil holder)

The metal items for the wall came in silver and black, but you could easily match your decor by covering them with a couple of coats of paint. I prefer Rustoleum for metal - it always seems to cover the best and is available in a wide array of colors.

The first step is to plan your space. I had a small wall with a round table in front of it, so I was able to put the small trays low and toward the corner. That way, my daughter is able to reach them but they won't be in the way of anyone using the table. I roughly sketched out an area for the chalkboard paint (freehand outline with a pencil), and then evenly spaced the two file holders between the paint and small drawers. I added the small round cup to hold a piece of chalk and small cloth for the chalkboard.

The top file holder will be used for our mail, bills, magazines, and other items that used to take up space on our table. The bottom file holder is for my daughter's drawing paper and coloring books.

Installation is pretty easy if you're familiar with using a drill and screwdriver. Just be sure to use drywall screws if you're hanging these on drywall (or sheetrock). Otherwise, you run the risk of the screws pulling out over time, and everything in your baskets will spill out. 

I didn't use a level, but if you're picky and don't want to just eyeball it, you might want to use a level to make sure they're level and evenly spaced before drilling your holes.

I then painted the chalkboard area. I used two coats, but on some walls, it may take three. Painting thin, even coats works better than one heavy coat. 

There you have it! So far, we all love it, and it really has tidied up our kitchen.

DIY Reusable Swiffer Cloths

We recently replaced the carpet in our den with laminate flooring. It looks great, but with 3 pets and a preschooler, I found myself in need of something to quickly and easily clean it every day or so. I picked up a Swiffer Sweeper and loved how easy it was to use (the preschooler loves to use it, too!).

It came with samples of both the dry and wet cloths. Between the vinyl flooring in our kitchen and the laminate in our den, we quickly used them all. I fell into the marketing trap and picked up a package of each the next time I went to the grocery store.

Once I got home and started using the packages (and, of course, tossing the used cloths into the trash), I realized that I could most likely find a reusable solution for the cloths. Thankfully it wasn't too hard!

I picked up a pack of utility dishcloths that are perfect! I was able to get this 9-pack for $3, and they should last a long, long time.

I can use them dry to pick up dust or pet hair, or I can lightly spray them with a vinegar/water mixture for light cleaning. When I'm finished, I just toss them into the wash and they're ready to use again.

For wet cloths, I put a few of them into the empty Swiffer Wet cloths container and added some of the vinegar/water solution. Whenever I want to mop the kitchen or bath, I just pull one out, wring out the extra water, and it works great.

I'm sometimes bothered by scented products, and I hadn't been able to find an unscented version of Swiffer's wet cloths. So this solution also solves that issue!