Changing what you use in your home- for the good of your family!

The more research I do, the more I decide to go back to the "pioneer" ways!  It seems our forefathers had busy days of doing everything by hand- something I am learning a thing or two about!  It excites me to think that changing what I use actually saves me money!

I have been thinking of ways to make my home a little more "healthy" for the little ones.   Here are a few things I have changed so far:

• switched to natural products for the little one's skin (I intend on doing a post just for this)
• changed our shower soap to natural (you know you are massaging these chemicals into your body from head to to on a daily basis!)
• bathroom cleaners are now vinegar/water/tea tree oil
• homemade laundry detergent (check out how on this post)
• using vinegar in my laundry instead of dryer sheets
• Our bathroom hand soap is goats milk bars *

They say that you shouldn't have anything in your cleaning cabinet that you couldn't ingest.  Now, I haven't got quite that spectacular, but I am striving to get that way!  It would be very reassuring to know that my family is safe from scary chemicals for good!


*The one thing I am hoping to try instead of the bars is homemade foaming hand soap!  Living Renewed shows you how to do it here!  You need to check out this place! I have learned so much about germs!  I have always been weird about antibacterial, especially in the kitchen, but I have changed my ways! This is an easy step-by step guide!  Go for it!

If there is something you have changed in your household, let us know!  Like I tell little-bit, sharing is caring! :)  Have an awesome weekend!

Spend a Little time, Save a LOT of money!

I was thinking of ways to save money on our grocery bill (aren't we all these days!) and friend of mine sparked an idea in me.  Could I make my own liquid laundry detergent?  Well, it was certainly worth a try!!!  Here are the ingredients I used

-Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda*
-Borax
-1/2 bar of Fels-Naptha Soap
-1/2 bar of goats milk soap
-lavender oil
-5 gallon bucket

*(it HAS to be super washing soda. baking soda or detergent will not work)

This cost me roughly $21 with everything.   I had to buy a bucket (some already have one) and the lavender oil cost $10 (but with 2 babies in the house I wanted it smelling lovely)  If you were to use your own soap in the cabinet and have a bucket, it would cost around $8.  Are you ready to see for how many loads???

Top Loading approx. 180 loads
Front Loading approx. 640 loads

Surprising, right?!?  I was extremely excited since I have a front loading machine!!!  This will last about 6 months at our house!!! YES!

Here is a step by step guide:

Grate your soap and add to saucepan of 4 cups of hot water.

Stir over medium heat till dissolved.

Fill your 5 gallon bucket half-way with hot water and add the soap mixture.  Add 1 cup of the washing soda and 1/2 cup of Borax. Stir until dissolved.

Fill the rest of the way with hot water. Stir, and let sit overnight.  (if you are going to put oil in wait until cooled and add about 30 drops)

This is what it will look when you open the lid the next morning.

The next day stir and fill your laundry dispenser half full of the liquid.  Fill the rest of the way with water.

Totally done!  It was not hard at all.  I know this is going to save our family "loads" of money.. haha

 If you have any questions feel free to comment here! Thanks!