June 3, 2009

Homemade Dryer Sheets

I have just recently run out of my dryer sheets for doing laundry!  I had a HUGE box of them, and then when a friend moved, she gave me her box too, and I don’t think I’ve bought dryer sheets in 3 years…!  But, now it’s time to find another solution.  

If you still have a box of dryer sheets, don’t throw them out, but I would suggest cutting them into thirds.  You don’t really need the whole sheet for each load in the dryer.  By doing this, they’ll last a lot longer!

If you are out, or will be out of dryer sheet soon, then I would recommend a couple of homemade recipes:

1.) I have heard that if you use fabric softener in your actual washing load, you shouldn’t really need dryer sheets.  If that’s the route you’d like to take, then follow this recipe:

1 part vinegar, 1 part baking soda, 2 parts hot water.  Place a pail large enough to hold double the amount of ingredients in the kitchen sink or bathtub.  Mix the baking soda and water in the pail, stir until the powder is dissolved, then add the vinegar.  Once the fizzing has stopped, you can pour the mixture into jars or another container to store.  Use 1/4 cup per rinse cycle.  Shake the bottle before pouring into your laundry!  

2.) If you would prefer to make reusable dryer sheets, follow this recipe:

Mix equal parts of hair conditioner and water into a spray bottle.  Spritz an old washcloth or piece of flannel until it’s a bit damp.  Throw it in the dryer with your laundry and it will dry with them.  This could be expensive if you’re using expensive hair conditioner, but I would recommend going to the dollar store and just buying a large bottle of the cheap stuff!  Just smell it first to see if you like the scent.   

Do you have any other tips? 

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May 20, 2009

Cleaning the House!

Cleaning the house is not exactly my idea of a "good time", but it’s something we all have to do.  :)  I started realizing how many cleaning products there were out there, and how many of them I had in my house.  Some I’d bought, some had been donated to me by friends who moved, etc.  As it turned out, we had a pile of stuff that wasn’t needed.  I did some research, and found that I really only need a few basic cleaners that I can make myself!  Here is what I use:

Multi-purpose Cleaner: Mix 1 cup of white vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda (or 2 teaspoons borax) into 1/2 gallon (2 liters) water. Store and keep. Use for general cleaning in your kitchen or bathroom.  Make sure to shake it up though before you use it each time! 

Window Cleaner: Take a bucket of warm water and drop of dish soap.  Mix, and wash your mirrors or windows!

Toilet: I still have toilet bowl cleaner left to use, but I also like to use regular white vinegar to clean out the water rings in the toilet.  

Also, instead of using paper towel to clean everything, we have old rags (facecloths that no longer look nice!!) that we use to clean.  I keep them in our bathroom cupboard, and a couple in the kitchen in a drawer, and when we need them, we pull them out!  This definitely saves creating extra garbage.  I also have a bin under my kitchen counter where I just pop soiled ones until I have the chance to take them to our laundry room to wash.  This keeps them out of sight!  :)

We have started a new dishwasher detergent solution as well, but I’ll save that recipe for another day!!

What about you?  How do you clean your house?  Any tips? 

April 15, 2009

In the Beginning…

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged on my own blog, but I think it’s high time I started again!  Lately I’ve come to love the comfort that my home (and particularly my kitchen!) brings me.  It’s a place of refuge for me, and it’s the place where I can get super creative in a way that serves others!  I love to make up new recipes, try old ones, experiment with spices and flavours and find ways to open up my home as a haven of hospitality!  This blog will be the place where I post weekly menu plans, bonus recipes, tips that I have found useful for cooking, organization strategies, and all things related to making my home hospitable and earth-friendly!  I look forward to sharing with you as I forge ahead in my endeavors to make my home a haven of hospitality!