Making Your Own Laundry Detergent!

With six people living under one roof, laundry adds up, quick. Lots of laundry detergent means that the money also adds up quick. I was amazed at the idea of making your own laundry detergent for pennies per load and immediately put the task on my "to-do" list.

I found The Duggar Family Recipe of Laundry Soap  through Pinterest. Immediately I began searching for the products to make it. I couldn't find them at the local small grocery store or the local chain supermarket. Instead I found them at my local Whole Foods store. Occasionally I would find one or two of the items, but the local Whole Food store had all three. And right next to each other. I actually hugged the attendant who helped me to the aisle because I was so happy. What were the three ingredients I was so eager to find? Borax, Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda, and a Fels-Naptha bar.

For your quick viewing pleasure, here is the recipe from the Duggar's website:

4  Cups - hot tap water

1  Fels-Naptha soap bar

1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*

½ Cup Borax

Step 1.

Step 2.

And here are the directions to make your own laundry detergent:

Step 1. Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

Step 2. Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

Step 3. Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

You can add in some scents if you like, but I wanted to try a pure and simple recipe, so mine is just the basic. This recipe was super easy and super cheap. Originally I had kept milk gallons to fill them up with the detergent, but I figured this was anything but a space saver. So I have kept the detergent in the five gallon bucket and add it to an old detergent container I happened to have on hand. It has been very convenient for us. We will definitely be making more when we run out- no idea when that will be!


As far as to how well it works? I think it works just as good as any other detergent we've used. It gets out stains-and get things clean. And best of all-we haven't had to buy detergent in a long, long time. It's great. If you get a chance, I urge you to make your own stash.  Or you can buy ours- in stores Fall 2012. Only kidding- but check out this swanky picture!

Happy Mixing

Get your Waxelene on!

If you've noticed the tagline for SaMiE Designs, you'll notice it says: If it's crafty, green, thrifty, easy or fun, we're in. Living green is so important, we listed in second! So it's no surprise that I am excited to be offering a great new review and giveaway of a great, all-natural product. Waxelene, an all-natural petroleum jelly alternative, is made from only four products, and they're all pronounceable! 

Waxelene is made from organic soybean oil, 100% natural beeswax, organic rosemary oil, and 100% natural vitamin E oil. Waxelene has so many uses, it's almost a one-stop beauty product. Some of the many uses include: soothing and moisturizing dry skin, smoothing out chapped lips, relieving diaper irritation, preventing stains around the hairline during at-home dye jobs, and even reducing the appearance of split and dead ends. 

I really enjoyed using this product. One of my big tests of quality was using the Waxelene during my roller derby practices with the Jackson Hole Juggernauts. I had been having a tough time with my lips drying during practice and dabbing a little bit of Waxelene of my lips beforehand worked like a charm! I also used Waxelene on patches of dry skin, and it left my skin feeling silky and smooth. I am anxious to try it the next time I dye my hair too!

It is with great pleasure and excitement that I am able to offer, via Waxelene and Mom Blog Society, a giveaway for a 2 oz. jar of Waxelene. Use the rafflecopter below to enter this giveaway. While you're at it, visit Waxelene on their website, https://waxelene.com/ , Facebook, or Twitter. Tell them SaMiE Designs sent ya!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Mom Blog Society Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Grow a TREE from Jewelry!

Arbor Day is April 27th, 2012 and what better way to celebrate the day with your family than to plant a tree? As luck would have it I was approved to do a review AND a giveaway for a really amazing company, Future Oxygen, a Michigan based company started to showcase eco-friendly works of art. Future Oxygen carries bracelets, necklaces, and even keychains that ALL transform into plants and trees! I was so excited for this review and giveaway because I LOVE the idea of being GREEN and giving back to our planet!

As part of this review I received a bracelet that will become a white pine tree when planted and a necklace that grows into wildflowers! We will be planting ours as a family on Arbor Day, only three weeks away!

Wondering how a bracelet can grow into a tree? The beads, which have attractive designs on the outside, are made from non-toxic biodegradable pulps and clays and are finished with a non-toxic coating for a water resistant barrier. Inside the bead are seeds for a white pine tree (other pendants carry different seeds too)! Each bead is tied onto a 9" adjustable hemp yarn cord, for softness against the skin.  You can wear your jewelry (away from hot-tubs, pools, and in the shower) for as long as you want, then when you are ready to plant your seeds, you soak the pendant in water for 24 hours then plant in a pot, keeping moist until it begins to sprout.

Another thing I am super-excited about: the compostable packaging! Talk about a zero-waste product!

Future Oxygen has also just recently started their Smile Exchange program, dedicated to bringing smiles back to children faced with deployment, illness, and loss of a family member. For every pendant bought on their site, they will donate one to a charitable organization, such as the Ronald McDonald house, Operation Military Kids, etc. A great gift for a great cause!

Future Oxygen also does school fundraisers!

I really love this concept and will definitely be purchasing more in the future as gifts for family and friends. I urge you to check them out on their website, http://www.futureoxygen.us/ , on Facebook, and on Twitter. Tell them SaMiE Designs sent ya!

Future Oxygen was so gracious enough to also provide for a giveaway, which you can enter to win using the Rafflecopter below. Please make sure to complete the tasks before pressing enter!

Much love and good luck to you!

Peace~
Sara of SaMiE Designs

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.