Monday, March 30, 2015

Natural cleaning and a sneak peek...

Slowly I am making my way through the house, 'walking each room' and sorting out what can stay, what must go, and what needs to change or move.
Helpful in this is my handy dandy household binder which stores all my notes, lists and ideas, gathered from old or new homemaking magazines, blogs, books and friends - plus some I even thought of myself....

The binder is divided into many (and varied) subjects...

Yesterday I decided to take a leaf from the laundry section and make my first batch of home-made natural washing powder...

I don't remember where I got this exact recipe, but probably from Rhonda's blog (here).
  Anyhow, it was very simple...

...and after I'd made it I did a test run.
I used less than a 1/4 cup for one load of towels in our front loader and they came out sparkling clean and wonderfully soft!

As this year is all about getting my life back to a gentle state of domesticity I have some good resources on hand to constantly inspire and teach me.
Here's a few I've used for general home-making ideas, living more naturally, and bringing a gentler sense of 'home' to our rental house...

For your information:

My tutorial to make the household binder is HERE
The lovely stitchery on the cover is a free design by Rhonda Hetzel HERE.


In between cleaning and planning I've been working on a final free 'tea' design which I'll share with you tomorrow. It's a simple one, but very sweet...

Have a fabulous week!
hugs

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have several friends who make all their own laundry soap, and it is way cheaper, at least as effective, if not more, and environmentally friendly. Can't beat that! Some make a powder and some make a liquid. I do fabric softeners for my dryer, but I just haven't taken the time to find the soap ingredients yet - and a container. I like your soap tin. Looking forward to that final tea design - tempting peek!

Melody said...

I've always meant to have a go at home made laundry powder, thanks for reminding me about it.

Marian said...

It´s a very good idea.
Thank very much for your tutorial!!

Leeanne said...

Cute folder. My daughter makes her own powder for the dishwasher.

the girlfriend gap said...

I have the book by Emile Barnes too :) I love her. I was Introduced to her as a young mother. She brought a sense of peace to my days. Keeping my home in a lovely state has always been kind of thorn for me. I don't think I was taught well as a child and I'd rather be creative than cleaning :) Just a constant struggle for me. Sadly I am not as organized as your little binder seems to be. But if I could follow you around for a week with your binder I think I would be enlightened. Do you know of Fly Lady? She has cleaning routines.
Janita

Jeanette said...

I think i need to add some of those books to my collection. I seriously need to get myself back on track to makes soaps ect like i used to do. Hugs,xx

selina said...

i make my own laundry powder too, rhonda's recipe but i only use 2 tbsp i marked the old scoop, washing comes out great every time, i don't use the borax though, have gray water here. last time i made it i had no washing soda, so i made that too :)) i have hard water here, so it's hard to get anything truly 'soft'
can't wait for the next tea stitchery, have thoroughly enjoyed the tea collection so far!
thanx for sharing

Baa. xxx said...

I think it would be fun to make my own laundry powder - I have never tried that before.
Loved the sneak peek!

Tammy said...

Jenny I c
Can't wait to get home to look at all of this in more depth. The binder and the recipe for the laundry powder. We are on vacation in a place called Panama City Florida, USA. At the ocean staying on the beach. This is first vacation in over 2 years. It is so peaceful here.

Ondrea said...

OH my! When my children were small I made my own detergent with Lectric Soda, eucalyptus oil and grated velvet soap. It turned out as a solid gel and worked out to be about 20c a litre. Love your binder and must take a look at the tutorial.Thanks again for such a lovely post.

Gina E. said...

What a small world it can be in the craft world! I keep bumping into people on the net that I know from other forums! I haven't seen you on Down To Earth, unless you go under another name?
I sent some crocheted doilies in the mail today to Selina, after she wrote that she'd seen an idea on your blog to make beaded jug covers with old doilies! Now I'm looking for your post:-) If ever you need crocheted doilies for a project, pop over to my blog and see what I'm giving away. Hundreds of them....