“

All the cooking we are doing requires some clean up; here is a great idea from one of the faithful…

The mail that comes in each day from our Club Members really is fun to read.  So many of you have wonderful ideas for food, clean up and household care that are frugal and easily accomplished.

April has shared a formula for laundry soap and so have others.  Here is the  composite of  them that Mother Connie uses:

HOME MADE LAUNDRY POWDER – or liquid

1  bar Fels Naptha or Lava soap

1  cup  Washing Powder *Mother Connie uses Arm n Hammer brand

***MAKE SURE THIS IS NOT BAKING SODA!

1/2  cup Borax

Cut the bar of soap into chunks and place in your food processor

*No food processor?  No worries; just grate the soap with a grater. 

Using a large bowl or ice cream pail, add the grated soap, washing powder  and the Borax.    Stir the mixture until it is well combined and store it in an air tight container.  You might like to tuck a 1/4 cup measuring cup in with your mixture so you can measure the powder into each wash load.  When you dump, you waste precious resources.

*These amounts are easily doubled.

*If you prefer a liquid washing product you can dedicate a large pot with a lid to combine your powders with 1 gallon of water.  Cook the whole works till it boils and add 1 gallon of cold water.  Store this in the pot, with the lid on, and use as you need it. 

Those who do laundry in a public laundry will likely want to use the powdered version, because is travels better.

Mother Connie has used this for a long, long time and has no clue how much money it has saved, but even when laundry soap is on sale it is pricey AND IT IS HEAVY, if you buy a liquid.  This formula does not produce loads of bubbles but it deep cleans your wash loads.  If you have greasy laundry, you might like to add more Borax with each load of work clothes.  Borax softens the water and helps de-grease items.

If your laundry is stained, you will still need to use bleach.  If you can’t afford bleach, just do the best you can with the home made powder.  The teeny bit of time it takes to make up this solution is well worth the effort and the kids will love getting in on the act if you make it fun for them!

The buzz about the upcoming cooking class is deafening!  I still have not received the photo I PAID FOR but as soon as it’s available I shall  post it for you!  We plan to use video so you can “experience” the class, too, even if you live half a continent away!

If you use SNAP or WIC we salute you.  If you depend on food pantries or a food bank for your meals, we honor you.  If you are a user of food commodities, we bow to you.  This blog is designed to help you with no strings attached.  Well, I take that back; we do hope you comment.  grin  For the rest of you, who are living on a dime or just smart, frugal shoppers, we thank you.  ALL of you have contributed to the common good of the Food Stamps Cooking Club and our hearts are filled with gratitude for your efforts.  Our mail is always so much fun every day, thanks to all of YOU.

Connie Baum

The FTC wants you to know there are links in this post.  Should they be clicked, resulting in sales, your humble blogger would be fairly compensated.  Please do your due diligence when conducting affairs online or offline.  Always do business with those you trust implicitly.

PS/Soap is good and cost effective for cleaning your teeth, too!  Check that out here: Tooth Soap