Fruit Fly Killer

If your house is anything like mine in the summertime it is swarming with fresh produce.  As a result, fruit flies are seemingly always present in my kitchen.  This simple recipe is a perfect attraction and trap for them.  Obviously not the prettiest, but I set a jar of this out of sight and dump it down the sink once it has served its purpose.

Fruit Fly Killer

Small glass jar

apple cider vinegar

2 drops liquid dish soap

Fill glass jar 1/4 - 1/2 full of apple cider vinegar.

Add 2 drops of liquid dish soap and mix thoroughly.

Sit out in an area where fruit flies are present.

Powdered Laundry Detergent

I've made my own laundry detergent for just about 6 years now.  For the first 4 1/2, I used this liquid laundry detergent recipe.  I decided last September to try this powdered version.  Most of the ingredients are the same, this recipe just seemed to be a bit easier.

I think the best part is that I am still going on the same batch I made 7 months ago.  I'm about half way through it.  This stuff lasts forever!  And it works great, obviously, since I am still using it.  If you don't want to make a years supply all at once, I've included the measurements, so you can half or quarter the recipe below.

I opted out of using the fabric softener, which the original recipe calls for.  I have quiet a few articles of clothing that aren't recommended to wash with liquid softeners.  I don't miss it.  I think it ups the price and I find it unnecessary.

As far as grating the soap goes; I've found it easiest to just put it in my blender with the other powdered ingredients.  It pulses everything better than grating could, which makes it dissolve easier and saves a load of time.  I have a blendtec... not sure how this would work in a regular blender.

Powdered Laundry Detergent

Recipe modified from How Does She?

4 lb 12oz box of Borax (9 c.)

3 lb 7oz box Super Washing Soda (6 c.)

3 lb container OxyClean (5 c.)

2 (14oz) bars Zote Soap

4 lb box Baking Soda (8 c.)

Cut soap bars into 4-6 pieces.

Put a few soap pieces in the blender and fill with powdered ingredients (to about 4 cups).

Blend until smooth.

Pour into large bucket.

Repeat with remaining soap chunks and powdered ingredients.

Stir everything together in bucket to incorporate all ingredients.

Use 2 Tbsp. per large load of laundry.

Laundry Stain Remover

My husband gets bloody noses at night.  In his sleep.  Its weird.

Usually he wakes enough to clean up his pillowcase, but the other morning I woke up to him saying "uh-oh".

I love Zout.  It is by far my favorite stain remover, and I never thought I would find an equal replacement.  Now was the time to test the strength of this home made version.

 Even more so disgusting than the nose bled stained pillowcase was what I discovered after it was washed.  As you can see, not only did it completely remove the stain, but you can clearly see the lines where the stain remover had run vs. where it hadn't.  Yeah, I know, gross.  The pillowcase was that dirty.  Even after being washed.  I ended up soaking the whole thing in hot water with some of this stain remover to get the entire thing clean again.

I have one of these bottles in my bedroom to spot clean before I put clothes into the hamper, and one in the laundry room.  I also use it to pre-treat the collars of button up shirts, as well as the armpits of white shirts before they are washed.  It is a great, inexpensive version that works wonders!

Laundry Stain Remover

Recipe from One Good Thing

1/3 c. dishwashing liquid detergent (dawn/palmolive)

1/3 c. ammonia

3 Tbsp. baking soda

1 c. warm water

In a spray bottle, dissolve baking soda in warm water.

Add remaining ingredients.

Shake before each use.

Bubble Solution

This bubble solution is my go-to recipe.  The glycerin makes them "stronger", so your kids can actually catch bubbles if they put socks on their hands.

Bubble Solution

Recipe from Play at Home Mom

2 c. water

2 Tbsp. dish soap

2 Tbsp. glycerin

Mix together gently and let stand, uncovered for 24 hours before use.

Lemon Vinegar Kitchen Cleaner

I decided a while ago to try and find a more "green" kitchen cleaner.  I didn't like the idea of spraying the counters and tables that my kids so regularly ate off of with things that may be unhealthy for them to accidentally consume.

I think that is when I fell in love with the cleaning power of vinegar.  That is also when my husband started complaining that our house smelled like, well, vinegar.

To appease his distaste, I started searching the internet and found this method.

There are a lot of different "recipes" to this cleaner.  Most just use lemon peels and vinegar, with a 50/50 ratio of water.  In my experience, I have found the addition of essential oils and a minimal addition of water (or none at all) is best for me.  It definitely gets the job done.

Lemon Vinegar Kitchen Cleaner

12-15 lemons

2 quart mason jar

white distilled vinegar

10 drops lemon essential oil

water (optional)

Wash lemons to remove any dirt.

Juice lemons (I freeze it in ice cube trays in tsp. and Tbsp. amounts to use in recipes)

Scrape out skin from peels and discard.

Rough chop peels.

Stuff peels into jar, pressing down to fit as many peels as possible.

Fill jar with vinegar, ensuring that ll peels are completely covered.

Seal jar and set aside to soak for 2-3 weeks.

Drain vinegar from jar into a spray bottle.

Discard peels (I put mine through the garbage disposal to helps clean and freshen)

Add essential oils to vinegar.

Add water (up to equal amounts of vinegar), if desired.

Shake before each use.   

Liquid Laundry Detergent

I have been making my own liquid laundry detergent for years now, and am completely satisfied with the results.  Not to mention that a years supply costs me under $10.

Liquid Laundry Detergent

1/2 bar Phels Naptha Soap

1/2 c. borax

1/2 c. washing soda

2 gallons+ sized bucket

32 c. water

25-30 drops essential oils (optional)

Grate soap.

In large sauce pan, heat 6 c. of water and grated soap.

Heat, stirring occasionally, until soap is completely dissolved.

Remove from heat.

Add borax and washing soda.

Stir until completely dissolved.

In bucket, add 4 c. hot water.

Pour soap mixture into bucket and stir.

Add 22 c. of water to the bucket and stir.

Add essential oils and stir.

Let soap sit in bucket, undisturbed, for 24 hours so it can gel.

Stir to break up clumps and pour into containers.

Use 1/2 c. for each extra large load.

For more pictures with thorough detailed instructions, go here.

Eye Make Up Remover

'Soaps and Cleaners' is an actual tab in my tangible recipe box, so I have decided to start posting them on here as well.

This particular one is something that I use every day.

Eye Make Up Remover

Recipe from adelynSTONE

1 c. water

1 1/2 Tbsp. tear free baby wash

1/8 tsp. baby oil (or coconut oil, or olive oil)
5 drops lavender essential oil

Pour ingredients into container of choice.

Shake to combine.