Once again, I am turning to good ole Apple Cider Vinegar (this stuff is just amazing!). Just pour apple cider vinegar in the little rinse aid container thingy on your dishwasher. It works great!
Compare:
Jet Dry 4.2oz - $4.49
Apple Cider Vinegar 4.2oz - $.33
The rinse aid should be re-filled about once a month.
That is an annual savings of $49.92.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Homemade Fabric Softener
I just love soft, wonderful smelling laundry. I recently found out that Apple Cider Vinegar in the rinse cycle does an awesome job of softening clothes, and they don't smell like vinegar. But, that's just not good enough for me. I want my clothes to smell good! So, here is my solution:
Mix 10 oz of your favorite fabric softener (I love the scent of Suavitel in the yellow jug and it's much less expensive than other brands) with 24 oz apple cider vinegar. It works great!
Compare:
Downy Fabric Softener 34oz - $5.49
This will soften about 38 loads of laundry, which would last me about one month.
My homemade fabric softener 34oz - $1.88.
That is an annual savings of $32.52.
Mix 10 oz of your favorite fabric softener (I love the scent of Suavitel in the yellow jug and it's much less expensive than other brands) with 24 oz apple cider vinegar. It works great!
Compare:
Downy Fabric Softener 34oz - $5.49
This will soften about 38 loads of laundry, which would last me about one month.
My homemade fabric softener 34oz - $1.88.
That is an annual savings of $32.52.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Homemade Laundry Detergent
Homemade Laundry Detergent Ingredients:
1 box Borax (4 lbs 12oz or 76 oz)
1 box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (55oz or 3 lbs 7oz)
1 box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (64oz or 4 lbs)
2 bars Fels-Naptha Laundry Soap
1 bar Pink Zote Laundry Soap
Using a cheese grater or food processor, grate all 3 bars of soap. Mix the Borax, washing soda, baking soda, and grated soap together in a trash bag. It's much easier to mix in a bag than in a bucket. When ingredients are mixed together well put soap in a container of your choice. I used 2 one-gallon plastic ice cream containers. Use 1 tablespoon of soap per load. If the clothes are extra soiled, use 2 tablespoons. This soap has no fillers so you do not have to use nearly as much to get the job done. I have been using this soap for about 5 months and I love it. It cleans well and it has a great, fresh scent.
This recipe makes approximately 440 tablespoons and cost about $16.20 to make. That should be enough to last me atleast 9 months. 32 loads of Gain cost around $8.00. That means that 440 loads of Gain would cost around $110.00. That is a savings of $93.80.
1 box Borax (4 lbs 12oz or 76 oz)
1 box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (55oz or 3 lbs 7oz)
1 box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (64oz or 4 lbs)
2 bars Fels-Naptha Laundry Soap
1 bar Pink Zote Laundry Soap
Using a cheese grater or food processor, grate all 3 bars of soap. Mix the Borax, washing soda, baking soda, and grated soap together in a trash bag. It's much easier to mix in a bag than in a bucket. When ingredients are mixed together well put soap in a container of your choice. I used 2 one-gallon plastic ice cream containers. Use 1 tablespoon of soap per load. If the clothes are extra soiled, use 2 tablespoons. This soap has no fillers so you do not have to use nearly as much to get the job done. I have been using this soap for about 5 months and I love it. It cleans well and it has a great, fresh scent.
This recipe makes approximately 440 tablespoons and cost about $16.20 to make. That should be enough to last me atleast 9 months. 32 loads of Gain cost around $8.00. That means that 440 loads of Gain would cost around $110.00. That is a savings of $93.80.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Phase out of incandescent light bulbs
According to USA Today, 12/29/2011 http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/manufacturing/story/2011-12-28/light-bulb-rules/52256656/1 "The congressionally mandated efficiency standards gradually phase out Thomas Edison's 131-year-old creation in favor of other light bulbs that use at least 25% less energy. The first to go, beginning Sunday, is the traditional 100-watt, followed in January 2013 with the 75-watt version and in January 2014 with the 40-watt and 60-watt bulbs." Stores will still be able to sell the bulbs that they have in stock, but as of January 1st, no more 100 watt light bulbs can be manufactured or imported. In two years, you will no longer be able to purchase incandescent light bulbs. So, it would be a good idea to start replacing every light that burns out with a compact fluorescent bulb. Incandescent bulbs lose 90% of their energy to heat. That is what makes them so ineffecient. Halogen incandescent bulbs meet the requirements of the new laws, but cost more annually to use than CFL's. LED's also meet the requirements and they cost less annually than CFL's and last longer, but they cost almost $50 per bulb to purchase.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Light Bulbs
Did you know that a compact fluorescent light bulb (those funny looking swirly-shaped bulbs) produces the same amount of visible light as a standard incandescent light bulb, but uses typically 1/5 less power and lasts 6 to 10 times longer. That's pretty impressive! Here's an example: an 18 watt compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) will produce the same amount of visible light as a standard 75 watt incandescent light bulb, but is only using 18 watts of electricity. A U.S. article stated "A household that invested $90 in changing 30 fixtures to CFLs would save $440 to $1,500 over the five-year life of the bulbs, depending on your cost of electricity. Look at your utility bill and imagine a 12% discount to estimate the savings." I have already changed almost every single bulb in my house. They take a little getting used to, because it's a different kind of light. Also, they aren't at their full brightness when you first turn them on. They get brighter after they've been on a few minutes and warmed up. By changing my light bulbs, sealing my windows, and using the heat from my dryer and the sunshine through my windows, I can already see a difference in my electric bill.
Lower Heating Costs in Winter
Would you like to save a few extra dollars on your heating and electric bill this winter? Of course you would, who wouldn't? Here are a few tips to help you accomplish that. Do you have old wooden windows on your house? I do, and I didn't realize how much cold air leaks in through them until I noticed my curtains moving.
Open each window and thoroughly clean out the window sill. Run a thick bead of clear silicon on the window sill, right underneath the window. Place a strip of plastic wrap over the silicon so that it completely covers the silicon and hangs over each side about 4 inches, and close the window tightly. While you have the silicon out, run a small bead of silicon around each pane of glass. After a few days, peel the plastic wrap off the window sill. You have now created a seal that is perfectly molded to the bottom of your window. No more cold air! Yee Haw!
Open your curtains during the sunny days, and close them at night. The sun shining through your windows can really help heat your house.
Buy a new vent hose for your dryer. They aren't very expensive. Remove the old hose from the back of your dryer and install the new one. Instead of running the new hose outside let all of that warm, moist air into your house. Not only are you utilizing heat that would have been wasted, but it makes your house smell really good, like fresh, clean laundry! And, moist air is easier to heat than dry air, so the moisture from the wet clothes helps a lot too! On cold days I get a lot of laundry done. Just be sure to keep the lint trap cleaned out really well.
Do you have any tips you would like to share?
Open each window and thoroughly clean out the window sill. Run a thick bead of clear silicon on the window sill, right underneath the window. Place a strip of plastic wrap over the silicon so that it completely covers the silicon and hangs over each side about 4 inches, and close the window tightly. While you have the silicon out, run a small bead of silicon around each pane of glass. After a few days, peel the plastic wrap off the window sill. You have now created a seal that is perfectly molded to the bottom of your window. No more cold air! Yee Haw!
Open your curtains during the sunny days, and close them at night. The sun shining through your windows can really help heat your house.
Buy a new vent hose for your dryer. They aren't very expensive. Remove the old hose from the back of your dryer and install the new one. Instead of running the new hose outside let all of that warm, moist air into your house. Not only are you utilizing heat that would have been wasted, but it makes your house smell really good, like fresh, clean laundry! And, moist air is easier to heat than dry air, so the moisture from the wet clothes helps a lot too! On cold days I get a lot of laundry done. Just be sure to keep the lint trap cleaned out really well.
Do you have any tips you would like to share?
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