Des Moines Nesties
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
::smtaylor1::
How do you make your own laudry detergent??
Re: ::smtaylor1::
Here is how I make the liquid detergent...
It takes me about an hour and I make 4 gallons of it at a time. Here is the recipe (I have altered the recipes out there to make something that I really like)
In a large pot add 8 cups of water and 4 cups of white vinegar. Bring to a boil.
Finely grate 2 bars of Fels Naptha soap. GRADUALLY add this to the boiling water/vinegar. I do a handful every couple of minutes. Once it is all in I simmer it for 30-40 minutes stirring periodically.
While this is happening I fill each gallon container about 2/3's full with hot water. Put 1/2 a cup of washing soda and 1/2 a cup of borax in each container and shake well. I also add Lavender essential oils in mine for smell, you can get them in the health food section at Hy-Vee.
Once the simmering soap mixture is well mixed (the water will be a bright yellow) add equal amounts of this to each container.
To mix the containers we bought a paint stirrer that can be attached to a drill. We use that to stir it as it cools, typically once an hour. This will prevent it from separating it. We also mix the container with this when we open it for the first time for use.
Its not a bad process when we only make it once every 3-4 months. Plus it saves a ton of money for us. DH didn't believe it would work but he is sold now. In fact typically I get him to grate the soap for me. We also have replaced our fabric softeners with white vinegar. Use 1/4 cup detergent per load.
Here is how I am planning on making the powder...
Grate 1 bar of Fels Naptha soap as finely as possible. Add 2 cups of Borax and 2 cups of Washing Soda. Mix well. Use 1 Tbsp per load of clothes, 2 Tbsp if very dirty.