Best Carpet Cleaner EVER!

Pinterest has done it again.  Who knew that you can use 2 things that you currently have in your pantry and get out those nasty kid stains on the carpet.

2 cups Hydrogen Peroxide and 1/4 cup baking soda.  Right in to a squeeze bottle.  Voila!  Stain removing magic.

I had just finished vacuuming and I was really annoyed that the Capri-Sun spill that I had diligently soaked up with hot water and vinegar was still getting darker and darker.  Last week I considered just rearranging the furniture.  This week, I took to Pinterest to find a solution.

That is amazing!!!  Pay  no attention to the dark spots still lingering near the couch.  They are now also long gone. 
I gave the spot a generous squirt of remover and rubbed and scrubbed it with my rag.  Then I went over it with the vacuum to dry it a bit.  Voila.  Really…..it felt like magic.  And now I don’t have to move the furniture.

It’s True: I make my own laundry soap

This soap is great for High Efficiency (HE) washers and regular washers alike.  I was skeptical at first but decided the cost savings was worth a try.  I don’t plan on turning back.

Buy one of these big guys in the camping section of your local Walmart or Target.  I have a 5 gallon one with a pour spout.  So easy for doing laundry!

Just 3 ingredients!  (add water)  I find these 3 things on the bottom shelf of the laundry aisle in Walmart.  They are inexpensive and I get several loads out of each box of washing soda and borax.  Fels-Naptha is a mere $0.97.

I have a grater just used for laundry soap.  You don’t want to grate cheese on a grater after using it for the bar of soap.  Also, don’t was the soap grater in the dishwasher.  The extra soap will leave a film on your dishes.  Just rinse with hot water.
The soap may smell strong when grating it, but when diluted to 5 gallons, it is perfect.  Very mild and my clothes never have a soap smell.  My husband is sensitive to laundry detergents and this works great for him

Just fill your pot with water and melt the soap.  Don’t let it get too bubbly and suds up.  That will just make a mess…..I guess maybe it would be an easy clean of your stove top!
This soap works wonders on stains.  I just rub a little on and let it set a bit.  The time it sets depends on the type of stain.  This stuff works wonders on baby poo stains….seriously, my daughters clothes always look wonderful.

I wash all of my clothes with this soap, even delicates.  I don’t have a problem with fading or stains.  I cant say enough about the quality.  I have been using this recipe for almost 10 months now and I don’t plan to change a thing.  My 5 gallon jug lasts about 5 months.  And when I break down the cost, you guys wont believe it….. $3 for my 5 gallon batch!  That’s right!  $3 for laundry soap for 5 months.  That is just plain crazy.  And we do A LOT of laundry.  Probably 6-8 loads a week with towels and bedding. 
Give this stuff a try.  If you don’t like it, you are only out $3 and your time.

Laundry Soap
1 bar Fels-Naptha soap
1/2 cup Borax
1 cup Washing soda (don’t use regular baking soda)
5 gallon container.  I love mine that has a pour spout
cheese grater
1/2 cup measuring cup
1. Grate your bar of soap and slowly melt it over medium heat in a sauce pan filled with water.  Be sure to use enough water that all of the soap will disolve.  I find that 5 cups usually does the trick.
2. Fill your jug with about 1 gallon of HOT water and mix in 1 cup washing soda and 1/2 cup Borax.  Add in the melted soap.  Stir well.
3. Add in 2 gallons water and mix well.  Let set and thicken about 20 minutes.  Fill the container the rest of the way to equal your 5 gallons.  Mix well. 
I let this set overnight with the lid off to cool and thicken. 
Use 1/2 cup for top load washers (even HE) and 1/4 cup for front load washers.

Chai mix

Here it is!! I am enjoying a hot cup this morning and it is very yummy.
I got the recipe from allrecipes.com and I adapted it to my taste.

In a large bowl, whisk together:

1c. Nonfat dry milk powder (you can use powdered rice milk, soy milk or rick milk)  Let me know how it turns out if you substitute those in.
1c. Powdered non-dairy creamer
1c. French vanilla flavored non dairy creamer powder
2 1/2 c. Granulated sugar
1 1/2 c. Unsweetened instant tea
2 tsp. Ground Ginger
2 tsp. Ground cinnamon
1 tsp. Ground all spice
1 tsp. Ground cloves
1 tsp. Nutmeg
1 tsp. Ground cardamom (this spice is pricey, but you don't want to skip it.)

In a food processor, blend 1 cup at a time until mix becomes a fine powder. Don't skip this step or the spices will clump in the hot water and not dissolve well. You can also use a blender.
I like 3tbsp in a mug of hot water but you can adjust the amounts depending on how you like it.
 I also love it with a splash of half and half. I tend to think most hot drinks taste better with a splash of half and half.
Enjoy.