Make Your Own Detergent
Learn how to make your own laundry detergent, and you'll have a bit more change to empty out of your pockets on wash day.
Here's How:
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Mix together two parts Borax, two parts Washing Soda and one part grated Fels-Naptha soap to create your own laundry detergent (You can make as much or as little as you'd like).
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Use up to three level tablespoons per wash load.
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Store the rest in a lidded container, out of the reach of children and pets.
Tips:
- Be sure to label your detergent container, so others will know what's inside. Include a list of the ingredients as an added safety measure.
- Borax sells under the name 20 Mule Team, and can be found on the laundry aisle. You should be able to find Washing Soda and Fels-Naptha soap there too.
- Having trouble locating Fels-Naptha soap on the laundry aisle? Check to see if it's in with the bar soap.
- If the grocery store or discount store that you shop at doesn't stock these ingredients, try an international grocery store.
- Zote, Ivory or castile soap can be used in place of Fels-Naptha.
What You Need:
- Borax
- Washing Soda
- Fels Naptha Soap
How To Make Dryer Sheets
Here's How:
- Dip several wash clothes in fabric softener.
- Then, ring them out, and allow them to dry.
- Toss one in the dryer each time you have a load of laundry to dry.
Tips:
- You should be able to use each dryer sheet a dozen times or more, before it needs to be dipped and dried again
- Prefer to use a fabric softener that isn't chemical-based? Then, try Vinegar.
What You Need:
- Several old wash clothes
- Liquid fabric softener
Make Your Own Fabric Softener
Looking for a cheap alternative to commercial fabric softener? Then, look no further. Just add a cup of white vinegar to your washer's rinse cycle and your laundry will come out soft and cling-free.
The Benefits of Using Vinegar as a Fabric Softener
Vinegar Will:
- eliminate static cling
- remove soap residue from your clothes
- soften your laundry
- make your towels more absorbent
Vinegar Won't:
- add harsh chemicals to your laundry
- impregnate your clothes with synthetic fragrances
- cost you a lot of money
Tips and Warnings
1) To give your clothes a fresh scent, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the vinegar.
2) Have a fabric softener ball? Fill it with vinegar, and you won't have to watch for the rinse cycle.
3) Keep vinegar out of the reach of children and pets.
Did You Know?
Commercial fabric softener builds up on your towels over time, making them less absorbent.
Top 5 Nearly-Free Stain Removers
Forget about commercial stain removal sprays; you can treat your clothing stains just as effectively with items that you have at home – and at a fraction of the price. Here are several to consider:
1. Laundry Detergent
Detergent is the must-have item for clean clothes, but it can also be your must-have item for stain removal. Apply a bit of liquid laundry detergent to your stain, and rub it in with a brush. Then, toss the soiled garment into the wash with the rest of your clothing, and forget about it.
Like the convenience of commercial sprays? Just fill a bottle with laundry detergent, and you have the perfect replacement.
2. Baking Soda
No time to devote to scrubbing? No problem. Just add 1/2 cup of baking soda in with your detergent, and your clothes will come out cleaner.3. Vinegar
Rescue that bottle of vinegar from your pantry, and put it to work in your laundry room. When mixed with equal parts water, vinegar is the perfect solution for soaking stained clothing.4. Dish Soap
For tough food stains, give liquid dish soap a try. Squirt a bit on the spot you wish to treat, or soak the entire garment in soapy water for a few hours. Then, rinse out the soap, and wash as usual.5. Water
With all of the cleaning products on the market, it's easy to overlook the simplest choice--water. Rinse or scrub out a stain with cool water as soon as it happens, and you're likely to find that's all the treatment you need.Vinegar as Stain Remover
How to Remove Laundry Stains with Vinegar
Vinegar makes stain removal a snap. Learn how to treat 16 of your toughest laundry stains with white vinegar and a bit of elbow grease.
1. Remove Tomato Stains
Saturate the stain with vinegar. Allow it to soak in. Then, wash.2. Remove Sugar-Based Stains
Saturate the stain with vinegar. Allow it to soak in. Then, wash.3. Remove Coffee/ Tea Stains
Flush the area with vinegar to remove the stain. Rinse and repeat as needed. Then, wash as usual.4. Remove Wine Stains
Saturate the stain in vinegar, and allow to it stand for several minutes. Then, rinse with water, and repeat the process, if needed. Wash immediately after.5. Remove Mustard Stains
Apply vinegar to the stain, and allow it to soak in. Then, spot treat with a bit of laundry detergent, and wash.6. Remove Grease
Soak the stain in undiluted white vinegar. Then, wash as usual.7. Remove Sweat Stains
Pour vinegar over the sweat stain. Then rub coarse salt into the stain (table salt will work if it's all you have). Place the garment out in the sun to dry. Then, wash.8. Remove Grass Stains
Apply vinegar to the stain with a sponge, and lightly dab to lift. If the stain persists, make a paste of vinegar and baking soda, and brush it into the stain with an old toothbrush. Then, wash as usual.9. Remove Ink Stains
Apply vinegar to the stain. Then, rub with a paste made of vinegar and baking soda. Let dry. Then, wash.10. Remove Deodorant Stains
Rub vinegar into the stain until it disappears. Then, launder as usual.11. Remove Blood Stains
Fast action is the cure for bloodstains. Pour vinegar over the stain, and allow it to soak for fifteen minutes. Then, rinse with cool water, and repeat if necessary. Wash immediately after.12. Remove Set-In Stains
Saturate the stain in vinegar. Then, rub with a paste made of vinegar and baking soda. If the stain persists, add a couple tablespoons each of vinegar and laundry detergent to a bucket of water, and soak over night. Rinse, and wash.13. Remove Crayon
Rub vinegar into the crayon stain with a brush (an old toothbrush works great). Then, toss in the wash.14. Remove Vomit Stains
Rinse the garment in cool water to remove as much of the vomit as possible. Then, soak the stain in vinegar, and wash. If stain or odor persists, repeat the process.15. Remove Rust
Pour vinegar over the rust stain. Then rub coarse salt into the stain (table salt will work if it's all you have). Place the garment out in the sun to dry. Then, wash.16. Remove Iron Scorch Marks
Soak a rag in vinegar, and use it to dab at the scorched area. Then, blot the stain with a clean rag, and it should lift the stain. Note: It may take more than one application to fully remove the scorch mark.All-natural Bleach
Make Your Own Bleach Alternative
Chlorine bleach is tough on your clothes, the environment and your wallet, so replace that bulky jug with something better: a lemon. The only thing it's tough on is dirt.
To Whiten Clothes
Add a cup of lemon juice to the wash cycle to boost the whitening action of your laundry detergent.
To Remove Stains from Clothing
Pour lemon juice over the stain. Then, rub the area with salt; and place the garment out in the sun for several hours. Wash as usual.
To Remove Stains from Countertops and Other Hard Surfaces
Create a paste of lemon juice and baking soda. Then, apply the mixture to the stain, and allow it to sit for several hours. Wipe clean, and the stain should be gone.
Note: Some stains may require a second treatment.
To Sanitize
Rub half of a lemon over the surface that needs to be sanitized, or apply lemon juice straight from the bottle. Then, rinse with water.
Why This Works
The citric acid in lemons acts as a natural stain remover, bleach and sanitizer.
Benefits of Using Lemon as a Bleach:
- chlorine-free
- gentle on clothes and surfaces
- natural sanitizer
- effective whitener/ stain remover
- fume-free
- kid and pet-safe
- inexpensive
Tips and Warnings:
1) Do not clean marble surfaces with lemon. This can lead to etching.
2) Use a paste of lemon juice and baking soda to remove stains from plastic storage containers.
Make Your Own Spray Starch
Make your own spray starch, and enjoy crisp collars and pleats on the cheap. Here's how:
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 heaping tablespoon corn starch
- 1 pint cold water
- 1-2 drops essential oil (optional)
Preparation:
1. Combine the cornstarch and water in a bowl, and stir until the cornstarch is completely dissolved. (The mixture will be milky in color)
2. Add in a couple drops of essential oil for fragrance, if desired.
3. Then, transfer to a spray bottle, and use.
Tips:
1. For best results, shake before each use.
2. A little goes a long way, so use sparingly.
Did You Know?
- Commercially-produced spray starch usually contains formaldehyde – yuck!
- Starching clothes actually makes them last longer because dirt and perspiration sticks to the starch and not to the fabric.
Frugal Laundry Booster
Why You Should Add Vinegar to Your Wash Loads
We've all seen the commercials for laundry boosters that promise to whiten our whites and remove our toughest stains, but guess what? You don't need them.
For a frugal laundry booster (and we're talking pennies a load frugal), just add a cup of white vinegar to your washer's rinse cycle. It's one solution that's as simple as it is effective.
The Benefits of a Vinegar Laundry Booster
Vinegar Will:
- whiten your whites
- brighten your colors
- eliminate static-cling
- remove lint
- prevent the dye in new clothing from running
- kill any bacteria present in your laundry
- remove soap residue from fabric and your machine
- soften your laundry, without the use of fabric softeners
- neutralize any odors
Why This Works
The acetic acid in vinegar acts as a solvent and disinfectant – just what you need to fight your toughest laundry challenges.
Warnings
As with any cleaner, you should avoid all contact with the eyes and prolonged contact with the skin
How to Keep Line-Dried Clothes from Getting Stiff
Like the idea of line drying clothes, but hate how stiff everything feels afterwards? Then, check out these five tricks for perfect, crunch-free clothes:
1. Add a cup of white vinegar to your wash cycle to help dissolve the laundry detergent.
2. Cut the amount of detergent that you use. Half the recommended amount is usually plenty.
3. Run your clothes in the dryer for 10 minutes, before putting them out on the line.
4. Shake out your clothes before hanging them.
5. Hang your clothes out on a windy day.
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1 comment:
It’s just something that comes with Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) territory. If your sweating is bad, chances are you’ve got some stubborn sweat stains on your light clothing.
I remember when my armpit sweat stains were so bad, I was buying white tee shirts like they were disposables.
It definitely took a toll on my wallet at the time.
Maybe you know where I’m coming from?
You get those gross yellow stains on your underarms and normal bleach or detergent just can phase them out during a normal laundry cycle.
It’s true, most pit stains are just way to tenacious to go away with regular washing methods.
Here, I’ll be outlining the most effective ways to get your shirts looking like new again and save you some cash on your undershirt shopping list.
So, let’s get started with the first method and get those pit stains out!
1. Using the Right Detergents
Use liquid laundry detergent containing either oxygenated ingredients or ones that remove most protein-based stains and apply it directly to the sweat stains. Then, with your fingers, gently rub the detergent deep into the shirt fibers to cover the entire stain. Let it soak into the material for about half an hour. Wash in the laundry afterwards as you normally would.
2. Hydrogen Peroxide
This one is for white articles of clothing only. Hydrogen peroxide breaks down the protein residue in sweat stains. The results? Applying hydrogent peroxide on white clothing keep your garments from turning dark or yellowish over the armpit area over time.
Here’s what you do…
Soak the stain in a half and half mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide for half an hour. After that, wash it out with cool water and let your shirt air dry. If the stain is still visible, repeat the treatment with higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide.
I love this treatment because the hydrogent peroxide prevents that weird texture that sweat stains can give your clothing.
You know…
I’m talking about when sweat stains are so bad, the underarms of your tee shirts feel like construction paper - no good!
3. Baking Soda Paste
If you’ve been following my tips up to now, you’re probably sick of hearing me praise the power of baking soda! - hey what can I say? It’s the swiss army knife of sweat solutions!
Well, I have one more baking soda treatment for you - removing sweat stains. Yes, it works and yes, like most of this stuff, I’ve tested it out at home.
Here’s how to make baking soda eliminate your own sweat stains…
Mix a bit of baking soda with water until you have a thick paste. Then use a toothbrush to gently brush the paste into your clothing’s sweat stains.
Leave the paste saturating the stain for 20 minutes, then rinse it out with cold water and throw your garment into the laundry on a cold cycle with an oxygenating detergent.
Just a warning, sometimes the baking soda can leave a residue on clothing after the first cycle of washing so try to save this treatment for light clothing. It’s not that big a deal - sweat stains are usually more prevalent on light clothing anyway.
4. Sunshine and Spray
This one builds off of the original recommendation, choosing a detergent with oxygenated ingredients. Although, you can really add this extra step to whatever treatment you choose.
This solution does require a sunny day, so it’s not always an alternative.
However, if the sun is cooperative, here’s what you do…
After applying your approved detergent (or hydrogen peroxide) to the sweat stains, lay your article of clothing out in the sun. You can hang it up outside as well.
Keep the stain wet by spraying it with water. As the moisture evaporates, the stain will evaporate with it. After 3 or 4 hours of leaving the garment out and spraying intermittently (yes, this is a little bit of a chore), throw the article of clothing in the laundry on a cold water cycle. Wash it out and wear your perfectly unstained outfit.
5. White Vinegar
White vinegar works wonders on colored articles of clothing. Really, it’s the first treatment you should try if you’re trying to remove sweat stains from anything other than white or off-white garments.
You want to create a solution of two cups of water and four tablespoons of white vinegar. Start with that. It’s diluted enough to protect colors and contentrated enough to go to work.
Apply the diluted white vinegar solution directly to sweat stains before washing in the laundry to kill all offensive sweat odor, prevent changes in the texture of your clothing due to sweat AND keep colors vibrant. (is this starting to sound like a “Cheer” commercial or what? ha.)
How to Prevent Sweat Stains Forever…
Do you REALLY want to implement these sweat stain removal techniques every week? Wouldn’t it be so much easier if you didn’t have to deal with them at all?
Excessive Sweating doesn’t have to be a part of your life anymore. Right now, you can learn 12 step by step treatments that stop the excessive sweating in minutes at http://www.Prevent-Sweating.com Posted on the site is a video I’ve created called Sweat FREE Tactics. It’s a FREE video containing over 30 minutes of sweat stopping treatments that you can implement as soon as you learn them.
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