I Have Sensitive Skin

Most cheap, generic brands of laundry detergent give me hives and on occasion have even caused special midnight trips to the Emergency Room.   Experience has taught me to be choosy when selecting a detergent, while my wallet has limited the options.  Amy received a large 100 oz bottle of Dreft detergent (designed for babies sensitive skin) as a gift while pregnant with Matthew. Originally intended for Matthew's clothes, bedding, and towels, this delicate detergent began cleansing my clothes, too. 

While conversing with my Aunt Zadie about my new vice, she suggested I switch to a homemade detergent and provided a simple recipe:

Homemade Laundry Detergent

1 cup Borax

1 cup washing soda

1 bar of grated Fels Naptha 

1 bar of grated regular soap  (for fragrance)

After the first use I was hooked!  Five years later, my clothes are still clean and my skin is irritation free.

Ingredients

Finished Product

Making your own detergent has multiple benefits: it is healthy, economical, and earth friendly.  Many detergents contain toxic chemicals, perfumes, and dies which act as poisons for our skin and body. On average, a name brand laundry detergent cost $0.20 a load while homemade detergent cost approximately $0.05 a load.  Those same toxic chemicals that create a film on our fabrics also trickle their way into our water supply.

Last year, per Matthew's advice, we built a clothesline adding another earth-friendly feature to laundry day.  Our next laundry venture consist of homemade fabric softener.  I will report back with my findings.

Happy Washing!

Hung Out to Dry

About two weeks ago, my friends at No Room for Hipsters posted about their new laundry line.  My four year old son was inspired and decided that we should build a clothesline too.

Off to Lowes we went.  All over the store he would announce, "We are going to build a clothesline!" to anyone who would listen.  Once home, construction came to a halt.  The yard had to be mowed. 

It wasn't until after dark that we were able to assemble our post and beams, but it was too dark to dig any holes.  The next afternoon we went to work digging holes, setting posts, and pouring concrete.  Shortly after, the rain began.

Two weeks later we get a break from the rain and a chance to use that new clothesline.  

Dear Matthew,

Job well done.

Dad