Cleaning....

I am not a fan of cleaning... I like a clean house but I don't like to get it there :)
In my quest to save money and clean using natural cleaners rather then the chemicals that we can all buy so easy I started hunting Pinterest and other online sources to find ways that don't take forever.
I found a great pin about making your own orange cleaner (orange peels and vinegar, let sit for several weeks to months) I am making a batch right now, it has been about 2 weeks and the vinegar is just starting to turn orange so I am going to let it go another 2-3 weeks. I hope to use it in the kitchen as an alternative to bleach based cleaners :) I love the smells of orange, apple and/or cinnamon in the kitchen. More on that when I get to try it out.
This place I have tile in the bathroom (floor and shower) I noticed when moving in that the floor grout was about 4 -5 shades darker in the walkways then on the edges. I knew that I needed to clean but I have never had to clean grout (my tile experience has been with well sealed grout and that was just mop as needed). To Pinterest I went, I found several ways but the one that seemed to me to be the best was this one http://aprrilsopinion.blogspot.com/2012/06/amazing-grout-cleaner.html I mixed up a batch and went to work, I let it sit as noted and scrubbed with an old toothbrush, it worked great but took a long time (45 min). So I only did about 1/4 of the small floor... I then went back a few days later to do more and just after applying the cleaner I got called away (to the door) and it sat for about 30-45 min rather then 15 min. the extra time did wonders! I cleaned the next section in about 10 min! so I then knew how to use it, so when I did the shower I applied the cleaner with the thought to leave it sit longer and it worked, the shower took longer to scrub but that it due to the smaller tiles. I found that the grout was 2 colors in the shower (before that section just looked a little worse) I am guessing that section had been taken out to fix the plumbing, and rather then finding the white grout, the leftover grout from the floor was used (med grey/tan ish).

My next project is the cupboards and doors...they are dark brown and showing age. I have found a great trick... Shoe polish! if you can find one that is close in color it does wonders.

Bathroom 1/2 done

This shows just how good the polish covers (and it adds shine) I think that it took 10 years off the bathroom,  it does not last forever but is a great way to cover little issues (great for renters!!!) I am getting ready to go over the bathroom again as the first coat was absorbed by the wood, but it is still way better than it was, the wood was rough and the finish was peeling off, now the peeling has stopped and the rough is much better (I hope that a 2nd coat will totally fix that) it also helped the doors but I had to mix a latex pain to cover some large patches (I used craft paint mixed with water then blended it well into the grain so that it did not show as much) it came out a little dark but I think that is better then the almost white marks. (it is hard to get a picture that shows it)

I am trying to find a way to remove paint from them (the little white dots in the picture) but every method I try removes the finish on the wood... I have sanded (using a small piece of sandpaper), scraped (using a thin piece of metal) and my all time favorite rubbing alcohol... the rubbing alcohol worked the best but still removed a little of what I need to keep. I also have a lot of paint to remove and that method takes a LONG time and lots of q-tips. I love this place but the people who painted it last did not know how to use a sprayer...= little dots of paint on everything!

Up next : what ever I find of interest... maybe sewing stuff...

Homemade Laundry soap

I started looking at the real cost of our favorite laundry soap and found that it was about .13 a load (when buying it at a discount store, up to .19 a load other places)
I saw the pinterest  posts about making your own and how cheap it is, so I started looking into the differences in methods and ingredients. I did not like the idea of making a liquid soap as I have a front load washing machine and while I can use liquid, I like the fact that powder is easier to store, my husband likes the scented soap and the liquid would be harder for me to scent to his liking.
Ingredients often used : what it does
Washing soda : water softener/cleaner
baking soda  :water softerer/brighter
Fels naptha :soap/oil remover good to use if poison oak/ivy is anywhere near as it removes the oil from them
Zote : soap
Oxi clean : booster/brighter
Purex crystals (or other brand) : smelly agent :)
Borax : cleaner

I started looking into how safe each of them is and I found that the only one with any concern is the Borax and I did not want it in my house as small amounts can cause breathing issues for animals and children (it can cause those issues in adults but it is less common and easier to treat) I have cats, rodents, and reptiles so I did not want to risk their health to test a cheaper laundry soap.
Baking soda is not used as often but I chose to add it for extra cleaning/ refreshing power.
Most use Fels naptha or Zote, we did not like the smell of Zote or Fels naptha but together they are ok and you get the citronella in the Zote for repelling bugs and the oil removing power of the Fels naptha

 What I used for my huge batch (was trying for a year's supply)
2/3 bar Fels naptha (grated fine)
1 bar Zote (grated fine)
2 boxes Washing soda (Arm and Hammer) 3lb  7oz each
4 lbs baking soda (one large box or 4 small)
6 lbs Oxi clean (used the cheap brand, it works just fine)
1 large container Purex crystals (55oz)

I  looked at the number of Tablespoons in an ounce and tried to see just how many per ingredient, then in total. I came to about 350 loads for this batch. Using 2 Tablespoons per load as the measurement, but I found I actually use about 11/2 T per load, and 2 T for the really dirty loads.

Other items needed :
Large container with a TIGHTLY fitting lid, I used a cat litter bucket.. not the best choice.. it spilled 2 times, one in the moving truck and that was a HUGE MESS!! You can also use a large bowl and then move to smaller containers for storage.
old/cheap  grater  or food processor (I used one that the large side broke and only the small was usable, as I did not want to mix it with the food one. I have a step child that is a germ-a-phobe so I try to keep things seperate)
A little Elbow grease :)

Assembly :
I grated the soap while watching TV, it took my about 2 hours (but I was not always grating, and I have arthritis in my hands so I am slow at this step)
I then added the other ingredients in medium amounts mixing as I went.

Not hard at all! in total it took me 3 hours but I got to watch my favorite TV shows for 2 hours of that, and clean the kitchen floor for 20 min LOL :)

Testing:
I ran to the towels thinking they would be a good test.. I washed them and they came out fluffy and smelling like baking soda :( I was so sad that I had spent the money on the Purex crystals as I thought I would need 2 times as much as I had gotten (this would have increased the cost to the same as the pre-made kind) I also did a load of whites and found that the stain in my hubby's favorite shirt came out with the homemade and it had been there for 3-4 washes with the store bought! I was happy with the cleaning but not the smell, but we still had some of the old kind left, so I told kids to use the old box before starting on the homemade. I did use it sometimes for towels or badly soiled items. I was surprised that the old box lasted about 2 months, so the homemade sat waiting... This was the best thing that I have wished for!

Conculsions :
Make the homemade soap about 2-3 months before you want to use it, so that the Purex Crystals have time to perfume the batch.
Test the amount you need per load use a scoop if possible to make it easier for others to remember how much to use (I found a drink mix scoop that was the right amount for me)
Store in an airtight container (for the perfuming)
Open the Fels naptha and let it dry for a month for easier grating
Freeze the Zote for easier grating (sounds odd but it works! next time I will dry it as well to see if that improves it even more)


I did not price it as the price does vary, I found one item for cheaper then I expected and one cost a little more. Look at any discount grocery stores that are local to you, I found the washing soda $1 a box cheaper there then at Walmart, but I did not have a good place to get baking soda so that cost me a little more (had to get the small boxes, I will get it at Costco now :) But it is safe to say for about $30 you can make this large batch, it saves my family about $10 a year and for me that is great, as the kids move out I am guessing it will last us 2 years (or more).

Up next : testing grout cleaning methods.

Food part 2

Food is a never ending challenge, using the tips about food in the food part 1, I was able to feed our larger family on as little as $50 a week when money is tight, I did just that the months of Oct and Nov.  then due to my work situation we were able to get food stamps. This was a HUGE blessing as I did not know how I was going to feed the 3 of us left in the house.

The amount we were given for the end of Nov. I used to re-stock the very empty pantry. I still use my system as it saves me money and I do not want to get out of the habit. In fact I found pork roast that same week for .99 a lb (only happens 2-3 times a year) so I was able to get several to stash in the freezer. I also like to look at the adds to see what meals we might like but I have not thought of. I am working on a list of meals that we like that I can easily pull from for menu planning but...

Now that there is only 3 of us cooking has changed alot! I have the luck that the 3 of us are the pickiest eaters, and with my eating issues I never know from min to min what I will be able to eat, thankfully I learned along time ago to pay attention to my body so I am not often starting something then having to waste it. but I am doing more cooking for the boys and finding something to eat for me. This has changed my menu planning, I now have a list of meals that I can choose from that most to all the ingredients are on hand(about 3 weeks worth) and I try to keep the fridge stocked with basics (salad fixings, dairy, sandwich meat, cheese....). so I can fix most things without a run to the store. NEVER run to the store to get a "few items", go shopping or get the item for dinner (be in a hurry, I like to start dinner then run to the local store to get the last item, so I cannot dally)

For now I am still learning a new system, but that is why I do not want to lose the old habits from the ads and price matching for the lowest price.

I will post on this subject from time to time, as I like to find new ways to save money any way I can :) as long as I am not hungry or the cleaner/ trick works!

Next planned post... Homemade Laundry soap, what I learned....

update

I took a few months off as I had more health issues pop up... (oh the Joys!) I lasted 2 weeks back at work before the migraine took over my life. I call it the migraine as it lasted until Oct. it was there for about 1 week shy of 2 months. During that time we also had to move, the nice place that we had been living was sold and the new owners needed us (and our neighbors) out to replace the sewer lines to all 8 houses on the ally. So we fund a new place and love it here, the location is better, and the cost is a little cheaper (no issues with the cost of the elect!)

After that the youngest had another surgery :( this one healed faster! and just before it she found her first job!!! then her other half found a job!
I also had more health issues come up and sadly lost 15 lbs :( but I am learning to manage the food issues, so I am not loosing anymore (that I know of) But my job does not allow for the flexibility that I need now. In fact most do not, I am looking to see if I can find that rare job that does.. While I wait on that I have to continue to try working with the Short Term and Long Term Disability from my work to see if I can get a little money coming in.
Nov.was a eventful month as they (with my step-son's friend) found a place to call their's! I am so proud of them for getting out on their own and so far doing well at it :) they all 3 have jobs and are starting life out well.
My step-son is continuing to work on his H.S. diploma and is making progress on his goals

I have discovered Pinterest and am having fun with the craft/food/cleaning ideas I find there. I will be adding the results into my blog so that others will have the benefit of what I have learned.