DIY Powder Laundry Detergent

We have been making this for almost 3 years now. The cost is under $20 and depending on how much laundry you wash it can last anywhere from 4-10 months. We do on average a load a day and it lasts our family 6-8 months. I purchased a 3 Gallon glass jar from Walmart for $10 to store the detergent.

Here is what you will need:

• 1 4lb 12 oz box Borax (2.15 kg or 76 oz) found in the detergent aisle
• 1 4lb box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (1.81 kg) found in the cooking aisle
• 1 box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 55 oz (3 lb 7 oz) found in the detergent aisle
• 3 bars of Fels-Naptha soap, found in the detergent aisle
• 2 small containers or 1 large container of Oxi Clean (try to get about 3.5 lbs total) found in the detergent aisle
• a food processor

**All of these items can be purchased at Wal-mart; I went to several stores searching for the ingredients when I first started making this, and want to save you from having to do the same**

Step 1

     Start out by lining a box or a bucket with a trash bag. I used the bucket we use to wash our car, it was the perfect size. Dump the Borax, Baking Soda, Washing Soda, and Oxi Clean into this bucket. If you don't want a layer of the powder on the items around where you dump you might want to dump these into the bucket while standing outside. 

Step 2

     Using a cutting board and knife cut the bars of Fels Naptha soap into 1/2-1 inch blocks and place in a bowl. I know this part seems time consuming but the smaller the blocks the better. (Your house will start to smell really good at this point)

Step 3

     Place a few heaping scoops of the powder mixture in first then add a few blocks of the Fels Naptha into the food processor. This step is to grind up the soap. I add some powder mixture in this step to keep the soap from sticking to the blades in the processor. The longer you run the processor the finer the soap will be. Our food processor allows for it to stay running and i can just keep adding the Fels Naptha through the top. If yours doesn't once this batch is blended up you can remove it and keep repeating this step until all of the Fels Naptha is grinded up. 

Step 4

     Add your detergent to your Jar or other container where you will be storing it. You can stir the completed mixture before or after you place it in your jar. I mix it first because the bucket has more room than the jar and I just make a huge mess. For this final step if you don't want a layer of powder soap on everything I would dump the final mixture form your bucket into the jar while you are outside. Trust me, I didn't do this the first time and I had powder on everything in the kitchen. 

**Use 1-2 Tablespoons per load. I know that does not seem like enough but this recipe does not have fillers like the store bought stuff**

    

*****Enjoy your new long lasting laundry detergent. I hope you love it as much as I do. *****

God's Assurance

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ

1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us

I am not sure about you, but it is nice to sometimes be reminded that we (my family) are living life how God intended. Today started different then any other day; since we started home schooling Mateo. I had to wake the kids up at 6:30a.m. so we could make my 7:45a.m. doctors appointment on the Air Base. I was even up at 5:45am so I could have time to get myself ready. We were on time to leave the house, and as I told Mateo it was time to go, he accidentally bumped the swiffer (that I forgot to put up when I was done) over and that hit my bottle stand, and then all the bottles plus there pieces (for those that know what Dr. Brown bottles are you feel my pain, for those that don't know each bottle has 6 separate pieces) fell into a pot on the counter that just so happened to still be filled with the grease from frying our chicken the night before. Needless to say, I had to take a deep breath, quickly clean up what I could, explain to Mateo that yes accidents happen, and this one wouldn't have happened if I put the swiffer back in its home. So we are in route to my appointment 3 miles up the road at 7a.m. We make it a quarter mile up the road and then traffic is stopped.....and doesn't move for 20 minutes!!! Ahhhhhhh Now Jacoby is feeling my pain. 

So I soon turned around to go a different way. We make it about a mile up that road and then come up on some traffic that is just crawling. Now Mateo is wishing we never left the house. 

Well, I realize at this point I am not going to make my appointment that is 3 miles up the road even though I gave myself 45 minutes to get there. I called and rescheduled. Meanwhile, I would like to just turn around and go home but felt somewhat committed since I got myself and the kids up and out of the house that early. As we were sitting in traffic I was thinking about all of the stuff I could be doing if we just stayed home. I was thinking about what errands I could run since I was already out of the house. I then looked ahead......

and stared at the traffic in front of us. And then I looked up......

and saw this beautiful sky that God painted. I began to forget about my to-do lists, errands, screaming children, and the homeschooling that wouldn't get done today. I began to thank God for all of the reminders as to why we make the decision for me to stay home with the children and to homeschool. I am so appreciative that I can stay home, and that I don't have to get myself and the kids up early everyday to take them to a daycare or school. I can't imagine the stress that is put on individuals and families because they have to sit in that traffic every morning and every evening. I know that this isn't ideal for all families, but if it is you should know the impact it has. Know that it makes a huge difference for our children to learn without distractions of a class full of other students. Due to curriculums, interruptions, snacks, lunch, bathroom breaks, etc... they are at school for anywhere from 4-8 hours. Did you know that if the day goes smooth Mateo at the ago of 5 can get done in about 2 hours. Did you know that what we paid for this years curriculum is what we would have paid for 2 months in his old private school? Did you know that when I was working it was to pay solely for the kids private school. Now I will say that it isn't easy. There are sacrifices on everyones part that have to be made. If you like to drink a Starbucks or Monster daily, eat out for lunch a few times throughout the week, go to the movies on the weekends, have cable at home, drive the latest and greatest vehicles then this may not be possible for you. We learned to live a new way. We learned what was important to us and we don't live outside of our means. Instead of going to the movies, we make fresh popcorn and get a movie from Redbox. Instead of going to Starbucks we brew coffee at home and just use the flavored creamer (I know my mouth waters for a Pumpkin Spice Latte in the Fall, but now it is a special treat to myself instead of a daily thing I used to take for granted). Instead of cable, we have Netflix. If you are anything like me and have to do a load of laundry and dishes everyday detergent can get expensive. I have been making ours for almost three years now, this saves us so much money. I make one batch every 6-8 months. These are just some of the changes our family made to adapt. I am sure I could come up with many more but you might get bored and not come back to our blog. So what was I talking about? Oh yeah, God's Assurance and the confirmation that we are living how He wants our family to live. I am grateful for days like this. They start off stressful and then end with lots of laughter and stories to tell. I thank God for these reminders even though I may not always see them at that moment. This particular day I saw them and was able to capture and share the many images. Is God assuring you of your way of life or are you feeling conviction for not making specific changes? Pray about it, and don't put it off. 

Deuteronomy 28:2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. 

Celebrating 32 years of life today!!

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. (Psalm 139:13-16 ESV)

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations. (Jeremiah 1:5 ESV)

     Waking up today to see 32 years, I have so many things to be grateful for. I will start by saying it is 7:30am and everyone is still asleep, and I actually got to finish my whole cup of coffee without having to heat it up in the microwave (this to a mom is rare). I am eternally thankful for my salvation. God saved me out of this sinful world and has extended so much love and grace. I pray that He continues to transform me into the woman He wants me to be, and to use me for His purpose. My life dramatically changed in so many ways almost 4 years ago; the day David invited me to church. I do know that without my parents I would also not be the woman I am today. My parents help to mold me and prepare me for this life. They taught me many life lessons that I will pass on to my children. They showed me unconditional love, and for this I am forever grateful. Love is something that so many people never experience. So many are never hugged, or kissed, or tucked in at night. So many never hear those 3 little words that mean so much, "I Love You." I grew up in a house where my parents couldn't tell me enough, which is probably why I say it all the time to David, Mateo, and Jacoby. 
     If someone asked me 10 years ago where I thought I might be today, I wouldn't say "In Charleston SC, with a husband, 3 children, and living as a stay at home wife and mother." But, that is why it is good to set goals for yourself, but know that God is ultimately in control, and He has a plan for you that is much greater than the one we might have for ourselves. I thank God everyday for placing me in this family, this church, this neighborhood, and these friendships. I pray that God continues to shine His light through me. I pray that I never take one day for granted, and that I live life to the fullest. 

Enjoy the pictures!! I have an older sister and a younger brother, this should help you be able to tell which one I am in the pictures :)