Because of Aimee and Kate and their homemade laundry detergent, I made a batch a while back, and it worked out so well and has lasted so long that I decided to do it again.
This is one version–Aimee’s. Half a box of 20 Mule Team Borax, four pounds of baking soda, and two bars of pure castile soap (I chose bars scented with essential oils of lavender and tea tree, but there are other scents and unscented, if you prefer). I use the grate/shred plate on my food processor to flake the soap, mix it all together, and presto! A detergent that not only does a great job with clothes, but managed to get some ink and other stains off of surfaces in my kitchen. I liked it so much I’m making a kitchen cleaner without the soap because I think the Borax and baking soda will work well enough.
Next time, I’m making a batch using Kate’s recipe just to walk on the wild side.
Mother rarely used a detergent other than Tide. If she ever attempted to save money or try something else, she was inevitably disappointed. I don’t have brand loyalty to a detergent; I just want something that doesn’t smell too sweet and doesn’t make me itchy.
What I remember liking best about laundry as a kid was playing at her feet or trying to climb into the basket while she was hanging clothes and linens on the line. Or sleeping on line-dried sheets and loving their crispness and fresh-air scent.
I tried in vain to find a photo of my mother at the clothesline. But I did mention on here once before that in our Army quarters in Ft. Benning, the clotheslines were in fenced enclosures at the ends of each building. Here’s a photo of David outside or inside that area–I’m not sure. But I’m certain he’s working hard to keep Daddy from burning whatever’s on that grill.
“Or sleeping on line-dried sheets and loving their crispness and fresh-air scent.” Which is why I still line dry my sheets and towels in the summer. Also line drying makes towels fluffier than any fabric softener.
At The Compound, I can’t fight the humidity and the doves and pigeons. No clotheslines here! How wonderful that you still enjoy that.
Only with the 108F temps these days you have to take them down as soon as you hang them up.
I’m surprised they don’t spontaneously combust!
Is this the same implement that you use for food? 😉
I line-dry my laundry. Not much space on my tiny patio, but between the lines and the privacy fence I can do a load at a time. Two if I get up early enough and it doesn’t rain. 😀
Do you mean the food processor? Yes, but the pieces I’m using are cleaned with dish detergent and water after I use it for food, so it’s pretty much the same thing. After I use it to flake the castile soap, it’s “pre-soaped” so all I need is a dishcloth and hot water to make it sparkling clean–with no soap residue or taste of soap. (I don’t have a dishwasher, so all my dishes are washed by hand.)