DIY Cloth & Disposable Baby Wipes Tutorial

By Jess on September 5th, 2014

DIY Cloth & Disposable Baby Wipes Tutorial

Did you know the average parent uses 4,400 baby wipes and spends $150 or more EVERY YEAR on a baby? That alone is crazy, but also a majority of baby wipes aren’t biodegradable, so they are harmful to the environment. Also, they can contain chemicals like chlorine, synthetic preservatives, fragrances, and dioxin. To save money, baby’s skin, and the environment, you can make your own washable wipes with just a few ingredients and cloths.
See below for DISPOSABLE wipes directions.

What You’ll Need:

  • 15-20 pieces of  approx. 10″x 10″ cloth cut from old receiving blankets or shirts (many use husband’s old white undershirts)
  • 3 cups warm water
  • 1 cup baby wash
  • 2 tsp baby oil
  • Plastic container with lid or old plastic wipes container OR Spray bottle
  • Optional: Lavender oil for fragrance
    Note: Other recipes use  ingredients like aloe vera juice, apple cider vinegar, other essential oils, soap, and more. Experiment with what you like best.

Directions:

  1. In a bowl, add ingredients and mix gently. 
  2. Next you have the choice:
    1. In the container to store wipes, stack all the cloth into it, pour the mixture over them, then close the lid, OR
    2. Put the mixture into a spray bottle, then just spray baby’s bottom and use a clean, dry cloth to wipe them clean.
  3. When wipes are dirty, store in a plastic or wetbag, then wash with cloth diapers or as a load by themselves.

If you do not want to use cloth/reusable wipes, or you want to have disposable ones in case of really big messes, you can put all the ingredients in a large cylindrical container with a lid (i.e., washed out cleaning wipes container, like Clorox wipes, or cleaned 4 qt ice cream container), mix the ingredients, take the cardboard out of the center of a roll of paper towel of your choice and place the paper into the solution. Cover the container, shake to get the ingredients into the whole paper towel.

DIY Recycled T-Shirt Bag Tutorial

By Jess on September 5th, 2014

t-shirt-tote-bag

This GENIUS and nearly free recycled t-shirt bag from One Good Thing by Jillee and Instructables would be a fun thing to make for gifts, to use at the grocery store, or just to carry a lunch instead of a paper bag.

What You’ll Need:

  • Heavy weight cotton T-shirt (heavy weight fabric is best)
  • 3- 5 straight pins
  • Pencil or pen
  • Dinner plate
  • Scissors
  • Sewing machine

Here is a picture tutorial. If you want the full step-by-step tutorial, visit Instructables.

Stepbystepshirtbag

DIY Laundry Powder Detergent

By Jess on September 5th, 2014

diy-laundry-powder

You can save tons of money by making your own laundry detergent. It is surprisingly easy to do so, and actually pretty fun! Here’s how to make laundry detergent at home. This recipe makes approximately 5 cups.

What You’ll Need:

  • 2 cups (finely) grated castile soap in scent of your choice (peppermint is a great one!)
  • 1 cup borax
  • 1 cup baking soda
  • 1 cup soda ash (washing soda)

Directions:

  1. Using a cheese grater, grate the castile soap into a powder.
  2. Mix everything together and store in a tight jar.
  3. Depending on your washer, you may need to adjust the soda a bit, and the measurements per load. Try using about 1/8 cup and adjust from there. Also, be sure to shake a little every once in a while to shake the soap back into the powder.

Thanks to SouleMama for the recipe!

Homemade Fabric Softener

By Dan on September 3rd, 2014

Homemade Fabric Softener

You may already be making Homemade Body Wash and DIY Hand Soap… but if you’ve been wanting to cut costs on Fabric Softener you might want to give this a try.  I love my homemade fabric softener and it saves me a ton!  I have to say… you’re going to love this Homemade Fabric Softener from Food.com because it is quick and easy.  Plus, you can pick your own scent, which is nice!  I love apple in the fall!

What You’ll Need:

  • 6 cups hot water
  • 3 cups white vinegar
  • 2 cups hair conditioner

How to Make & Use:

  • Mix water, vinegar, and hair conditioner in a 1 gallon container; stir. Do not shake it –  it will cause foaming.
  • Use the same amount you normally use in a rinse cycle or spritz it on a wash cloth and throw in dryer.

This is a frugal way to save on things that you use every day!  We love our homemade fabric softener and have even given it as gifts!

Recipe: Red, White & Blue-Berry Trifle

By Jess on August 30th, 2014

Recipe Red White Blue Trifle

If you’re looking for a delicious dessert for Memorial Day or Independence Day that has simple ingredients and LOTS of fresh and juicy summer berries, you will love this Red, White & Blue-Berry Trifle. Make it any time of year!

Ingredients:

  • 1 box red velvet cake mix (Note: Instead of red velvet cake, use 1 box chocolate cake & a bottle of red food coloring)
  • 1 (16oz) tub whipped topping
  • 2 pints blueberries, washed
  • 1 pint strawberries, tops cut off, washed

Directions:

  1. Bake red velvet cake mix according to package directions. Allow to cool.
  2. With a serrated knife, cut the cake into 1-inch square pieces.
  3. Line the bottom of the trifle bowl with half of the cake squares.
  4. Using a spatula, spread about a 2-inch layer of whipped topping on top of the cake squares.
  5. Layer about 1 1/2 pints of the blueberries on top of whipped topping.
  6. Layer the remaining cake pieces on top of the blueberries to create a second layer of cake.
  7. Using a spatula, spread remaining whipped topping over the top layer of cake.
  8. Decorate the perimeter (along the bowl sides) with the strawberries by placing the strawberries cut side down.
  9. Sprinkle the remaining blueberries on top of the trifle inside the strawberry perimeter.