Homemade Laundry Detergent without Borax

It is ALOT cheaper and perfect for those of us who have sensitive skin, but don't have the money for high end name brands.

Recipe #1

Hot water
1 bar (4.5 oz) Ivory Soap – grated
1 cup Washing Soda

■In a large saucepan add grated soap and enough hot water to cover. Heat over medium-low heat and stir until soap is melted.
■Fill a large pail with 2.5 gallons of hot water, add hot soap mixture. Stir until well mixed.
■Then add the washing soda, again stirring until well mixed.
■Set aside to cool.
■Use 1/2 cup per full load, stirring well before each use (will gel)

Recipe #2

2 cups Bar soap (grated)
2 cups Washing Soda
2 – 2.5 gallons hot water

■Melt grated soap in saucepan with water to cover. Heat over medium-low heat and stir until soap is dissolved.
■Pour hot water in large pail, add hot soap and washing soda. Stir very well.
■Use 1 cup per full load.

Recipe #3

2 gallons Water (hot)
1 bar Soap (grated)
2 cups Baking soda (yes baking soda this time–not washing soda)

■Melt grated soap in a saucepan with enough hot water to cover. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring frequently until soap is melted.
■In a large pail, pour 2 gallons hot water. Add melted soap, stir well.
■Then add the baking soda, stir well again.
■Use 1/2 cup per full load, 1 cup per very soiled load.

Recipe #4 – (Powdered)

1 cup Vinegar (white)
1 cup Baking Soda
1 cup Washing Soda
1/4 cup liquid castile soap

■Mix well and store in sealed container.
■I find it easiest to pour the liquid soap into the bowl first, stirred in the washing soda, then baking soda, then added the vinegar in small batches at a time (the recipe foams up at first). The mixture is a thick paste at first that will break down into a heavy powdered detergent, just keep stirring. There may be some hard lumps, try to break them down when stirring (it really helps to make sure the baking soda isn’t clumpy when first adding). I used 1/2 cup per full load with great results.

Liquid Detergents Note
Soap will be lumpy, goopy and gel-like. This is normal. Just give it a good stir before using. Make sure soap is covered with a lid when not in use. You could also pour the homemade soap in old (and cleaned) laundry detergent bottles and shake well before each use.

*If you can’t find Fels-Naptha locally, you can buy it online (check Amazon).

Optional
You can add between 10 to 15 drops of essential oil (per 2 gallons) to your homemade laundry detergent. Add once the soap has cooled to room temperature. Stir well and cover.

Essential oil ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

■For the bar soaps required in the recipes, you could try Fels-Naptha, Ivory soap, Sunlight bar soap, Kirk’s Hardwater Castile, and Zote. Don’t use heavily perfumed soaps.

■Washing Soda and Borax can normally be found in the laundry and cleaning aisles.

■Some people with really hard water or well water may have to adjust the recipes if the clothes look dingy.

■Although several of the recipes have the same ingredients, the measurements are different–some contain a higher soap to water ratio. Test and see which works best for your laundry needs.

How to Make Vanilla Extract Como hacer Extracto de Vainilla

A while ago I went to a natural {beauty and hygiene workshop} where I learned to make many useful thing (worry not, I will be making a post about all the nice things I learned). One thing that definitely stood out was the herb infusions made in water, and oil, I fell in love with the fact that you can transfer all the amazing properties of any plant to another medium, which you can use on your body.

In this post we are using this same method for making the handy dandy ingredient all bakers must have in their kitchen, vanilla extract! All you need is vanilla beans and our medium, in this case, alcohol (MUST BE POTABLE ALCOHOL! Meaning, something that can be consumed orally, like vodka, or any spirit that has a neutral flavor) In herbal remedies this would be called a tincture.  

I started making this mix after I realized that the vanilla extract that is generally sold in Chilean stores was everything BUT vanilla!

David Scheirer Watercolor Illustrations

I don't remember how or when, all I know is that I have not closed David's websites tab on my browser for as long as I can remember because immediately after looking at his works I thought "I have to link expose and link his works on my blog!" This is HUGE inspiration! Specially for naturalists who are interested in the different ways that the representation of nature can be achieved.

Raw Vegan Blueberry Cheesecake Cheesecake de Arándanos Crudivegano

To celebrate my first steps in the raw vegan world, I share with you this delicious recipe, its super good for noobs because it is so simple to do. For me, it was an experience that made me remember the magic of the kitchen, it's amazing how through cooking we are in contact with the elements of the earth and we experience the transformation by which these become a dessert or delicious breakfast!

The raw food diet consists of uncooked food consumption. This time the process of preparation does not include the oven, simple the consistency of the ingredients and their physical qualities will make our cheesecake stand firm.

Starters guide to living close to nature

Hello there! I am so happy that you are here, my name is Elisabeth and I want to share with you my adventures into living close to nature. Of course, I am aware that while I walk this path, there are others walking besides me, so my intentions are not only to share my experiences but also to connect with others that are in the same route.
In the blog you will find many interesting ways to approach nature, there is a little information for everyone's interests, and in the following entry I will guide you thru them.
First of all let's point out the deeper meaning of why we should be living a life closer to nature.