1 (4 lb 12 oz) Box of Borax
1 (3 lb 7 oz) Box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
1 (3 lb) Container of OxiClean
2 (14.1 oz) Bars of Fels-Naphta
1 (5 lb) Bag of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda

All of these ingredients can be found in the detergent isle at your local grocery store, except for the Arm & Hammer Baking Soda, that will be on the cooking isle.

1. Using a cheese grater, grate the Fels-Nephta soap. Once it’s grated put it in a blender, or food processor, and pulse until it’s a powder.

2. Add the Fels-Neptha powder to a large bucket (at least 2 gallons), then add remaining ingredients. Stir well with a large spoon.

This makes about a year’s worth so you only have to make it once a year (of course dependent on how often you do laundry). Most people store it in a large container and scoop some in a smaller container to leave by the washer. All you need is a measuring spoon and a load just needs 1-2 TBSP of detergent.

I was kind of skeptical about how well it would work but every review I’ve read says it works as well if not better than commercial detergents! All of the blogs I’ve been reading say this soap will cost you about 4 cents a load….versus traditional Tide which is about 12 cents a load. Or even more if you use the fancy schmancy stuff. The best part is it’s all natural and safe! It will also work with your HE washers. As soon as I run out of our current detergent I’m definitely going to give this a try!

I know it’s silly but I can’t wait to put my detergent in a cute glass jar like this one! hehe

Anyways, I thought I would post a tip roundup since I haven’t done that in awhile and I thought readers might enjoy a non-baby post ;)

Summer is here and that means watermelons! If you’re like me, you never really understood how to pick a watermelon by knocking on it. What am I listening for??? Lifehacker has an easier way by looking for a creamy yellow spot at the bottom of the watermelon.

Ask Anna has an easy way to clean BBQ grills. I can’t wait to try this since we usually throw bbqs during the summer and the worst part is cleaning the grill. Just stick it in the oven and turn on the self cleaning!

Do you have problems remembering to take your pills? I am supposed to keep taking my prenatal pills since I’m nursing but I kept forgetting because life is just crazy with a baby. Well if you have an iPhone there is an app called “Pill Prompter” (and I’m sure other phones have a similar app) but it’s great! It lets you set a reminder each day to take your pill(s) and will keep notifying you until you check the box that you did take your pills. It’s been so helpful!

Martha Stewart always has great tips on linens. This latest one is how to keep matching sheets together in the closet: Store them in their matching pillowcase.

Another linen tip: Put on a duvet cover by rolling it like a burrito.

If you don’t have a home alarm system, try keeping your car keys next to your bedside and if you hear someone breaking in hit the panic button.

Lastly it’s not a real tip but if you are looking for a unique greeting card…I love the website treat.com. They have all different kinds including ones you can customize yourself with your own photo or words. I got 2 for father’s day for boyrobot and my own father and I loved the quality and choices! They usually have coupons and it ends up being cheaper than those generic cards you get at Target etc.

You can check out some of the top rated recipes here. You will need to create an account to start adding tasks though.

Finish Quantum (30 cents per load) topped the Ratings, followed by CR Best Buy, Finish Powerball Tabs (22 cents per load), which scored Excellent for dishes and pots, and bested some detergents that cost more. Cascade Complete All In 1 (28 cents per load) and Cascade with Dawn ActionPacs (23 cents per load) earned a score of Very Good in CR’s tests, but all Cascades, like all Finish products, aren’t equal. Other Cascade and Finish products were scattered throughout the Ratings.

I’m not sure I have seen the highest ranked one in stores (Finish Quantum?) but I had heard a lot about the Finish Powerball Tabs and how well they performed despite being one of the cheaper ones. I can’t wait til I run out of my current detergent so I can try this one!

Some other products that I have read about that are cheap but perform well are Rayovac batteries (tested to perform as well as duracell or energizer!), the cleaning supplies at 99 cent store, electronic cables (avoid best buy and buy online!), and spices.

What products do you use/buy that are cheap but perform as well as the name-brand ones?

Cover your food in the microwave and save yourself from splatters.

Put a coffee filter in your cast iron skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.

Use them to clean windows, mirrors, and glasses since they are lint-free

Hot dog or taco holder. Saves me from washing another dish.

Put them under fried foods or bacon to soak up the grease

nuts – my sisters taught me this one! now i always have walnuts and pecans for my salads. yay!
bananas – freeze them and use them for banana bread or smoothies
buttermilk – the tutorial (at the end of the page) says to separate them into 1 C bags for easy measuring later on.
butter – you can stock up when it goes on sale
veggie scraps and chicken bones – save the ends of onions, carrots, etc and bones from any chicken you cook with for the freezer and make chicken stock when you have enough
herbs – rosemary, thyme, basil, and an overall good tutorial on freezing herbs
bread – try to suck out all of the air (using a straw or something) to prevent freezer burn. for sliced, you can just leave it out for about 15 mins for it to thaw. or you can throw it in the toaster!

so these are the most common items that i tend to freeze with no problems but the possibilities are endless really. just google it next time you have too much of something that might go to waste!

Also check out how to fold your towels like a department store! hehe

You know what make the best ice packs? DIAPERS! Yeah, the most annoying part about homemade ice packs is when the ice melts…and this takes care of that. Pretty genius!

Did you know you can use duct tape to remove a splinter? Read on for more reasons to have duct tape in your first aid kit

how to clean stains from weird shaped bottles. Pretty easy with denture cleaning tablets!

4 ways to make cut flowers last longer – my flowers are growing like crazy! can’t wait to bring them into the house :)

Have you ever been scared of hitting your thumb when using a hammer? Well hold the nail in place with some pliers instead!

1. Fill you sink with hot water (do only 1 side at a time if you have dual sinks)
2. Pour in 1 C of bleach (or vinegar if you don’t like using chemicals/toxins)
3. Let sit for 1 hour
4. Use tongs to pull the stopper and drain all of the water
5. Rinse well
6. Scrub sink with Bar Keeper’s Friend (or baking soda) and rinse dry
7. Then use Windex (or olive oil) to make your sink all shiny!