How to make your own dishwasher powder

I have been making my own dishwasher powder for over 12 months now and haven’t looked back.
If you google the internet there are hundreds of different recipes for dishwasher powder, below is the recipe I use:

1 cup bicarbonate soda
1 cup washing soda
1/2 cup iodised salt
1/4 cup citric acid (or borax)
20 drops lemon essential oil
Shake it up in a jar.

To use: put 1 Tablespoon in the powder/tablet dispenser



I have not done a costing as I buy the bicarbonate and washing soda in bulk. But to me I feel that it is cheaper and better for the environment with no chemicals.

Before using please check with your dishwashers manufacturer guidelines.

Enjoy

Ann
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How to make slime

I have tried to make a couple of different versions of goo or slime, but most of the recipes I have tried have used borax and/or glue.  Some have been successful, some haven't. 

I didn't like the idea of my daughter playing with a chemical and touching it with her hands or having it near her face.

I came across this recipe via a friend and it is amazing.  It uses all natural ingredients and by adding essential oils it smells wonderful too.

MAKING SLIME!!!!

The recipe:

180gm water
Food dye
1 Tablespoon Psyllium Husks

Heat for 2 minutes in the microwave, stir and reheat again (approx 1 minute), it will be runny but will thicken as it cools.

Add a couple of drops of essential oil, I used spearmint.

Pour into a container
Put in the fridge

When it is cool it will have thickened and be ready for use.

Enjoy

Ann

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How to make Lavender bath salts

I don't know about you, but I love a long hot soak in a bath.  It usually includes bubble bath, a book and a glass of wine.  Leave me in there for an hour to unwind and relax and I come out a new (albeit wrinkly) person.

Since I have been drying my own lavender I have googled uses for the lavender and I decided to make my own bath salts.  A lot cheaper than the bought goods and I also know exactly what is in them.

I have re-purposed an old jar and added the following ingredients:

6 parts sea salt,

3 parts epsom salt

1 part bi-carb soda

1 part dried lavender heads

a couple of drops of lavender essential oil

and for a bit of fun I added some soap colourant

I have also made a second batch excluding the lavender heads, essential oil and soap colourant.  To this batch I have put in my empty essential oil bottles.  The salts and bi-carb will absorb any residue left in the bottles and this will not only make the salts smell delicious but also clean the bottles so that none of the essential oil goes to waste.

Enjoy

Ann

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Dryer Balls

Living in the beautiful Mallee with our glorious weather I generally hang my clothes out to dry on the old faithful Hills Hoist.  Occasionally I use the clothes dryer when the weather is bad or I have let the laundry pile grow to the size of Mt Everest.  When I do use the dryer I am always frustrated by the static electricity build up which results in clothes sticking to each other and just being a nuisance. Grrr.

After I bit of research on the internet I found an upcycled natural alternative to dryer sheets. With a bit of tweaking to suit my ingredients I made these dryer balls.

They seemed to be working well after the first use and then disaster struck, aaaargh. Apparently I needed to secure the ends of the wool "securely".

Take two and this time I used the wool needle to darn the ends securely.

What you need:
100% wool
stockings

Wrap the end of the yarn around 2 of your fingers about 10 times, remove it and turn it 90° and wrap another 10 times. Keep repeating this until you are able to hold the "ball" and then continue wrapping tightly forming a round shape.  Once your ball is roughly tennis ball size cut the yarn and tuck the ends into the sides (note: see my above error, so make sure this is secure).

Repeat this process until you have 3 or more balls.

Cut one leg off the stockings, place one ball into the bottom of the leg and tie a knot above to secure it, repeat until all balls have been added and secured.

Put in the washer (can be with dirty laundry) and wash on the hottest setting. This allows the yarn to felt. Once washed dry the balls thoroughly in the dryer at the hottest setting.

When they are dry remove from the stockings and they are ready to use.

I added a couple of drops of essential oil (I used lavender), tossed them in the dryer.  The clothes were mostly static free and smelled lightly of lavender.

Re-add the essential oil every few loads.

Enjoy

Ann
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