Easy No-Grate Homemade Laundry Soap

Easy No-Grate Laundry Detergent

Our house has a lot of eczema, soap and scent allergies, which means it was doubly important for me to find a way to make our own laundry soap. We needed something allergy friendly and I wanted something that didn't bust the budget, but some of the grated, cooked and stored in a 5 gallon bucket detergents seemed a little overwhelming and time consuming for this busy mom (who just wants to quickly get her laundry done).  Then I came across the idea of no-grate laundry soap here http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/02/no-grate-homemade-laundry-soap.html   with some reworking I came up with something I am happy with. It cleans great as long as I pre-treat stains (which I had to do with regular detergent too, as my "little Lovie"  has a way of majorly staining all her clothes)

Here is what you need:

• 4T Borax
• 4T Washing Soda
• 3T Dawn (or other grease fighting) dish soap
• 3T Oxi Clean (optional)
• 4C Boiling water

   Mix all ingredients together in glass bowl (the measure cup works fine) until powder ingredients dissolve. I use a whisk to do this, but don't whip to hard or you will have a bunch of bubbles. Once it has cooled a bit, you can pour it into an old detergent container (or whatever container you have handy). It is as easy as that.

I use an 1/8 to 1/4 cup per load depending on the load size. If I am doing a white/light load and I want to brighten it up I fill up the bleach container(not really sure what you call it) with peroxide.

 This works great in front loader (this is what I have) and HE washers. 

Let me know how this works for you, or if you find a way to make it better. I am always looking for new ideas. =) 

Easy Homemade Bread

Our Favorite Easy Homemade Bread

(made in a Bread machine, but baked in the Oven)

We love homemade whole wheat bread. My mom usually made 5 loaves at a time, but as a busy homeschooling mom of 2 young children I needed something easier and quicker. I discovered I can use a 2lb breadmaker that I found on garage sale for $5 to make 2 loaves fairly easy and they still turn out as good as "non-breadmachine bread". 

 A few things that I think are important for good bread are baking the bread in the oven not the bread machine and using fresh ground flour. I have a flour mill and grind my own, but if you don't have that option try looking for a friend that would let you use theirs or a flour mill in your area. Make sure to freeze your flour until you use it to keep the nutrients in it. All that being said, here is the recipe that we love...

Oatmeal Honey Bread

(3lbs from a 2lb breadmachine)

• 1 3/4 cup Water
• 2/3 cup Milk (or Almond milk)
• 3T butter
• 5T Honey (or brown sugar)
• 3t Salt
• 5 cups Flour (In this measurement I use 3T gluton flour and fill the cup up the rest of the way with all purpose flour and then use 4 cup fresh whole wheat flour)
• 1 cup Oats
• 4t Yeast

  Start by heating your water in the microwave for about a minute to a minute and a half, add it to the bread machine bread pan along with the milk, butter, honey and salt.

 

Next add the flour, oats and yeast. 

(Take care not to scoop out the flour with the measuring cup, but to spoon it into the measuring cup and level it off before adding it. This makes a big difference in the measurement. When you scoop with the measuring cup you compact the flour and add to much.)

At this point point I turn the machine on, put the pan in, choose the dough setting and press start. Depending on your machine it will either immediately start to mix or wait about 15 minutes to start. After it has mixed for about 10  minutes, check to see if it needs more flour or milk. It should look satiny and just barely be grabbing the sides. 

If it is gooey and really sticking to the sides and a little four until it is right. If it is a big thick dough ball, really dry and not grabbing the side at all, just add a little milk until it just starts to grab the sides a little. Now you can close the lid and ignore for the next hour and a half or until it signals it is done. It should look something like this:

Dump it out onto a greased or flour surface and knead it for a minute or two to work out the air bubbles. Cut it in half...

Lightly  pat out each section into a loose oval about the length of the bread pan and tightly roll it into a loaf and place into well greased pan...

Turn oven on 350 for 1 minute then turn off and place bread pans and container of water in oven for about 40 minutes or until bread at least doubles in size...

Pull out water, turn oven on to 350 and bake for 20-25minutes or until golden in color and bottom sounds hollow when tapped. If needed use spatula to help release bread from sides of pans and tip out to cool...

Now it is time to enjoy a fresh, warm slice of bread, just beware the first loaf seems to disappear right away. =)

Measurements  for 2lbs of dough for 1 lb Breadmachine

• 1C water
• 1/2 C milk
• 2T butter
• 3T honey
• 2t salt
• 3C flour
• 1C oats
• 2 1/2 t yeast