What I Got For Free Today

I posted on Monday that I am working hard on paying off my debt. In fact, since writing that post this weekend (and posting it on Monday) I have come up with another $150 to throw at my student loans- that's what we call progress.

But all of this not spending, and budgeting, and being mindful about our money doesn't mean that I'm missing out on new stuff. Today for instance, I picked up this bar of soap.

I traded three shopping bags full of odds and ends from my crafting stash to get it and I have to say I could not be more excited.

The woman who bartered my supplies for her soap, actually makes these herself in her own small business. So in honor of my free soap, here is some free advertisement for her!

Cypress Lake Soap is a wonderful locally owned company that makes wonderfully smelling soaps.  I kid you not.  I left my single bar of soap on the dining room table, to remind me to tell Marco about my sweet trade- and within the hour the entire room smelled of natural (not artificial perfum-y) lavender.  I'm considering buying a bar for each of my dresser drawers and just letting them scent everything!

I have not actually used this bar yet, but I realized that I had been given a different bar as a gift a few months ago.  The packaging has been long gone, but I remember that I had been saving this soap for really important baths. This of course means date nights, "I need a really long shower" showers, after I have run a race, or just need a little pick me up.    And it totally works.  My super dry skin feels soft and smooth.  It has a great lather.  It smells for ever after I towel off and I love that it's from a local business.

Plus, if you check out their website, you can see that there are so many scents available.  I also love that Michelle, the owner, lists every ingredient on every bar.  Y'all know I like my ingredients listed.

And that was how I replaced my old soap, that I really didn't love, but we had in the house, with a new bar that helped me clean some house.

Have you bartered for anything incredible lately?

The Bandwagon

Alright.  I can admit it.  I jumped on the bandwagon and made my own laundry detergent.

And you know what?  It's not too bad.

I used a basic formula that is featured in several "green your home" type books and I washed two test loads- one general (socks, towels, t shirts) and one dirty (gardening socks, work pants, blue jeans).  I used WAY less than the suggested amount (because I feel like a cup of anything is a lot) and I gotta say I don't hate the results.

There are no strong perfumes from the type of detergent I made.  I did use Ivory soap which smelled very strong when I first chopped it up, but the clothes are virtually smell free.  But they are both good and bad smell free.  This was especially surprising with the dirty load since it smelled like sweat and compost going in.  I guess all of that baking soda worked.

I also decided early on to make a powdered soap, since I read that the "liquid" actually turns into more of a weird jelly substance and can actually mold if you don't use it fast enough.  No thank you.  The powder was easy to pour, mix, and contain.  The entire process took me maybe five minutes since I was extra careful pouring my powder into my recycled container.

Do I love it yet?  No.  I kind of miss that clean laundry smell.  Maybe I will add another bar of soap, or some essential oils... or maybe I just need to give it time and see if I change my mind.

Here is the super simple recipe I used.

4 parts baking soda- not washing soda (I'm planning to use washing soda in the next batch for a comparison)
3 parts Borax
2 parts Ivory soap grated (but if you just cut it with a knife, it tends to grate itself pretty easily.  Also, you can put it into a food processor and achieve the same results as well.)

Mix and use.  I used 1/4 cup for the regular load and 1/2 for the dirty stuff.

It obviously made 9 cups worth of detergent (4+3+2=9) so I will be trying it out for a while.  Hopefully by then I'll have a full report and a final verdict.

Who else is trying new things with laundry?  Anyone else still whipping out the clothes line in this 75* weather?  We are!  Let's gush!