Washday Recipe

Well, I was going to post my recipe for my homemade laundry detergent today (which I love, and I already have an order from someone to make them some)! I found this in Reflections today, and I just had to post it. I think mine recipe is a little bit easier!

This is from the "Here & There" section written by Caroline Wickett in the July/August issue of Reflections magazine.

"Years ago, an Alabama grandmother gave a new bride the following recipe. It was found in an old scrapbook. This is exactly how is was--spelling errors and all."

WASHING CLOTHES
Build a fire in backyard to heat kettle of rainwater.
Set tubs so smoke won't blow in eyes if wind is pert.
Shave one hole cake of lye soap in boiling water.

Sort things, make 3 piles.
1 pile white
1 pile colored
1 pile work britches and rags

To make starch, stir flour in cold water to smooth, then thin down with boiling water.

Take white things, rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, and boil. Then rub colored, don't boil just wrench and starch.

Take things out of kettle with broomstick handle, then wrench and starch.

Hang old rags on fence.
Spread tea towels on grass.

Pour wrench water in flowerbed.
Scrub porch with hot soapy water.
Turn tubs upside down.

Go put on clean dress, smooth hair with hair combs.
Brew cup of tea, sit and rock a spell and count your blessings.

HOMEMADE LAUNDRY DETERGENT (costs about $1 each month, works very good)
1 bar Fels Naptha soap, cut up very fine (at United)
1 c Arm & Hammar Washing Soda (at United)--note not laundry detergent or baking soda
1 c Borax
Mix together well (I did mine in a food processor)
Use one tablespoon per load (use 2 tablespoons for heavily soiled loads)

Another great recipe is HOMEMADE FABREEZE
This costs nothing but the price of a spray bottle if you use fabric softener
Pour 1 or 2 capfuls of your favorite fabric softener into a spray bottle. Fill up spray bottle with water and shake it.

I'll post more recipes (but only the good ones) after I've tested them!