Ok I'm way behind in my assignments!  Trying to get caught up a little. 

Part A - Share about your family’s laundry. Where is it kept? Who does it? How does your family sort it? Do you wash by hand? Hang clothes on the clothesline? Make your own laundry soap? How often do you do laundry? How many loads each day/week? Indoor laundry room, in the garage, or laundry mat? Even more fun…share a picture!

Each room has a laundry basket were all laundry must be put.  The kids are getting pretty good at remembering to not just toss it on the floor. 

With our family of 6 I do at least 2 loads a day to keep caught up.  If I do get behind from being sick or a way then it takes a day or two of non stop laundry to get all caught up again.  Last year when our washer died dh blessed me with a front loader washer!  I just love it so much.  It cleans the close so much better and uses a lot less water, soap and hydro. 

In the summer I hang most of the laundry out on our long line.  On the hottest days I can often dry 3 or 4 line loads a day.  Normal days 1 or 2.  Our clothes line holds 3 or 4 washer loads of clothes.  A few times I've forgotten to bring the clothes in at night and it's rained.  After they dried the next day they smell sooo fresh!  It's an amazing smell, no fabric softener can beat that.  Speaking of fabric softener I never use it any more.  I just use 1/4 cup of vinegar now and then.  It softens clothes nicely.

Our laundry room is part of a little extra room downstairs.  It's divided into a 1 piece bathroom, pantry/storage and laundry.  It will eventually be turned into a 2 or 3 piece bathroom and laundry.

I have been making our own laundry soap for 5 years now.  And we love it!!  It is so much cheaper then store brands and cleans much better.  Even dh loves it.  And it's so easy to make.

Homemade Laundry Soap

1 bar of Ivory soap

1 to 2 cups of washing soda

1 to 2 cups of borax

Shred the bar of soap and place in a pot with about 6 cups of water.  Heat until melted but do not boil.

Dissolve washing soda and borax in hot water.  Combine with soap mixture in a 3 gallon bucket and fill with hot water.  Stir.  Done! 

I use about a 1/4 cup with my front loader.  When I had a huge top loader I used about 1 cup per load.

Since it doesn't sudes up much it's great on a septic system and works well even in our hard water.

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Posted by specialmom42000

Isn't this piece of equipment the best!? I just love mine! I do have a question...with making your own soap, how does it work in this washer? I have to buy the he detergent, and this is SO expensive.

If I could make my own soap, and it won't harm our washer...I will do it....SO I am asking you the "expert!"....

Also, how long does your bucket last??

Thanks so much! Kelly in MI

Edited by specialmom42000 on 2007-Nov-19 at 09:30

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Posted by nancysnook

Hello, sorry to ask this, but what is washing soap...? Is there a brand name that I can buy in the States?

Nancy

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Posted by KimMC

Hi Nancy,
You should be able to find washing soad near the borax in the laundry section. I've heard it's hard to find in some areas of the USA but most have it. It's made by arm and hammer.

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Posted by nancysnook on homeschoolblogger

Okay, thanks Kim! I'd be anxious to try this. Seems like it would save lots of money on detergent that doesn't work well...I don't really care about the nice smelling stuff because I'm very sensitive to smells and my husband has no sense of smell at all. I use lavender in my dryer load so that's very nice and I can tolerate it well.

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/nancysnook/434935/

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