The Country Needle Hoop & Holler Café: JJ's Housework Designs & Liquid Laundry Soap

I made a batch of liquid laundry detergent a couple of weeks ago and the fresh clean scent sent me into Spring cleaning mode. I've been cleaning the Winter cobwebs from the house and working like mad in the yard. Hubby thinks part of all this cleaning might be me also preparing to have an empty nest after our youngest graduates in May. Either way, I thought it was the perfect time to digitize the JJ Housework set. Click the photo below to be taken to The Country Needle's website. Know a young person getting their first apartment or need a housewarming gift? Stitch these on aprons or the back of a cleaning mitt and include with a laundry basket full of cleaning supplies to help make cleaning fun!

CLICK HERE to View this set

JJ's Housework
Price: ~~$15.97~~
Sale: $11.98
Save: 25% off

No one really enjoys housework, but with these JJ designs, you can make it more fun! This set includes JJ designs in fill and redwork for both the 4x4 and 5x7 hoops with 7 separate 4x4 sentiments to mix and match or stitch without.

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With hubby and son's jobs, I do quite a bit of laundry each week. And in today's economy who isn't looking for a way to save here and there? So with that in mind, a couple of weeks ago, I decided to make my own liquid laundry detergent. I found a recipe here that was extremely easy to make and after two weeks of using this detergent in my HE washer, I have absolutely no complaints! I've even been using it without fabric softner (I ran out) but discovered it was absolutely not needed after pulling nice warm fluffy towels out of the dryer! More savings! Our son has even asked if he could take some detergent with him when he moves to UT for a summer job after his graduation in May! LOL and here I didn't think he even noticed!

I took photos of the soap making process which I've included below along with the recipe. Should you like to make a smaller batch or a powdered version, you'll find more recipes on the Soaps Gone Buy website. The Duggar family blog also has a recipe for liquid laundry soap using the same ingredients, but is diluted more to make 10 gallons. Their instructions also include tips for adding essential oils.

All of the ingredients can be found in the laundry aisle of most Wal-mart stores as well as Ace Hardware. Amazon and of course the website mentioned above, also carry the ingredients.

Liquid Laundry Detergent
Water
1 bar grated Fels Naptha soap
5 gallon bucket
1 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing soda (NOT baking soda!)
1 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
4 1/2 gallons water

Put grated Fels Naptha in saucepan and cover with water. Heat on low until dissolved. Fill bucket with hot water and add soap. Stir to combine. Add 1 cup washing soda and 1 cup borax and mix well.

As it cools, it will thicken. If mixture becomes too thick, add hot water to thin it to desired consistency. May be used immediately. Mix well before each use. Use 1/2(normal) to 1 cup per load (heavy). Cost per load .04!

*Note: For my front loading HE washer, I only use 1/4 cup per load.