How to Make Your Own Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap

Our family saves so much money by making our own laundry soap. I encourage you all to try it at least once!


The girls help me make it and we all enjoy that time together.  The process is much easier than I thought it would be, and much cheaper than I thought it would be, too.  All of the ingredients cost less than $10.00 at Walmart, and the amounts needed for one 10-gallon recipe cost less than $2.00.  The time it takes us to assemble it all is probably less than 15 minutes.  What a deal!


Disclaimer/Please Learn From My Mistakes/Warning:  We picked up a pickle bucket from a local pizzeria.  Unless you like the smell of dill pickles, you might want to go with a different smelling bucket than we did.  Our bucket of soap literally smells like soapy pickles.  But thankfully, our clothes do not. 

You can always add essential oils to your soap to make it smell even nicer.  If any of you use oils to scent your soap, please let me know which scent you use.  Id love to try, just not sure which one to use.


Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap Recipe


Ingredients:

4  Cups - hot tap water

1  Fels-Naptha bar of soap ($0.97 each, available at Walmart)

1 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda* ($3.24 per box, available at Walmart)

½ cup Borax ($4.00 per box, available at Walmart)


Directions:


-Add 4 cups hot tap water to pot on stove over medium-low heat.

- Grate bar of soap and add to pot with water.

-Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water.

-Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax to bucket.

-Stir well until all powder is dissolved.

-Fill bucket to top with more hot water.

-Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

-The next day, stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water.

-Shake before each use.



Optional: You can add 15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons once soap has cooled.

Recipe will yield 10 gallons of liquid laundry soap.


-Top Load Machine- 1/2 Cup per load

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (never tried, but hear it works great)


Here is our video that goes through the whole process.  I encourage you all to give it a try!

This post has been shared at:  The HomeAcre Hop, Simple Lives Thursday, The Backyard Farming Connection Hop, Simple Saturdays Blog Hop, Homestead Barn Hop, Natural Living Monday, Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop

Read more

Easy Homemade Spray Cleaner

Stop buying expensive chemical cleaners! We are not the first to use this type of cleaner but it is simple and effective and costs almost nothing! This is the process we use to  mix up a cheap and simple cleaner that can be used on counters, windows, bathrooms, etc. 

The first step is to grab a cheap dollar store spray bottle or use an empty spray bottle of your choice just be sure to wash out whatever was in it thoroughly.

There are many ways to make your own cleaners depending on what you have access to. We like to start with vinegar in ours and mix with some warm water as a base. I general fill the bottle up about 1/4 with warm water and then the rest of the way with vinegar. This is not an exact science so you can adjust it as you need.

 At this point you have just created a very effective and cheap cleaner. You can stop right here and use it for counters and anywhere you would normally use Fantastic or similar cleaners. But if you want something with a bit more cleaning power, a better scent, and antibacterial properties essentials oils will be needed. The SSLFamily Mom as a post on essentials oils here and links to where you can buy them if you want.

There are infinite combinations and concoctions that you can make with essentials oils but I love to add lemon to just about anything, cleaners included. I normally add between 15-20 drops of the lemon oil, it is cheap and adds a great fragrance to the cleaner as well as helps the cleaning power. I have also recently started adding oregano oil as well. Just a couple of drops; this stuff is more expensive and potent! The oregano oil acts as an anti-fungal and anti-bacterial in the cleaner. Added bonus - smells like a pizza while you clean:)

We have not purchased any cleaners in quite some time here on the Simple Suburban Homestead and I dont see any reason for us to go back. Using these homemade and chemical free options is cheaper, safer, and as an added bonus the kids can use them too! No need to open windows when you clean the bathroom or worry about the kids getting things in their eyes or on their skin. Although I am not sure I would spray this directly in your eye (it would probably not feel  good) lemon in the eyes, ouch!

As an added feature you can sprinkle some baking soda on countertops, floors, etc and then use the spray cleaner. The vinegar and baking soda react and the foaming can help lift and wash away dirt as well.

Check out the full video here

Lemon oil -  http://amzn.to/1HRg80d
Oregano oil - http://amzn.to/1HRgmo2

Spray bottles - http://amzn.to/1PqW2H9

All of these products and more recommended items from the SSL Family are available at the

Simple Suburban Living General Store

You can follow us on....

http://www.pinterest.com/simplesuburban/
http://www.facebook.com/simplesuburbanliving
http://www.twitter.com/simplesuburban5
http://www.instagram.com/simplesuburbanliving

Read more

Homemade Hydroponic Systems Guide Build a Backyard Aquaponics System with our Step by Step ! Read Reviews

Step-by-Step How to Build Your Own Aquaponics System Learn more..

-

Starting Your own personal Aquaponic Company or Hobby

Beginning your very own business could be a daunting activity as many of the activities call for special abilities and tones of cash to invest. Although one particular could acquire the needed expertise, the money is just not a simple to solve situation. Nonetheless, theres 1 enterprise which calls for minimum investment and which pays off in less than a year. Its referred to as aquaponics or aquaponic farming and can change your life for great.

Aquaponics involves growing vegetables utilizing the water out of your fish tank. You just must spot the fishes within a tank, wait for about a month till the water has enough bio-nutrients to feed the plants, then you can propagate the seeds. The plants will feed around the nutrients released by the fish in the water, thus cleaning and refreshing it, whilst the fish will appreciate a clean and protected environment exactly where they can live correctly.

There are numerous advantages of beginning such a business. Initial, as mentioned previously you will find very few expenses connected with it, so even if youve a tight spending budget for beginning a company you are going to nonetheless handle to purchase each of the items you will need. Also, the maintaining charges are very low, so that you just will create organic food with tiny investment that will allow you to sell your products more affordable than they could be located today in the marketplace. This may bring you more consumers and as a result more profit.

In contrast to other companies, exactly where you may need to rent an workplace or an industrial location where you can develop your company, aquaponic farming does not call for a big space. Your garage or perhaps a room out of your house is perfect. Just ensure that you have sufficient light for the plants to develop normally.

Another fantastic benefit of the aquaponic farming is that you simply will have, in the start, diversified merchandise. Youll not simply be capable of plant and sell different varieties of vegetables, but it is possible to also sell fish, that will bring you even more profit. Along with that, youll have sufficient veggies and herbs for your consumption, as well so there is going to be no want for you to continue buying them from the marketplace. Thus you are going to save some extra funds which can go in your other demands and pleasures!

---

5 Critical Tips For a Productive Aquaponics System

An aquaponics system might be really basic to setup and to operate. If ever youre preparing to setup a single program inside your home, there are many essential needs. Here are 5 components which will be vital in creating confident your aquaponics technique is productive.

1. Making sure that a appropriately oxygenated water.

In order for an aquaponics program to function, the water ought to have a fantastic provide of oxygen. Such fine provide of oxygen might come from an air pump and air stone or possibly a couple of basic styles which allows the water circulation method to soak up oxygen. Fishes as well as other animals will die without having oxygen. Also the plant roots as well as the bacteria that convert fish wastes into fertilizer also demand oxygen. It really is far considerably greater to possess a great deal much more oxygenation than youll require, that not enough. A lot of oxygen inside the water just isnt probable also.

two. Correct location need to be selected

A location exactly where there is definitely ample light is essential. Either a sunny location or with artificial light. In case your program is indoors, a big sunny window, or even far greater, a sun room makes an excellent location. If ever it truly is outdoors, the dappled surface in the generating or even a tree could well slow down growth. Full sun is greatest, unless you reside in an region with extreme heat, then afternoon shading may be welcome. You have to favor a position exactly where appropriate temperatures could be maintained. There is certainly certainly an advantage once you favor indoors or within a greenhouse. Steer clear of areas where substance may be present. And if outdoors, contemplate protection from wildlife that may be a problem, like raccoons.

3. Inside your selected location, you need to also choose the correct fish

The most common selection for an aquaponics method are Tilapia, although you can find several other fishes which will also do nicely. In several places, tilapia as well as other species have been banned. As a result, there is certainly a have to check on neighborhood regulations in ensuring that the fish selected is legal. Other fishes are sensitive to temperature. Make certain you will choose a fish suitable for the water temperatures that you just will likely be capable to maintain. Tilapias may not be an outstanding option in an vicinity with cold winters, unless youll be able to maintain the water heated.

four. Positioning Your Grow Bed

You might provide oneself a massive favor in the occasion you positioned your develop bed within a operating point that is comfy. Typically, itll be roughly the waist level. Such situation is one particular benefit above expanding crops inside the soil. There isnt any have to crook and function on the ground.

5. Adding Additives Towards the Method

Although this sort of system will largely appear soon after itself, as far as nutrients, you are able to uncover instances after you could have to add numerous supplemental nutrients. If the plants commence to show indicators of deficiencies, you could have to add calcium, potassium or iron. This truly is considerably a lot more probably in a new approach which has not entirely matured however.

Aquaponics is really a very simple way of generating fresh organic food. By signifies in the method, youll be capable of produce vegetables and fish having a lesser level of function than planting on land. For all those whove provided consideration towards the particulars above, surely its going to help inside your excellent results.

Read more

Homemade Ketchup

Ever wonder what you are going to do with all of those tomatoes growing in your garden? Why not make some awesome homemade ketchup that tastes just like the name brand.

It seems like every year I end up with all of these volunteer tomato plants. And, of course, most of them end up being the less desirable cherry tomatoes! So this year I have ended up with literally thousands of cherry tomatoes that are started to drop and just go to waste. I decided to start collecting them all and found a great recipe for homemade ketchup. We tried this recipe a few weeks prior and absolutely loved it and thought we would share the process with you.

Below is the recipe and directions for making homemade ketchup using any variety of tomatoes you have on hand. One thing to remember is that one batch of this recipe only make about 1 half pint of ketchup so if you want to make a lot for long term storage you will need a lot of tomatoes!


Ingredients:

56 ounces or about 4-5 cups of tomatoes (after processed not whole)

2/3 cup sugar

3/4 cup white vinegar

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 3/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon celery salt

1/8 teaspoon mustard powder

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 whole clove

Directions:

1. Cut tomatoes in halves or quarters and scoop out as many of the seeds as possible then add to blender or food processor.

process until you have enough for one batch or about 56 ounces (4-5 cups once processed.

2. Place tomato puree in pot on stove or in slow cooker ( I much prefer the faster stove method)

3. Cook on med-high heat to cook off excess water. Cook it until it is about half of original volume.

4. You may add all the seasonings while it is cooking down

5. Once it is cooked down ladle into fine metal strainer and force through scraping off the ketchup from the bottom of the strainer as you go into bowl.

6. If ketchup is still watery cook down further until desired consistency.

7. You may can this ketchup for long term storage or if done in smaller batches can be kept in ketchup bottle or canning jar in the refrigerator for a few weeks.

                   

All of these products and more recommended items from the SSL Family are available at the Simple Suburban Living General Store

Please follow us on....

www.pinterest.com/simplesuburban/

www.facebook.com/simplesuburbanliving

www.twitter.com/simplesuburban5

www.instagram.com/simplesuburbanliving



?

Read more

Fish Farming Tanks Nigeria General information on establishing and maintaining an aquaponics system Join us

How to Build Your Own Aquaponics System? Read Reviews

-

5 Issues You must Take Into Consideration When Developing an Aquaponic System

Setting up an aquaponic system, even though very an simple activity, demands some standard expertise of aquaponics. In case you have decided to install such a technique within your property, then you possibly know what this is and how it could assist you to. Nevertheless, there could nevertheless be factors which can interest or enable you to. Below you will discover 5 crucial things which you should know in order to acquire spectacular results.

• Location

The location where you place your aquaponic method is hugely important for the way in which the plants and the fish will develop. In order to get fantastic outcomes you should ensure that the temperature from the area is not too higher, nor too low, that there is adequate light for the plants to prepare their food and that no wind or intense climate conditions will attain them. Also, make certain that no harming chemical substances can get inside the water as this signifies death for each your fish as well as your plants.

• Oxygenizing the water

The happier your fish are, the far better your method will operate! For this reason you need to oxygenize the water every day and be sure your fish have each of the "comfort" they require.

• Choosing your fish accordingly

The aquaponic program performs effectively with almost all varieties of fish. However, you will find states in which youre not permitted to grow whatever kind of fish you want, so youll desire to see what types of fish you are allowed to possess prior to beginning your aquaponic program as you usually do not want any problems using the law.

• Placing the pots

In order to make the harvest a lot simpler, you ought to location the pots or the entire method at your waits level. This way you may not must bend over, generating the every day care routine a significantly less difficult activity.

• Adding additives

There are instances in which your fish might not supply all the nutrients required for the plants. If the quantity is decrease than what the plants need, then you definitely will have to supply them with all the respective substances. In most instances you are going to ought to add iron, calcium carbonate or potassium carbonate.

Aquaponics is definitely an easy activity which will offer you with all the required vegetables and fish in a short amount of time. Just comply with the suggestions talked about above and also you may have wonderful achievement inside your attempt to develop organic meals inside your home.

---

Hydroponic Fertilizers, Ideal Mix For Lush Development

Within a hydroponic technique, plants are grown with out soil hence the nutrients, growth medium and fertilizers utilised ought to also be according to the plant s requirements. A lot of people tend to work with ordinary soil garden fertilizer to develop hydroponic plants. But this could only damage your crop and reduce the yield drastically because the chemicals will not be inside the proper proportion. You can obtain commercial hydroponic fertilizers which are either organic or chemical primarily based. On the other hand, it is possible to also prepare your own personal mix at home and use this for the crops. This can help in making certain which you are giving the best to your plants without acquiring some thing from outdoors whose which are not trustworthy.

Plants need specific trace elements for their normal and lush development. Within a soil garden, these nutrients are obtainable within the soil and so absent in a fertilizer mix. Only a number of nutrients like sulfur, magnesium and calcium will likely be common in both the type of fertilizers. Right here is the mix for any typical and excellent hydroponic fertilizer which you could use for the crops. It is possible to prepare this fertilizer at residence itself by combining the following chemical compounds within the given percentages.

22% Potash is combined with 10% nitrogen, 8% phosphoric acid, 1% magnesium, 5% calcium, .05% boron, 2% sulphur, 0.2% iron, .05% copper, .05% molybdenum, .05% manganese, .05% zinc and make it up to 100% with inert compounds. Several of those components are frequent to these discovered within a soil garden fertilizer like potassium and phosphate but some other folks are trace elements that are only present in hydroponic fertilizers. It truly is ideal should you prepare the fertilizer in bulk in case you are doing this at home. You can also add or remove compounds to suit the growth in the plants that you simply have inside your hydroponic garden.

Given that the nutrient medium is quite critical in hydroponics, making use of the wrong or incompatible kind of fertilizer can damage your crop and also stop its lush development. Plants also become susceptible to fungus, rot along with other pests which cause substantial destruction. Crops grown grow to be deficient in these important nutrients which in turn influence humans or animals eating it. Nowadays, it is possible to also locate commercial organic hydroponic fertilizers which are even far better than the chemical ones. These make certain that the plants grown will not be only healthier but also complete of nutritional goodness. So ensure which you use only the correct form of fertilizer for the hydroponic program.

Read more

Homemade Restaurant Style Salsa Making Canning the Best Salsa From Fresh Ingredients

Using up all those tomatoes from the garden can be quite a task! Why not make some homemade salsa and can it for long term storage?

Here is one of the best homemade salsa recipes that I have tried. It is easy, requires little equipment, and can be eaten fresh or canned.

Homemade Salsa Recipe -

3 Cups fresh tomatoes
1/2 cup Green bell peppers
1 cup onion
1/4 cup cilantro
2 tablespoons lime or lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon kosher or course salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1. Process the tomatoes by washing, cutting in half or quarters, and removing as much of the seeds as possible. I just keep a bowl handy and scoop then out with my finger.
2. Cut up the onions, bell peppers, and cilantro and place in food processor with tomatoes.

3. Add salt, lemon or lime juice, cumin, and black pepper.
4. Process in blender or food processor to desired thickness
5. At this point you can eat it fresh or can it for long term storage.

 For a thicker salsa just chop all of the ingredients finer and do not use the food processor the salsa will be awesome either way. As the salsa sits either in fridge or canned the flavor melds together and it becomes even better!

                   

All of these products and more recommended items from the SSL Family are available at the Simple Suburban Living General Store

Please follow us on....

http://www.pinterest.com/simplesuburban/
http://www.facebook.com/simplesuburbanliving
http://www.twitter.com/simplesuburban5
http://www.instagram.com/simplesuburbanliving

Read more

Homemade Taco Seasoning

My husbands favorite meal is tacos.  Chicken tacos, beef tacos, taco salads, walking tacos, quesadillas, burritos, you name something Mexican and Im sure weve made it before.  So when I stumbled upon this recipe for homemade taco seasoning, I ran right to the store to buy the ingredients in bulk. 

Taco seasoning isnt too expensive but I am always trying to find ways to cut down on our grocery bill, and when you eat as much of it as we do, making our own is definitely cheaper.  Plus, the littlest SSL Family Kids are not into spicy food, so making my own seasoning means I can control the heat for them.

My good friend also reminded me that this seasoning is gluten-free, whereas, store-bought is not.  There are hidden fillers, preservatives and MSG in the store-bought packaged seasoning as well.  To me, these are all great reasons why making our own is the better choice, and were taking another step towards being chemical-free.

Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe

1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

This recipe makes about 3 tablespoons of seasoning.  I usually double or triple the recipe each time I make it.  I also leave out the crushed red pepper flakes most of the time to keep it milder for the kids.  I have found that two tablespoons of seasoning is usually plenty for one pound of ground beef or chicken. 

We store our seasoning in an old garlic salt container.

We love it and do not notice any difference from the store-bought seasoning packets.  This recipe also makes it easy to play around with and modify according to your taste. 

Go ahead and give it a try!  And if you mess up, theres no problem that a bunch of salsa and sour cream cant solve..........

This post has been shared at:  Homestead Barn Hop, Country Fair Blog Hop, HomeAcre Hop

Read more