cloth diapers & DIY laundry detergent

 planning for your first baby can be a little scary, especially when it comes to your finances so i've recently become interested in the idea of cloth diapers. i mean, who wouldn't want to save money? 

well, i did my research and wow, cloth diapers have come a long way! not only are they easy to use but they can save you an average of $1,000 PER year and most kids are in diapers until around 2 or 3 years of age! that's a lot of moo-lah! i'm impressed.

of course, the problem i've been running into is that there are so many choices and brands out there to choose from. so which one? after reading reviews (and seeing which companies have good deals), i've decided that the "Flip Diapers" are the way to go - they have a really great deal going on right now too...buy 2 covers, get the 3rd for FREE!

another issue that comes up when talking about cloth diapers, is laundry. how much laundry will i have to do? most newborns go through at least 12 diapers a day so if you were to buy 24 (or more) inserts for your diaper covers, you could get away with doing laundry every other day. either way, you're still saving money and i'm about to show you another way to save just a little bit more...

making your own laundry detergent! making this stuff is as easy as pie and will cost you only PENNIES per load! another bonus? you can choose any scent you want and make it smell just the way you like!

DIY Laundry Detergent:

You'll need:
-1/3 bar Fels Naptha or 1 bar of Ivory
-1 cup washing soda
-1 cup borax powder
*You will also need a small bucket or container, about 2 gallon size (preferably with a snap lid)

grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan.

looks like shredded coconut, doesn't it? yummy.

 

add 6 cups of water and heat until soap is melted.

add the washing soda & the borax (1 cup each) and stir until dissolved then remove from heat.

-pour 4 cups HOT water into your bucket or container. 

-now add your soap mixture and stir.

-then add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water (22 cups of water total)

-add 1 oz. of scented oil (if you so choose)

 note: i like going to Wellington Fragrance  for mine

let soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. 

stir before using and only use 1/2 cup per load.

{have a good weekend, friends & happy savings!}