Making Pantry Products

From cleaning supplies and detergents to baked goods and foods, I have been asking myself if I can make that particular item for cheaper and if it can be better than the purchased product. So far, I have saved a considerable amount of money by doing so. I have come to the conclusion that if an item can be purchased, it can be made. However, not every home-made product I have tried is as effective as the store-bought item. So, then I ask myself if I can do without that item. By doing without, I have eliminated various items from our grocery bill and saved money. 

Recently, I have made a few kitchen products that have proved to be good alternatives to their store bought counterparts.


Brown Sugar
Mix 1 T. molasses per 1 cup sugar


Cooking Spray
Mix 1/2 c. water with 1/4 c. olive oil and blend with a stick blender
(note: used distilled or boiled water to kill bacteria and store in the refrigerator)


Oat Flour
Blend whole oats in a blender or coffee maker


Balsamic Vinaigrette
Mix balsamic vinegar with various herbs and olive oil


Buttermilk
1 T. Vinegar to 1 Cup milk


Yogurt
See article:
http://www.thehomeexecutiveoffice.blogspot.com/2012/04/yogurthas-many-health-benefits.html


Stock and Broths
See article:
http://www.thehomeexecutiveoffice.blogspot.com/2012/01/canning-chicken-stock.html


Baby Food
See Article:
http://www.thehomeexecutiveoffice.blogspot.com/2012/01/making-baby-food.html

Pot Pie Production

Recently I discovered the benefits of pot-pies. Let's say, my life has become consumed with pot pies this week.

1. Pot pies make great food for little ones because the vegetables are cooked and mixed with soft pieces of meat and bread.
2. Pot pies are a great way to use leftover meat, veggies,  rice, and potatoes.
3. Pot pies are a complete meal in one dish-including vegetables, meat, and grain.

Unfortunately, store bought pot-pies, are not very nutritional. They have a hydrogenated fats, white flour crust, processed meats, and often more gravy than vegetables.

With those thoughts in mind, I endeavored to find nutritional pot-pies on the market. The best ones I found were Amy's pot pies-made with a whole wheat crust, lots of organic vegetables, and organic meats. Most generic pot-pies sell for .50-.80 cents a pie, however I could not find Amy’s pot-pies for less than $3.00 a pie. In my home, that is an expensive meal.

So, I decided to make my own. Little did I know what an undertaking I was getting myself in.

I began last Wednesday, and pulled a ten pound turkey out of the freezer to thaw. Saturday morning, I roasted the turkey. Sunday, we enjoyed roasted turkey for dinner.

Monday morning, I deboned and put the bones and cartilage in a pot of simmering water for the day, to make stock. In the meantime, I chopped and cooked an assortment of veggies in very small pieces for little teeth. I mixed the vegetables with the chopped turkey in a large bowl which went back in the fridge overnight until I had the turkey stock completely done.

3 cups finely chopped turkey
1-8oz pkg. finely chopped mushrooms-fried in butter
1-10oz pkg. frozen peas-cooked al dente (cooked, but slightly crisp)
1-12 oz pkg. frozen beans-sliced in half and cooked al dente
1-lb. pkg. carrots finely sliced and cooked al dente
10 celery stalks finely chopped and cooked with 1 T dried onions

I cooked each vegetable separately, because some take longer than others to reach the al dente point and I wanted them to all be at the same place before I mixed them with the gravy.

I added 1T. salt, 3 chicken bouillon cubes, 1 T. sage, 3 Bay leaves, and the celery leaves from the celery I chopped for the pies to the turkey stock.

Tuesday morning, I strained the bones from the turkey broth-giving me about 8 cups of good stock. To that stock I mixed one pint of heavy cream. Then I blended 1/2 c. cornstarch with 2 c. milk and added that to the broth. I simmered the broth until it thickened into gravy. I added pepper to taste.

I then got the largest bowl I owned and combined the gravy, meat, and veggies to one pot.

Then I made the whole wheat pie crust.

3 3/4 c. Whole Wheat flour
1 1/2 t. salt
3 T. What Germ
2 1/2 stick of butter cut into small cubes
3 egg yokes
6 T. ice cold water

After blending the pie crust ingredients, I rolled out crusts for 2 small pies and half a dozen turnovers,  which I stuffed with the turkey gravy and vegetables. 

I froze the remaining turkey mixture until I had more time to make more crusts, then froze wrapped the turnovers in aluminum and put them in an air-tight container. I baked the a pie for 45 minutes at 350 degrees, and Emma and I ate it for lunch.

The pie not only turned out perfectly, but tasted amazing! It was nice to eat something I knew was nutritious and not a budget killer. I think I have enough turkey gravy stuffing for 3 dozen small pies. 

The nice thing is that any vegetable can be added and any meat can be made into gravy and used. Broccoli would have been a nice addition to this pie, but if I did a beef pie, potatoes would be a good combination.

Go Yogurt!

Yogurt has many health benefits. The benefit most people are aware that yogurt contains is how good it is for the digestive tract. It gives the digestive system what is known as a probiotics, a good bacteria. That good bacteria has been shown to decrease the affects of irritable bowels, diarrhea, constipation, and even lactose intolerance. However not all yogurt contains probiotics. Only those that are labeled “contain living bacteria” or “live cultures” will have probiotics. Besides aiding in the digestive tract, yogurt with live cultures also aids in balancing the immune system and the calcium and vitamin D in yogurt can help in staving off osteoporosis.

Making Yogurt 
Besides its nutritional benefits, yogurt makes a great substitute for sour cream and buttermilk in a lost any recipe (except fudge). It can be added to fruit smoothies, creamed desserts, fruit, sauces and gravies. It is cheaper and healthier to make than purchase and I found it is very simple.

For my first batch, I made a small amount to make sure I got the temperature and culture right. Making yogurt is like similar to making sourdough. It takes a bit of the old live cultures to make a new batch. So, when I notice I am getting low on yogurt, I reserve 3 T of the plain yogurt I have left to start the next batch.  


Ingredients:
1 cup milk any percent of fat will work 
2 T plain yogurt (home-made or store bought)
Some recipes recommend adding nonfat dry milk or flavorless gelatin to thicken up the home-made yogurt. My yogurt was just very thick without the dry milk or gelatin. 


Directions: 
1. Heat milk to about 170 degrees. Don't let it boil. I used the microwave to heat mine. It took about 3 minutes for 1 cup of milk.


2. Cool milk to about 108 degrees. I put the milk from the microwave to the freezer. It took 5 minutes to cool to 108 in my freezer.


3. Mix 2 T. of yogurt per cup of milk and blend well. 


4. Pour into an airtight glass (Pyrex or Corningware casserole dishes with a plastic lid work, or canning/jelly jars with a good lid work well.)

5. Place the yogurt in a mini crock pot and surround the dish with hot (not boiling) water. A yogurt maker can also be used.

My yogurt took a total of 10 minutes to mix up and 12 hours to thicken.



6. Let yogurt stay in the crock pot 8-12 hours until thickened.


7. Place in fridge and enjoy. 



I have found home-made yogurt is a bit stronger in flavor than store bought, so it may take getting used to. It really adds a wonderful flavor to baked goods in place of sour cream and mixes into fruits well.


Most yogurts have a refrigerator life of 2-3 weeks. I would not recommend keeping it longer.

Nice, But Not Necessary

In an effort to save money to purchase a home, my husband and I went through all of the things we spend money on and tried to eliminate anything we could live without. I personally went through our grocery budget and stopped purchasing specific items because we really didn't need them. It is amazing all the things we think we have to have, and there are good reasons to have them too, but overall, I have found that life is actually simpler without those things.


Budget cuts:

• Cable/Satellite TV
• Smartphone/Data plan
• Internet Service-(We live far from grandparents so we are not eliminating internet, but are cutting back on the service, only keeping the speed so we can Skype family)
• Turn off lights/AC/Heat-when we don't need it-don't use it-it is amazing how much we feel we have to have lights on, when we can see just fine during the day with the window shades up. Also, if someone is not in a room, there is no need to have a light on in that room. 
• Stop using a clothes dryer-this is not an option for me since we already do not have a washer and dryer, however-a clothes line is a huge money saver since a clothes dryer is one of the most expensive appliances to run in a home
• Stop using the dishwasher-I quit using our dishwasher mostly because it doesn't work well, but also it saves a lot of money simply not to have to buy dishwasher soap. Dishwasher soap is 3-4x more money than hand-washing soap-even if you make it yourself. Surprisingly, I have found that I really don't miss it at all.
• Eating out/ordering in-find other methods of entertainment. We have saved bundles by not even ordering pizza. I find having a plan is the key-if I know we will be out during a mealtime, I purpose to have something cooking at home so we are compelled to come home to eat. Also, keeping quick and easy meals on hand like cheese and tortillas for quesadillas is helpful for those days when nothing is coming together. I am not tempted to order food or eat out if I have a quick and easy meal on hand at home.
• Newspaper-I ask neighbors for their old papers coupons
• Magazine subscriptions-we don't get any

Grocery List Eliminations:

• Dishwashing soap-save up to-$10 a month
• Sodas-save more than-$10 a month (we substitute buying a few lemons to add to cold water)
• Meats-I don't buy meat unless there is a sale, then I purchase bulk and freeze-this saved tons of money on both red meat and poultry-I plan meals around what meat I have in the freezer
• Cheese-Buy whole block cheese and shred by hand-it is cheaper and tastes MUCH better than pre-shredded cheese
• Produce-buy in season/buy on sale/buy whole fruits and vegetables-not pre-cut or bags of salad
• Bread-buy on sale-often stores in my area have a buy one get 2 free on a local brand of bread, I purchase as many as will fit in my freezer at that time. (I usually pay .70-.99 for a loaf of wheat)

The key we have found is to simplify and live with less. It takes more elbow grease, but is worth the extra pennies in the bank.

Spring Sales

Since I am a bargain shopper, I have found that spring is a great time to catch certain products at a good price and stock up. 


Second Hand Clothing-since it is time for spring cleaning, a lot of people are going through their closets and getting rid of things they don't need. It is a good time to find nice things at consignment shops and thrift stores.


Cleaning Supplies-Since it is spring cleaning season, cleaning supplies will go on sale through the month of March and April. A lot of coupons for cleaning products are also printed at this time.


Winter Equipment/Winter Sports-When it is safe to say that the last snow has fallen for the winter season, a lot of stores will discount snow removal equipment and deicing products. It is also a good time to buy snow sports equipment and heavy winter clothing.


Fruits and Veggies-Spring Veggies and Fruits can finally be purchased locally. Common products include: Apricots, Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Carrots, Chard, Cherries, Peas and Strawberries.


Meats-Certain kinds of meats typically go on sale during spring months due to certain holidays-Corned beef (St. Patrick's Day), Lamb (Passover), Ham (Easter).


Homes-Spring is the time a more homes go on the market than any other time of the year. It is a good time to look to buy or sell a house.

It is time to read a book

Turn off the TV. Turn off the computer. Hang up the Phone. Turn off the radio. Sit Down. It is time to read a book.

Books are highly beneficial for personal edification and mental nourishment. As mother's we work hard to get our little ones to fall in love with reading books and try not to let them watch TV. Why? Because we know what is best for them. Why do we feel reading is so good for our little ones, but don't set aside the time to do it ourselves? Honestly, my first answer is that I am too busy. But in actually, it is because I have not set aside time each day for reading a book. Whether it be nap-time, nursing time, early morning or late evening, or even setting up little one with toys for a half hour-I should be able to fit in a little time each day to increase my knowledge and understanding. 


Reading has been shown to be mentally stimulating and aside from increasing a person't knowledge, reading improves memory and thinking skills as well as vocabulary and therefore writing skills. The major purpose of why I read is to improve my expertise-whether it be as a wife and mother, teacher, homemaker, or even my relationship with others and the Lord.


This year, I have made it a goal to read one book a month. It has to be a book that will benefit me in my career as a wife and mother as well as not hinder my relationship with the Lord with their content or philosophy.


These are the books I have chosen to read-some of them have been on my list for years, but I have never taken the time to set aside and dedicate the time to read. My focus in the majority of my reading is the gospel and ministering to others. My husband and I are dedicating our lives to have a home that reaches out to others and I need to learn how to do that better. We want our children to be sensitive and focused on others and hopefully spend their entire lives ministering and sharing the gospel to others.


Book List 2012

1. The Mother at Home John S. C Abbott
2. Passionate Housewives Desperate for God Jennie Chancey, Stacy McDonald
3. Open Heart, Open Home: The Hospitable Way to Make Others Feel Welcome & Wanted Karen Burton Mains
4. From Clutter to Clarity: Simplifying Life from the Inside Out Nancy Twigg
5. The Mission of Motherhood: Touching Your Child's Heart for Eternity Sally Clarkson
6. Choosing Gratitude: Your Journey to Joy Nancy Leigh DeMoss
7. Sacred Influence: What a Man Needs from His Wife to Be the Husband She Wants Gary Thomas
8. Ministries of Mercy: The Call of the Jericho Road Timothy J. Keller
9. The Transforming Power of the Gospel Jerry Bridges
10. A Love That Multiplies: An Up-Close View of How They Make it Work Michelle and Jim Bob Dugger 
11. Shepherding a Child's Heart Tedd Tripp and David Powlison
12. Unfashionable: Making a Difference in the World by Being Different  Tullian Tchivifjian and Timothy Keller 

Taking Time For Personal Care

Being a busy wife and mother makes it very hard to take time for personal care. When I was adjusting to motherhood a few months ago, there were days I didn't take the time to shower and dress until shortly before my husband came home from work. It was just easier to clean house and care for the baby without having to worry about showering and dressing or even sitting down to eat food. However, I have become increasingly aware of the need to take the time at the beginning of the day for personal care. When my hair is done, make-up is on and I am dressed neatly at the start of the day--that day goes a whole lot smoother than if I didn't take the time to prepare myself for it. 

Now when little Emma wakes up-pretty much on the dot at 7 in the morning, she is hungry. So my first order of business is to feed her. Now that she is eating some solids, I can sit her down for oatmeal and fruit and I can eat a healthy breakfast while I feed her. After that, I can set her up with some toys in the bathroom floor while I take a shower. Then I move her to our room while I dress, put on make-up, and do my hair. Then I dress her and get her ready for the day. By 8-8:30 we are both fed and dressed for the day. 


Taking the time seems like a nuisance, and there are many days I am tempted to skip drying my hair and wash the dishes in the sink or run off to some other task that needs to be done. If I can simply stick to getting myself ready and then moving on, it helps me stick to other tasks throughout the day without jumping from one to the next as well.

Basic Cleaning Techniques

I enjoy the art of cleaning. Oh yes, even cleaning has its finer points and takes creativity, thought, and structure. There is a method to cleaning. Don Aslett addresses the issue of cleaning order in his book Do I Dust or Vacuum First? For instance, there are rules that are important to follow that keep cleaning simple, effective, and time efficient. For instance, during my college days, I spent one summer cleaning houses. I learned a lot from making mistakes. I beat out a rug in the house-causing dust to go up in the air settle on the freshly dusted furniture. I also found that floors should be vacuumed and wiped clean after everything else has been cleaned. Some people take a lot of cleaning techniques for granted because a lot of it is common sense, however, as I said before, cleaning is an art, and for many people, the methods of cleanliness do not come naturally and must be learned. 


3 cleaning principles


1. Start from the top down in every project, whether it be wiping down a bathtub, dusting, or wiping walls. 


-starting from the top down allows gravity to work and carry dirt down where the floor will be the last project tackled. 


2. Wipe in swirls, whether it is counter-tops, windows, or floors.


-using a moment of small circles will eliminate streaks, missed spots, and lines in cleaning-giving a more thoroughly cleaned surface


3. Use the appropriate products for cleaning


-as tempting as multipurpose cleaners are, multipurpose has its limits. One does not want to use a water, ammonia, or alcohol based fluids on wood, and one certainly does want to use an oil based fluid on ceramics, counter-tops, or windows. 

Mrs. Dunwoody's Tips-Purchasing Fruit and Vegetables

It can be difficult to chose fruits and vegetables at their optimum ripeness. I have the hardest time with melons and pineapple. I have found these tips from Mrs. Dunwoody's Excellent Instructions for Homemaking by Miriam Lukken most helpful.


Asparagus: Stalks should be tender yet firm; tips should be close and compact. Choose stalks with very little white, they are more tender. Use it immediately because it toughens rapidly.


Broccoli and cauliflower: Flower clusters should be tight and close together. 


Brussel Sprouts: Should be firm and compact. Smudgy, dirty spots may indicate insects.


Cabbage and head lettuce: Choose heads heavy for size. Avoid cabbage with worm holes, or lettuce with discoloration or soft rot. 


Cucumbers:n Chose slender cucumbers for the best quality. They may be dark or medium green, but yellow ones are undesirable..


Root Vegetables: Should be smooth and firm. Very large carrots may have woody cores; oversized radishes may be pithy; oversize turnips, beets, and parsnips may be woody. Fresh carrot tops usually mean fresh carrots, but the condition of the laves on most root vegetables does not indicate degree of freshness.


Cantaloupes: Thick, close netting on the rind indicates best quality. Cantaloupes are ripe when the stem scar is smooth and the space between the netting is yellow or yellow-green\. They are best to eat  when fully ripe with a pleasant, sweet, fruity odor.


Honeydews, Honeydews are ripen when the rind has a creamy to yellowish color and velvety texture. Immature honeydews are whitish green.


Watermelons. Ripe watermelons have some yellow color one side. If melons are white or pale green on one side, they are not ripe.


Pineapples. Pineapples are ripe when a leaf at the top of the pineapple pulls out easily. 

Precious Time at Home

In order to silence all those who wonder what a homemaker does with all her time, let me share a typical day at my home. Every evening, I jot down a list of must-dos and want to dos for the next day. Before I had a baby, I actually would finish my to-do list, now by the end of the day, it has actually grown longer. Funny how one little soul can zap time out of existence. Time has become so precious to me.


This is how a typical day at home may go...


After sleeping off an on through the night, I hope Emma will sleep just a little longer on the one morning I can sleep a little longer. The moment the clock strikes 6:30, I start to hear little noises from her room. She is awake and my day has begun.


Since I am home 2 full days a week, I decided to to the laundry on those days. I don't have machines in my apartment, so I use the complex facilities-3 washer and 3 dryers which can get pretty busy. I try to get the wash in first thing in the morning, so I am not waiting on other people to do their loads. Today I had 6 loads to do. Thankfully the machines were empty and I got the first 3 loads in the wash by 7:30. I set the timer to remind me to swap loads in half an hour then fed and burped Emma.


I put the next loads in at 8:30 and set the timer for an hour, when the dryers would finish. Then I made the beds, and picked up the house, and cleaned the bathroom, and fed Emma.


Then at 9:45 I got the loads swapped, brought up the dry laundry and folded and put that away. Between entertaining Emma, putting her down for nap, then putting the clothes away...an hour was gone.


So I went back down at 10:45 and got the last three loads of laundry. Some were not quite dry, but I wasn't going to spend another dollar to get the dampness out, so I brought them up and hung them around the house-on the doors, furniture, and closets so they would dry. I put away the things that were dry.


By then it was 11:30, and I jumped in the shower before Emma woke up from her nap. By the time I was done, she was throwing a fit in her crib. It was time to feed her again. I fed her, read her books, and played peek-a-boo. By then it was 12:30-My morning was gone.


I spend some time writing notes and doing paperwork my husband asked me to do for him, then realize Emma is fussing. She has a blow-out. I changer her and wash her up. Then I play with her a bit and put her down for a nap--1:30.


I have 2 hours before my husband comes home, so I put up my hair, put on make-up, and pick up the laundry from about the house. I make sweet toe for him and some cereal bars, then wash the dishes in the sink and wipe down the counters-2:30


One more hour-Emma awakes from her nap. I feed her, burp her, and talk to her. Then I check for coupons on the websites I visit, then I go through my coupons and trash the dated ones and file away the new ones. 


3:45-Jim comes home. I chat with him while he gets ready to head out again. Thankfully this week he is working in our apartment complex, so he doesn't have far to go.


Jim leaves at 4 and I am starved by then so I raid the refrigerator and eat some cold fried chicken. Yum. 


I put Emma down and look at flight prices for a possible visit to the East coast the first of the year. 
Blog
Play with Emma


It is 6:20 as I am publishing this article and the day is yet incomplete. This is about how I would expect the evening to go...


6:30-I take Emma to go visit Jim at work.
7:00-Emma gets a bath and nighttime feed.
8:00-Emma is in bed asleep and I have time for my personal devotions and Sunday School preparation.
9:00-I make Jim's lunch for the next day, and get our clothes, car-seat, and diaper bag ready for 6:00 the next morning. 
10:00-Jim comes home-we chat-he showers
11:00-Sweet Sleep until Emma wakes up to eat.


The day in a nutshell, it seems like I did nothing much, yet the day is over and my list of to-do's remains, with only the bare necessities accomplished. I am only one mother among thousands, yet I feel that I speak for all stay-at-home-mom's when I say that there is no time for long chats on the phone, watching TV or movies, or anything other than the bare necessities of life. I know as children grow, the  business remains, but changes. Am I complaining? Absolutely not! I love being a wife and mother, and am so very, very thankful that it is the life the Lord has allowed me to have. To me, I am living the ideal life that some women only dream about.

Saturday Evening

Sundays are often the hardest days of the week to be prepared. We rise early for church but there are many last minute preparations that need to be taken care of. I have found it easier to deal with Sunday by preparing everything I can ahead of time. Usually I prepare my Sunday School lesson sometime during the week before in case I need to purchase or make anything by Sunday morning. There are plenty of other things that can be done Saturday evening. 


I usually go through Sunday in my mind sometime Saturday evening and ask myself a series questions...


?What will the weather be like tomorrow and what type of clothing would be best for church?
?Are we having company after morning or evening service?
?What are we having for dinner?
?Is there any food I can prepare ahead?
?Are we ministering in any way-music, speaking, nursery, etc.?


I need to know what the next day will bring so I know how to adequately prepare the night before for instance...


If I am in nursery I try to choose clothing I can move around on the floor with.
If the weather is cold, I will plan warmer clothing for the family.
If we are having company, I may set the table ahead of time.


Then I tackle preparing the clothing for the morning-pressing, pulling out clothes and making sure I have all the parts to all of our outfits, so I am not scrounging around in the morning looking for a shoe or something. I also may try on my own outfit. Since I have had baby, things don't fit like they used to fit, so I want to make sure my clothes fit properly and are modest. 
Then I prepare all I can for dinner the following day-thawing and marinating meat, setting up the crock-pot with a browned roast (I use a timer so it comes on around 1 in the morning to start cooking). 
The final step in my preparation is to gather all the things we need to take to church in the morning and set them out on the kitchen table-diaper bag, car seat, Sunday School Curriculum, offertory music, Bibles, tithe money, dishes or vases to return to people at church, cards to deliver to people at church, and anything else I can think of. Saturday evening, Emma gets a bath-and we hope she stays reasonably clean until after church. 


Sunday morning is nice because all I have to worry about is feeding and dressing Emma and myself. My husband takes care of himself, and we are off to church. It really eliminates any stress Sunday mornings and helps keep the day more set-apart and restful.

Cleaning Schedule

My weekly housecleaning routine has always been simple and very basic. Once a week I would clean the floors, furniture, and appliances. It took about three good hours to do a satisfactory job in our two bedroom apartment. Once or twice a year I would also do a week of major spring cleaning and scrub every nook and cranny. However I found that sometimes there are places that never get cleaned and are regularly looked over. With a little person around the house--I know she is going to find those forgotten places and what to lick them clean. I decided it was best to keep up with everything regularly. So, recently I decided to add those neglected places to a monthly cleaning . I also find it helpful to break up my house cleaning into 5 days a week rather than doing it all in one day. It is much easier for me to send 15-20 minutes a day cleaning than 2-4 hrs all at once. This is how it works:


Basic cleaning routine:
Monday: Dust furniture, lamps, door frames, ceiling fans, blinds, and electronics
Tuesday: Clean bathroom-wipe down all household mirrors
Wednesday: Clean and organize closets
Thursday: Clean kitchen
Friday: Vacuum carpets, scrub linoleum floors


I do the weekly scheduled cleaning and the one monthly scheduled cleaning each day. Scheduling helps me keep my house clean regularly and insures I have the time to get it done. Also, if these things are done regularly, I have found that they are pretty easy to keep up with each time.

Monthly cleaning routine:
Week 1:
Monday: Dust fica trees and fake flowers
Tuesday: Clean inside cabinets in bathroom
Wednesday: Clean and organize drawers in furniture
Thursday: Wipe down and organize kitchen cupboards
Friday: Sweep outside front door

Week 2:
Monday: Clean light fixtures and ceiling fans
Tuesday: Clean under beds and living room furniture
Wednesday: Clean and organize piano books
Thursday: Dust above cabinets-clean doodads on top of cabinets
Friday: Clean floors under oven and refrigerator

Week 3:
Monday: Dust pictures/things on the walls
Tuesday: Dust and Organize shelves in baby's room
Wednesday: Clean around desk and desanitize computer mouse and phones
Thursday: Clean oven, stove, and range hood
Friday: Vacuum around edges of walls and furniture with vacuum hose

Week 4:
Monday: Dust bookshelves-get on top and under books
Tuesday: Clean windows
Wednesday: Wipe down doors and desanitize doorknobs
Thursday: Clean refrigerator
Friday: Spot clean the carpets

Lazy Laundress

Laundry is has always one of my least favorite chores. I don't have a washer or dryer at home so the laundry must be carried across the yard to the laundry facilities at our apartment complex or it must be done at a laundry mat. In any case, it is always my goal to get it done and put away as soon as possible. The advantage of using the facilities on the premise is that I can get 3 loads of laundry done at a time making it possible for me to complete it all in an hour and a half. I like that a lot. Unfortunately, since the whole laundry process is such a chore to me, I have never enjoyed the art and leisure of well--doing it right. I sort clothes by weight and color--heavy jeans and towel in one load, light colored clothes in another load, and colored lightweights in the third. I have learned that I am guilty of several laundry crimes. 

• I plead guilty to not spot-checking my clothes before washing
• I plead guilty to overcrowding the washers and dryers (well it saves me time and money...)
• I plead guilty to not folding my clothes while they are hot-I scoop them out of the wash and stuff them all into the basket-then I dump them on our bed until I get inspired to fold them and put them away-sometime before bed
• I plead guilty to not pressing our clothes--well except for my husband's shirt for church
• I plead guilty to donating a stained garment to Goodwill because I don't care enough about it to work at the stain-hey I probably purchased it from Goodwill for a dollar anyway
• I plead guilty to mixing whites with coloreds resulting in dingy whites
• I plead guilty colored items with bleach spots on them.
• I plead guilty to using only one setting on the washers--very hot water, heavy load, and large load--I figure it washes better--not paying attention to my fading colors and twisted dress clothes.
• I am guilty of rarely reading labels on clothing and having accidents of shrunken and damaged articles as a result.

I fully admit to being a lazy, and uncaring laundress. Now that my confession is on the ironing board and my audience is thoroughly shocked. I would also like to point out that I actually know better. I know how to take care of linens and clothing. There are young men in college dorms who take more care of their laundry than I do. I am bitterly ashamed and resolve to improve my habits.

In one of my favorite books on housekeeping: Mrs. Dunwoody's Excellent Instructions for Homekeeping, the author, Miriam Lukken describes in great detail all the considerations a good homemaker takes in doing her laundry.

1. Check all articles of soiled clothing for needed mending. It is best to mend before washing because washing only makes rips shred more.

2. Turn all clothing inside out--this allows the garments to be cleaned thoroughly where it touches skin and keep the outside better protected from tumbling and rubbing against other articles of clothing.

3. Zip up zippers, hook hooks, check pockets, and stick the Velcro on objects together 

4. Separate articles into the following categories:

    A. Household cottons and linens (tablecloths, sheets)

    B. Heavy household linens (towels, washcloths, blankets)

    C. Rugs

    D. Heavy white clothing

    E. Thin white clothing

    F. Light colored articles

    G. Dark colored articles

    H. Articles that are seriously soiled (or new dark colors that 

         might stain other articles)

    I. Jeans

    J. Hosiery

    K. Silky fabrics usually women's undergarments

    L. Separate lint attracting objects from objects that create lint    

        (corduroy and sweatshirts)

5. Spot check articles of clothing and pre-treat stains 

Natural Satin Removers

•      Hydrogen peroxide (test on fabric first)
•      Vinegar-removes tough stains
•      Cold water soak-removes chocolate
•      Lemon juice-removes berry and juice stains
•      Spit on blood stains to remove them-crazy but it really works
•      Mix equal portions of rubbing alcohol and vinegar-soak to  remove grass stains
• mix egg yolk with a little water to remove coffee stains
• sponge milk on ink stains

6. Measure and add soap and softener to the machine
    (add 1/2c. vinegar to washing machine for a natural laundry 
    softener) 

7. Choose the correct water temperature for the type of clothes being washed
hot-pre-shrunk whites
warm-pre-shrunk sturdy fabrics
cold-colors and delicates

8. Choose the desired cycle for the type of load being washed
      A. Gentle-delicates
      B. Normal-Most types of wash
      C. Heavy Duty-jeans and towels

9. Choose water level for wash-full, medium, or small load-water should be enough to cover all the items in the machine

10. Start the washer and let it fill 1/4 of the way with the detergent in the water

11. Add clothes piece by piece-distributing evenly around the machine (top loading machines only)

12.After the machine is done-put clothes in dryer piece by piece-untwisting and uncrumpling the items-add dryer or lint sheets if desired-hang dry delicates-do not dry in a dryer 

13. Remove the lint from the dryer tray and set the dryer on the necessary heat and time
      A. High heat for sturdy cottons like-towels and denim
      B. Medium heat for general fabrics
      C. Low heat for dry able delicates

14. Once clothes are dry remove and fold.

15. Cottons and linens will need pressing.


TIPS:

• Sun will bleach colors-so don't leave colored items out on a line any longer than necessary
• Soak cottons overnight in a salt water solution to prevent them from fading
• Hang pants by the legs to dry so the wight of the top will take out the wrinkles as they dry
• Boil dingy whites in lemon water. Lemon acts as a natural bleach.
• Starched clothing is quickly going out of style, but for those suborn folk who like crisp shirts, home starch can easily be made-

5 T cornstarch
1/3 c. cold water
1 qt. boiling water
1/2 t. lard or white wax


Mix the cornstarch in the cold water then add to the qt of boiling water and then add lard or wax. Boil 20 minutes. Rub starch of wet or dry articles.

Home-Made Household Cleaners

Commercially made cleaners can be expensive removers of dirt that home-made solutions can cure equally well. I think many homemakers like me do like the fresh smell of alcohol in Windex and the lemon scent in Pine-Sol, but very often those products can run a couple to seven dollars a bottle. Many commercially made cleaners are not healthy to breathe either. After cleaning my bathroom while pregnant one day, I had to leave the room several times to breathe then hold my breath until the job was done because the fumes of the product I was using was so strong. I knew breathing all those chemicals could not be good. Later I read some articles that a lot of common household cleaners have chemicals that are linked to hormones in our body, causing damage to the reproductive cells and cancer. Many products have labels to warn consumers of those dangers, but few of us read them. In fact, much to my chagrin, a lot of the diffusers and plug in air freshers have shown a decrease in lung capacity and cancer increase. Since then I became inspired to try some more natural, but just as powerful solutions to clean house. 

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/allergy-and-asthma/articles/2008/07/25/health-hazards-in-household-cleaners-exposed

Natural Home Cleaning Products:

White Distilled Vinegar or Apple Cider Vinegar

(A gallon can be purchased for $2)(store brand)

Baking Soda

(A box can be purchased for .50) (Walgreen's coupons)

Salt

(A 32oz. carton for .50) (Walgreen's Coupons)

Toothpaste

(cheep brands run less than 1.00) (I get for free with coupons)

Lemon Juice

(a 32oz bottle runs about $2) (I always buy the store brand)

Olive Oil

(Can be $2 or more for a 16oz bottle) (Usually don't need much)

Fresh Lemons and Limes

(Purchase by the bag for $3)

Black Tea

(1-2$ a box)
Mineral Oil
($2 for a liter at the pharmacy)

Plant Extracts and oils for scents-optional

(Prices Vary)

4 Chemical Compounds these are optional for the 100% naturalist, but they really do aid in the more difficult cleaning jobs around the house. They should be used with good ventilation and kept out of reach from children.

Washing Soda/borax-found in the laundry detergent isle at the supermarket

Ammonia-Found in the supermarket with cleaning detergents

Rubbing Alcohol-found with bandages in the pharmacy

Glycerin-Found with dish-soap or household cleaners in supermarkets

Recycle Scrubbers

There is no need to ever purchase cleaning rags-the whole idea is almost humerus

Rags-I rip up mu husbands old T-shirts for softer rags and use old washcloths and towels for more abrasive ones

Old Toothbrushes
Newspapers

Recipes and Uses

All-Purpose Household Cleaner A (windows, floors, bathrooms, carpet, appliances)

1/4 c. vinegar

2 c. Water

All Purpose Cleaner B

1/4 c. vinegar

1/2 c. ammonia

1/8 c. baking soda

1/2 gallon hot water

Furniture Polish

Juice of 1 lemon (1/2 c.)

2 c. mineral oil or 1 c. olive oil

Scrubbing Solution 

Sprinkle baking soda and salt on sliced side of half a lemon and scrub (Good for soap scum and hard water stains)

Dish-soap

1/2 c. lemon juice

1/4 c. vinegar

1/2 c. baking soda

1/4 c. salt

1 c. water

Dishwasher Soap

1Tablespoon of Borax

1 Tablespoon of baking soda

1 Tablespoon of vinegar

Counter-top stain remover

Spray stained area with water, sprinkle baking soda on and leave overnight-wipe clean-this will even remove food coloring stains

Window Cleaner

Spray undiluted vinegar on windows and wipe down with newspapers

Rust Remover
Sprinkle salt and baking soda on rust

Squeeze the juice of one lime on top and let set 3 hours

Scrub with rind

Faucet Polish and Anti-Bacterial

Rub faucets with a soft cloth dipped in rubbing alcohol

Drain Cleaner A

1/c c. salt 

4 liter hot water

Drain Cleaner B

1/2 c. baking soda-pour down drain

1/2 c. vinegar-pour down drain after baking soda

Wait 15 minutes and slowly pour a gallon of boiling water down the drain

Oven Cleaner A

1 box baking soda

add enough water to make a spray-on paste

spray on and let set till dry 

wipe off with a warm cloth

Oven Cleaner B

2 c. hot water
1 T. Lemon juice
1. T. Baking Soda
1 t. Borax
Spray on oven and let set 20 minutes wipe first with old newspapers then clean cloth

Wood Cleaner (baseboards/kitchen cabinets)

1/2 gallon water-boiling

7 tea bags

Best if used warm-can be reheated in a microwave before use

Air Freshener

Spring/Summer-simmer fresh lemons, limes, oranges, or lavender on the stove

Fall/Winter-simmer whole cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger on the stove with or without citrus fruits

WARNINGS:

!!!Never use ammonia and bleach in the same formula or in the same room while cleaning-they are a highly toxic combination.

!!!Don't use vinegar in marble or grout as it will corrode.

!!!Don't use drain cleaner if a commercial drain product has already been used.