Washing-Up

I had researched recipes for laundry soap not long ago, but had decided on supporting a local artisan who crafts some of the most beautiful smelling washing soap I've ever smelled, Mugwort Maggie's. She hand-crafts each batch, and you can tell. She cures the grated soap in front of a wood stove, then hand grinds it so fine it dissolves immediately in cold water. It creates very little suds (which I believe is good for HE machines), and cleans very well. After using it, I thought I didn't want to bother with making my own, and why should I when Mugwort Maggie's has such an awesome product available?

Well, I do love experimenting with recipes of any kind. I love to be able to enjoy the economy of making my own products for pennies. I started looking into it again, and I think I may try it. We just purchased another Mugwort Maggie's bag, so we'll use that up before I start another. I'm excited to give it a whirl!

One recipe I found, the gal said it cost her about $14 to make a dry mix that lasted her a whole year! That's enough reason for me when it costs more than that to buy one store bought brand. We're on a pretty tight budget, and we've saved big on switching to homemade versions of household items. Some things I've switched to making exclusively at home with ENORMOUS savings in both money and waste are: mouth rinses, shower spray, shaving cream, bath and body products, and of course, my cloth pads!

An update on my switch to cloth menstrual pads: I can't believe how much more comfortable and absorbent they are, and cleaning them could not be easier! I toss the soiled ones into a bucket of cold water, let it soak the day, then rinse and toss into the laundry basket to be run through the regular loads. I don't see the fuss about switching to cloth at all! I've been making a bunch more pads, using some nicer backing fabrics because I really like to have a lot available (and I acquired a shiteload of fabric swatches from my Mum that I have no other plans for). I've also discovered which kinds work best for the level of flow I'm having, so I'd like more of certain types. I do have some definite non-faves, which is a little disappointing seeing as I'd hoped they'd all work for me. The only drawback to cloth, in my opinion, is the convenience factor when out and about. I carry my red RagBag separately because I really just don't want dirty pads in my purse, even in a plastic baggie, and there's no room in there anyway. I'm one of those Mom-purse types, even though I'm not a mom. I carry EVERYTHING you could possibly need in my purse, so to have soiled pads just isn't an option, and I'm not sure I'd be ok with that anyway since I'm a slight germaphobe. I grew up with a nurse for a mother, need I say more? So to schlepp around two purses is kind of a drag, but it's only for a few days a month so whatever.

Happy Witching!