Welcome to my first post here on Freaky Frugal Fridays. I plan on hopefully updating every Friday. I hope you enjoy and find this valuable.
Emergency Substitutions
I cannot think of how many times I have run out of something in a pinch and then paid too much at the local convenience store because I needed it and it was close. I figured that, while not everyone wants to venture down the DIY EVERYTHING path like I have, it might be nice to have a list of substitution available for when you're in a pinch or when you just don't want to mess up a beautiful day of relaxing at home. Following are some items that, while not up to commercial stuff, WILL get you through until you feel like going to the store again. Most of them are made from ingredients that are in your typical kitchen, and cleaning cupboard.
Cleaning and Laundry
Laundry Detergent
If you are out of laundry detergent and need to wash something post haste, grab your soap bar out of the shower or from the sink and grate about a tablespoon of soap with your kitchen grater (use the side with the small holes). Add this and about 1/2 cup of baking soda to your washload and wash as usual. Use about 1/4 cup of white vinegar in the rinse cycle to remove any residue.
Fabric Softener
The white vinegar is also a respectable fabric softener. Add 1/4 cup to your final rinse or fabric softener dispenser, and let it mix in. If you're drying in the dryer, crumple up a couple of big balls of aluminum foil and place on top of the load to help with static. No, it won't do as much as a dryer sheet, but it will keep the worst of the cling out of your clothing if you don't overdry stuff.
A small capful of hair conditioner also works.
Dishwashing Liquid
Grab a bar of Ivory or similar soap (just don't make it a beauty bar), and grate off about a tablespoon or so of soap. Add to your dishwater, and let dissolve. Add a splash of vinegar to your rinse water, and you can do a large quantity of dirty dishes by hand.
Dishwasher Detergent
Place a tablespoon of borax and a tablespoon of washing soda in your open soap cup. Sprinkle part of a pack of unsweetened Koolaid (preferably the lemonade) into the covered cup and close. Run the dishes as normal. If you have soft water, you can just add the borax and washing soda to the covered cup and proceed as normal.
Oil Soap for Wood
Grate up a tablespoon of bar soap, add about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of olive or other vegetable oil, and mix in hot water. Wipe surface with damp cloth dipped in solution and polish with a dry cloth.
More to come next week!
