This Crab Likes Free Stuff

I’m a junkie for free stuff– “If it’s Free, it’s for Me!” may as well be tattooed on my forehead.

And ya’ll- I get a LOT of free stuff.    I haven’t paid for toothpaste, shampoo or razors in over a year- I could build a toothpaste razor FORT.  I have $600 worth of skin brightening face serums in a box under my sink that I did not pay for.  Cold medicine?  Chapstick?  Lip gloss?  Free, free, free.

I know what you’re thinking- “those claws were made for pinching products!”  But it’s all 100% legit.

With a little time and effort, you can get free stuff, too!  Over the next few posts, (workload permitting,) I will tell you how to get started.

Here’s what I’ve got in my arsenal:

• Deal websites  (ebates.com, slickdeals.net)
• Coupons, (I know, I know- get over it!  I just got 4 boxes of Life cereal for $3, TYVM!)
• Mail-in-Rebates
• CVS (most of my free stuff comes from here.)
• Survey sites (I got paid $50 to do my taxes, thanks SurveySpot!)
• Product testing (The $600 of face brightening serums came from this.)
• Free Samples (Great for traveling!)

Every Saturday, I clip my coupons and plan my shopping trips while I watch The Soup on TIVO.  It’s NOT THAT TIME CONSUMING and it’s totally worth the savings.  My boyfriend used to make fun of me, but now he’s just amazed that I can walk into a CVS and get $40 worth of stuff for $8 out-of-pocket.  My last trip to the grocery store, I spent $39 and saved $49.

If you want to get started NAO, start at slickdeals.net.  It’s the most comprehensive deal site I’ve come across and it’s where I got started.  This website saved me HUNDREDS of dollars over Christmas and continues to be my main source of deal information.

Recipes for the Calorie-Counting Recessionista

You might know about my recent conversion to a healthier lifestyle. I hired a personal trainer (NOT recession-friendly but worth every penny) and started working on getting my over-200-pound weight down.

The first obstacle was completely changing my diet. B. the Sadistic Trainer immediately admonished me to get rid of the butter, oil, soda, and other crap that was in my daily diet. To make things easier, I gave up Dr. Pepper for Lent and then dutifully got to work.

So how does one cook when her options are somewhat limited and her wallet a little low? Let me share how I’ve been doing it.

Today I went to the grocery store to stock up on lots of fresh veggies. Here is my receipt. The Laughing Cow cheese wedges are a splurge at $3.09 (but still cheaper than Safeway, where they’re almost five bucks), but they’re worth it. Each wedge is 35 calories, and I can spread them on a whole-wheat mini-bagel for a snack.

The whole-wheat pasta is trainer-approved. I am to balance each meal with one protein, one carb, and plenty of veggies. I also bought some fat free hot cocoa mix for the occasional treat.

The magazines are for reading while I sweat away on the cross-trainer.

You can see that the majority of my receipt is produce.  I bought a ton of stuff because come Sunday, I’ll be cooking for the whole week.

So, what do I do with this? Here’s a simple idea that is super-easy and delicious.

Ingredients:

Boneless/skinless chicken breasts

Whole Wheat pasta

Mushrooms (white, or portabella)

Tomato (Roma, Hothouse, whatever you fancy)

Fresh spinach (I love the salad packs that come pre-washed, but those are a splurge)

Green bell pepper

Zucchini

Onion

Garlic (I splurged on the jar of minced garlic today, but I’ve also minced a clove of garlic or just used garlic powder).

Parmesan (shredded)

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to directions on package.

2. Slice uncooked chicken and add to a pan that is lightly coated with cooking spray (no oil!).

3. As the chicken browns, add garlic, green pepper, onion, zucchini, and mushrooms. When these are almost done, add the tomato and spinach.

4. Serve chicken/veggie mix over well-drained pasta. Add 1/4 cup of Parmesan. Bon apetit!

 

Please note that each serving consists of 2 oz (dry) of pasta, 4 oz. (cooked) of chicken, and about 1 cup of vegetables.

The groceries I bought today and the chicken I have in my freezer will make enough for a whole week of lunch and dinner.

For Pit’s Sake: An Overshare

Truefax: I sweat. A lot. This is not, “tee hee! I haz a sweat!” This is “holy beetlejuice, batman! That’s sweatacular!” levels of sweat.

Excessive sweating is not only embarrassing, it’s costly. I have a box full of antiperspirants and deodorants that I have tried and tossed aside and I have ruined more bras, camisoles and light colored shirts than I care to admit.

So what’s a Recessionista to do? Continue buying and tossing?

Bish, Plz!

Even if you’re a dainty sweater, you’ve no doubt faced the dreaded Yellow Pit’s of Shame. I can’t keep you from sweating, but I can save your clothes.

1. NEVER wear clear gel deodorant with white/light colored clothes. The chemicals alone will cause yellowing. Add sweat and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.

2. Invest in Oxyclean. TRUST. This miracle powder will get you out of ALL KINDS of fixes. I buy the dollar store brand- it’s the same exact thing Billy Mays is shilling on the TV.

3. Act fast. You want to get at the stain while it’s still damp, (this goes for most stains- the sooner you get to them, the better.) Fill your sink with hot water, add Oxyclean and a dollop of detergent, (I usually use a squirt of shampoo or body wash since it’s right there,) give the pit area a quick scrub and soak. Sometimes I add bleach, if it’s a particularly stubborn stain. Check back in 10 minutes or so, rinse and hang over your shower rod to dry.

This is slightly annoying, but it really doesn’t take long. If I’m wearing white, the first thing I do when I get home is put that shirt in the sink. I let it soak while I’m taking my shower or getting dinner ready, rinse it and hang it to dry. Done and Done. This little routine has saved me from having to buy new white camisoles, nude bras, light button down shirts, etc. every month or so and that’s worth the effort.

Let me repeat- GET THEE SOME OXYCLEAN POWDER. You can put the powder directly on the stain to make it extra concentrated, just remember to wet it or it won’t work. Oxy has saved me countless times. Red wine spill? Permanent marker on the duvet cover? A monthly *ahem* accident? GONE, SAVED, FIXED.

It’s almost summer, ladies. That’s sweating season, but it’s no reason you can’t enjoy that white flowy tunic you got on super-sale at TJ Maxx.

Paint Your Face Inexpensively

I’ll be up front about it. I am a bit of a make-up whore. It’s a legit way to paint on your face. Short of drawing penii on your cheeks with eyeliner or whatever, no one will look at your war paint and wonder what the hell you were smoking that morning. Since I’ve always been a cheap bastard, I figured I might as well share some of the brands I use hat still yield good results. I have very sensitive skin and I’ve fared very well with these.

1. Wet n Wild: Yes, yes, I know, the name sounds dirty. For the longest time, I assumed it was kid’s make-up because the name was a turn-off. The prices were always so damn tempting, though, so I gave in. And lo and behold, it is not a bad brand at all. They also sell cheap make-up accessories such as brushes, pencil sharpeners, etc. that are a necessity.
2. N.Y.C. (New York Color): Another one I underestimated for a long time. Again, the target group seems to be teenagers, but if you pick the right items, you’re good to go. Plus you know you always wanted to try funky eyeliner colors.
3. Rimmel: This seems like a no-brainer, but it isn’t necessary. Rimmel are a very reliable brand. Some of my favorite items in my make-up bag come from that shelf.
4. CoverGirl: Ignoring the controversy where their current cover girl is concerned, this actually is a good brand. I was a little worried about some of their perfumed products setting off skin allergies, but it wasn’t the case.
5. Revlon: With Revlon, you might actually have to look at the price tag on occasion. Generally they are cheap, especially when it comes to eye shadow, but they do sell higher-end products. They have a diverse color palette I find wonderful.
6. Maybelline: The same rule a above goes for Maybelline, even though I will faithfully buy their damn mascara until my wallet shrieks and dies because it actually yields results I like.
7. L’Oreal: We’re working our way through the upper end of the drugstore spectrum. L’Oreal actually has an affordable line called HIP that entails very highly pigmented eye shadows, which very few other brands do.
8. Almay: Not quite as “low-end” as the others, but I know for a fact that Almay does not test its products on animals, which I cannot necessarily guarantee for the others. If you are pale like myself and have issues finding foundation that matches your skin-tone, you might want to check them out just in case. Their make-up also covers a broad spectrum of skin types.

Some obvious tips when buying: check for coupons whenever you can or just randomly drop into a drugstore if you have the time. A lot of times they will have certain items on sale or even clearance at almost ludicrous percentages; Rite-Aid, for example, convinced me to actually buy something rather than stare longingly by putting make-up on 75% discounts.

Have fun!

-musicpup

Baking Soda — Who Knew?

I love baking soda. It is one of the most awesome substances on the planet. As a little girl, I learned to add a teensy bit of water to it to make a mystery goo (who says science in our schools is dead?). As an adult, I have learned that it is an awesome cleaning/deodorizing agent.

There are many obvious uses for baking soda, like placing an open box in your fridge or freezer to help with food odors, or keeping it near the stove in case you have a grease fire. But baking soda has so many other uses—and at $0.99 a box (or thereabouts) at Target, it’s very easy on a Jezebel Reccessionista’s wallet.

Here are two of my favorite uses for baking soda:

1. Sprinkle it on your carpet, wait a few minutes, and then vacuum. There are fancy carpet powders that are way more expensive, but baking soda does the trick. For fun, I like to walk around in (clean) old socks, stamping it in to absorb odors.

2. Put a couple teaspoons of baking soda in a microwave-safe mug, then fill it halfway with water. Zap in the microwave for 45 seconds, wait for it to cool, then remove. Voila! That cooked-in tomato sauce that’s been stuck to the walls of the microwave will wipe right off. Added bonus: your microwave will smell fresh again.

And here are some uses I found courtesy of Google:

1. Wash garbage cans with baking soda.
2. Soak and wash diapers with baking soda. (I’m assuming they mean cloth diapers!)
3. Oil and grease – stained clothing washes out better with soda added to the washing water.
4. Soda absorbs kitty litter odors. Cover the bottom of the kitty box with 1 part soda; then add a layer of 3 parts kitty litter on top

5. Run you coffee maker through its cycle with a soda solution. Rinse.
6. Sprinkle soda on barbecue grills, let soak, then rinse off.
7. Sprinkle soda on greasy garage floor. Let stand, scrub and rinse.
8. Polish silverware with dry soda on a damp cloth. Rub, rinse and dry.
9. Reduce odor build-up in your dishwasher by sprinkling some soda on the bottom.
10. Run your dishwasher through its cycle with soda in it instead of soap to give it a good cleaning.
11. To remove burned-on food from a pan: let the pan soak in soda and water for 10 minutes before washing. Or scrub the pot with dry soda and a moist scouring pad.
12. For a badly-burned pan with a thick layer of burned-on food: pour a thick layer of soda directly onto the bottom of the pan, then sprinkle on just enough water so as to moisten the soda. Leave the pot overnight, then scrub it clean next day.
13. Rub stainless steel and chrome with a moist cloth and dry baking soda to shine it up. Rinse and dry. On stainless steel, scrub in the direction of the grain.
14. Clean your bathroom with dry soda on a moist sponge – sink, tub, tiles, shower stall, etc.
15. Keep your drains clean and free-flowing by putting 4 tablespoons of soda in them each week. Flush the soda down with hot water.
16. Soak your shower curtains in water and soda to clean them.
17. To remove strong odors from your hands, wet your hands and rub them hard with soda, then rinse.
18. Sprinkle baking soda on your wet toothbrush and brush your teeth and dentures with it.
19. Sprinkle soda in tennis shoes, socks, boots and slippers to eliminate odor.
20. Add 1/2 cups or more of baking soda to your bath water to soften your skin.
21. Putting 2 tbsp. of baking soda in your baby’s bath water will help relieve diaper rash irritations.
22. Apply soda directly to insect bites, rashes and poison ivy to relieve discomfort. Make a paste with water.
23. Take a soda bath to relieve general skin irritations such as measles and chicken pox.
24. Take 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 glass of water to relieve acid indigestion or heartburn.
25. Gargle with 1/2 tsp. baking soda in 1/2 glass of water. Freshens and cleans your mouth.
26. Used as a mouthwash, baking soda will also relieve canker sore pain.
27. To relieve sunburn: use a paste of baking soda and water.
28. Bug bites: use a poultice of baking soda and vinegar.
29. Bee sting: use a poultice of baking soda and water.
30. Windburns: moisten some baking soda and apply directly.
31. Making Play Clay with baking soda: combine 1 1/4 cups water, 2 cups soda, 1 cup cornstarch.
32. Use soda as an underarm deodorant.
33. Repel rain from windshield. Put gobs of baking soda on a dampened cloth and wipe windows inside and out.

Aside from being budget-friendly, baking soda is environmentally friendly, too, and much healthier to use for cleaning than bleach. I, for one, can’t wait to try out #33. After a long, rainy winter, my windshield is filthy!

3 Tips on how to save money at the drugstore without using your 5 finger discount.

Here are some basic tips that can save you some money when buying drugstore necessities.

1. Buy mens shaving cream–it’s a lot cheaper, and works just as well.  The only thing you will be missing is the pretty pink packaging, and your legs/armpits smelling like roses for 5 minutes.

2. Do not be afraid of drugstore brands (except in some obvious areas).  In general drugstore brands have almost identical ingredients as the name brand product.  For instance, in the summer, I use body lotion that has a small amount of self-tanner in it.  Jergen’s makes a good one, and it runs for about 10-12- bucks.  The Rite-Aid version works just as well, and costs 6-7 bucks.  Drugstore brand (men’s) shaving cream is also just as good as Gilette’s.  Bodywash, soap, and facial cleansers are also good buys when you pass on the name brand and go for the drugstore brand.  If you are skeptical about a particular item, compare the ingredients, and base your decision on that.  Same goes for over the counter medications (ibuprofin, antihistamines, etc.).

3.  Coupons, and specials.  I know, I know, coupons bring up memories of standing behind the person at the grocery store that has 200 items and a coupon for each one.  Blech.  It also reminds me of John and Kate Plus Eight.  Blech again.  But if you look carefully at the flyer that is usually provided at the entrance of your drugstore, often you will find some kind of coupon or special on your favorite hair color, shampoo, etc.  It’s worth perusing those flyer’s.  Trust.

Living on 700 bucks a month: a budgeting overshare.

On the 3rd of each month, I receive a check from the government for about 700 dollars; I live on Social Security Disability Benefits.  If you don’t like to read people’s over-shares, stop here.  But if you enjoy over-shares and budgeting tips, read on.

5 years ago, my depression and anxiety made working almost impossible.  The worst thing was that I could not sleep due to  anxiety.  I would go 4-6 days/nights without one minute of sleep.  I wish that I was making that up.  Trust.  I  tried every medication out there for my depression, anxiety, and insomnia.  Nothing was working.  So I finally  had to quit my job in Boston, and move back up to Vermont with my parents.  It was quite obvious to my parents that I needed some intensive treatment, so they admitted me to a long-term, intensive care psychiatric hospital in Western Mass.  I spent 3 months at The Austin Riggs Center, and while Riggs was an “open hospital,” (meaning that you could come and go–as long as you made it in by a certain time, and were present for your appointments) it was INTENSE.  Living with people who were struggling with the same issues as I, was,  both comforting and disturbing at the same time.   During the 3 months I spent at Riggs, I began the long a laborious process of applying for disability benefits so that when I left, I would have some sort of income until I could get back into the working world.  I had no idea that 5 years later, I would still be relying on disability benefits as my main source of income.  So, the following is how I budget my life on 700 dollars a month. As some of you may know, I am currently living with my parents, so I don’t have to pay rent, and all the bills that come with living on your own.  But the time between when I left Riggs and moved back up here, (about 3 and a half years) I lived on my own, and so most of these tips come from those 3 years, but I still use a lot of them today.

First off, I always put 10% of my monthly income in a savings account for emergencies and so that when it comes time for new clothes, a trip, or whatever comes up that is not expected, I have a small nest egg to withdraw from.

Next is I know my billing cycles. I keep a record of when each of my monthly bills comes in, so I am financially  prepared for it.  Mine looks something like this:

Rent–1st (when I was not living with the rents)

Cell Phone–17th

Credit Card–24th

Electric–14th (again, when I was not living with the rents)

and so on……

I also try to know as accurately as possible how much each bill will be.

For instance, in order to accurately predict how much my cell phone bill will be, I check how many minutes I use  almost daily, so that know exactly how much the bill will be when it arrives in the middle of the month.  I never go over how many minutes my plan allows for.  If I use up all my minutes before the next billing cycle, I turn my phone off and don’t use it, unless there is an emergency.

Keeping my credit card receipts is also helpful.  It’s a reminder of how much I am putting on my card, and a record of how much my bill will be.  I know that this can be done online, but for some reason, having the record in my hands helps keep me from overspending on my card.

After I  budget out my bills money,  I make a list of other monthly necessities, and prioritize them.  Everyone’s necessities are different, but here is what mine look  like:

Food–150/month (when not living with the rents)

Gas–200/month

Toiletries–50/month

Eyebrow wax–20/month

and so on…..

Prioritizing monthly necessities is really helpful–and each month is different.  Some of my necessities, I only have to buy every other month, or even just 4 times a year.  Whatever my necessities are, be it a haircut, or cat litter, prioritizing them allows for me to create a realistic budget.

Whatever is left over after bills and necessities, is my social money.  And if there is anything left over at the end of the month, it goes into the savings account–not to a new “whatever.” (OK, sometimes I cheat on that one)

I am very lucky to have the family support I have.  My parents let me move back in after a life-changing event left me with no place to live and continue my recovery. They are incredibly supportive of me, both emotionally and financially.  No, they do not pay my personal bills for me, nor do they hand out money to me if I want something, but they do put a good, solid roof over my head.   And they would go to the end of the earth to continue to help me recover.  I really hope to get back out on my own within the next 6 months, but I have found that whenever I put a time limit on myself, I crumble under the pressure.   These last few years have been bumpy, but they have certainly taught me how to budget!

Sinus Pain Woes.

Trashtastic here again yall.  Have you ever had so much sinus pain/pressure that you were curled up in the fetal position and wished mightily for God to smite you for the slutting around you did in your college days, just to make it stop?

I am already there.  This happens to me once a year or so.  Right now the pain is so bad my fingertips hitting the keys is excruciating.  Last year was so much worse.  I actually did cry,  a lot, and that is something I just don’t do.  My sinuses mocked and laughed at Tylenol’s Severe Sinus meds.  (Steamy showers helped some.)  I was thisclose to dragging my sorry ass to the hospital.  So what did this nerd-in-pain do?

Googled.  Duh.

I found this wonderful chart below & it sounds batshit, but this little method worked when nothing else did:

Mastering the Bottle Blond… or Red.

Back in days of yore, when I had a full time job and my husband and I lived in the same city, I relished my 2-3 hour long salon cut and color experiences. Every 7 weeks I was in for a trim and a full color, sometimes with highlights. Cost? About $250 each visit. Not as bad as some places, I know, but a luxury nonetheless.

Not happening now. My last haircut was about 8 weeks ago, at the “Trade Secret” place in my local mall. $40 bucks for the cut, and Rachel did a pretty good job. I mean, my hair is long, and layered. It’s not a complicated cut, and I would do it myself if I weren’t positive that I would lose 7-8 inches in the process of evening the sides out.

Coloring, on the other hand, is right up my alley. I’ve always done my own, up until what’s known as “The Great Kool Aid Incident of 2005”. I didn’t dye with Kool Aid, but the end result was a color somewhere between Fruit Punch and Grape. That took 5 hours to undo. I still shudder.

I’ve been back on the horse for about 4 colors now, and everything’s fine. Here’s a few tips on how to successfully home color, without children’s beverage results:

1. Find the oldest, rattiest towel and T-shirt you have, and designate them your color clothes. Cut the T-shirt down the middle of the front and fasten with safety pin. There’s nothing worse than going to rinse and realizing that you can’t get your shirt over your head.
2. Clear the area around and underneath you. Color is drippy. It gets everywhere, and it stains. Move your bathmat, take your shoes off, and don’t bump into your shower curtain or decorative towels. And – use the gloves, unless you like purple hands.
3. Read the instructions. Yeah, I know you’re smart, but do it anyway. It’s your hair, you don’t want to fuck it up too bad.
4. Apply Vaseline to your hairline.This will prevent the dye from staining your skin.
5. If you have a lot of hair, use 2 bottles. If you try to go light on the solution, you will end up with uneven results, usually that the bottom layer of your hair does not get color.
6. Leave the product on your hair according to the instructions, then leave it on a little longer. My Loreal Excellence Red Penny box suggested 35 minutes. I left it on for an hour and 20 minutes. I go that long because my hair has been colored so many times, and due to the constant Florida sun, it’s a little dry. It turned out fine.
7. Don’t feel like you have to buy the most expensive, or fanciest home color kit. Most will pick up the highlights you already have, providing a multi-dimensional look. Excellence does, at $7.99 per kit, as opposed to Feria, at almost $20.
8. Condition, condition, condition, then trim. Most home kits are ammonia free, but coloring is still harsh. Color before a cut, and make the most of the conditioner included in the kit. (Tip: I’ve heard that the included conditioners are as strong as the hydrating treatments offered at salons.)
9. If you plan on hitting the tanning bed, or the beach, COVER YOUR HAIR. Your hair needs sunscreen just like your skin. If you’re coloring it, it’s going to be more porous and prone to damage. Cover it up, or it will start to fade and lighten.
10. If possible, enlist the help of a friend. You can take turns. It’s especially helpful if you have long hair, to ensure that you get even coverage in the back.

That’s it! Don’t be afraid! It’s nice and easy! (Rim shot…)

Gather round Grandma, children, and let me tell you a story…

Back in the good old days of yore, its been said that there was no Wal-Mart.  I know, I know.  Don’t be scared.  This means there was no Isle 8, with its rows and rows of shiny, multi-colored plastic bottles of cleaners, scrubs, and 409.  Yet some woman had to clean the house.  So what did she do?  She made her own, like the original Feminazi  Bonerkiller she undoubtably was.  So why can’t we do the same, and save a few cents?  It benefits the environment and our wallets, so take a little time (what else is Sunday afternoons for?) and try some of these out.

Automatic Dish Soap

• 1 cup borax
• 1 cup washing soda (both of these items are found in your laundry isle, at the bottom where they hid the cheap stuff that really works)

combine & use 1 tbsp in large, 1/2 tbsp in small;  in the jet dry area, plain white vinegar

*you can also just throw a cup of vinegar & be done, but the borax and washing soda help get the gradeaux off*

Shower Cleaner

• 1 tsp borax

• 1 tsp washing soda

• 1 tbsp liquid soap

• 1/2 cup vinegar

fill spray bottle almost full w/hot water – get down with your iPod and scrub that shower, girl!  For really hard spots, baking soda and vinegar mixed together as a soft scrub works fantastically!

Floor Cleaner – Note: (I’m looking at your OCD ass, B) you CANNOT keep a floor sterile.  Unless you autoclave your feet.  Get over it.

• 1 cup vinegar

• 2 gal hot water

Glass Cleaner

• 1 cup rubbing alcohol

• 1 cup water

• 1 tbsp vinegar

Antibacterial Cleaner (All Purpose)

• 4 cups water

• 1 tbsp castile soap

• 1/4-1/2 cup vinegar

• 20 drops tea tree oil or 20 drops lavender

Put in a spray bottle *coughDollarStorecough* and make that bacteria your bitch.

Toilet Bowl Cleaners
1) Baking Soda and Vinegar: Sprinkle baking soda into the bowl, then squirt with vinegar and scour with a toilet brush. Cleans and deodorizes.
2) Borax and Lemon Juice. For removing a stubborn stain, like toilet bowl ring, mix enough borax and lemon juice into a paste cover the ring. Flush toilet to wet the sides, then rub on paste. Let sit for 2 hours and scrub thoroughly. For less stubborn toilet bowl rings, sprinkle baking soda around the rim and scrub with a toilet brush.
3)1 cup borax, 1/2 cup white vinegar. Flush to wet the sides of the bowl. Sprinkle the borax around the toilet bowl, then spray with vinegar. Leave for several hours or overnight before scrubbing with a toilet brush.
4) Denture tablets are an excellent substitute for toilet cleaner. Drop two tablets into the bowl and clean as you would with toilet cleaner.
5) Liquid castile soap and baking soda or Borax, scrub with a toilet brush.

I know what you’re thinking.  Bullshit, Trashy, you’ve been drinking with the goat again.  This crap isn’t going to work.  I don’t know what half of it is!  Well, here’s a handy little list & why, how and what it works on:
BAKING SODA (sodium bicarbonate): An all-purpose, non-toxic cleaner. Cleans, deodorizes, removes stains and softens fabrics.

BORAX (sodium borate): A natural mineral that kills mold and bacteria. An alternative to bleach, it deodorizes, removes stains and boosts the cleaning power of soap. Please note safety precautions at the bottom of this page.

CASTILE and VEGETABLE OIL BASED SOAPS: Cleans everything

CORNSTARCH: Starches clothes, absorbs oil and grease

HERBS and ESSENTIAL OILS: For disinfecting and fragrance

LEMON JUICE: Cuts through grease and removes perspiration and other stains from clothing.A bleach alternative.

SALT (sodium chloride): An abrasive

TOOTHPASTE A mild abrasive

VINEGAR (acetic acid): Cuts grease, removes stains and is an excellent water softener.

WASHING SODA (sodium carbonate): Cleans clothes, softens water, cuts grease and disinfects. Increases the cleaning power of soap.