Tammy's Recipes

The weather today: Mid-60's and sunny

The weather tomorrow: Mid-40's and rainy

My clothesline today:

Line-drying my laundry is about more than just fresh air and a lower electric bill.

The damp and chilly forecast for tomorrow was just the motivation I needed to get caught up on my laundry today. Four loads later, the end is in sight!! :)

Have any of you tried using dryer balls? Do you like them? Are they worth buying/using? (Side note: DO NOT order from the site I just linked to! They're way over-priced!)

As an alternative to fabric softener sheets, these plastic balls tumble around in the dryer with your clothes to soften them.

One advantage is that these dryer balls last "forever" and are therefore more frugal than purchasing dryer sheets. They are also much better for your dryer than fabric softener sheets, and are healthier for you than fabric softener.

A friend gave me a pack dryer balls, and I've used them a number of times now. I honestly can't tell a difference in the laundry afterwards! The friend who gave them to me said that she loves hers, and that the dryer balls make her laundry even softer than dryer sheets ever did.

I normally dry laundry in the dryer without any fabric softener sheets, which is healthier and simpler, anyway. My laundry doesn't get static from drying in the dryer, which I think is because we wear mostly 100% cotton fabrics. (That's just my theory!)

Of course, the real frugal thing to do is to line-dry your laundry. Regular readers here already know how much I love my clothesline!

For other frugal tips, visit Frugal Fridays! :)

Our house was overrun with laundry! I went around and took pictures of it all, for fun! Here is a load on the couch, waiting to be folded...

A tall stack of shirts on the piano... mostly new ones that I got at a recent thrift store sale.

Folded laundry from outside. I folded this while the boys were playing! :)

A load of diapers, tossed into Ruth's crib (she sleeps with me, anyway).

And, there was a load hanging on my clothesline, too!

After I took these pictures, I got busy and got it ALL taken care of. What a relief! Our house looks so much better now. :)

Want some more inspiration to stop procrastinating? Head over to Mrs. Byers' blog! :D 

Even though it's still cold here in our part of Ohio, I'm getting anxious to start using my outdoor clothesline again! :) Here are a couple of questions I received about laundry detergent:

Do you still make your detergent? I'm trying to be careful with money. I've been buying Purex, Xtra or Sun, but then I feel compelled to also use Arm and Hammer super washing soda. I don't know if I should just bite the bullet and buy expensive detergent. Could you tell me your opinion? I also wash in cold water. That's one reason I think I need an extra additive.

Yes, I do still make my own detergent, though I haven't made any since Ruth was born. I'm presently using some Arm and Hammer detergent that was given to us, and I also have some packets of Tide free samples to use.

In the past, I've used all of the brands you mentioned and liked them just fine! As far as needing an additive -- well, I think that depends on just how dirty your clothing is. Our laundry really does come clean without additives, though I occasionally use a little bleach on our whites (maybe once every 3 months or so).

I think sometimes we tend to want to add more soap, more boosters, more stuff to our washers because it makes us feel better, and not because it's necessary. I especially found this to be the case with me and my cloth diapers, which only need an amazingly tiny amount of detergent. :)

And, from personal experience, the Washing Soda can be rather harsh on fabrics. You're probably not sprinkling it directly on your laundry, but still be careful. :) I use is sparingly -- like I do with bleach. :)

Lori also emailed me asking:

I read your idea on just using borax and washing soda for your laundry soap. I have a question for you on how you made it since this is the first time I am venturing into the homemade soap field. Did you use boiling water to dissolve the powder or just regular water hot water? How have the long term results of this have been?

I did heat my water on the stove, since our hot tap water isn't extremely hot. Some people don't even dissolve their borax, grated bar soap, and washing soda before using -- they just sprinkle it in the washer. I haven't tried that myself, since I often use cold water for laundry.

I haven't done anything scientific, and I also haven't used exclusively homemade detergent for a long period of time, so I hesitate to comment on long-term results. I honestly think I like store-bought detergent better than my homemade, even if just for the scent. ;) I make my own detergent to save money. :)

I've been making the most of this hot, summer-like October weather by hanging out lots of laundry. Today I washed up a few big things for the new baby (like the bumper pad for the crib, which is annoying BUT keeps a newborn safe(r) from toddler fingers!) and tomorrow, if I'm energetic enough, I'm hoping to wash bedding. :)

When it's not too hot or too cold outside, I love to fold the laundry into the basket as I take it down. It gives the children extra time to play outside, and keeps wrinkles to a very minimum. And it helps keep piles of unfolded laundry off our couch. ;)

Anyway, I've been meaning to write about altering the homemade laundry soap recipe I use. (Read more!)

I received this question from Tania:

I was interested in making the cleaning supplies (I'm guessing you mean the homemade scouring powder! ) and detergent, but came accross these articles about Borax.  Just wondering what you thought.  It this still safer than store bought cleaning supplies?

Hi, Tania! :)

First, let me say that borax is toxic, and shouldn't be stored where children have access! Just because it's "natural" doesn't make it non-toxic, or as safe as something like baking soda. :) So be sure to read the box and use care when handling borax. :)

Second, now, I agree that the page you sent me a link for makes borax sound rather dangerous! Do I think it's safer than using Comet to cour my sinks? Yes, because in my experience, the bleach in commercial scouring powders is just as dangerous (or more dangerous... just Google that one too! ) and I had difficulty getting my sink/shower completely rinsed after scouring with Comet. I would rinse and rinse and rinse, but there was still gritty, bleach-smelling residue. My homemade scouring powder rinses easily and I don't feel as though it lingers like the commercial scouring powder did.

If you want a safer scouring powder, you could always try just baking soda and salt! Or, purchase some sort of all-natural one if you live near a health-food store. :)

About using borax in laundry detergent -- laundry detergent from the grocery store should be stored away from children and has warnings about possible eye and skin irritations. Treat your homemade laundry soap in the same way! :)

To be honest, I am not any expert on borax and its safety. :) However, I've found that many, many ingredients in household products have questionable levels of safety. (Just Google for information about triclosan, sodium laurel sulfate, talc, etc.)

It's my personal opinion that something like my homemade scouring powder (borax, salt, and baking soda) is better for us than using the commercial scouring powders that I have used in the past. :) But definitely, do your own research, and come up with a solution that you feel is best for your home and family! :)

Remember this post, about putting white clothes on the grass to whiten them from the oxygen output?

Well, I've been trying it! And, while I wouldn't say that grass has some magical bleaching power, I do think that continuous drying of whites on the grass makes them whiter. Avoid the dandelion flowers, of course. Unless you want yellow stains, too. ;)

The first time I put my whites out like this, I told Yehoshua (3) not to mess with them, because this was an experiment. Now, every time he sees laundry on the grass, he says, "Is that a 'spearmint', Mom?" :)

Has anyone else tried this yet? Those of us without dogs, who have sunny and not-too-breezy days... ;)

Stephanie wrote to me and asked,

I SO appreciate your blog; I'm subscribed to it and stay as caught up as possible.  Found your post from last year about line-drying clothes, and I had a quick question about it.  

I have a couple lines set up in our basement to line-dry clothes (not a lot of room outside), but I can't seem to figure out how to avoid getting the "clothespin pucker," especially on shirts (knit/cotton).  I hang them upside down like you do, but I get almost a scalloped edge along the bottom!  Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks for any help you can give me! :-)

Hi, Stephanie! Thanks for writing! I'm happy to write about what we do. :)

I hang our t-shirts outside by just two clothespins -- one on each side. There is usually a small fold at each side, where the clothespin was holding it. I think the breeze helps with wrinkles, though.

Indoors, I use a wooden clothes drying rack. I hang shirts over the rod, basically folded in the middle, and there are no wrinkles or indentions, since there are no clothes pins.

In my experience, clothing hung indoors using clothespins tends to be more wrinkled than clothes hung indoors using a wooden dowel rack.

I think the wooden racks are fairly affordable, and one of those would probably solve the scalloped-shirt issue. :) I wish I had an even more frugal no-wrinkle solution for you!

Do any of you readers have other ideas for Stephanie to try? :)

Robin wrote to me and asked,

In your post on housekeeping, you mentioned that you do full loads of laundry, and you also said that you wash cloth diapers 2-3 times per week. Do you have full loads of diapers 2-3 times per week, or do you wash small loads? I am new to cloth diapering, and I am unsure what to do. I only have one child in diapers, so if I wait until I have a pretty full load, it will be at least a week, and the diapers will be very smelly. But, I don't like to do too many small loads because of the waste in running the washer for a small load. Can you tell me what you do?

Hi, Robin! Thanks for asking! I do usually have a full load of diapers after 3 days. I'm sure it depends on how frequently the baby/child needs changed, and my boys have always needed changed frequently. :)

When I had two in diapers, I had a completely full load every 2 days. Since we observe a day of rest each week (Sabbath), I washed diapers 4 times a week -- usually including both Thursday and Friday, even though I didn't have a full load on Friday. That way, I didn't have to wash them on Sabbath and I didn't run out of clean diapers.

I don't like to wait longer than 3 days simply because of the smell. Another thing I take into consideration is the weather. I prefer line-drying my diapers since the sun keeps them so fresh. If I have to do a slightly smaller load on one day, because rain is predicted for the next day, I usually go ahead and wash.

I try to conserve water, etc. but I guess using cloth diapers and hanging them out to dry is saving money, even if I have to wash a smaller load every week. I love cloth diapers, anyway, and my youngest gets a rash from disposables, so I guess I don't really have a choice, either. :)

Robolepa wrote to me and said: 

My grandmother was an Italian immigrant. When she would hang the laundry out to dry she would only hang up the darks. The whites she would lay on the grass in the sun. She said the sun shining on the grass released oxygen, which in turn removed stains. Her whites were always whiter than white, and you can't argue with her reasoning. Have you ever heard of this before?

No, I haven't heard of that before! I would be afraid that my grass isn't clean enough, but maybe this summer when the lawn is thick (and it hasn't been freshly mowed!) I'll try it on my cloth diapers. :)

Here is a handy "gadget" that has saved us a lot of money through our frugal years. (We're still in them, by the way.) This folding wooden clothes rack was a bridal shower gift, and it stands in our living room all winter (and often in the spring and fall, as well!).

Unlike many of the things I thought I "needed" when we got married, this clothes rack has been used countless times. If our heat is blowing, there is likely clothes drying over the vent. Not only does it save dryer costs, it puts much-needed moisture in the air!

During the coldest months, a load dries in less than 24 hours. In the spring or fall, when the heat isn't used as much, the clothes takes about 24 hours to dry. Longer than 24 hours concerns me, because of mold. Thankfully, if the clothes would take that long to dry in the house, it usually means it's a nice day outside, and I can use my clothesline!

I do prefer my outdoor clothesline. It's nice to be able to wash several loads in one day, and bring in soft, sun-kissed clothes or diapers. But for me, this wooden rack is a winter-time must-have!

Do note that your location, humidity, and outdoor temperatures will determine how well this will work for you!

For more: See Jennifer's page about drying her clothes indoors!

Dawn wrote,

It's one of my New Year's resolutions to be better at housework and that means decluttering. I am not the problem but my husband has papers scattered through out the house of his drawings that he draws or articles. I don't know how many times I pick them up into a neat pile and the next day everything is scattered all over! He does the same thing with clothes! It's like telling a child to not throw their clothing on the floor cuz it's still clean! LOL Goodness! ;-) I still love him though.. ;-)

Dawn, I just want to encourage you in your quest for tidiness. :)

When Joshua and I were first married, he would (daily) throw his dirty clothes on the bedroom floor. When I went to tidy up the room, I had to pick up the clothes (and turn all his socks right-side-out before laundering them!) and put them in the basket. I really resented what to me was just plain thoughtlessness and laziness!

Then I read in a book (can't remember what one) that I needed to just forget about it. So every day when I picked up the clothes, I put them in the basket and told myself that I was forgetting I ever did it! The day moved along, and I stopped feeling resentful about it. It took me just a few seconds to pick up the clothes. I wasn't going to let that little bit of time ruin my whole day or turn into a complaint!

At some point, I decided to put a laundry basket right beside where the clothes always seemed to land. Then they started landing in the laundry basket. Yay!

One time, I re-arranged our bedroom, and I moved the basket. The next day, the clothes ended up on the floor, right where the basket used to be! After a few days of that, I moved the basket back.

I tend to be a perfectionist, and Joshua tends to not even notice the smaller details, like inside-out socks or an over-flowing trash can. When I maintain a cheerful attitude and practice a little "forgetting", we complement each other just perfectly!

And sometimes, eventually, one or both of us changes... and the annoying habits disappear. For the record, Joshua now turns his socks right-side-out and puts them in the laundry basket. He says that I nicely asked him to and he had no idea that they shouldn't be left inside-out. Joshua also says that "disappearing" baskets make it harder to comply.

Carey wrote,

"I wanted to thank you for all of your posting on line drying clothes for me! It has been very helpful. I also made a more concentrated version of "the homemade laundry detergent" and I'm having trouble with it not washing out fat based stains on my boys' shirts. Have you noticed this, do you have to do a lot of pretreating?"

Read more for my reply!

"Also, I tried the chicken and stuffing recipe over the weekend with leftover turkey from Thanksgiving and it turned out wonderful! It was so easy to put together, and I loved being able to just pull it out of the fridge the next day and pop it in the oven! I tried to review it on your site and couldn't figure out how to do it."

Carey, I'm so glad you liked the chicken and stuffing casserole! Thanks for asking about leaving a review of the recipe! It's very simple to do (as simple as leaving a comment on the website) but it requires a username and password. The "About" page on this website contains detailed instructions for reviewing a recipe!

A couple weeks ago, Carey wrote to me and asked:

I was wondering if you could talk a little bit more about line drying your clothes. I am just beginning to do this and I'm sure there are more efficient ways than I am using. Do you line dry through the winter as well?

Hanging my laundry outside to dry is something I really enjoy doing! It's such a great "excuse" for me to take the children outside for some fresh air, even when the weather is chilly. Sometimes when I am busy with all the work in the house, I think, "Oh, I should just throw the laundry in the dryer; I don't have time to take the children out and hang it up."

Frugality almost always wins, and I find myself out at the clothesline, breathing fresh air and hearing Yehoshua (2) laugh and play. Somehow, being outside, peacefully hanging up clothes, helps me forget about all the work that waits back in the house. And quite often Yehoshua and I stay out there playing, even after the clothes is all hung. ;)

So, here are all the details on exactly how I line-dry our laundry! Thanks for asking, Carey! :)

Through a series of links, I was directed to a web page all about making homemade laundry soap! I made a batch the next day, and have been using it for a few weeks now. Read more for my recipe and review of my homemade laundry soap!

A number of people have emailed me with questions regarding my cloth diapering method. (I had written an article about it a couple years ago.) I am certainly not a cloth-diaper-expert, but I have used cloth diapers for over 2 years now, with good success. My diapers are clean and white and fresh-smelling, and my children have been rash-free and dry (well, most of the time ;D). So if you're one of the ones who wanted more details, or if cloth diapers interest you, read on!