i've cracked the code to refilling those foam-soap pump dispensers you get at bath and body works or other stores like that. even on sale they cost so much! when ours ran out in the kitchen, i remembered vaguely reading you can make your own somehow but couldn't remember the recipe. basically i filled it with water and pumped 2 squirts of regular hand soap. then i shook it. VOILA! same exact stuff!!! haha! i was so proud of myself, it was pathetic! my son just did not get my elation.
anyone else make any silly yet useful discoveries like this? please share!
Moms, we did great! Absolutely love every idea. Working on the foam shampoo pump tonight!! Thanks again, please post more as they come to you.
Vinegar replaces glass cleaner, stain remover, cleans coffee pots, fabric softener, it's just basically really cheap magic.
Used dryer sheets and baking soda are great for cleaning out the bathtub.
Do the same thing with shampoo for your kids. They'll have an easier time getting the foam through their hair, and they'll use a lot less. As a bonus, it rinses out more easily, too.
Yay! Good to know---thanks!
O. thing I do is cut the Magic erasers in half or quarters and the same with SOS pads. Generally you never need the whole thing to scrub the bottom of a pot or something.
I use a big pump bottle for my kids' soap and shampoo. I also have a "pouf" for each of them, because they lather up the soaps SO much better. Only one pump is needed for body, and one pump for hair. It makes the soap last SOOOO much longer, expecially if you have boys that will dump half a bottle of shampoo in their hands if not supervised!
I also put in an automatic thermostat. Being able to regulate the temperature in your home is SUCH a moneysaver! Also, for those of you who do not know...don't turn your thermostat down too far when you're away on cold days...it takes a LOT of energy to reheat the whole house, but less to just hold at a few degrees lower than usual and bring it back up.
I shut the vents in the upstairs and open them all up downstairs in the Winter. Heat rises. It will get up there on its own.
I also bought a small window AC for upstairs in the Summer. It was always ROASTING up there, and downstairs would be freezing. It made a HUGE difference in my energy costs...the little AC is energy star rated and cost me $99 at Lowes. Totally worth it...and my boys are so much more comfortable!
Insulate, insulate, insulate. You can contact your local energy provider and ask for an energy audit. They will send out a pro to your home and tell you where you're losing energy...and make suggestions to improve. Often, the company will offer rebates if you make some of the suggested improvements. I got on my local provider's site (Ameren UE) and found that they'd give me back HUNDREDS for basic improvements...so I'll be putting in some insulation this year. :o)
No one said anything about dryer sheets! I read that you can use one 4x before throwing it away. They suggested cutting a corner off after each use and when all 4 corners are cut, then throw it away. But I didn't like digging for it in the clean clothes so now I just rip it in 4's and throw in 1/4 for each load, that means there are 4 dryer loads done for each sheet! yahoo!!!
I was just looking at my soon to be empty foam dispenser and wondering how it works!! Thanks!!
I just ordered a book (from the school mag. sale) 101 things for vinegar b/c it's cheep AND it's old school - no chemicals, etc. Dying to get started w/ all that can do.
Someone just told me about making your own laundry detergent... it's on the Duggards website. She says it works like a charm so I'm going to try that one next. You make it in BIG batches so it's not like you have to do it every time/very often. I also only put 1/3 of the laundry detergent in washer (front load) b/c it uses 15 vs. 40 gallons of water to wash so it needs SO much less soap.
I've also read that it's the same w/ toothpaste and shampoo ... we only need about 1/2 to 1/3 of the amount that we usually use. I'm going to try the foam pump in the shower too!! Thanks for passing that on ladies!
I have this book my neighbor recommended to me called "Miserly Moms. Living on One income in a two income economy" by Jonni McCoy. she has recipes for stuff from toothpaste to porcelain cleaner. and I love the crafts for kids section. it's an older book, from the 90's.
i love the foam shampoo idea! I have 4the girls, ages 4,6,6 and 8I and they go through some serious shampoo!!!! Toothpaste too, over a tub a month!
