Homemade Disinfectant/Baby Wipes

Last night we gathered at the ward kitchen to make homemade disinfectant wipes and baby wipes.

Here is a tutorial  for those of you who missed a great evening:

You just need a roll of sturdy Paper Towels your favorite Disinfectant Cleaner and some sort of Container (if you have an old storebought wipes container, PERFECT!) In the picture below, I used "Brawny", but I have found better towels that are industrial strength. They "Scott Xtreme Shop Towels". They are blue and found in the paint dept at Home Depot for about $1.98 per roll.

You simply cut your roll of paper towel in half...a serrated knife works best. Then mix 2 Cups of water with 2 Tablespoons of your disinfectant (more if you want) and pour over the half roll. It is best to really soak the center core as you will need to remove it. Turn it over and soak the other side. If you have extra liquid, that's a good thing. The towels will soak it all up!

Pull out the center...

Put in your container...also, you can use a Tupperware type container. You might have to "squish" it in, but it will still work.

That's it!

Baby Wipes:

2 Cups Water

2 Tbs Baby Shampoo

2Tbs. baby Oil

**Any sturdy paper towels will work. The blue industrial wipes only have 50 sheets, but they are SO much more durable so you ultimately use less. The roll is thinner than the regular Bounty/Brawny types which makes them fit into an old wipes container much easier...

Your total cost per container of wipes is approximately $1.05. I bought my Baby Shampoo and Baby Oil at the Dollar Store when I was in SLC so it works out to be the same or less than the Disinfectant Wipes by just pennies.

Homemade Laundry Soap Recipe

We had a wonderful time making Homemade Laundry Soap for PENNIES last month. Here are the recipes for both the LIQUID and POWDERED Laundry Soaps:

LIQUID LAUNDRY SOAP:

• 1/3 Bar of Fels Naptha Soap
• 1/2 Cup of 20 Mule Team Borax
• 1/2 Cup of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda

You will also need a 2 gallon bucket or larger and some sort of grater (a cheese grater or food processor is great)

Fels Naptha: This is an old fashioned soap found in the laundry aisle. It is in bar form
20 Mule Team Borax: Borax is a natural occuring mineral, Sodium Borate. It is also a white powder and its purpose is as a laundry whitener and a deodorizer.
Arm & Hammer Washing Soda: This is NOT baking soda. Washing Soda is "Sodium Carbonate" or "Soda Ash". Washing Soda is a white powder and its purpose is to remove dirt and odors.

**All of these ingredients can be found in the Laundry Aisle**

Grate the soap and put it into a pot. Add 6 Cups of Water and heat over med heat until soap melts, stirring often. It's best if you grate the soap very finely, it will melt faster. Then add the Borax and the Washing Soda. Remove from heat when it is all dissolved.

Pour 4 Cups of Water into your bucket. Now add your soap mixture and stir. Then add 1 gallon + 6 Cups of water (22 Cups total) and stir. Let the mixture sit for at least 24 hours.

**A few things to note about the soap**

This picture was taken after it has set for 24 hours and after it has been stirred..unstirred, it is more gelled on top...

The soap will not be a solid gel. It will be a gel on the surface. It has an "Egg Noodle Soup" look but once you give it a good stir, it becomes more watery...this is fine.

Also, it is a low sudsing soap. This is OK as suds are NOT what do the cleaning, it's the ingredients in the soap.

OPTIONS: If you want fragrance, you can add 1 oz. of your favorite essectial oil. The most popular are Lemon or orange. Lavender is nice as well.

You will only need between 1/3 - 1/2 Cup per load depending on the size of the load.

Cost Breakdown:

Keep in mind that you are making approximately 2 gallons of soap which will give you enough to do about 64 loads of laundry.

1 Bar Fels Naptha $1.59

1 Box of Borax $4.99

1 Box Washing Soda $3.19

When you break it all down proportionately,  the cost is between .77-.99 cents per gallon!

**Note, if you have a front loader washer, you may only need between 1/4 - 1/3 Cup per load, even MORE savings!

POWDERED RECIPE:

• 
  
  1 Bar Fels Naptha Soap, grated very finely (food processor works best)
• 
  
  1/2 Cup 20 Mule Team Borax
• 
  
  1/2 Cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda

Mix all ingredients together. You only need 1 TBS (yes, that's really true!!) per load. This makes approx. a 6 month supply. I doubled mine and am good for a year. You can buy extra bars of the Fels Naptha and keep it in your food supply along with the Borax and Washing Soda and you will be set for Laundry Soap for a LONG time!

Also, if you use 1/4 - 1/2 Cup of White Distilled Vinegar per load instead of expensive Fabric Softeners, you will have less static build up and it rinses your clothes amazingly well...you will not smell the vinegar when it's done...I promise!!

Beautiful Quotes

Sister Anna Heimburger gave a beautiful lesson on Elder L Tom Perry's talk titled "The Past Way of Facing the Future - The lessons of the past... prepare us to face the challenges of the future." If you haven't read this talk it is wonderful.
Here are some beautiful quotes that she used in her lesson
1.
Learn the past
Watch the present
Create the future
2. You can't change the past, but you can ruin the present by worrying about the future.
3.
The past is behind, learn from it.
The future is ahead, prepare for it.
The present it here, live it.
4.
The Will of God never takes you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.
5.
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain.
6.
Many folks want to serve God, But only as advisers
7.
If God is your Co-pilot, swap seats!
8.
The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.
9.
Don't let your worries get the best of you; Remember, Moses started out as a basket case.
10.
It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.
11.
Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on the front door forever.
12.
When you get to your wit's end, You'll find God lives there.
13.
Prayer: Don't give God instructions, just reports for duty!
14.
God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.
15.
Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.
16.
God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
17.
Don't put a question mark where God put a period.
18.
You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage him.

Swiss Bread

Sisters, just a reminder that we will be making Swiss Bread this Saturday, April 10 at 8:00 AM over at the cannery. This is always a great time. Each loaf is $1.50...where can you get bread for $1.50 a loaf these days?? Please contact Chalise Provost or Shauna Kohler if you haven't signed up yet. See you there!

Ward Auction

Sisters, don't forget about the Ward Auction tonight at 6:30 PM. This will be held at our old building. If you signed up to bring a dessert, please remember to do so...if you haven't signed up, you can still bring one! See you there!!

Swiss Bread Recipe

A lot of sisters have been asking for the Swiss Bread Recipe. Here it is:

3 c scalded milk or 1 c powdered milk to 3 c water
3/4 c sugar
6 eggs
3/4 c oil
4 1/2 tsp salt
3 tbsp yeast in 3/4 c warm water
11-12 c flour

Combine yeast and warm water and let sit for 5 minutes. Add milk, eggs, sugar, oil, and salt. Add flour a little at a time until dough reaches consistency of stiff roll dough. Dough may be a little sticky. Knead for 8 minutes. Let dough rest for 10 minutes. Then put in greased bread pan and let raise. Bake 30-35 minutes at 350 degrees. makes 4 loaves

Celebration of Relief Society

Just a reminder that the celebration of Relief Society is tomorrow night - Tues March 16th at 6:30 at the church. Dinner will be served and there is a nursery.
Also Stake Conference is this weekend. Sat night mar 20 at 7:00pm and Sunday morning at 10:00am. The Sunday morning session will be broadcast at the old church.
Also March 25th is the Ward Auction at 6:30 at our old church building. The Relief Society is in charge of bringing desserts so if you could please email Dawnelle if you will bring a dessert, if not we will be calling you.
There will be no Home Improvement meeting this month