Playtime!

I have tried several different play dough recipes and have a new favorite!

It's soft and squishy and doesn't dry out fast like the last one I tried.

Play Dough

1 cup flour

1 cup water

1/4 cup salt

2 tsp. cream of tartar

1 Tbls. vegetable oil

food coloring (I used 4-6 drops)

Just dump all the ingredients into your pot and mix.

Put your pot on the stove and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it forms into a still ball.

Remove from heat and dump it onto wax paper.

Wait for it to cool, then knead it a few times until it is nice and soft.

Cleaning Recipes

I tried to make Brooke some of my Laundry Soap Recipe but somehow screwed up. (sorry Brooke, hope you got it figured out).
I thought I would post some of my favorite other cleaning recipes that I like. Brooke has posted some on here previously, I just thought I would add to it. I see recipes online a lot and have tried several. These are my favorite of the ones I've tried.

The first one is not really a recipe. Instead of Rinse Aid I just put vinegar in my rinse aid compartmant in my dishwasher. It really works, I promise you'll never go back. Jet Dry is $3.30 for small bottle. Vinegar $1.42 for one gallon. I've tried two different kinds of Homemade Dishwashing Powder and niether of them worked very well. If you know a good one let me know!

My favorite All-Purpose Cleaner is:

All Purpose Cleaner
1/8 cup Mild Dishwashing soap (Ivory or Palmolive)
2 Tbs. White Vinegar
1 tsp. of Borax
Distilled Water

Mix vinegar and borax. Add 1 cup hot water and stir until disolved. Let cool before pouring into 16 oz. spray bottle. Fill with water, leaving just enough room for the soap. Add soap. You can add 15-20 drops of any essential oil if you like. You can get one that smells good, like lavender. If I add any though I use Tea Tree or Melaluca Oil because it has great cleaning properties.

To clean my microwave I make a 50/50 solution of water and vinegar. I place in a microwave safe bowl with 1 tsp. lemon juice. Place in microwave until it boils for about two or three minutes. You want the steam to go everywhere but don't let your bowl dry out. Turn it off and let it sit for a couple of minutes. Then you can just wipe it clean.

Recipes of the Non-Edible Kind

HOMEADE HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS

Air Freshener:

Dampen cotton balls with oil of winterfreen and place out of sight, but where air will touch them.

Disinfectant/Mildew Remover:

Dilute 3/4 cup chlorine bleach in 1 gallon water.  Apply to tile and grout and scrub; wipe shower stall and curtain; rinse thoroughly.

Fixtures:

to clean stainless steel, chrome, fiberglass, ceramic, porcelain or enamel fixtures, dissolve 2 tbsp. baking soda in 1 quart water.

Floors:

For vinyl floors, damp mop with a solution of 2 tbsp. white vinegar to 1 quart water.  For wood floors with a Swedish or polyurethane finish, use 2 tbsp. white vinegar per gallon of water.

Furniture Oil:

1 cup olive oil

1 tsp. lemon essential oil

Mix well.  Apply with a soft rag.  Wipe & buff well to a gleaming shine.

Kitchen Cleaner:

Just use baking soda on non-scratch surfaces and a vinegar & water mixture on other surfaces.

Rust Stain & Hard Water Deposit Remover:

Apply full-strength vinegar or lemon juice & let stand until spot disappears, then rinse.  Repeat if necessary.

Soap Scum:

Apply baking soda dry, or as a thick paste.  Rub vigorously with a wet sponge, then rinse.

Window Cleaner:

Put 3 tbsp. vinegar per 1 quart of water in a spray bottle.

Shoe Polish:

Use a little olive oil.

Spotless Dishwasher Rinse:

1 cup white vinegar

Add the vinegar to the rinse compartment of your automatic dishwasher.  Be careful not to overfill.  Wash dishes as usual.