.money saving tip: cloth wipes.

Okay, this one is kind of more for the mamas. Although, if you use baby wipes for anything and you're not a mama this is for you too!

Yeah, I'm not one of those fancy schmancy moms with a label machine. I go old school and use a sharpie.

We are currently cloth diapering la bebe so it just kind of made sense to try cloth wipes as well. They easily go in the wash with the diapers so there's no issues there. I will say though, I only use them for wet diapers, not dirty diapers. Perhaps different fabric would work better but I just don't like the material we have for the messier diapers, so I use Huggies wipes as well.

For the cloth wipes though, you just need a few things. I used baby wash cloths in a terry material. You can get these anywhere, Walmart, Target, Babies R Us. I'm pretty sure I got mine at Target and I got two 6 packs. You can get more if you'd like but we have 18 diapers and if I'm only using one wipe for only wet diapers 12 winds up being just right for us.

I kept a leftover Huggies wipe container to store the cloth wipes in but you could store them in anything you choose. I also got a small spray bottle to spray the wipes with the solution, which is as follows.



Cloth Wipe Solution makes roughly 1 cup or enough for 12 wipes
1 cup water
1 tablespoon baby shampoo
1-2 drops tea tree oil
1-2 drops lavender oil
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 tablespoon white vinegar

Add all ingredients to the shaker bottle, shake together, then spray over each wipe individually while placing them in the storage container.

A few notes about the solution. You really don't have to follow it at all. I kind of mix it up and go with the flow all the time. Some people only use water with their cloth wipes but I like at least putting the tea tree oil in because it has anti-fungal properties, good for keeping diaper rash away. Also, if you do buy tea tree oil or lavender oil you will probably be a little sticker shocked. They seem very expensive, but trust me, one small bottle will last forever if you're only using two or three drops per week so it's really not too bad.

XO

.money saving tip: air freshener.

Like many other people, I have recently become completely enamored with Pinterest. When I saw a pin for homemade air freshener I knew I had to try it. I, of course, always smell like roses but with the man's stinky PT clothes, la bebe and her cloth diapers and Wally cat's litter box there were definitely some areas in the house that could use some air freshening.

Cheap, easy, non-toxic, homemade air freshening, at that. I used this little how-to by Kelly at The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking.

I found these adorable little jars on clearance at Kroger. Buy one get one free, woot! You can get canning jars just about anywhere though.

Then you poke some holes in the lid with a hammer and nail, cute little shape optional. Fill the jar 1/4 full of baking soda and 6-8 drops of lavender essential oil, or whatever you scent of choice is. Kelly recommends lavender and I happen to have that on hand for la bebe's wipe solution so that's what I used as well.

Every once in a while give the jar a shake and once every month or two change out the baking soda, as it can go stale.

I really like that this uses only baking soda and essential oil. The baking soda eliminates and absorbs odors, while the oil provides a light scent. Not at all over powering like some air fresheners can be.

I love Kelly's recommendation to use this on carpet and upholstery as well. The house we're in now has all wood floors but this would work great if you have a spot in your carpet or rug that you need to de-stink. Just shake onto the carpet, let sit for a few minutes, then vacuum up!

XO

.money saving tip: hand soap.

Saving money is pretty much a universal desire. Nobody wants to spend more money than necessary. I've been trying to find ways to save, without skimping on quality. One of these ways is by making my own hand soap.

Ignore the fact that my handwriting looks like it says "Hard Soap."

Okay, roll your eyes. Yeah, yeah. I'm such a Suzy Homemaker. 

Really though, it's incredibly easy and saves a bundle. The average 7.5 ounce container of hand soap is around $2.00, depending on where you shop. I can make 256 ounces, two gallons, of hand soap for about $4.25. Put that in your pipe and smoke it. 

For the mathematically challenged, that means I'm saving about $64, or roughly $32 per gallon of soap. 

Do you want to pay over 10 times more for something that you could only spend $4.25 on? I didn't think so. Here's how to make your own hand soap.

Hand Soap makes 128 ounces

1 4-ounce bar of soap. I used Dove Sensitive Skin Unscented with moisturizing cream and bought a 2 pack, hence 256 gallons.

1 gallon of water. 

Shred, grate or chop the bar of soap anyway you would like. I used a paring knife and basically shaved it, which made the pieces flake off perfectly. You could also use a grater though. I just avoid mine at all costs, I hate grating. 

Next, heat a gallon of water in a large pot until steaming, not boiling. Pour the soap flakes into the water and remove from the heat. Let it sit for about 15 minutes then mix well with a whisk or electric mixer. Let the soap sit overnight then remix in the morning and funnel into your soap dispenser(s) and add the remaining soap back into the gallon jug. 

I've seen a lot of other recipes that put additional things into the soap to add fragrance or moisture but I prefer just the plain ol' unscented Dove. You can use any soap you would like though. 

And that, my friends, is how to save $64 with very minimal effort! 

XO