Made It (sort of): Wool Dryer Ball

I cannot BELIEVE I'm writing this now, as I have a ton of stuff to do tomorrow and should really go to bed, but I've been totally neglecting the blog, and and and and AND.

Several months ago I was given the suggestion to make some felted wool dryer balls.  I've never been one for fancy washing routine, and since I haven't ever used something like dryer sheets, I figured a dryer ball would be just as unnecessary.  Who cares about static?  However, I have since learned that dryer balls do not just reduce static in your laundry, they bounce around in there with your clothes and loosen everything up, helping to shorten the time needed to dry your clothes.

SO.  I decided to try to make one of my own.  I know that wool yarn can be expensive in stores - heck, even a nice poly blend can be expensive.  I sure as shootin' wasn't going to go to a fancy yarn store to get my supplies for this project.  So I combed the thrift shops to the best of my ability.  The funny thing about yarn though, is that people often call any kind of yarn "wool."  Even if it's polyester.  And since thrift store yarn is often wrapped and you can't feel it, it's hard to tell just exactly what it's made of.  However, I did remember that Dave's Christmas present was made of awfully scratchy cream coloured yarn - most likely wool - and I had quite a bit left over.

So I followed the instructions (basically just wind your wool into a tight ball about 1.5 " then wash inside a sock, then add more to be about 3 " in diameter, wash in a sock again until it's felted).

I generally don't wash in hot water and dry in the dryer, especially as the weather is getting nicer for outdoor drying, so I may have cut the last couple steps short.  When I washed my diapers this afternoon (a grey and rainy day) I rejoiced at the chance to use my wonderful new dryer ball!  But this is what came out of the washing machine:

I believe I uttered the words "laundry disaster."

Lesson learned.  Follow the instructions until the project is finished.  Luckily, this was only the outer layer, so I may still be able to salvage my dryer ball .

Made It: Cloth Baby Wipes

I just did this!  So, so easy!  Really, the most difficult part and the reason that I was procrastinating this whole project was digging around in our tiny storage area to find our baby washcloths.  I had put away all the "baby" stuff and when we moved here it got shoved to the back of the closet/crawlspace.

I basically just did exactly what this lady suggested, minus the tea tree oil.  I may try that if I end up getting some in the future, but for now, we make do!  Also, the feminist breeder has a pop-up method, but mine are already rolled.  Next time!

Got a bunch of baby washcloths?  Got a disposable wipes container?  Vinegar?  Water???  You too can have your very own cloth baby wipes, minus all the nasty chemicals in conventional wipes! The thing that makes this project so gosh-darned sensible is that we're already using cloth diapers.  Now with the cloth wipes, we just stick everything in the diaper pail together, instead of sorting out the disposable wipe for garbage. 

(image taken from www.cubitsorganics.com)

Green Cleaning - Carpet Edition

I'm new to this whole carpet thing.  We lived for nearly 8 years carpet-free.  But now that we're in a basement suite (I just can't sugarcoat it!) and it's winter, I'm beginning to enjoy the perks of having some carpet.  It's warm.  It doesn't hurt your knees when you crawl-chase a toddler from one end of the house to the other.  It's kind of nice to lay down on.  Somehow (and I'm worried that this is because the carpet is a heck of a lot dirtier than it seems) the dirt does not seem to track all over the house the way it does when you have all hardwood and tile. 

But the downside to carpet is the stains.  Especially when your carpet is the colour of oatmeal.  Everything shows up!  Add 2 clumsy people, a toddler, and 2 cats, one of which is a habitual vomiter, and you have a recipe for disaster. 

Not to fear my friends!  I have discovered an aMAZing carpet stain remover:  WATER.  It's seriously amazing.  And no weird chemicals!

Seriously.  All in just 5 easy steps:

1) get any "bulky" materials off the carpet.  Gross.

2) blot the stain with a terrycloth towel (No scrubbing though!  This will work the stain deeper into the fibers)

3) wet the stain (I like to use a spray bottle with plain water)

4) blot the stain with a terrycloth towel

5) repeat steps 3&4 until the stain is gone. 

Try it.  I DARE you.  If it doesn't work, you can always try whatever other chemical-laden stain remover  you were already using.  I also have this pink solution stuff, but have yet to try it, since the water method works so well!

Week 2: Laundry Powder

(January 10, 2011)

As per my weird ingredients issue, I decided to make some laundry powder, a la Soulemama.

I've since learned that the best time and place for photographs in this small and dark house are just after noon in the living room perched on something high like the ironing board.  Definitely not in the windowless laundry room at night with ugly flash.  Apologies. 

cost breakdown:  this works out to approximately $0.16 per load.  Regular detergents run about $0.70 per load.  I could probably make it cheaper by using a less expensive soap, but this Dr. Bronner's peppermint stuff is quite lovely.