Experiments in Soap Making

It seems that I am always experimenting with something or other. I am always trying to learn how to make things, be it food, cleaning products, hygiene products, or more obscure (weird?) items. Last summer, I decided to try my hand at soap making. I made plain, unscented soap for bathing and some lard-based soap (scented) to use in my homemade laundry soap. I was pretty pleased with those batches. The bars don't look great, but they work! :-)

Since then, I have wanted to try to make my own dish soap and shampoo. We used the unscented bath soap bar to wash our hair for a few days when we ran out of shampoo. That actually worked really well. I had to use apple cider vinegar as a kind of conditioner for my hair with this method. I put it in a spray bottle, sprayed it on my hair in the shower, and rinsed it out.

Since we are used to liquid shampoos with scents, I tried to convert my laundry soap bars into liquid for that purpose without much success. The unscented bath bars suds up more, and we really do like the suds for our hair even if they aren't necessary.  I also tried the liquid for dishes, but I didn't really like it.

I finally ordered potassium hydroxide to make liquid soap, my latest experiment. I am quite a ways into my first batch as I type. Liquid soap is definitely more time-consuming than bar soap! I'll let you know how it turns out when I'm finished.

In the meantime, I thought I would share some soap-making links in case anyone is interested. These are all cold process soap links (cold process soap has to cure for several weeks to neutralize the lye before it is ready for use). I will add liquid soap making links to my liquid soap post.

• Homestead Crafts at The Family Homestead (scroll down for the soap making info): I was first inspired to try making soap by reading about it at The Family Homestead. I used Crystal's Simple Soap Recipe for the bath soap and Crystal's Lard Soap for Laundry (same page, last recipe). I added about 1 ounce of lavender essential oil to the laundry soap.
• down to earth has a really helpful soap tutorial with pictures.
• Miller's Homemade Soap Pages is *the* place to go for cold-pressed soap making information! I used Kathy Miller's Soap Classic recipe for my latest batch of cold-pressed soap with orange blossom and lavender essential oils  (the kids begged me for a scented bath soap). That will be curing for a few weeks, so we haven't used it yet. It smells great, though.
• Grandpappy's Homemade Soap Recipe: This is how they made soap in the "old days." The recipe includes instructions for making your own lye and rendering your own animal fat.

A Helpful Homemaking Website

I get so excited when I rediscover helpful websites that I've forgotten about! I wanted to link to a chicken tetrazzini recipe on my Menu Plan Monday post this week, but I had to find the recipe again; it was one that I had printed out some time ago and put in my recipe binder. I forgot how much information was at The Family Homestead! There is more information than I remember seeing when I first came across it. I have since come across it looking for laundry soap recipes, but I didn't realize it was the same website.

The Homestead Kitchen contains information on feeding your family nutritiously, as well as several recipes and helpful tips.

One of the highlights of the Homemaking and Home Management section is a homemade laundry soap recipe and a pictorial tutorial. I compared the cost of several laundry soap recipes and this is one of the least expensive. I am currently using a similar recipe that I adapted a bit, but I'll blog about that another time. You will also find spring cleaning and other home organization tips from this mother of eight.

Homestead Crafts includes bath & body, soap and soy candle recipes. The soap tutorials look very helpful, although I don't think I'm up for that yet! :-)

Crystal Miller, owner of The Family Homestead site, also blogs at Homemaking on the Homestead, where she shares weekly menu plans, recipes, bulk cooking tips, etc.

Enjoy!

HomeschoolBlogger Comments
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Apr. 9, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by BChsMamaof3

This looks like a super website! Thanks so much for sharing it with us and I wanted to let you know that I have been really enjoying reading your education week entries to :) They are wonderful. Have a wonderful evening,
Rosina

Frugal Cooking Site

Have you ever been to the Hillbilly Housewife website? The site has tons of ideas and recipes for frugal, home-cooked meals. Some of the recipes would need to be adapted if you are very health-conscious, but the site is invaluable for help and encouragement for low-budget homemade cooking. There is a new Frugal Holiday Recipes section that is definitely worth checking out.

Other highlights include the Emergency $45 Menu and Emergency $70 Menu; Magic Milk Shakes; Homemade Convenience Foods; and Beginner's Bread.

The site's previous owner also has a site called An Old-Fashioned Education, which is a free Charlotte Mason style curriculum.

Enjoy!

Old Fashioned Living Website

I was looking for a scone recipe a few weeks ago and found a great site called "Old Fashioned Living." Since then I have come across this site searching for a couple of other unrelated things - today I was looking for a butternut squash recipe. Many of you are probably already familiar with this website, but I'm sharing it just in case since I keep coming across it!

The Tea Time section alone is well worth the time to go through (and I haven't been through all of it yet). You will find recipes, ideas for themed tea parties, and even tea quotes and poems.

Other sections include Old Fashioned Holidays, The Garden Path, The Crafter's Attic, Home and Hearth, Old Fashioned Kitchen, and more.

Enjoy!

Monthly Chores

This post will cover most of our monthly chores.  The chore lists are still works in progress; I will be editing the chore posts and bumping them to the top as we progress.  For now, you can see my Scheduling Chores post for an explanation of how I implement our chore schedule.  I will give an updated explanation of this once I get all of the actual chores up.  Also look for my evaluations on our progress.

Scheduling Chores
Daily Chores
Weekly Chores

1^st Full Week of Month

Bathrooms:

dust top of cabinet and curtain rods dust ceiling and walls wipe down walls shake out rugs wash counter, sinks, toilets scrub tub scrub shower walls wash light switch covers and door handles

wash windows and mirrors wash shower curtain and change liner wash curtains empty garbage vacuum floors scrub floors fill soap dispensers put everything back, including rugs

Back Entry:

dust walls, ceilings, coat rack sweep stairs wash walls mop stairs & back entry floor

Bedrooms:

Straighten, declutter, and wipe down:

• tops of dressers


• window sills


• shelves

2^nd Full Week of Month

Kitchen:

do weekly chores dust top of cupboards, fridge, pantry vacuum/mop under fridge/stove wipe down walls

clean oven wash curtains wash windows refill soapdispenser

Entertainment Area (in basement):

declutter straighten up (everything in its place) dust thoroughly vacuum thoroughly (including ceiling, divider walls & under furniture)

Bedrooms:

dust ceiling, walls, fan/light bulb area (turn off first!) straighten drawers wash windows dust top of door and wipe down

3^rd Full Week of Month

Family Room:

straighten up (everything in its place) dust tops of curtain rods, ceilings, walls dust with cloth (move objects & dust underneath) wash light switch covers & doorwall handle

wash dog bed wash all windows vacuum (underneath all furniture except bookshelves) wash fireplace hearth & windows wash baseboards mop

Library/Hallway:

straighten up (everything in its place) shake mat (rug) outside dust with cloth (move objects & dust underneath) dust ceiling, walls, inside front door wash light switch covers & door handle

wash front door wash all windows vacuum (underneath all furniture except bookshelves) wash baseboards mop entryway mop wood floors with wood floor cleaner

Bedrooms:

clean under beds clean under dressers pick up/put away everything on floors vacuum & mop floors (wood floor cleaner)

4^th Full Week of Month

Basement (pick one area - craft or laundry - and cycle each month):

declutter straighten up (everything in its place) dust thoroughly vacuum thoroughly (including ceiling)

Bedrooms:

straighten & declutter closets, including floors

Extra Days Not in Full Weeks

Office (mom):

declutter one area straighten up (everything in its place) dust thoroughly vacuum thoroughly (including ceiling)

Menus 4 Moms

I always have a difficult time getting meals on the table in the summer.  Cooking doesn't come naturally to me; I am just beginning to feel comfortable throwing things together without a recipe after almost 15 years of marriage.  I finally have a routine established for the cooler months, but I don't do well during the summer yet.  Half of the battle for me is knowing what I am going to make.  The other half is making the grocery list and getting to the grocery store regularly! 

I discovered Menus 4 Moms last year.  I didn't use it much, but with the school year and fall commitments beginning, I decided to try it again.  Menus 4 Moms is a way for me to have a plan (and grocery list) ahead of time for at least 5 days of the week.  Overall, it works well for me, especially during those really busy seasons.

I just have to remember to try it next summer; maybe I'll do better come feeding time!

In Him,
~ Andrea

Weekly Chores

This post will cover most of our weekly chores.  The day for this is currently Thursday, but that might change.  The chore lists are still works in progress.  I will be editing the chore posts and bumping them to the top as we progress.  For now, you can see my Scheduling Chores post for an explanation of how I implement our chore schedule.  I will give an updated explanation of this once I get all of the actual chores up.  Also look for my evaluations on our progress.

Scheduling Chores
Daily Chores
Monthly Chores

Weekly Chores

Bathrooms (9dd & 7dd)

• dust top of cabinets and curtain rods
  


• wash counter and sinks


• wash outside of toilets and scrub inside


• scrub tub


• wash light switch covers and door handles


• wash windows and mirrors (with mom's help)


• shake out rugs


• empty garbage
  


• vacuum floors


• mop floors


• put away cleaning products


• put everything back in bathrooms (don't forget the rugs)
  

Family Room (12ds)

• straighten up (everything in its place)


• dust with cloth (top to bottom)


• vacuum floor, including underneath chairs and behind small bookshelf by door-wall


• wash door-wall windows


• wash dog beds
  


• mop

Library/Hallway (10ds)

• straighten up (everything in its place)


• dust with cloth (top to bottom)


• vacuum floor, moving light furniture and vacuuming underneath


• wash front door window


• wash light switch cover and door handle


• shake mat (rug) outside
  

Bedrooms (All)

• make beds


• throw dirty clothes down chute


• put clean clothes away


• straighten up (everything in its place)


• sweep or vacuum floor


• wash doorknobs and light switch covers
  

Kitchen (Mom)

• straighten counter (everything in its place)
  


• wipe counter


• scrub sink


• wash window
  


• wipe down inside refrigerator
  


• feather dust fan


• dust shelves
  


• vacuum floor
  


• mop floor
  

Daily Chores

This post will cover most of our daily chores.  It is still a work in progress.  I will be editing the chore posts and bumping them to the top as we progress.  For now, you can see my Scheduling Chores post for an explanation of how I implement our chore schedule.  I will give an updated explanation of this once I get all of the actual chores up.  Also look for my evaluations on our progress.

Scheduling Chores
Weekly Chores
Monthly Chores

Daily Chores

Bathrooms (9dd & 7dd)

• wipe down counter, sinks, toilets in both bathrooms


• swiff full bathroom and sweep half bathroom


• empty garbage in both bathrooms
  

Family Room (12ds)

• straighten up (everything in its place)


• feather dust (top to bottom)


• vacuum M, Th, S; sweep T, W, F


• damp mop

Library/Hallway (10ds)

• straighten up (everything in its place)


• feather dust (top to bottom)


• vacuum M, Th, S; swiff T, W, F

Bedrooms (All)

• make beds


• throw dirty clothes down chute


• put clean clothes away


• straighten up (everything in its place)

Kitchen (Mom)

• straighten counter (everything in its place)


• wipe counter


• scrub sink


• wipe one cupboard door & drawer


• vacuum M, Th, S; sweep T, W, F


• damp mop

Mealtimes

Before Meals

• set the table (9dd & 7dd)


• get drinks (9dd)


• lay out napkins (9dd & 7dd)

After Meals (work as a team)

• scrape plates, put dishes in sink (all)


• wipe table and chairs (10ds)


• sweep floor (12ds)


• put leftover food away (10ds)


• wash table dishes (9dd)


• wash pans after other dishes are done (12ds)


• dry and put away dishes (7dd)


• wipe kitchen counter (9dd)


• wipe down stove (12ds)


• take out garbage (10ds)


• put dirty towels/dishcloths in laundry (7dd)

Scheduling Chores

I have been busy working on chore and school schedules since I returned from Guatemala.  We will begin schoolwork again on Monday (July 10) without spelling, grammar, or science.  We will return to those subjects in September. 

This will be the first time that I school during the summer.  I'm actually looking forward to it, although I don't necessarily plan on doing it every year.  We began Tapestry of Grace Year 4 in February after being on a very light schedule for the first half of the school year.  After finishing Unit 1, I decided to shorten Year 4 so that I can begin Year 1 when my oldest is in seventh grade (this fall).  We did Unit 2 in 5 weeks, and we should be able to do the same with Units 3 and 4, finishing up before the end of September.  I plan to start Year 1 the first week of October, after a weekend campout with some friends.

I borrow heavily from Large Family Logistics for the chores and house managing ideas.  I worked on the chore schedules on Wednesday, and we began full swing on Thursday.  What I did before was put the chores in an Outlook calendar and print it, but the kids never looked at it, and it was difficult to check up and make sure that everything was done.  They are great about doing their chores, but I know that we can schedule the chores more efficiently.

This time I kept the calendar posted, but I also sat down with my oldest son and made a list of daily, weekly, monthly and biannual chores for the family room (which became his assigned room).  My second oldest and I did the same thing for the library and hallway (including the front entrance area), and I then did the bathrooms and back entry/stairway area, which my two girls will maintain. 

I took those lists and turned them into 1-page check-off lists for each assigned room (one for the Family Room, one for the Library/Hallway, one for the Bathroom/Back Entry).  I also created a check-off list for bedroom chores (daily, weekly and monthly).  I then used Large Family Logistics' Table Chore chart and Sample Kitchen Day (available in the Files section of their Yahoo group) and adapted them for my family. 

Everyone picked a color for their assigned room sheet and I printed everything out, posting the assigned Room Chores, Table Chores and Kitchen Day Chores on the refrigerator, and the Bedroom Chores on the kids' bedroom doors.  Each check-off list is in a page protector.  The kids check their chores off with a Vis-a-Vis.  I erase the daily checks after my inspection and approval.  I will erase the weekly chore checks at the end of the week and the monthly chore checks at the end of the month. 

We decided that Thursday will be our cleaning day, so yesterday we did our weekly cleaning.  We deep clean a different section of the house each week, which is when we do the monthly chores for that room.  The person in charge of the room will do the main chores, but we will all pitch in for the deep cleaning.  We will all work on the kitchen every week on Kitchen Day (I haven't picked the actual day of the week for this yet).  I plan on spreading the basement cleaning out over the month, so I still have to do that.  We all work together on the laundry.

I will post what the chore schedule actually looks like on another entry.  I want to try to format it so that it is easy to understand.

I worked on the summer school schedule today.  I will be done with that by Monday and ready to begin!  I will try to write an entry about that once we are settled into it (if it isn't time for the fall schedule).

Signing off for now...

In Him,
~ Andrea