Washy, washy, washing in the new blue cheer....

In middle school, we made a newscast and videotaped it.  At that time, video was new and everyone had a VCR. Each little group of the class had to make a different portion of our newscast.  I think my group did an aerobics class to Van Halen's "Jump." (Yes, you'll be singing it in your head all day long.)  Another little group did a commercial for "New Blue Cheer". 

Picture a middle school student dressed as an old lady with a washboard.  She picks up a dirty shirt and washes it on the washboard and says,  "Washy, washy, washy in the New Blue Cheer.  Rinsy, rinsy, rinsy in the water so clear."  Then she smells the clean laundry, "Oh.... smells like a rose..."

She continues this several time with more laundry  until she picks up a dirty sock.  "Washy, washy, washy in the New Blue Cheer.  Rinsy, rinsy, rinsy in the water so clear." and smells the sock. Immediately she starts all over and says ,"Washy, washy, washy in the New Blue Cheer.  Rinsy, rinsy, rinsy in the water so clear."  Guess even New Blue Cheer couldn't take care of smelly socks. 

It was really funny and must have made an impression on me from back then.  Not sure when New Blue Cheer came out, but my Miss Emma ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS used Tide.  Personally, I used whatever I have a coupon for - until I found homemade laundry detergent.  You can laugh, but I have converted several folks at work.  It's easy to make, it's cheaper, it's better for the environment, you don't run out of it and you don't break your back lugging the Sam's econosize into the house. 

I have been using this for about 9 months and haven't bought store detergent since the first time I used it.  It smells fresh and it cleans well.  Let me know if you try it!

Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1. Arm and Hammer WASHING SODA - this isn't baking soda.  Just look in the aisle with the  detergent. It's in a box. 
2. Mule Team BORAX - also in the detergent aisle in a box. 
3.  Fels Naptha bar soap - in the detergent aisle.  Mine was .97 a bar. 

Steps: 
1.  Grate your soap like a block of cheese.
2.  Measure one cup each of borax and washing soda. 
3.  Put soap, borax and soda into a container with a lid.  I bought a plastic jar at Dollar Tree and shake mine vigorously. 
4.  Use 2 teaspoons per load. 

Side Note:  I sometimes throw in a handful of Downy Pearls softener.  You can add it, or leave it out.  It's really up to you.  Some folks make their own fabric softener - it's up to you.  I also printed the recipe and taped it to the front of the container.  You will have enough borax and washing soda to make quite a few batches, so you many want to go ahead and get several bars of soap.  I normally make 2 at a time.