Handmade Dishwasher Detergent and Dish Soap

First I want to suggest purchasing a few things. I get some of these things at Dollar General. Some of the other stuff I had to hunt for. Internet, Hardware stores, and Krogers carry most of these. It may cost a lot at first, but it lasts a long time. If you look on the internet, you will find soooooooooo many things you can do with these things.

Borax

A&H Washing Soda

Unscented Liquid Castile Soap

Fels Naptha Bar Soap

Ivory Bar Soap

Tea Tree Oil (or any essential oil)

Peroxide

Vinegar

Sea Salt

Kosher Salt

Baking Soda

Glycerin

Honey

Olive Oil

Mineral Oil

Lemon Juice

Unsweetened Lemonade (Koolaid)

Food Coloring

Labels and Marker

MAKE YOUR OWN DISH SOAP

I grated 1 bar of Ivory bar soap and added 2 Tablespoons of glycerin and 2 Tablespoons of honey.Then I added 1 cup at a time of really HOT water and used a whip until I had the thickness I wanted and all the soap was dissolved.

I filled a small bottle with flip top and had enough left over to fill a larger dish detergent bottle with squirt top.

Of course you can add essential oil and food coloring if you so desire.

HOMEMADE DISHWASHER DETERGENT

(This may leave white residue if your water is hard)

1 cup washing soda (not baking soda)

1 cup borax

½ cup salt

½ cup citric acid (unsweetened lemonade koolaid works)

Mix together and store tightly covered. I love the plastic coffee containers from Folgers and Maxwell House. Use one tablespoon per load. Add vinegar to the rinse dispenser for the best results.

My Homemade Cheese Press

Thanks to my wonderful husband, Lex, I have this fantastic cheese press that really works just fine. I have used it quite a bit, and he wants to make one of those fancy kinds with a lever, but, that is totally up to him.

This is the way my finished cheese press looks, however, I sit it on the floor. Each gallon of water weighs about 8.35 pounds, so i fill them according to the kind of cheese I am making.

This is a 5 pound coffee can.













The coffee can has holes punched in it (from the inside to the outside, which isn't easy)








This is called the "follower". It sits on top of the cheesecloth covered cheese in the coffee can. The can has holes in the bottom so that excess liquid can drip out into a pan under the cheese press.









The "follower" is exactly the right size!!













This is what the top looks like. I am pointing at the screw that holds the "follower" in place.











Here is what the top of the press looks like upside down. The follower is attached to the top.










This is the base of the press where the coffee can, which is now a mold for the cheese, sits