How to make your own dryer balls

I found a great post over at Cuckoo For Coupon Deals HERE on how you can make your own dryer balls. Dryer balls are made from wool and are a great natural way to dry your laundry faster and soften your clothes without chemicals.


They actually work and I love mine!

Cheap Easy Effective Homemade Laundry Soap

For years I have been buying very expensive all natural laundry soap from the store because my eldest son has allergies to any synthetic cleaners.  I have learned so much about natural versus synthetic products directly because of his horrible eczema .  It turns out his eczema is caused by any soaps, cleaners, and even air fresheners that are not all natural.

Laundry detergent was one of the most difficult things to find back when we started our journey towards all natural.  It also was the most important because of course clothing rests right on the skin and would cause instant rashes to break out.  The worst was fabric softener or dryer sheets so I haven't used those in nine years but instead use Wool Dryer Balls which work just as well and has the bonus of keeping being all natural.  Click HERE to buy them.  They really are a great investment.  I have had mine for SIX years and they are still working to soften my laundry.  To add scent just put a few drops of your favorite essential oil on them.

Back to the laundry detergent.  I read on several blogs on how ladies made their own and how it was not only all natural, but also ridiculously cheap working out to less than 10 cents per load!  For some reason I never tried it, mainly thinking it would be to complicated, would take lots of time, and it would not work as well as store bought.  Well I was wrong on all counts!  It takes me about ten minutes to make it and the stuff works great and leaves a very pleasing scent on the clothes.  This is nice because we haven't been  able to use fragrance on our clothes since eldest son was born.  Oh and of course it has not aggravated a eczema breakout in the least!  Click HERE for a complete package deal.

I would recommend this to anyone wanting to use all natural laundry detergent that is cheaper than the cheapest regular laundry soap!

1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda
1 bar fels naptha laundry soap

Grate fels naptha and mix with the dry ingredients. I use just a regular cheese grater. Make sure to mix well!  Use 2 to 3 tablespoons for large loads.  It will not suds up like other laundry detergents do so it is safe in your front loader.  I also add a scoop of oxy clean because we have small children who get their clothes really dirty!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliates from my amazon partner.  By clicking on/or purchasing an item you will be helping to support my blog by the small commission I earn.  This does not affect your price in the least!

12 Plants that Repel Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are back in my life with spring and I am on a mission to get rid of them!  However I dont have the money or inclination to spray or have someone else spray toxic chemicals all over my yard.  The more beautiful, useful, and natural way is to have plants that naturally repel them in your yard.  Plus all of these mentioned plants are pretty to boot!  Most of them are perennials so you only have to plant them once and they come back year after year.

1. Citronella
2. Lemon Balm
3. Catnip
4. Tansy
5. Lavender
6. Geraniums
7. Marigolds
8. Basil 
9. Peppermint
10. Pennyroyal
11. Rosemary
12. Garlic

Easy DIY Dandelion Oil For Sore Joints and Muscles

I found this great DIY dandelion Oil recipe over at Homespun Seasonal Living and had to pass it on to my readers. Dandelion oil can be used for sore muscles and joints when rubbed on externally.  My husband suffers from and badly injured knee and a displaced shoulder so I am making this and using it on him as a massage oil.  Let me know how yours turns out too!  Click HERE for the step by step instructions which are super easy!

DIY Firewood Rack- Super Easy and Thrifty!

Ok this is one of those "Hello!  Why didn't I think of that DIY projects"!  Super easy and cheap to make. I could use a couple of these outside my back door.  Check it out over at the 50 Campfires website.

Invisible Dog Fence Review and a $25.00 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!

I am a dog lover.  I think my first best friend was a dog, and growing up the comfort of my dogs unconditional love and understanding was a God send.  We now have two dogs.  A large golden lab, and a mixed small breed.  The small dog Lizzy is a terrier mix and loves to roam.  She was raised on a farm so we are now having to train her to not run off when outside.  So when  Dog Fence DIY contacted me about their inexpensive fencing system I was really interested!

 

Things I like about the Invisible Dog Fence DIY

 

• Budget Friendly
• Can be used in a variety of ways to keep your dogs safe, keep them out of the chicken yard, keep them out of your garden, or out of a pasture of animals
• Adjustable intensities for different dogs
• Dog Fence DIY Has Other Great Products Like these LED Collars.  If you live out in the country those would be great!
• A large selection of systems so that you can tailor to your needs and budget.

 

 

How Much Does an Invisible Dog Fence Cost?

  

It’s so important to invest in the safety of your pets. If you’re a dog owner, fencing in your property may be necessary to keep them out of harm’s way. Traditional fencing, however, can be expensive, especially if you have a large yard. An invisible dog fence is another option that’s relatively inexpensive. Let’s take a look at the average invisible fence cost.

  

Purchasing the System

When selecting an invisible dog fence for your yard, the biggest expense is purchasing the system itself. Typically, an invisible fence system comes with the main fence unit, 500 feet of boundary wire, and one e-collar. The cost of the system varies, but the most popular invisible dog fence, the PetSafe YardMax, is approximately $300. Other fences may cost slightly less or slightly more. Wireless dog fence systems tend to be a little more expensive, up to $800 total.

  

Extras and Accessories

Sometimes it’s necessary to purchase additions to the basic wired dog fence system. A wireless dog fence doesn’t usually require any extras, unless you have more than one dog and need another e-collar; although most wireless systems can support only one or two e-collars total. Here’s a look at some of the extras and accessories that you might need:

  

-E-collars: You will need one e-collar for each of your dogs. Some dog fences have limits on the number of e-collars they can support at a time, but many underground dog fences can be used with an unlimited number of e-collars/dogs. If you have a dog that weighs less than 10 pounds, or if you have a particularly aggressive/stubborn dog, you may need to purchase a specialized e-collar that uses a lower or higher correction level, respectively. E-collars usually cost about $60-$100 each.

  

-E-collar Batteries: Many e-collars are rechargeable, in which case extra batteries are not required. If your system uses replaceable batteries, however, you’ll need to purchase 2-4 replacements per year. E-collar batteries usually cost about $7-$10 each, for a total of $14-40 per year.

  

-Boundary Wire: If you need to enclose a perimeter that’s a total of more than 500 feet, you’ll need to purchase extra boundary wire. Depending on the type of wire used, it will cost approximately $22-$150 per every additional 500 feet.

  

Installing a Dog Fence

You can save a significant amount of money with a DIY electric fence. Professional invisible fence installers typically charge around $1200 for an average-sized yard. You can eliminate that cost by installing your own electronic dog fence system. Anyone can install their own system over the course of a weekend. With an underground dog fence, you’ll need to dig along the perimeter of your yard before burying the wire. If you’d like to rent a trencher to help with this task, your local home improvement store may charge about $50 per day.

  

Operation and Maintenance

Most people are surprised to learn that an electronic dog fence does not cost that much money to run on a daily basis. For an average-sized yard, you can expect your electric bill to raise only about $1-2 per month. If you do not have an electrical outlet in a convenient place outside, you can purchase a solar panel for about $100-$200. In this case, your dog fence will be solar-powered and will not use any extra electricity. If you install your own electric dog fence, you’ll also be able to repair any breaks in the wire that may occur, which is rare. Professional technicians will charge at least $100 just to find the problem, but you can do it on your own for little to no extra cost. In general, invisible dog fences are relatively maintenance-free.

  

Cost of Traditional Fences

The average invisible dog fence system costs less than $300. If you require any extras or accessories, you may spend a couple hundred dollars more. Running the fence and buying replacement e-collar batteries, if necessary, can cost less than $50 per year. When you compare this to the average cost of a traditional fence - $1500-$2500 - the savings is obvious. If your yard is very large, you will save even more money with an electronic dog fence, because every additional 500 feet of wire is much less expensive than 500 feet of fence.

  

With a DIY electric fence, you can save money without compromising the safety of your dog(s) or other animals like chickens, goats, and sheep.  Some people even use them around their bees! No matter what your budget is, it’s possible to find a dog containment solution to fit your needs.

Published in partnership with www.dogfencediy.com. We encourage you to share your experiences with a variety of dog containment systems in the comments section. Commenters and those who share the post in social media qualify for a drawing of a $25 Amazon gift card!  Make sure to use the entry form so that we can verify.

 

 

The Giveaway!

 

Dog Fence DIY is being super generous by giving one lucky Thrifty Housewife reader a $25.00 Amazon Gift Card!  Use the Entry form below to enter the giveaway  All entries are optional, all winning entries will be verified for completion.  Good Luck!

 

Entry-Form

 

 

The Thrifty Housewife was  compensated for this post. This did not influence my review or my opinions. My views are 100% my own. This giveaway is not affiliated with facebook, pinterest, twitter, or any other social media website.  The winner will be chosen through the giveaway form which uses Random.org.  Winner will be notified by email within 48 hours of contest end.  Winner has 24 hours to respond to the  email.  Failure to respond will result in a new winner being chosen.  Open to US only.  All Entries are verified.  The Thrifty Housewife is not responsible for prize fulfillment.

 

How To Re-Purposing Old Picnic Baskets into Produce Bins With Chalkboard Tops!

I really needed some good produce bins for my apples, potatoes, and onions.  I have been using wicker basket but the problem is that they have no lids so animals can get into them and they are exposed to light which is bad for both onions and especially potatoes.  Proper storage of temperature, air circulation, and light will extend the quality of your produce.  I buy in large quantities because I not only cook  for our family of six, but I use lots of fresh produce as part of my cooking.  I rarely buy convenience foods so having tons of especially potatoes on hand is important

When potatoes get exposed to light their skin turn green, which is poisonous, and also they tend to sprout which is also poisonous.  Nor can I put them in the cupboard because I first of all don't have the space, and second of all end up forgetting about them and then find them months later after I notice a smell!

What I wanted was a basket made of wicker or wood with a lid.  They sell them new but the price is way out of my range at $30.00-$60.00 each.  The standard wooden potato bins usually have a window on them, which defeats the whole no sunlight thing.

Thinking on this problem I remembered all the old-fashioned picnic baskets I have seen at yard sales and thrift stores for a few bucks.  The old ones are made of wicker which is good because you need air flow, and they have lids which blocks out the sun.

I found one for really cheap at $3.00 in great condition and started my little project.  I wanted to paint the lid with chalkboard paint (so I can write what's in it) which costs about $12.00 per small can at the hardware store.  You can get chalkboard paint in all sorts of colors now! Doing a project like this I only used less than a 1/4 of the can.  All told it probably cost me about $5.00 for the whole project.  I cant wait to find more of these baskets so I can do one for onions, apples, and sweet potatoes.  I am planning to build a shelving unit to fit each one in at an angle so you can see the lid and open it up to get your veggies/fruits.

 

The Basket Before

 

 

After cleaning a bit

 

 

The Lid Shows Some Water Damage

 

 

After Three Coats of Chalkboard Paint

 

 

My sad attempt at being artistic

 

 

Tons of room for a good 20 to 30 lbs of Potatoes!

Glowing Outdoor Orbs DIY for less than $5.00

This is really an amazing idea.  They look just like fairy lights glowing in your garden. I am definitely doing this one come spring.  And best of all this is incredibly easy to do!

Use this link for the instructions

http://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/glowing-orbs/

Making Rice Bags - solutions for keeping warm

Well winter has finally decided to arrive, and it's making up for lost time by coming in with a bang.  Two feet of snow and its still snowing.  So I decided to make some new rice bags for our family.  The last two we have are starting to smell funny and really we need one for each person and beds.  The kids just love having their cold beds warmed before they get tucked in and a hot rice bag is great when you've just come in from two hours in the freezing cold.  They cuddle up on the couch wrapped in a blanket with a rice bag in their lap.

These are so ridiculously easy to make I cant see how anyone bothers buying them.  They are cheap too.  You could even use old t-shirts or pillowcases to make them.  It only took me 1/2 hour to make 6 with both my 14 and 6 year old daughters helping me.  You can add some drops of essential oils to make them even more soothing.  Lavender, rose, lemon, ceder, or balsam fir would be good.  All you do is heat them in your microwave for 4 to 6 minutes depending on how hot you want them.  Make sure to make them small enough to fit in your microwave!  I put them in the kids beds while they are bathing so that their beds will be nice and warm by the time they get in.  Remember that we heat with wood so the upstairs is much cooler than the downstairs.  These are also great for sore muscles and sore bellies.  You can also freeze them for headaches and burns.

Sewing the bag leaving a small opening to pour the rice into

The ready to fill bag

pouring the rice in, just use the cheapest rice you can find (but jasmine rice lets off the nicest smell)

After filling the ricebags 3/4 full I sew up the hole and ready to go!  Now we have six so no more fighting over them.

How to Turn a Pallet into a Garden

This is an amazing idea that has so much potential for the homesteader, gardener, or beginning gardener.  Think of using it to grow cucumbers or small melons and squash, notorious space hogs! This is also a big help to those with limited space. You could do one in annual herbs and do each tier in a different herb with several varieties.  Like several different basil's in one row.  You could do flowers to cover an ugly wall.  The possibilities are endless.  I personally am going to use it for an annual herb garden so I can devote more of my herb garden space to my perennials.  I'm also going to use it for cucumbers, small melons, and small winter squash.  I'm so excited about this idea and will post pics when we put them together.

Here is the link to the site I found it at.  Have fun with this! http://lifeonthebalcony.com/how-to-turn-a-pallet-into-a-garden/