Super Clean

Because I had such a robust tomato crop this year (when I say "robust" I really mean "abismal") this is our very last jar of ketchup. Considering how much Art loves ketchup, this jar won't last long.

It was a fairly productive weekend for me, which is odd since I don't usually accomplish much other than the basics during the winter months. I washed the floors downstairs, something I have never actually done. I've swept, vaccumed, and dust mopped, but never actually washed. On my hands and knees. With a bucket. The floors were looking kind of dull, especially in the dining room around the wood stove. I won't even tell you how dirty the water was when I finished. But thanks to a little water and wood soap, my floors shine!

I also cleaned my dishwasher on Saturday. And I really do mean 'cleaned'. Because we have such hard water, rust builds up in the water jets so I cleaned those out (not naturally, but with the toilet bowl cleaner "The Works". Really great for getting into the holes but smells terrible and it kind of caustic, so be careful). I cleaned around the door seal and washed down the inside of the washer. I've always bought dish detergent and, over the years, it has left a hard soap/calcium build up on the door and along the bottom edge. I scrubbed all of that off and the dishwasher looks brand new (well, as new as a ten-year-old dishwasher can look). Along with the recipe I got for homemade laundry detergent was a recipe for homemade dishwasher detergent. I already had the makings from the laundry soap and I only had to buy some citric acid. I never liked using powdered detergents because they helped leave that build up on the door, but I made it, tried it, and loved it! I did add vinegar to the rinse cycle, and my dishes came out clean as ever without leaving any build up on dishwasher door or hard water spots on my dishes.

Here's the recipe if you're interested:

1 cup Washing soda
1 cup Borax
½ cup salt
½ cup citric acid

--Mix together and store tightly covered in a Mason Jar. Use one tablespoon per load. Add vinegar to the rinse dispenser for the best results.

I would absolutely reccommend this to everyone- it's an inexpensive alternative to the natural dish detergents and it still works really well!