Crock-Pot Christmas Potpourri

 

I love the smells of Christmas and my favorite way is simmering this easy to make potpourri in a small crock-pot.

You can simmer this on your stovetop if you like, but I'm always afraid I'll forget to turn it off so I started simmering it in a crock-pot. Works great and smells amazing.

 

I don't necessarily go by a recipe, I just add what I have on hand. Most of these ingredients are optional.

Ingredients:
2-3 cups of water or fill your crock-pot about 3/4 full. I don't measure.
slices of an orange and the peeling
1/2 cup fresh cranberries
4 cinnamon sticks
1 Tbsp cloves
1 tsp vanilla
1 tea bag. I use this only if I have something fruity like orange or a berry tea that I'm trying to use up.  Constant Comment would be good too.

Put everything in your crock-pot and let it simmer all day.
Add water as needed.

Linking to: Chicken Chick

Homemade Laundry Detergent

I've been intriqued with all the tutorials on making your own laundry detergents on blogs lately. I never really thought I'd make my own because I like my Tide and I want my laundry to smell good and it just seemed like more bother than worth.
When I saw this recipe on the Stonegable blog with the addition of Downy Unstopables, I knew if I was going to make my own this would be the recipe I try. Unfortunately that addition also raises the price to make this greatly! The Unstopables are a scent booster and won't make a difference in how clean your laundry gets.So omit them if you like.
 I found all the ingredients needed at Walmart in the detergent aisle and cost me just over thirty three dollars. Fourteen of that was the Downy Unstopables so you can see where that makes a big difference in your price.

1~ 4lb 12 oz box of Borax

1~ 4 lb box of Arm And Hammer Baking Soda

1~ 3 lb 7 oz box of Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda

1~ 3lb  container Oxy Clean

4 bars Fels Naptha Soap, grated

2 containers Downy Unstopables

Note: Arm and Hammer Washing Soda is not Arm and Hammer detergent. At my Walmart, the Borax, Baking Soda and Washing Soda were stocked together.

Mix everything together. A heavy duty garbage bag works well. Put into smaller containers. Use 1 Tbsp for small loads and 2 Tbsp for large loads. Safe for HE washers too.

This make a huge amount so I think the next time I will make make a half-batch.

I was very satisfied with how this detergent worked.  My whites were whiter and my laundry smells so good and looks very clean. I will definitely make this again and maybe try to watch sales and use coupons to get the price down.