In 2008, I waxed poetic about making my own laundry detergent and loving the smell of line-dried clothes. That first batch of homemade laundry detergent has lasted me over eight months, a good bargain in my book.
When I first returned to using my dryer rather than my clothesline after winter weather struck, I reluctantly added a dryer sheet when tumble drying my clothing. Why was I so hesitant? Because when I used nearly scentless laundry detergent, vinegar in the rinse cycle and outdoor drying, I had become used to the low-key natural scent of clothing dried outdoors. The artificial scent saturated in the dryer sheet not only softened my clothing, but to my sensitive nose, added lots of offensive chemical odor.
I started to routinely add add vinegar to the wash cycle to help rinse away detergent and soften my clothing when dried outdoors. I had also read that vinegar would continue to soften clothing when a dryer was used. In fact, I discovered that vinegar alone does work well. There is no need for a dryer sheet. Bonus points for no additional chemical softeners and artificial scents that I can no longer tolerate. My clothing smells clean and nothing else.
Who know I would no longer tolerate artificial scents in dryer sheets when I started with my homemade detergent and outdoor drying?
Showing posts with label winter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label winter. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Saturday, October 11, 2008
What to get done over the winter months
With the change of seasons showing in the falling leaves and few garden harvests, my mind turns to projects. Yes, if I kept myself gainfully employed redoing landscaping, crafting new raised garden beds and hauling compost, I need to find things to occupy my time once the snow begins to fly and I feel like hibernating. There are several projects that have wanted my attention, but of these, only the GFCI outlet in the garage was installed (and that just a week ago). So what are my plans?
Tackle the basement.
In my earlier post, I mentioned installing an indoor clothesline. This is still on my radar, but has been pushed aside in favor of using my solar dryer (or my outdoor umbrella clothesline). With freezing temperatures and snow weeks away, this pushes up the indoor clothesline priority.
I also want to take a few steps toward making the basement more livable since I am considering moving my sewing area there. Right now, I am looking for lamps to plug into the newly installed outlets in the basement. A nice craft table would be useful for quilting and sorting fabric plus I may use my newly won skills in wood construction to fashion some shelving to store said fabric.
In addition, I would like to fix the holes in the drywall that was installed. Oddly enough, the person who installed the drywall also took his or her anger out on the drywall with hammer and foot. The doorways to the storage and mechanicals would look better with doors so I would also like to install those. This would test the limits of my construction abilities since I have never installed a door. Gaining a new skill would make me feel accomplished so I haunt craigslist with hope.
Craft with confidence.
I owe my godson a doll, my niece is due hers in January and technically, I owe my brother and sister-in-law a quilt. Furthermore, I have collected fabric for at least three quilts, several clothing items and three sets of curtains. Now that all my windows have been rescued from beige plastic blinds, I should proudly construct curtains and valances. These will not only make the rooms more decorative, but also help with light and cold infiltration especially with my single-pane windows. Quilts for warmth in the winter are a good thing especially if I happen to have guests.
I intend to use what I have on hand for sewing and crafting. A few green living projects will likely be incorporated, helping me to dump some disposable and plastic items from my life. Plus, being forced to look at my fabric collection will hopefully inspire me to be creative and to finally craft that blue jean rug I have been wanting.
Manage inventory.
As hinted at with the fabric collection, I have excess stuff. Too many clothes, more books that I really use, a well-stocked pantry that needs rotating and boxes in the basement that need to be sorted. All this and more really need sorting, serious contemplation and more than likely, to be either sold or donated. This is not an easy nor straightforward task, but I want to try another no-spending challenge coupled with a decluttering goal. With few things coming in and stuff going out, I hope to decrease my net stuff and be better prepared to resist buying more.
Fix it and forget it.
I have a table top to strip and refinish, some wood trim that needs the same treatment, and some paint spots that need a touch up, especially around the replacement windows. Cold-enforced indoor time is perfect for getting those small, annoying projects out of the way. I have been lax about getting these things done, but they need to be done prior to either window installation or my house being put on the market. The latter is not intended to happen for another few years, but painting now means less to get done when trying to sell my house.
So there you have it--one giant ambitious list. In the next few weeks, I will look at the time I have and create a to-do list of when to accomplish these disparate items. For me, a list of what I need to do helps me get through the items. I am more successful when I know what I need to do on the weekend before Friday. That way, I will not need to run to the hardware store for stripper before I run out in the middle of the project.
Tackle the basement.
In my earlier post, I mentioned installing an indoor clothesline. This is still on my radar, but has been pushed aside in favor of using my solar dryer (or my outdoor umbrella clothesline). With freezing temperatures and snow weeks away, this pushes up the indoor clothesline priority.
I also want to take a few steps toward making the basement more livable since I am considering moving my sewing area there. Right now, I am looking for lamps to plug into the newly installed outlets in the basement. A nice craft table would be useful for quilting and sorting fabric plus I may use my newly won skills in wood construction to fashion some shelving to store said fabric.
In addition, I would like to fix the holes in the drywall that was installed. Oddly enough, the person who installed the drywall also took his or her anger out on the drywall with hammer and foot. The doorways to the storage and mechanicals would look better with doors so I would also like to install those. This would test the limits of my construction abilities since I have never installed a door. Gaining a new skill would make me feel accomplished so I haunt craigslist with hope.
Craft with confidence.
I owe my godson a doll, my niece is due hers in January and technically, I owe my brother and sister-in-law a quilt. Furthermore, I have collected fabric for at least three quilts, several clothing items and three sets of curtains. Now that all my windows have been rescued from beige plastic blinds, I should proudly construct curtains and valances. These will not only make the rooms more decorative, but also help with light and cold infiltration especially with my single-pane windows. Quilts for warmth in the winter are a good thing especially if I happen to have guests.
I intend to use what I have on hand for sewing and crafting. A few green living projects will likely be incorporated, helping me to dump some disposable and plastic items from my life. Plus, being forced to look at my fabric collection will hopefully inspire me to be creative and to finally craft that blue jean rug I have been wanting.
Manage inventory.
As hinted at with the fabric collection, I have excess stuff. Too many clothes, more books that I really use, a well-stocked pantry that needs rotating and boxes in the basement that need to be sorted. All this and more really need sorting, serious contemplation and more than likely, to be either sold or donated. This is not an easy nor straightforward task, but I want to try another no-spending challenge coupled with a decluttering goal. With few things coming in and stuff going out, I hope to decrease my net stuff and be better prepared to resist buying more.
Fix it and forget it.
I have a table top to strip and refinish, some wood trim that needs the same treatment, and some paint spots that need a touch up, especially around the replacement windows. Cold-enforced indoor time is perfect for getting those small, annoying projects out of the way. I have been lax about getting these things done, but they need to be done prior to either window installation or my house being put on the market. The latter is not intended to happen for another few years, but painting now means less to get done when trying to sell my house.
So there you have it--one giant ambitious list. In the next few weeks, I will look at the time I have and create a to-do list of when to accomplish these disparate items. For me, a list of what I need to do helps me get through the items. I am more successful when I know what I need to do on the weekend before Friday. That way, I will not need to run to the hardware store for stripper before I run out in the middle of the project.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Strategies for keeping warm without breaking the bank
I try to be frugal with my money and minimize the heaviness of my tread on the earth. This involves saving water in the shower and the washer, recycling, reusing, buying secondhand and composting what I can. However, I live in the Midwest and that can involve high costs in the winter due to heating. I will outline my techniques for keeping warm and not overtaxing my checkbook.
Keep the thermostat low. For me, a setting of 64 degrees Farenheit when I am home is sufficient for warmth. I know people who keep it warmer and those who keep it colder, but this is the most comfortable conservative setting for me.
Use a programmable thermostat. When I am not home, the house does not have to be kept warm. I love my cats but they have a nice fur coat and can survive lower temperatures without adverse effects. When I am gone or sleeping at night, my programmable thermostat lowers the temperature to 55 or 56 degrees F. In the morning, it kindly rises to 64 so I can shower in relative comfort. When I come home after work, the thermostat brings up the temperature to 64 from the daytime low and keeps it there until bedtime.
Put on a sweater or a blanket. This is simple but really adds to the comfort. If the thermostat is going to be lower and I generally am reading or using my laptop, I need some extra layers to keep warm. I have a blanket handy to put over my lap and always wear my bathrobe in the morning. I was stunned one day last winter when I saw I man in shorts outside letting the dog out. Wearing shorts in winter is ridiculous. Wearing sweaters is practical and increases comfort.
Insulate the windows. I have single pane windows and energy efficient they are not. Therefore, I apply plastic film to the inside of the windows every winter. It gives another layer of insulation to keep the room warmer and is likely to cut down on drafts. I have thrermodrapes in my living room and Roman shades in my bedroom. I purchased these to help increase energy efficiency and they are working well. The other windows have blinds that came with the house and there is definitely more air infiltration. Consider throwing a blanket over the window to keep heat in and cold out. The more layers insulating the warm room from the cold air, the better.
Use a down comforter and an electric blanket for the bed. My down comforter has been wonderful with cold weather, but my skin did not like the cold bed linens when first climbing into bed. The down comforter kept me warm all night and made lowering the thermostat worth it. The drawback during the cold months is it took half a minute to get to warmed up under the covers. I purchased an electric blanket off craigslist and for those single digit nights, it is a wonderful asset. Plus having a blanket and down comforter on the bed is quite toasty without the electric heat. The electric blanket targets the heat where I want it and warms the bed so I do not shiver under the covers.
Use supplementary heat judiciously. I purchased two oil-filled electric heaters from craigslist, a running theme in my life. The one in my living room is usually dormant, but sometimes, the lap blanket is not quite enough. I use the electric radiator to supplement the heat in the room I am in, and it is enough to take the edge off the cold. I rarely use the radiator to keep costs down but occasional use does not perturb my electric bill.
Wear slippers. I wear slippers even with socks. One reason is I like to keep my socks clean. The other is to keep my feet warm. If my feet are warm, I feel warmer overall. Any extra insulation on my feet can only be good. Plus it saves wear on shoes and that can save money.
Consider using any of these ideas to help keep a bit warmer this winter. Small steps can only help and reducing your fuel consumption to heat the house is a frugal measure and living a bit greener.
Keep the thermostat low. For me, a setting of 64 degrees Farenheit when I am home is sufficient for warmth. I know people who keep it warmer and those who keep it colder, but this is the most comfortable conservative setting for me.
Use a programmable thermostat. When I am not home, the house does not have to be kept warm. I love my cats but they have a nice fur coat and can survive lower temperatures without adverse effects. When I am gone or sleeping at night, my programmable thermostat lowers the temperature to 55 or 56 degrees F. In the morning, it kindly rises to 64 so I can shower in relative comfort. When I come home after work, the thermostat brings up the temperature to 64 from the daytime low and keeps it there until bedtime.
Put on a sweater or a blanket. This is simple but really adds to the comfort. If the thermostat is going to be lower and I generally am reading or using my laptop, I need some extra layers to keep warm. I have a blanket handy to put over my lap and always wear my bathrobe in the morning. I was stunned one day last winter when I saw I man in shorts outside letting the dog out. Wearing shorts in winter is ridiculous. Wearing sweaters is practical and increases comfort.
Insulate the windows. I have single pane windows and energy efficient they are not. Therefore, I apply plastic film to the inside of the windows every winter. It gives another layer of insulation to keep the room warmer and is likely to cut down on drafts. I have thrermodrapes in my living room and Roman shades in my bedroom. I purchased these to help increase energy efficiency and they are working well. The other windows have blinds that came with the house and there is definitely more air infiltration. Consider throwing a blanket over the window to keep heat in and cold out. The more layers insulating the warm room from the cold air, the better.
Use a down comforter and an electric blanket for the bed. My down comforter has been wonderful with cold weather, but my skin did not like the cold bed linens when first climbing into bed. The down comforter kept me warm all night and made lowering the thermostat worth it. The drawback during the cold months is it took half a minute to get to warmed up under the covers. I purchased an electric blanket off craigslist and for those single digit nights, it is a wonderful asset. Plus having a blanket and down comforter on the bed is quite toasty without the electric heat. The electric blanket targets the heat where I want it and warms the bed so I do not shiver under the covers.
Use supplementary heat judiciously. I purchased two oil-filled electric heaters from craigslist, a running theme in my life. The one in my living room is usually dormant, but sometimes, the lap blanket is not quite enough. I use the electric radiator to supplement the heat in the room I am in, and it is enough to take the edge off the cold. I rarely use the radiator to keep costs down but occasional use does not perturb my electric bill.
Wear slippers. I wear slippers even with socks. One reason is I like to keep my socks clean. The other is to keep my feet warm. If my feet are warm, I feel warmer overall. Any extra insulation on my feet can only be good. Plus it saves wear on shoes and that can save money.
Consider using any of these ideas to help keep a bit warmer this winter. Small steps can only help and reducing your fuel consumption to heat the house is a frugal measure and living a bit greener.
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