With inflation rising steadily, we are all looking for ways to cut costs. An average bottle of laundry detergent can cost .20 cents per load. Here’s a recipe for making your own laundry detergent that costs less than half that amount. At around .06 cents per load, you can save over $100 a year!

• 3 bars of Fels Naptha soap
• One 36 oz. box of Borax detergent
• One 3lb box of Arm & Hammer Laundry Booster Super Washing Soda
• 2 cups of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda
• 1 of the 3 lb tubs of Oxi Clean
• Scent Beads (any scent – optional)

If you don’t like these brands for any reason, here are other options:

• FOCA detergent (instead of Borax and Arm & Hammer)
• Castille or Zote Soap (instead of Fels Naptha)

Directions: Grate or chop in food processor all bars of Fels Naptha soap. Add box of Borax and box of Super Washing Soda, 2 cups of baking soda, 3 lbs of Oxi Clean and optional scent beads into a large container or clean plastic trash bag and mix all ingredients together well. Use 1 tablespoon per small load or 2 tablespoons per large load.

NOTE: I have heard that the Fels Naphta may not disintegrate unless finely chopped in a food processor or melted by using hot water in your washing machine while washing clothes.

Want some Free Printable Laundry Labels to put on your jar of detergent you’re making? Get 12 Free Printable Labels here

Q&A

Is this safe to use in HE washers?

Check your owners manual but yes, it is safe to use in mine and should be safe for most if not all HE washers due to the low suds quality of the detergent. If you want to be safe, fill up washer first and add to water

Does it get your clothes clean?

YES! It gets out grass, mustard, ketchup, mud stains, etc and works really well

What about sensitive skin?

As always, test first if you have sensitive skin and research ingredients but we have a person with eczema in our household and have no issues.

Let’s face it, doing laundry is a dirty job but we’ve all got to do it. And, we spend a good bit of time in our laundry rooms each year. So why not make them pleasing to our eyes while we stand there to wash, dry and fold. Here’s how to makeover a laundry room in one weekend.

Step 1 – Assess The Laundry Room

The first step in making over your laundry room is to think about functionality. Where are your dryer sheets, laundry detergent, bleach, stain remover, etc. currently stored? Where are they going to be accessed most easily? Do you have them in cabinets or on a shelf? Or, do you have them sitting on top of your washer or dryer? If you have them on a shelf, do you like the shelf style currently? Or do you want something different?

Do you have a place to fold and hang clothes? If not, do you want one? Many people like folding and hanging their clothes in the bedrooms. Others prefer doing it in the laundry room, then taking them to the bedrooms and bathrooms. Just take some time to think about how you prefer to do your laundry and what makes the most sense for you.

If you have cabinets, do you like the current style and color of the cabinets? If not, do you want to paint them? Would adding cabinet knobs or pulls update them? I personally prefer cabinets because I can keep my washing products in their original packaging and store them out of sight. However, many people prefer open shelving and storing their products in jars and bins with pretty labels (I have free printable 3×3” labels below). A word to the wise though, glass jars are heavy once filled with bleach, fabric softener or liquid detergent. Therefore, plastic carafes are more practical for these cleaning products unless you choose the glass ones with pumps.

Step 2 – Find Your Style

The next step in your laundry room makeover should be completing a little research to find your style. I’m talking about the fun kind of research – lookup laundry room makeovers on Pinterest and Google Images, watch a few YouTube videos and pin down the style you’re going for in your laundry room. You’re already doing a great job on this first step because you’re doing a little research by reading this article!

Step 3 – Complete any renovations

Once you’ve decided your laundry room layout, I recommend completing any renovations such as painting walls or hanging cabinets, shelving and clothes racks first. You wouldn’t want your new, cute signs or baskets to get paint on them! And, as a result, you’re more likely to be successful with your overall vision of how decorations fit into the room once you’ve completed your renovations.

Step 4 – DECORATE!

Now comes the best part – time to decorate! In other words, shopping, crafting and/or creativity. Along with plants, baskets, jars and canisters, there are cute signs, rugs, and they even have magnetic lint boxes that stick right to the side of your dryer. But don’t overdo it. Choose a few of the things that you can’t live without in your design and go from there. And it doesn’t have to break the bank either. I will be doing another blog in the next couple of weeks and giving away a free SVG laundry sign design and you can download my free printable labels for your jars, jugs or canisters below. If you want to save more money, check out my recipe for laundry detergent that can save you $100 or more per year!

Step 5 – Download & Print Free Laundry Labels

For my Free Printable Laundry Labels I suggest using waterproof printing labels otherwise your labels will get ruined when water, bleach or liquid detergent get on them. You can buy waterproof labels here. You can also print on paper and use clear packing tape as an overlay. The labels are 3×3” but can be cut down as small as 1×3”. Labels Included are:

• Laundry Detergent
• Liquid Bleach
• OXI Clean
• Dryer Balls
• Stain Remover
• Fabric Softener
• Scent Booster
• Laundry Powder
• Dryer Sheets
• White Vinegar
• Baking Soda
• Detergent Pods

Vision Board of Supplies you may NeeD:

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualified purchases.

Photo booths make weddings, parties, showers and get-togethers so much fun! If you don’t want to pay the expensive prices that Photo Booth companies charge, here’s an easy way to set up a DIY photo booth using your iPad or iPhone.

(Using an iPad is preferred because it will free up your iPhone for regular use during your event and has a bigger surface area for your guests to interact with).

Step 1
Design Your Photo Booth Space

Design your photo space around the theme of your event. There are lots of creative ways to design a photo area that won’t break the bank. You can create a backdrop using a printed backdrop, fabric shower curtain, a regular curtain, wrapping paper or other decorations.

I’ve found several themed shower curtains for weddings and holiday themes on Amazon and Wish for under $20. You can purchase a backdrop stand or tack the curtain to a wall. You can also incorporate furniture pieces, balloons, floral pieces, hay bales or anything that fits your style – just get creative with it!

SHOP LISAS’S FAVORITE Backdrop Stands

Then, be sure to set the backdrop up in a location that won’t block traffic flow for your event. Think of a corner or wall of unused space for the setup.

SHOP LISA’S FAVORITE BACKDROPS

Step 2
Setup the iPad/iPhone

Next, you’ll need a tripod to setup and attach an iPhone or iPad, with the front camera facing forward. Be sure to charge the device beforehand and you’ll want to setup “Guided Access” on the device so guests can open and take photos easily, without accidentally messing up the photo settings.

Then, open the camera app and flip the view to forward facing, as if you were about to take a selfie. Set the timer on the photo to 3 seconds. Make sure your backdrop is positioned correctly in the photo and take a few test shots. You then have the option to share the photos by text, AirDrop, social media, etc. I have a video above to show you how to access these options on your iPad or iPhone.

SHOP MY FAVORITE TripoDs

Paid Photo Booth App option

Of course, if you’d like a little fancier option, and don’t mind spending a few dollars (from $1 to $80) , there are some pretty cool photo booth apps out there for purchase. The pictures you see in this post were taken using the Pocketbooth Party photo booth app. I started with the .99 cent version (called Pocketbooth) and used it for a couple of holiday parties. It was a hit, a lot of fun and easy to use.

I do recommend the $1.99 version if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option. You can also AirPrint or share via text, email and social media right from the app. However, it only has a 3 and 4 pose option for the photo strips. And most social media platforms do not support that size photo, which will cut off portions of the photo strip when shared online. It also does not have a customizable skin to add a colored or themed border and event title and date. But, it’s definitely a great option for the price and is compatible with iPhones as well. Here’s the front screen your guests will use, settings inside the app and a preview of what the 4-pose strip looks like with the $1.99 version:

I eventually upgraded to the Pocketbooth Party photo app. I wanted more versatility in adding colored borders and event titles/dates. It also has an online gallery to share the photos. The Party version costs around $19.99. However, there are many different photo booth apps at varying price points available for download in the App Store. Depending on your budget and needs for your particular event, there’s sure to be one to suit you.

Step 3
Photo Booth Props

All great photo booths have plenty of fun photo props for guests to use in their photos. And you can get photo props from several different places – stores sell them online, there are free printable props online to download, print and cut. I have free, printable, Wedding-themed ones here and Thanksgiving-themed ones here and plan to add more for different events in the future. The Dollar Tree also has lots of fun items that guests like to use, such as glasses, feather boas and tiaras.

SHOP MY FAVORITE PROPS

Step 4
Photo Booth Directional Signs

If your event space is large and the photo booth is setup in a conspicuous space, you’ll want to have some directional signs pointing guests to the area. These can also be found online for free or to purchase. It is a good idea to also have a sign that tells your guests how to operate the photo booth – which button to click to take the photos, how to share the photos, how to print the photos, any hashtags associated with the event or a link to a website where the photos will be shared online.

SHOP LISA’S FAVORITE PHOTOBOOTH SIGNS

Step 5
Photo Booth Lighting

And last, but certainly not least, is making sure there is enough lighting. If your event is during the day and there is enough natural lighting or if it is in a well lit area, there may be enough lighting for your photos. However, if your event will be at night or in a dimly lit area, you may need to purchase some lighting. Most of us have heard of ring lights by now. And they really do make a difference. But they’re pretty pricey! I’ve used these lights instead and they’ve worked well. Remember to bring an extension cord and power strip for any equipment that needs to be plugged in for power!

SHOP LISA’S FAVORITE LIGHTING

And that’s all you’ll need to setup a DIY photo booth for your next event using your iPad or iPhone! It will surely make lasting memories you’ll cherish.

Supplies Needed List:

Click images to view/buy products. As an Amazon Associate I earn a small commission from qualified purchases.

These DIY little Christmas trees will brighten up your Christmas decor this holiday season! They are so easy to make and cost under $25. Each one took me around an hour to put together. Here are the materials you’ll need to get started.

• Tomato/Plant Support wire cage (Mine were 36 inches in height and I bought them at Lowe’s)
• 150 feet artificial garland (I bought mine at Dollar Tree and they were 15 feet in length each and I used 10 of them for each tree)
• Rubber band or twist tie
• String of lights
• Roll of ribbon
• Artificial poinsettia flowers or other decorations for the tree

Instructions:

1. Place the wire cage with the largest ring on the floor. Use a rubber band or twist tie to secure the top wires together, creating a point at the top.
2. Next, begin wrapping the garland around the wire cage starting at the bottom and working your way to the top.

3. Once the garland is secured all the way around the cage, start adding a string of lights beginning at the top of the tree and working your way to the bottom. Then, the electrical plug should be at the bottom of the tree.

4. Next, begin placing strands of ribbon down the length of the tree.
   
5. Finally, add a bow to the top of the tree and artificial poinsettia flowers or any decorations you’d like around the tree.

And you’re done! Aren’t they so cute? Let me know if you try this for Christmas this year!