Homemade Laundry Soap - 1 year later review and updated recipe

So, a year ago I adopted this laundry detergent recipe.  It says it will last a whole year and it really does!  And I love it!!  I just made a few changes this year.  So, here is my updated recipe: 

Here are the ingredients.  

And here are the things I changed: 

First of all, I miscalculated the size of the canister I'd need, so I upgraded to this larger size.  I really love these canisters from {Target} and I use them to store flour and sugar as well. 

The other thing I changed about my recipe is that instead of using a normal cheese grater to grate the soap, I decided to try a zester to get the pieces as small as possible.  It worked like a charm.  I set up my bucket and grater like this and my third time doing this was definitely a charm.

The reason I made this change is because sometimes my washer had a hard time disolving the larger soap shavings, especially on a cold water cycle.  The smaller pieces seem to dissolve much easier.

Once the soap was grated, I just threw all the rest of the ingredients into the bucket and mixed them all together.  And it rubbed my hands raw...so next time I'll be wearing gloves for that step. 

Anyway, the result is a wonderfully beautiful detergent that looks and smells like summer. 

I ended up using the smaller canister to store my Oxiclean White Revive which I add to loads of white laundry in place of bleach.  I really love that stuff.  It does the trick without ruining anything! 

There you have it!  All in all, this laundry detergent costs about $20-$30 to make, and it lasts for a whole year!!  That's a pretty good deal, if you ask me.

Bath Towel Rack

Sorta like a wine rack but for bath towels.  I think these towels look SO cute rolled up and put in these diagonal shelves.  Cute idea!

Nautical

I just love this style this time of year.  Love the subtle nautical hints on this table.  Cute idea to put rope in vases. 

My favorite style of home.  American as it gets.  I love this beachy look. 

Love the navy stripes all over anything right now.  It makes an especially cute bathroom, though.  Love that starfish hangin out, too.  Fun idea for a towel rack: a ladder. 

Love the framed sun dials.  Simple and yet so stylish. 

Sea shells make such good shelf fillers. 

I really love the use of lanterns on this wall.  Also the beach sign.  That combined with all the baskets and urns is just terrific!  Especially the basket full of straw hats down there. 

This might be the exact same bathroom at a different angle.  I love the starfish on the walls!  I even like the wall paneling in this room.  I guess this is a great decorating scheme for a room with paneling.  If you don't like the color you can always paint it white and get an instant beachy feel. 

Love the huge rope hangin out up there.

Happy Spring!

Cutest Garbage Ever!

Yep, this is a garbage.  Amazing, right!?  I want one!!! 

Apparently, she bought this thing, but I've never seen one for sale anywhere, so I'm thinking I might need to have hubby make one for me at some point.  It looks simple enough.  In fact, you could probably just purchase a cabinet and change the direction the door opens!  Then, just add a stand at the bottom for the garbage can to rest on.  Love this idea! 

Seriously, have you ever seen a cuter garbage!? 

I mean, you can even decorate it!!  I love it!  Visit {Gail's Decorative Touch} for more info and great ideas!

Light Laundry Room

I have a thing for pretty Laundry Rooms, so naturally, I fell in love with this one. 

I love how simple it is, but still so sweet and pretty. 

How cute are these flowers!? 

And cute little curtains...with ruffles! 

Isn't it pretty!  Kind of like a breath of fresh air.

Visit {Shanty 2 Chic} for all the details.

Lovely Laundryrooms

I just really love the shelving in this laundry room.  I love how custom it is.  And how the everyday items are so proudly displayed on them.  Like detergent in that pretty clear canister, and the iron, and sponges, and scrubbers...  Also love the clock.  And the painted paneling on the wall.  Love. 

Aren't those hooks so cute!?  I am just really loving the movement urging us to make our laundry rooms pretty spaces.  Love the shelf with all the pretty vases and boxes...and that mirror.  The old sink is cool, too. 

This space is really functional.  Especially for those of us who have a lot of items that can't be machine dried.  Those fold-out hangers are a genius use of space.  Love the crown molding and all the floor space.  Plus, another pretty laundry detergent display.  I'm in love with those glass canisters! 

This room is just adorable!  I love those huge tin baskets up top.  Also, the sorting bin...in French...  And again, those pretty canisters holding useful things.  I would love an ironing board that huge.  Plus, this room has another ingenius fold out drying rack. 

What a pretty space!  Laundry rooms are too often built without windows.  The light in this room is amazing!  I also love all that counters space!! 

Here's another with those magnificent windows!  It's like having a window in front of the kitchen sink.  When you can see out, you don't mind being there quite so much.  I love the baskets in this room, and the little lamp lights.  Those are adorable.  I also love the huge farmhouse sink with the open storage underneath.  And notice this room has two washers and two dryers.  Wouldn't THAT be nice! 

I honestly don't know if this is a laundry room or a bathroom.  I think it could work as either.  I'm loving the bright white and the wainscotting on the wall.  The pop of color in those flowers is fun. 

This room has been a long time favorite of mine.  I love front loading washers.  Not only do they get your clothes cleaner, they look cuter, and they allow counterspace to sit on top of them.  I love counterspace in laundry rooms.  It makes it so much easier to fold clothes!  This room has pretty storage for everyday things as well.  Love those red containers onthe counter.  I also like the rolling sorting bins.  I'm loving the painted panelled walls in here, and my favorite part might be those jumbo clothes pins haning on the wall.  I gotta get me some of those!

Amazing Entryway Transformation

Just saw this on {320*Sycamore} and had to share it!

She has a very narrow back entry to her house, that she says always seemed to look like this.  But, it seems to small to do anything with it right?

Wrong! 

Look what she did!!!  Painted the walls a gorgeous shade of blue, and replaced the light with a cute little lantern!

Added a skinny little bench, with storage underneath. 

And a cute little shelf with numbered hooks and storage on top.

It's beautiful!!  See, even skinny rooms can be beautified!  Check out all the details at {320*Sycamore}

Laundry Room Makeover

I saw this great Laundry room reno and had to share it with you!

Before:

A pretty nice, normal laundry room.

After:

An amazing, calming, beautiful space!

Before:

Nice.  Fine.

After:

WOW!  Love that ceiling!  And the can lights!!  Fantastic!

Love that tall storage cabinet!  And I'm a big fan of counters over the top of the laundry machines!!  Great place for sorting and folding. :)

Before:

Great closet.

After:

So cute!!  I guess they didn't need the storage space. :)

Speaking of storage, who says we have to keep laundry detergent in those ugly bright boxes they sell it to you in.  So cute in these glass containers!!!!

And these are to die for.

Love how she decorated this space.  It's very simple and functional.  But also so beautiful!!  Very well done.  Check out {Life in the Fun Lane} for more info.

Jar Dispenser

Love this idea.  Very Cute.  Check out {Decor Chick} for the how-to. :)