want to know that my clothes are actually getting clean, before I jump on the bandwagon!

The 4 basic ingredients of homemade laundry detergent are Borax, Arm & Hammer Washing Soda, Arm & Hammer Baking Soda and Fels-Naptha bar soap. I also added Oxi Clean and doTERRA Wild Orange essential oil, to give it a little extra cleaning power, and a delicious citrus scent. Check out my full post to see how/why each of the ingredients work to create the best, most effective laundry detergent. Click here: http://askannamoseley.com/2013/05/the-best-h...

Edit: This detergent can be used in a front loading washing machine, there are instructions if you click on the link above. It is also safe to use if you have a septic system, I researched all of the individual ingredients and they are all safe to use. My sister has been using this for years on her septic system and she has never had any problems.

#diy #homemadecleaner #laundrydetergent #budgetfriendly

downtown Glendale.

You can follow along with the antics on twitter, facebook and instagram on April 27 from 10:30 to 2:30, hashtag #hometalkmeetupaz.

If you will be in the Glendale area on April 27, contact me at the website below. {seating for lunch is limited}

club myself, and unfortunately it doesn't involve a cool jacket).

Fortunately you can avoid issues of this nature by making your concrete's expansion joints watertight.

With spring coming there's no better time to do this project and it's certainly a weekend DIY task.

Here's a short description

+Remove old sealant or felt from between expansion joints

+Use an angle grinder to detach stubborn sealant or felt

+Wear goggles and gloves to protect your self from the sparks or debris from the grinder

+Vacuum or blow out any dust, dirt, or debris from the joint

+Add closed cell foam backer rod between expansion joints

+Ensure the backer rod is 1/8 inch wider in diameter than the joint

+Place the backer rod 1/4 beneath the surface of the concrete pad

+Apply self-leveling sealant onto of the backer rod (I used Sikaflex SL)

+Don't walk or drive on the sealant for 3-5 days

You can buy the self-leveling sealant at Home Depot or your local hardware store.

For more tips, pictures, and two short videos check out my post at http://www.homerepairtutor.com/concrete-expa...

with 220 grit sandpaper, followed by a walnut stain, and then three coats of polycrylic finish. My husband loves the new look and I couldn't be happier. It was worth the three days of work. I sanded one day, stained and applied a coat of poly one day, and then other coats of poly the next day (let 2 hours go by and then applied the third coat). This way it didn't seem like a lot of work!

method of soap making starts with combining lye and water to create a "lye solution". The solution needs to drop below 125 degrees before mixing it with oils which results in a chemical reaction called "saponification", creating the substance we call soap! After that, you add your scents, exfoliants and all that other fancy deliciousness to personalize your bars to your heart's content! Check out my full blog post for an extensive (but easy to follow!) tutorial for beginners that includes a "Beginner's Recipe" using oils you can easily find at the grocery store! Coconut Oil, Olive Oil and Canola Oil are some of the affordable and moisturizing ingredients you can use to make a great batch of soap! I predict that you will fall in love with soap making and never turn back to store-bought!