Laundry Pre~ Soak

Pre-soaking laundry is the only way for me to get clean laundry and remove stains. I find it effective when using beach - chlorine or oxygen - for whitening and brightening laundry also. 

I don't care what kind of washer it is, it just doesn't get all the dirt out, and I find my clothes looking "dingy."Here is the water after a one hour soak of clean clothes...or so I thought...

My grandma had the washer next to a big utility sink and would have the wash water dump into the sink to drain. She would put a load in the washer and one in the sink. She could do 2 loads at one time. 2nd load only had to spin dry. She was very frugal. But, soaking clothes loosens the soil and you can reduce the wash time. It's hot water and detergent and sun that fades clothes, not soaking.

If the items  are safe for washing, there is no harm to be done by allowing them to soak overnight. Most laundry products will  get the same reaction for stain removal or whitening in one hour so it is really based on your time schedule. The only product that can harm clothing if left too long is chlorine bleach. If the laundry is left in a chlorine bleach solution for too long, it will develop holes and fading from weakened fibers.

Make sure the detergent or bleach is fully dissolved before adding laundry. If I am going to soak a load of laundry, I fill the tub with water and add the detergent or bleach and allow it to agitate for a few minutes before I add my clothes. Then, I turn off the cycle and allow them to soak. Some newer washers have a safety feature that locks the door and doesn't release until the load is complete. Boo , I say. For this reason (and the fact that it is pink and darn cute) I have went back to the good ole ringer washer, since I rarely dry my clothes in the dryer.

Things to consider....

Read the care labels before soaking. This is an absolute must, always. There are some garments that will not fare well from soaking, wool being one example.

Find a suitable container to fill. Soaking requires that the entire garment be submersed under water. You will need to locate a suitable container that can be filled with water and take the added clothing size (remembering that the weight of the clothing will increase the water level). Good containers include a clean laundry sink, a clean bucket, or even a baby's bath.

Add the clothing and push deep under the water so that it is covered. Be sure to push down any areas that pop up and try to stay dry above the waterline.

 Rinse thoroughly to remove the initial detergent or stain removal liquid.

*If stains are especially bad, it pays to rub on a small amount of detergent or the suggested stain removal liquid or paste direct to the stain. Often the method for a particular stain will describe how this is best done.

My favorite products....

20 Mule Team® Borax

This is a great way to boost your detergent and help it get rid of tough stains.It also helps your detergent lift stains — such as tomato sauce, oil, grease, grass, and ground-in dirt — off fabrics when used to pre-soak your clothes.

Washing Soda

This is also a detergent booster....Because laundry soda is so alkaline it is a powerful cleaning agent for your home, and is used in many different cleaning solution recipes.It can cause skin irritation, so wear rubber gloves while cleaning with any solution containing it, and also rinse the area throughly if it gets in contact with your skin. If you do not have washing soda, it it fairly simple to make from Baking Soda....yes the same stuff you bake with...here is how....

Just heat your oven to 400 F and sprinkle your baking soda  thinly on a cookie sheet. Bake it for about half hour, until it changes composition. You will notice it gets grainier (is that a word?) Ha Ha...

Fels~Naptha...

I always have this on hand for sooo may uses, and bonus it is usually only $1.00 . For a make your own pre-treatment ...

Dissolve 1/4 bar of Fels Naptha in 2 cups hot water and 1/2 cup vinegar. Pour mixture into a spray bottle. Spray the item and allow item to sit for 1-hour before washing. 

You can also just rub the bar on the stain before washing.

CHIA SEEDS SUPER FOOD

I absolutely am loving Chia seeds . I found mine at the local Aldi's grocery store for a couple bucks.I add them to any recipe that calls for poppy seeds, like lemon muffins..DIVINE.....

CHIA SEEDS are an excellent source of:

*dietary fiber 
*Omega-3 fatty acids
*amino acids
*antioxidants { strengthen the immune system and keep you    disease-free}
*protein and boron, which aids in the absorption of calcium
* calcium and phosphorus
*dietary fiber and manganese
*complex carbohydrates {good carbs}
*essential fats
* various vitamins like B vitamins 
* minerals like calcium, copper, zinc
* energy to both mind and body



CHIA SEEDS are also:

~very low in cholesterol and sodium

~helps the body retain fluids and electrolytes, it forms a gel in the stomach that slows the  conversion of carbohydrates to sugar, and it helps build muscle and other tissues.

~reduces high blood pressure and is best for cardiovascular health.

~inflammatory properties great for arthritis , they help reduce the pain and inflammation.

~boost metabolism and help create lean muscle mass. Rich nutrients make chia seeds filling.   Because they are low in calories, they are used for weight loss and maintenance programs.

~help in improving the function of the brain. The essential fatty acids promote efficient      nerve transmission.

~increase energy production in the body. The energy produced is long lasting , so it is helpful in day-to-day tasks to prevent getting tired and stressed.

~provide  stamina and endurance in daily activities

~the protein and calcium content in chia seeds  help  build muscles and strengthen the    bones  giving you  a great physique if combined with regular exercise .

~keep you youthful and improve the condition of your hair and skin making you look  younger due to the vitamin and mineral content.

~soluble fiber in the chia seeds makes you feel full faster  controlling the excessive food  intake and cravings for fatty foods.

~water soaked chia seeds cleanse the digestive system by  getting rid of junk in the intestines  and gets rid of toxins in the digestive tract.

~much healthier than flax seeds and do not go rancid. Also, gram per gram, there is more fiber, protein omega 3's and antioxidants than flax. The best chia seeds are called Mila.

Malnutrition and Overfed COUNTERFIT FOODS

Americans are overweight and nutritionally-starving to death.

We are simply over-fed and under-nourished
We have completely ruined the soil we grow food in, so we no longer harvest  proper nutrient packed food that were once produced in highly fertile soil that we planted our crops. 

One apple today carries half the  nutrients as an apple produced 50 years ago.

How long will it be before we realize the simple truth that the health of every individual depends upon his nutritional status.
Most wealthy as well as middle class Americans suffer from poor nutritional condition and are too dumb to realize what is making them sick.

3/4 or more of the food in our stores are nothing more than processed carbohydrates.Yes here is calories but no nutritional value.  50 percent of our population is in the category of suffering from some chronic condition like heart,  high blood pressure,diabetes, cancer, inflamed joint pain, etc.
most of the health problems caused by nutrient deficiency are the result of the consumption of overcooked and processed foods.
When a mouse in a corn crib dines off kernels of corn, he eats the germ only. When we buy any packaged cereal in a grocery store, such as cornmeal or cornflakes, we buy what the mouse refused to eat. We get a non-nutritional food  because we are as gullible as the allegorical New Englander who was taken in on wooden nutmegs. The difference is that we keep on buying the wooden nutmegs and try to make believe we are getting the genuine.

Commercial whole-wheat bread is the most fatal of all. This seems curious until you realize that whole-wheat [bread] has not had the minerals and vitamins removed by milling and refining processes, so it can only be preserved from insect infestation by adding poison bug killers. “Bleach” is the polite commercial term for this poison.

A diet high in cornmeal produces pellagra.  Mussolini eliminated pellagra from Italy in a short time by prohibiting the use of corn as human food.  Before then Italy led the world in deaths from this disease.Today it is hard to find any product not loaded with some corn derivative.

Next is meats...deli ones are the very worst.Packing plants for many years have been employing nitrite indirectly in their curing processes…In pickle solutions the change of nitrate to nitrite is accomplished by means of aerobic bacteria that are present in the pickle.”14

Here is a standard formula for a meat-pickling solution:

400 pounds granulated sugar
80 pounds saltpeter, otherwise known as potassium nitrate
12 pounds borax
12 pounds boric acid

The sugar has the effect of toning down the brash salt effect in the meat, giving it a more palatable flavor. The saltpeter aids in curing the meat and gives it a bright, attractive color. Meat cured without saltpeter has a dead, slatish appearance, which is very unattractive. The borax has the tendency to whiten the meat, giving it a bright, attractive appearance. 

We must take the trouble in our homes to prepare our foods from the basic FRESH materials as much as possible, even to the extent of growing our vegetables and fruits on properly composted soil if we can. 

 Our modern methods of food production are leading to the destruction of our nation’s health, Processed food is not food—no matter how much we tell ourselves it is.

Americans are unaware of the 'Iron Curtain' ( barrier set up by totalitarian governments to prevent outsiders from knowing the conditions inside their own country, and to prevent insiders from knowing what is going on outside). in this country encouraged by our government , mainly the FDA.  They keep us  from knowing that we are being sold fraudulent foods that had  their nutritional value removed or destroyed to facilitate the commercial handling of the food, and to enable big food-enterprises to unfairly overpower by price competition of the smaller ones.

Manufacturers are high dollar advertisers, and no news or media agency is able to tell the inside story of food frauds without losing their precious advertising revenue.
 Remember....if a food makes its own packaging, then eat it.

HOMEMADE CUSTARD

HOMEMADE CUSTARD

Prep Time:

5 mins

Cook Time:

5 mins

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs
• 5 cups milk
• 1 tbsp vanilla
• ½ cup flour
• 1/3 cup sugar OR pureed fruit OR honey

Method:

In a cold pan, whisk the eggs, milk, vanilla and cornflour together and place over medium heat. Whisking constantly, bring to the boil and simmer for 2 minutes.

Whisk in the sugar, fruit, or honey and serve.

*NOTE: Add 1/4 cup cocoa with the flour for chocolate custard!