I'm a DIY geek... even more so in Africa. But I've always kind of been like this.
In college, I can remember getting ridiculously giddy shopping for crocheting yarn at all hours of the night (remember this, Katie Chamberlain?), or getting a project in my head and having to instantly go on a run for all of the goods (remember this, Tracy Shortell?). When Iliea was just born and we were living in Toledo, I'd be up half the night hot gluing buttons on letters, lampshades, frames -- anything that would hold buttons and would look cute in her room. And just a few years ago, I was slightly addicted to painting. I'd paint anything I could: walls, kitchen drawer pulls, our dining room table and chairs, cork boards, frames, light fixtures. Steph loved it because I'd gladly paint the garage doors and stain the deck, too. It never seemed like work to me (but don't tell him that -- he still owes me).
Since the invention of the "green wash ball" I no longer need to make my own laundry detergent here in Swaziland. I kind of miss it, obviously... because today I was really itching for another project.
I really miss Target -- oh boy, do I miss that mindless wandering, filling up the cart, getting the emotional fix, and then realizing that I didn't need most of what I had thrown in my cart. One of the "don't know what ya' got 'til it's gone" goodies that I've longed for since moving to Swaziland is liquid soap in a jug (I know, completely boring). Enough soap in that jug to walk around to all of the rooms in the house, fill up the squirters, and still having enough left to throw under the sink for the next time we're low. Also, there was a peace knowing that all of my soap containers matched and had the same soap in them -- and when I topped them off, they would be the same color and I wouldn't have to mix them. Wow, I've shared a little too much. I may be a bit OCD at times. :)
I've really tried to make do here -- buying bubble bath and diluting it, but it's just not the same. Liquid soap here is probably considered more of a want than a need... consequently, it's pretty pricey. And since I now have little African kiddies for children with dirty hands and feet 24-7, they go through lots of soap, and they haven't found jobs yet -- and we don't have "jobs" either. :) So, it's time to reinvent the wheel in Africa again... and make some liquid soap.
Here's the easiest recipe I could find from Hazeltree Farm. Excuse my not-the-best pictures... I quickly did this tonight just to get it done and blogged, but I think you can follow my lead (and try this yourself!):
So you're going to need:
-bar soap or soap flakes (grated, equalling 1 cup)
-glycerine (1 tablespoon)
-1 1/2 quarts water
I grated an average-sized bar of unscented soap -- and I got three cups, so I tripled this recipe. Awesome. You could use any soap you'd like, but my thought was that I'd love to add some essential oil to this (which I still need to find).
My three cups looks like this. You'd think this was coconut, but it's not. Dezra Freeman, don't go baking a cake with this. (Dezra's also a missionary here in Swaziland, and she's got a thing for coconut -- she's got a little DIY thing going on, too) :)
So this is glycerine (in a very blurry picture -- sorry!). I discovered that you can find this just about at any "chemist." That's what they call our Walgreens/CVS-ish places in Africa, but don't go thinking that we have anything close. We have "Clicks" which tends to work, but I also miss being able to visit a store that stays open beyond 5pm. Seriously. Anyway, I found glycerine today. Here it is.
So, at this point you'll add the water, soap shavings, and glycerine together in a large pan over low heat, and stir until it's smooth and the soap has dissolved.
Then, cool overnight in a sealed container. All I'll need to do tomorrow morning is to take my stick blender to it (it will be gelatinous), blend until smooth, and carry it from room to room, filling up all of the squirters. Then I'll throw the rest under the sink until I need it again. That is sooo fun. After that, I'll probably check in with email and FB and reply to all of my hecklers who think I'm absolutely crazy putting so much effort into something I can buy. That's you, Tasha Myers. (Miss Tasha is also a missionary here in Swaziland, but she isn't a newby like the rest of us -- she has seven years under her belt, and isn't about to make her own soap when she can buy it at a "chemist.")
Wrapping up -- the costs to make this? Only 30 minutes... and E18 (less than $3 USD) for OVER a gallon of liquid soap. I'm DIY giddy. :)
