Royal Baking Powder was a single-acting product made years ago. Here's a recipe for single-acting baking powder you could use in old recipes calling for Royal brand.

• 2 tablespoons cream of tartar
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Combine ingredients and store tightly covered. For double-acting baking powder, use 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tartar for each teaspoon needed.

 

Here is some interesting info i found on store bought baking powder:

“Aluminum in baking soda?

In striving for clarity, baking SODA is (by definition) sodium bicarbonate, a chemical that is extracted from the ground.  It does not contain aluminum nor is aluminum added to it in processing either by intention or through aluminum equipment. 

Baking POWDER is manufactured with baking soda as an ingredient and typically includes a compound containing aluminum.  Marketing baking soda as aluminum-free is simply a marketing strategy to play to consumers' confusion while charging more for it.  As has been noted, no baking soda has aluminum in it. 

Aluminum in baking powder has been known to contribute to a bitter taste. So switching to aluminum-free baking powder should eliminate that problem. “

http://www.welltellme.com/discuss/index.php?topic=14397.0

~ I’m not saying this information is correct, i haven’t searched it out.

Tonight i tried the last toothpaste recipe on this post: Toothpaste Post

I used regular sugar instead of stevia and ended up using 1/2 teaspoon (it probably could have used a bit more)

I also used peppermint extract instead of ‘oil’ and i don’t know if they are actually different or basically the same thing.

It did end up very salty tasting and only slightly minty. But the up side is that it does not leave any after taste so you don’t have to keep on tasting that salty flavor… which is good.

It seems to work well, although this is only my first time using it. My true test will be having my husband, who is really picky, try this. I think it would be something i would continue using. The salt taste is standable, and i believe that could lessen with more sugar and more flavorings.

At Wal-Mart in their craft/wedding section i bought some containers that almost look like old cafe ketchup bottles. I used that to put my homemade toothpaste in and i think it worked very well (although i had to prop it upside down).

I’ll write more after i get more info and opinions on it.

Mint Toothpaste
Ingredients:

• 6 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/3 teaspoon salt
• 4 teaspoons glycerin
• 15 drops peppermint or wintergreen extract

Directions: Mix thoroughly. Should be a tooth paste consistency. Store in a container. You'll be surprised with how fresh your mouth feels.

Super Cleanser
Ingredients:

• Hydrogen peroxide (a few drops)
• Baking soda

Directions: Make a paste by combining the two ingredients. Use this paste on your teeth and also gently rub along your gums two times a week.

This afternoon i tried the Coffee Rinse on my hair. I had a question about it... and wondered what kind of texture it would give my hair, if it would make it sticky or so on.

It actually didn't make my hair feel any different. I sure smelled good though. I suggest using an old towel to dry your hair on when you do this, because coffee can stain.

I can't say I've really noticed a difference in my hair but this is my first time doing it. I plan on doing it several times before i decide what i really think of this recipe/idea.

If i find something else out, i will post it for you.

Coffee Rinse Recipe: Click Here

I have personally been using this Laundry Soap for about 6 months or so. I think it is wonderful and so easy to make! Plus it is so cheap! I love it, love it!

~ Ammiel

You can make either powdered or liquid soap with the recipe. We’ve done both, but tend to prefer the powder as it’s easier to make and store and seems to work as well as the liquid in my large, front-load washer. Note that this detergent will not create suds. This makes it very good for new, high-efficiency washing machines – but it may look really odd to you if you have a top load machine and peek in while the load is running.

Ingredients

1/3 bar Strong Soap (see below)

1/2 Cup washing soda

1/2 Cup borax

Optional – essential oil for fragrance

Equipment

Grater or food processor

3 gallon stockpot (for liquid soap)

5 gallon bucket (for liquid soap)

Stove (for liquid soap)

Stick blender (optional for liquid soap)

Air-tight container (for powder soap or extra powder to make more liquid)

Empty detergent bottle (for liquid soap) look for one with a no-spill, self-measuring lid

Directions

Note that this recipe is easily multiplied. It’s a lot easier to make a triple batch of powder than a single one. If you’re making liquid soap, you can keep the extra powder in an air tight container until you need it. That way you don’t need to store gallons of liquid at once. For both recipes you’ll need to grate the soap. I use a Cuisinart food processor and the fine grating attachment. I cut the bar in thirds and feed it into the food processor. It makes short work of the job.

Liquid Soap

If you’re going to make liquid soap you’ll need 6 cups of water and a large (3 gallon) stock pot. Put the water in the pot and put it on the stove on medium heat. Add the grated soap and stir until it dissolves. Then add the washing soda and borax and stir over heat until they are dissolved. If the mix is not dissolving well, carefully use a stick or hand blender to mix it up. Increase heat and bring pot to a boil. Boil for 15 minutes. The liquid should have about the texture of honey.

Take the pot off the heat. Mix it well with a hand blender. Once the soap is dissolved and well mixed, add enough hot water to make two gallons. Add water a quart or so at a time and mix well before adding more to keep the mixture smooth. Add a teaspoon or two of essential oil if desired. A lighter oil (less viscous) with no color is best. We like lemon and cedar,

I use about 1/2 cup per load in my large, front load washer. Make sure the lid on the bottle fits very tight, as it’s best to shake the bottle before using it.

Dry / Powdered Soap

For dry soap, just grate the bar soap and add it to the borax and soda. Stir well, then add essential oil if you want and mix again. About 1-2 Tbsp per load (depending on how dirty the clothes are) works for me.

This soap will not work well if you have very hard water. Adding extra borax to the recipe may help in this case.

A Note Regarding Bar Soaps

Regarding soaps. The most commonly available strong (lye) soap is Fels Naphtha. Fels is a lye and animal fat based soap. It used to contain Stoddard Solvent (or mineral spirits) which made it more effective at removing oily stains. Fels was an old time remedy for poison ivy. If the name or the idea that it used to contain solvents bothers you, you can substitute Octagon Soap or Zote. Fels Naphtha and Octagon are available at our local grocery and hardware stores. You’ll find Zote at a tienda.

Don’t use facial soap. It usually has added oils you don’t want and isn’t an aggressive enough cleaner for laundry.

Or if you are incredibly motivated — and handy (like Audrey is) you can make you own bar soap from lye and rendered lard.

How much does it cost:

Here is the breakdown of my costs and how I came up with those numbers (I am using the prices I paid for these items and you may find your price varies some based on what you pay):

Fels Naptha: $1.12 for a 5.5 oz bar. The recipes says use a 1/3 of a bar. I calculated 2 oz. just to make the math a little easier. The cost of the Fels Naptha per batch is: .40 cents

Washing Soda: $2.23 for a 55 oz. box. This came to .17 cents per batch. I calculated how much per oz (2.23 divided by 55) and then weighed a half cup of washing soda (4.2oz.) and multiplied my per oz. price by 4.2

Borax: $3.27 for a 76 oz. box. This came to .14 cents per batch. Did the same calculations as above, however a 1/2 cup of borax weighs 3.5 oz.

For the final numbers I have .40 + .17 + .14 = .71 for 2 gallons of laundry detergent.

I looked up a few DIY recipes. The easiest calls for one part Borax to one part WASHING soda. The accompanying article includes a helpful cost breakdown.

Amy at Momadvice uses a more kitchen-cabinet-friendly version: 1 cup Borax, 1 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup salt. Test a tablespoon's worth in your next load for effectiveness. If everything's not squeaky clean, add straight vinegar to the rinse compartment next time. I keep mine in a Tupperware canister that's just as easy to pour as Cascade.

Go ahead and buy the giant jug of vinegar. You'll use it to de-stink left-too-long laundry and concoct homemade volcanoes. Borax is handy, too, as a cheap laundry booster and natural insecticide.

http://www.likemerchantships.org/2007/06/how-to-make-dishwasher-detergent.html

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Recipe for Dishwasher Soap

Dishwasher soap is easy to make, and cost effective. I mix up a batch in an empty canister, and pour it in the dishwasher as needed.

Mix and use per dishwasher load:

1 Tablespoon Borax

1 Tablespoon Baking soda

Mix equal parts Borax and Baking Soda, and add 2 Tablespoons per load. Increase proportion of soda for hard water. Use vinegar in the rinse cycle.

Lorraine

http://www.stretcher.com/stories/02/02dec09b.cfm

Cost Comparison:

Depending on how much you pay for your dishwashing detergent and how much you pour into the dispenser will determine how much you are paying per wash for your detergent and spot removing gel.

The cost for this recipe is less than 4 cents per load.

Calculation as follows:

Cost of Borax: $2.50 for 76 ounces = .03/oz or .015 for ½ oz

Cost for Washing Soda: $2.50 for 55 ounces= 4/oz or .02 for ½oz

Recipe calls for ½ ounce of each so the cost per wash is 3.5 cents. How much does your detergent cost (this week)? Next week the price may probably go up.

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Liquid Dishwasher Detergent Recipe

1 part baking soda

1 part borax

1 part water

1 drop lemon or orange essential oil per cup of detergent

• Mix the ingredients thoroughly and store in a sealable jug.
• Use 2 to 3 TBS per load.

http://tipnut.com/homemade-dishwasher-detergent-recipes/

This is the old-fashioned variety.

1/2 cup ammonia

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/2 cup white distilled vinegar

1 bucket warm water

Dry the windows with two towels. The second towel will make windows sparkle. NOTE: If cold weather, add 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol to the above mixture to prevent ice from forming on your windows.

http://recipegoldmine.com/houseT/window-cleaner.html

Water

1/4 cup vinegar

Put vinegar in dispenser first, then fill with water.

http://recipegoldmine.com/houseT/windshield-wiper-spray.html

3 parts vinegar

1 part water

Put into a spray bottle. Before going to bed at night, spray the windshield and all the windows and mirrors. In the morning, the windows should be free of ice.

http://recipegoldmine.com/houseT/windshield-de-icer.html

1 part vinegar

1 part hot water

Dip roller or sponge into solution and wet paper thoroughly. After two applications, the paper should peel off in sheets.

NOTE: Use a paint roller. It is much more effective than using a brush.

http://recipegoldmine.com/houseT/wall-paper-remover.html

1 box baking soda

1/4 cup ammonia

Make a paste of baking soda and ammonia. Brush on oven and let soak overnight. In the morning wipe off with clear water.

http://recipegoldmine.com/houseO/oven-cleaner.html

~~~~

Oven Cleaner

1 cup ammonia

2 cups boiling water

1/2 cup baking soda

1 cup white vinegar

Heat oven to 200 degrees F. Leave oven on for 15 minutes; turn off and leave the door closed.

Fill a shallow baking pan with ammonia and place on the top shelf of the oven. Fill another pan with 2 cups boiling water and place on the bottom shelf. Close oven and leave pans in for at least 2 hours or overnight. Remove ammonia and make a paste of ammonia, baking soda and vinegar. Spread paste on oven surfaces, leave on for 15 minutes, and then scrub off with a sponge or steel wool.

http://recipegoldmine.com/houseO/oven-cleaner2.html

2 tablespoons baking soda

1 cup water

1/2 cup vinegar

Boil this mixture in the affected cookware for 10 minutes. Re-season the cookware with salad oil.

http://recipegoldmine.com/houseH/nonstick-cookware-stain-remover.html

2 cups milk

2 tablespoons black pepper

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

2 tablespoons brown sugar

Brown paper bags, cut into strips

Boil milk, pepper, and sugar together for 5 minutes. Simmer uncovered 5 minutes longer, until thickened, and then let cool. Wind the brown paper strips into a tight roll and drop them into the milk mixture. Let them become completely saturated. Rewind the strips gently and let them air dry on a cookie sheet. They are ready to hang when they are sticky to the touch.

To use, suspend the strips up and out of the way wherever flies are a problem. CAUTION: Keep the strips away from young children, especially after they are covered with flies.

http://recipegoldmine.com/houseD/fly-paper.html

Submitted to Recipe Goldmine by Barbara Louise - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Source: a gardening forum

Put some water in a white dinner plate and add just a couple of drops of Lemon Fresh Joy dishwashing soap. Set the dish on a porch or patio. No sure what attracts them, the lemon smell, the white color, or what, but mosquitoes flock to it, and drop dead, or fall into the water, or on the floor within about 10 feet. Works just super!

http://recipegoldmine.com/houseH/mosquito-deterrent.html

1 ounce beeswax

1/2 cup baby or mineral oil

Melt the beeswax in a microwave or a double boiler. Stir in the mineral oil. Remove the mixture from the heat and stir until cool.

http://recipegoldmine.com/beautypersonal/petroleum-jelly.html

Looking for a natural and wallet-friendly hair spray to keep your 'do in place? Then, give this simple, two-ingredient recipe a try:

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: 20 minutes or less

Here's How:

1. Slice the lemon into wedges.
2. Place in a pot, and cover with two cups water.
3. Boil until half of the liquid remains.
4. Allow to cool. Then, strain, and place in a spray bottle.
5. If the finished spray feels sticky to the touch, dilute it with a bit of water.
6. Then, store your hair spray in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Tips:

1. Add a Tablespoon of rubbing alcohol to the recipe, and the hair spray can be stored at room temperature for up to two weeks.
2. Have dry hair? Then, try an orange instead of a lemon.
3. Customize the scent of your hair spray by adding a couple drops of your favorite essential oil.
4. Be sure to label the contents of your bottle.

What You Need:

• 1 lemon
• 2 cups water
• A pot
• A strainer
• An empty spray bottle

http://frugalliving.about.com/od/beautyhealthcare/ht/Hair_Spray.htm

Making your own hair gel is as easy as 1-2-3. Give it a try, and enjoy great hair for less coinage.

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: 5 minutes or less

Here's How:

1. Dissolve half a teaspoon of gelatin in the warm water.
2. Add more gelatin as needed to reach the desired consistency.
3. Fragrance with a few drops of your favorite essential oil (optional), and your hair gel is ready for use.

Tips:

1. Store hair gel in the refrigerator between uses to prolong its life.
2. Need more or less hair gel? Just maintain the ratio in the recipe, and you can make as much or as little as you need.

What You Need:

• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
• 1 cup warm water
• Essential oil (optional)

http://frugalliving.about.com/od/beautyhealthcare/ht/Hair_Gel_Recipe.htm

Flour Paste

For frizzy hair.

Flouring is an ancient recipe that smoothes the scales of the hair shaft, making it more manageable.

1 cup flour

2/3 cup cold water

Mix until lumps disappear. Apply to dry, unwashed hair, smoothing the mixture and your hair straight back. Leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly about five minutes. Shampoo with one lathering of mild shampoo. Rinse with cool water.

http://recipegoldmine.com/beautyhair/flour-paste.html

My Personal Comment on Recipe/idea: Click Here

For brunettes and redheads.

8 cups warm brewed coffee

After shampooing rinse hair with coffee. Do not rinse it out. Your hair will be rich and shiny.

http://recipegoldmine.com/beautyhair/coffee-rinse.html

Battling a head full of tangles and frizz? Fight back with this frugal leave-in conditioner recipe:

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: 5 minutes or less

Here's How:

1. Fill the spray bottle with one part conditioner and four parts water.
2. Shake to combine.
3. Then, spray in your hair to remove tangles and tame frizz.

Tips:

1. Shake before each use.
2. For safety, be sure to label the contents of the bottle.

What You Need:

• An empty spray bottle
• Hair conditioner
• Water

http://frugalliving.about.com/od/beautyhealthcare/ht/Hair_Detangler.htm