Welcome to Simply Complicated Seriously!

HOMEMADE WHITENER/SOFTENER 

I wasn't sure what I wanted my first post to be about. Whether I wanted to share one of my many projects, opinions or just tell you a bit about myself. So I forgo my opinion (good lord knows salt is probably worth more! lol ) and if you would like to know a bit about me look on the side bar! So project it is!

well, I guess I will start off with my most recent project. I decided to make a softener/whitener for my laundry. White Vinegar is a GREAT softener! Holy cow, I am never buying commercialized softener EVER again. The chemicals in most commercial products are horrible for you, and the government has STILL not regulated what can and can't be in a "green" product, so we are just taking the companies word for it. NOT a good idea I have found. In the European Union. a lot of the chemicals have been BANNED because of the carcinogenic and dangerous qualities they have in them. The U.S. cannot even export those products to the E.U.! Anyways, sorry I got off on a side tangent there. :) So this is a big reason why I make my own from SAFE products, and the biggest reason is the next paragraph.

My oldest boy is allergic to a bunch of chemicals like Formaldehyde, so I have had to think outside the box on what we use around the house. I began by making my own laundry soap. then moved onto softener and whitener.
I will be posting those recipes shortly too!

OK, so onto the Whitener/Softener Recipe:

You will need:

1 package of fresh Rosemary (in the produce section at your grocer)
1-2 Lemons sliced
White Distilled Vinegar
Tap Water
Wax paper
Colander/Strainer
Cheese-cloth/coffee filter
Large 1/2 gallon Mason Jar or like glass container

Place Rosemary & Lemon slices in jar. Fill half with Vinegar, the rest with Tap water.
Cover with a square of Wax paper then put on lid and ring.
This is important because the Vinegar will rust the metal lid!
Seal tightly. Shake every couple of days for about a month. Longer if you want. Make sure you date your jar!once it has sat for awhile, dump liquid through a cheese-cloth, or coffee filter and colander/strainer.
collect liquid under strainer/colander into a glass jar.
the liquid that is left you just pour a cup into your washer's rinse cycle and its ready to go!

It's that easy. And it smells AWESOME. 
The Best part is: It only cost PENNIES compared to softener in the store!