Homemade Crappola

I've used a batch and a half of homemade laundry detergent and I regretfully have to admit that I don't care for it. I've read that you can double the amount of washing soda and borax, but I've also been reading that borax isn't the safest ingredient. I really like the cost effectiveness of the detergent, but I've had to buy various stain removers in an attempt to get the kids' clothes clean. It seems as though every little spot stays on their clothes and I have been using the full recommended amount. 

As a side note, the strap on the maternity tank top I'm wearing just broke. Bummer. At least it was only a garage sale find.

In addition to the poor detergent results, I've not been happy with the homemade deodorant either. It's too tedious to get out of the jar and rub into my armpits. Honestly, I'd rather just skip deodorant all together than scrape it out of a jar, roll it into a ball and smear it all over myself. I've compromised by only using regular deodorant every third day. I don't stink and haven't received any nasty comments from my kids. Although now that I think about it, they do laugh and say that I smell worse than Daddy's farts. Maybe they're not kidding. Ah well.