Tracking Paper Usage

Our second order of Seventh Generation 500 sheets/roll 100% recycled toilet paper came yesterday. We split the first order with a friend so started with only 24 rolls. That was on November 19, 2008. Not bad, eh? I had signed up for the subscribe and save option on Amazon.com and set it at 6 month increments to give myself plenty of time to cancel before the next shipment, in case we didn't like it. The hubby hasn't complained too much and it is way cheaper than the recycled TP at the store so we're sticking with it. Since we were getting low on our supply I requested our next shipment right away.

Anyway, I wanted an easy way to track our usage so I designed the following sheet in Excel. This is just a preview so you can either make your own or I would be happy to attach my sheets in an e-mail for you. If you would like copies just e-mail me at OneRoanPony at hotmail. This shows the second sheet I made to track paper towels and tissues but shows the same fields.





It is hard to see in that picture but here's what I wrote:

11/19/08 - 24 added - ? left - New total rolls 24
2/12/09 - 48 added - 2 left - 83 days - 22 rolls used - .26 rolls/day (1 roll/4days) - New total rolls 50

The math is pretty easy:
# Rolls used/# Days = # Rolls per day
so 22/83 = .26 rolls/day

1/# Rolls per day= # Days per roll
so 1/.26 = 3.8 which I rounded to about 1 roll every 4 days

Get it? Like it? Let me know what you think about it, or how you track your usage. I can see charts like this cropping up all over the house. The next one I think I'll tape up in the laundry room to track laundry soap usage. Hopefully this will help us cut back even more!

Homemade Laundry Soap

My Mom & I have been using this recipe for years now so I thought I would share it. It came from our local paper, author unknown.

Laundry Soap Recipe:

3 pints water
1/3 bar Fels Naptha soap, grated
1/2 cup Super Washing Soda
1/2 cup borax
1 quart hot water
2 gallon bucket

Note: You may be able to get your local grocer to order the Fels Naptha for you, or you can find it online. The grocery store should have washing soda and borax, looks near the stain removers and other laundry aids.

Step #1: Mix grated soap in a large saucepan with 3 pints hot water. Heat on the stove over low heat until dissolved. Do not allow to boil.

Step #2: Stir in Super Washing Soda and 20 Mule Team Borax. Stir until thickened. Remove from heat.

Step #3: Add 1 quart hot water to 2 gallon bucket. Add soap mixture and mix well. Fill bucket with more hot water, leaving a few inches at the top, and mix well. Set aside for 24 hours or until mixture thickens. Use 1/2 cup of mixture per load.

I like this mixture a lot and find it to work well on my clothes. My husbands really dirty/greasy jeans don't clean well in it but they didn't respond well to store-bought detergents either. We have pretty hard water, my Mom has soft water, and it performs well for both of us. I like that it is a liquid and that it lacks dyes and perfumes, since they sometimes irritate my skin.

Let me know if you try it or if you have any other laundry tips/recipes! :)

(Note: I took pictures of this entire process but they won't load right now so I'll try again later!)

Today, as I sit and look at my list of errands to run, I am thankful that we have the funds and vehicles available to do these little everyday tasks. One of the things on my list today is to drop off recycling. I am so lucky to live in a place where we have a wonderful recycling company and great people working there. I was very disappointed in our roadside pickup service so I'm glad to have found an alternate drop-off point. If you're local the place is Tuscola County Recycling.