I received my Miele pair in February and really LOVE them. I hope you have such a good experience too! This is what I found on Henkel's site re: megaperls 1994 - Persil Megaperls Pearls instead of powder. Another milestone in Persil's history: the development of a laundry detergent that offered even better washing performance, and with very much smaller doses of the product. For five years, Henkel researchers worked to develop a method that would allow such high concentrations of the active ingredients. The breakthrough was achieved with a completely new production technology - and a new generation of laundry detergents: Pearls instead of powder. 290 milliliters of classic powder could be replaced by 95 milliliters of the new laundry detergent. Persil Megaperls - offered in a lightweight 1.6 kilogram pack with a window gave Henkel a substantial edge in innovation. Patent were filed across Europe for this new laundry detergent technology. I personally find the scent of regular Persil products too much (or I just don't like the actual scent). I do, however, like the Persil Senitive options which have much milder scents. I also use oxygen bleach with my white loads and they are always white and bright. Good luck! Here is a link that might be useful: Persil - History

I was going through all my old emails that accumulated while we were away on vacation and came across the following in a CS email. Of COURSE these come to my inbox about 2 weeks after I replaced my huge bucket of CS. Oh well, it's nice to share! _____________________________________________________ Order from www.charliesoap.com, and enter any one of the following Coupon Codes in the Coupon field during checkout. 1) Tired of paying Shipping and Handling when you just wanted a small order? If you said "yes", then use the Coupon Code "freeship" after you purchase at least one (1) bag of Laundry Powder (41601...in a new, non-clumping bag) and one (1) 16 oz Sprayer of All Purpose Cleaner (11201) and get an Instant $5 Coupon to counteract the shipping charge. 2) Cheap is good, but Free is better. Stock up on at least three (3) Laundry Liquid gallons (21401), use the Coupon Code "freespray" and get a Free 16 oz Sprayer of All Purpose Cleaner. 3) We still havenÂt come up with a medium sized Laundry Powder, but nowÂs your chance to stock up and save! Purchase five (5) bags of Laundry Powder (41601), use the Coupon Code "freebag" and get a 6th bag Absolutely Free! These are the NEW bags that do not clump up in your pantry. 4) If you just have to have one more shirt to get dirty, spread the love with a CharlieÂs Soap T-shirt. Purchase Any Bucket (11505, 21505, or 41505) of CharlieÂs Soap products AND an Adult T-shirt; use the Coupon Code "freeshirt"; and receive an Instant Credit to bring your invoice back to regular, non-discounted bucket priceÂjust like you bought the bucket alone. 5) And last but not least, get $35 worth of CharlieÂs Soap, enter the Coupon Code "freetote" and get a Free non-woven grocery tote free with your order.

Here's 10 recipes. It's pretty forgiving as to formulations by the looks of the recipes. Some like to add water softener, OxyClean, dishwashing detergent or other additives to help with their needs. 10 Homemade Laundry Soap Detergent Recipes Recipe #1 1 quart Water (boiling) 2 cups Bar soap (grated) 2 cups Borax 2 cups Washing Soda Add finely grated bar soap to the boiling water and stir until soap is melted. You can keep on low heat until soap is melted. Pour the soap water into a large, clean pail and add the Borax and Washing Soda. Stir well until all is dissolved. Add 2 gallons of water, stir until well mixed. Cover pail and use 1/4 cup for each load of laundry. Stir the soap each time you use it (will gel). Recipe #2 Hot water 1 cup Washing Soda 1/2 cup Borax 1 Soap bar Grate the bar soap and add to a large saucepan with hot water. Stir over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted. Fill a 10 gallon pail half full of hot water. Add the melted soap, Borax and Washing soda, stir well until all powder is dissolved. Top the pail up with more hot water. Use 1 cup per load, stirring soap before each use (will gel). Recipe #3 Hot water 1/2 cup Washing Soda 1/2 cup Borax 1/3 bar Soap (grated) In a large pot, heat 3 pints of water. Add the grated bar soap and stir until melted. Then add the washing soda and borax. Stir until powder is dissolved, then remove from heat. In a 2 gallon clean pail, pour 1 quart of hot water and add the heated soap mixture. Top pail with cold water and stir well. Use 1/2 cup per load, stirring soap before each use (will gel). Powdered Laundry Detergent - Recipe #4 2 cups Fels Naptha Soap (finely grated - you could also try the other bar soaps listed at the top) 1 cup Washing Soda 1 cup Borax Mix well and store in an airtight plastic container. Use 2 tablespoons per full load. Recipe #5 Hot water 1 bar (4.5 oz) Ivory Soap - grated 1 cup Washing Soda In a large saucepan add grated soap and enough hot water to cover. Heat over medium-low heat and stir until soap is melted. Fill a large pail with 2.5 gallons of hot water, add hot soap mixture. Stir until well mixed. Then add the washing soda, again stirring until well mixed. Set aside to cool. Use 1/2 cup per full load, stirring well before each use (will gel) Recipe #6 2.5 gallons Water (hot) 1 Bar soap (grated) 3/4 cup Washing Soda 3/4 cup Borax 2 TBS Glycerin Melt bar soap over medium-low heat topped with water, stir until soap is melted. In a large pail, pour 2.5 gallons of hot water, add melted soap mixture, washing soda, borax and glycerin. Mix well. Use 1/2 cup per full load. Recipe #7 2 cups Bar soap (grated) 2 cups Washing Soda 2 - 2.5 gallons hot water Melt grated soap in saucepan with water to cover. Heat over medium-low heat and stir until soap is dissolved. Pour hot water in large pail, add hot soap and washing soda. Stir very well. Use 1 cup per full load. Recipe #8 2 gallons Water (hot) 1 bar Soap (grated) 2 cups Baking soda (yes baking soda this timenot washing soda) Melt grated soap in a saucepan with enough hot water to cover. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring frequently until soap is melted. In a large pail, pour 2 gallons hot water. Add melted soap, stir well. Then add the baking soda, stir well again. Use 1/2 cup per full load, 1 cup per very soiled load. Powdered Laundry Detergent - Recipe #9 12 cups Borax 8 cups Baking Soda 8 cups Washing Soda 8 cups Bar soap (grated) Mix all ingredients well and store in a sealed tub. Use 1/8 cup of powder per full load. Recipe #10 - (Powdered) 1 cup Vinegar (white) 1 cup Baking Soda 1 cup Washing Soda 1/4 cup liquid castile soap Mix well and store in sealed container. I find it easiest to pour the liquid soap into the bowl first, stirred in the washing soda, then baking soda, then added the vinegar in small batches at a time (the recipe foams up at first). The mixture is a thick paste at first that will break down into a heavy powdered detergent, just keep stirring. There may be some hard lumps, try to break them down when stirring (it really helps to make sure the baking soda isnt clumpy when first adding). Liquid Detergents Note: Soap will be lumpy, goopy and gel-like. This is normal. Just give it a good stir before using. Make sure soap is covered with a lid when not in use. You could also pour the homemade soap in old (and cleaned) laundry detergent bottles and shake well before each use. *If you cant find Fels-Naptha locally, you can buy it online (check Amazon). Optional: You can add between 10 to 15 drops of essential oil (per 2 gallons) to your homemade soap.

We have a funeral this afternoon. It's a graveside service and it's been raining all morning. I hope the preacher is not long winded. We had a new farm building built last winter and they are pouring concrete in it right now. The cement trucks have been rolling in for the past hour. I didn't realize the amount of cement it would take. OK Dave Ramsey, beans and rice, rice and beans. lolol