While my first love is milk in glass bottles, I am really liking the new square milk jug design. Not only do they fit better in the refrigerator, but I do not have to worry that the lid it going to pop off like happened with the older style of milk jugs. Even the screw tops popped occasionally.

I am constantly finding new ways to reuse the square milk jugs. We wash use them for other beverages like iced tea, lemonade and even alcohol.

Fill a clean jug with water, leaving room for expansion and freeze. In case of power failure, your foods in the freezer will stay cold longer.  We put two in our cooler when we drove to Orlando last month and everything stayed cold with no mess and no melted ice to drain. There was still ice in the jugs 3 days later. The added bonus is you have cold water to drink as the ice melts.

These jugs are perfect for storing homemade laundry detergent and dishwasher soap too.

1 part borax
1 part baking soda
1 part washing soda (sodium carbonate)
1 part bar soap (finely grated)

Mix all ingredients well and store in a sealed container.
Use 2 tablespoon powder per full load.

Hint – if you are unable to find a box of washing soda, look in swimming pool supplies for PH Up, which is also sodium carbonate.

Adding 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle will:
- help remove stains
- make your brights brighter
- help dark clothes stay dark
- decrease lint
- help remove soap residue from clothing and the washing machine
- soften clothes

1 cup borax
1 cup baking soda
1/4 cup citric acid (If I cannot find citric acid, I use two packets of unsweetened lemonade-flavored drink mix, such as Kool-Aid)
1/4 cup salt

Mix all ingredients well and store in a sealed container.
Use 1 tbsp powder per compartment.

Note: dishwasher powder also makes an excellent scouring powder.

Need a rinsing agent? Add 1/8 cup distilled white vinegar to the rinse dispenser.