Just wanted to chime in on the holes 🙂 Like Laura.bora, my oldest very rarely gets holes in his jeans. My next two, twins, however…Recenly I patched 20, yes 20 pair of their jeans (thankful for tons of hand-me-downs!) – many of these were patches on top of patches. And within a week, I had more to do. We have designated two pair for “town” jeans and they are not allowed to play in. They also the other day were jumping into mud filled tree holes (several feet deep, we grow landscape trees) and were so covered in mud you couldn’t tell what color their clothes were supposed to be. My oldest, was playing with them, but was not so covered in mud, and has only 1 pair of jeans that needed a patch. The younger two say they actually prefer their holey jeans because it makes them look like daddy, who adds his share to the patch pile as well. I used to smock, knit, sew heirloom clothing, now, I just patch 😉 I’m just glad they are out there in it!
as far as detergent – I do much the same as the other ladies here – I do pretty much the same as Lindsay, but in a smaller quantity (2 c. each of borax, baking soda, and washing soda and 1 bar of Fels Naptha, I have switched up with other soaps, I have a batch with Kirk’s lavender. I just grate on my hand grater and shake it up in the container) – just wanted to chime in on the holes – happy washing ladies!