Folks might ask the question "why?" I'd respond with "why not?" Making something from scratch has always held a mysterious allure for me. Maybe it's because I never had to make everything from scratch and if I'd lived a century ago, I might not be so enthralled with the notion today. Making this laundry soap was easy! The internet is overflowing with search hits on the subject...and many fine bloggers have gone before me with posts and Youtube videos to help newbies like me.
I did a quick cost analysis when I made my last batch (this recipe makes 32 cups of detergent=64 loads of laundry)...and each batch cost me around 77 cents. No, this is not a typo; I meant 77 cents for the entire batch of 32 cups of laundry detergent! I purchased my ingredients at our commissary and it may cost a bit more on the regular economy. Seventy-seven cents per batch comes out to approx .0123 cents per load of wash.
I'm typing the basic recipe here. If you have questions about "how to" you can do a Google search and find numerous recipes and videos to watch. This is just one recipe and it works for me!
Laundry Soap Recipe
1 bar *Ivory soap (finely grated)
*or Fels Naptha...but I was unable to find this brand of bar soap anywhere in our local area
6 cups hot water from the tap
Stir together in old pot, now used exclusively for making laundry soap, over medium-high heat.
Stir periodically until grated soap is completely dissolved.
Add 3/4 c. Washing Soda (not the same as Baking Soda)
and 3/4 c. Borax
Stir until dissolved and remove from heat.
In a large plastic bucket, pour 4 c. very hot tap water. Add your dissolved soap mixture to the bucket and stir well. At this point you can add 1 teaspoon of essential oil for fragrance (optional). I use lemon fragrance; a lovely fresh scent!
Add an additional 1 1/2 gallons of water and stir well.
1 bar *Ivory soap (finely grated)
*or Fels Naptha...but I was unable to find this brand of bar soap anywhere in our local area
6 cups hot water from the tap
Stir together in old pot, now used exclusively for making laundry soap, over medium-high heat.
Stir periodically until grated soap is completely dissolved.
Add 3/4 c. Washing Soda (not the same as Baking Soda)
and 3/4 c. Borax
Stir until dissolved and remove from heat.
In a large plastic bucket, pour 4 c. very hot tap water. Add your dissolved soap mixture to the bucket and stir well. At this point you can add 1 teaspoon of essential oil for fragrance (optional). I use lemon fragrance; a lovely fresh scent!
Add an additional 1 1/2 gallons of water and stir well.
Recycle an old laundry detergent container and using a funnel, ladle your detergent into the container. Your laundry detergent will thicken and turn into a jello-like substance. Just shake container to liquefy again.
You can see the containers I have used in the above photo -- a large plastic container that I can scoop my measuring cup in and out of from the top...and Coffeemate liquid creamer bottles--recycled.
Use 1/2 cup per load of laundry.
I'd like to give a yell of thanks and appreciation to all the folks who post terrific DIY projects on line--in blogs and YouTube videos. You pave the way for those of us who have the inclination to give it a try at home.
You can see the containers I have used in the above photo -- a large plastic container that I can scoop my measuring cup in and out of from the top...and Coffeemate liquid creamer bottles--recycled.
Use 1/2 cup per load of laundry.
I'd like to give a yell of thanks and appreciation to all the folks who post terrific DIY projects on line--in blogs and YouTube videos. You pave the way for those of us who have the inclination to give it a try at home.
