Homemade Laundry Detergent

Do you ever walk down the laundry detergent aisle at the store and cringe at the high prices? Then quickly began scanning for the lowest prices trying to find the most for your money? Yeah that used to be me too. For a little over a year now I have been using homemade laundry detergent. It feels so good to walk past the detergent aisle and know I don't need anything. Of course I laugh and think suckers, you are spending way too much money!! Is it appropriate to approach a stranger and tell them about making their own?? Probably not a good idea, so I just keep walking with a big smile on my face.

I just made my second batch today, which ends up being 10 gallons. And since I am writing a blog about it, I should probably share my recipe. My mother-in-law gave me this recipe, which is the same recipe that the Dugger family uses (www.duggerfamily.com). For those you don't know who the Dugger family is, well it is a husband and wife who have like 19 kids (not for sure how many), so you can imagine they need to try to save money any way they can.

So here is what you need....

One time expenses ( You will want to buy utensils that you only use for soap - buy cheap = save more money)
1. 3- 4 quart soup pan (got mine at Goodwill for $1)
2. Large plastic ladle (Dollar Tree $1)- need long handle for stirring
3. Metal cheese grater (Gift - but they have them at Dollar Tree)
4. Measuring cup (had an old set I didn't use - works great for soap)
5. 5 gallon bucket with lid (Lowes, but I think you can get them at Meijer's in the painting section)
6. Funnel (Dollar Tree $1)


Ingredients

1. 4 cups Hot Tap Water
2. 1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
3. 1 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (DO NOT USE BAKING SODA)
4. 1/2 cup Borax

What to do

1. Grate bar of soap into saucepan and add water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is completely melted.
2. Fill a 5 gallon bucket half way with hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda, and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover, and let sit overnight to thicken.

When ready to use

1. Stir bucket to mix.
2. Fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser (old jug) half full and then fill rest of way with water.
3. Shake before each use.

How much to use

Top Load Machine - 5/8 cup per load (approx. 180 Loads)
Front Load machine - 1/4 cup per load ( approx 640 loads)

Tips

* For extra soiled loads use a 1/2 cup to 1 cup of vinegar
* Soap will not suds much, so don't add more!
* Meijer's has all of the ingredients, but shop around for the lowest prices !!