I finally got around to trying something that I've been want to try for a while now: making homemade laundry soap! It was really fun! (Yeah, I know, the things that excite me...haha).
Here are the ingredients:
Next get your bucket and put in 1/2 cup of the Borax and 1 cup of the Washing Soda. Then pour in your soapy water mixture, stirring until the Borax and Washing Soda has dissolved. Then fill your bucket nearly to the top with hot tap water. Using a very long spoon, mix it well. This is also the time to add a few drops of your essential oil (like lavender) if you are using that. Stir very well then put the lid on and let it sit 24 hours.
After 24 hours are up, go check out your soap. It will have turned into a thick, gelled soapy substance. I suggest you use a large stainless-steel spoon to stir it up, because a wooden one just isn't strong enough to stir through the gel at this point. (Trust me, I speak from experience).
After you've stirred it all up, you can fill up a recycled laundry detergent bottle using a funnel. Then you're ready to wash clothes! Just use 1/2 cup of detergent (basically a cap-full) with a full load of {even very dirty} laundry.
I can't believe how little this stuff costs! The boxes of detergent were just around $3 each (and I'll get many batches of this soap with them!), the soap was just a couple of dollars and the bucket & lid only cost $1.47 at Wal-Mart. So you really are washing your clothes for pennies a load! And I am very pleased with the results of my laundry~it's washing everything very well.
This post is linked to Show & Tell Friday at My Romantic Home.
Here are the ingredients:- Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
- 20 Mule Team Borax
- bar of Fels-Naptha soap
- 5 gallon bucket w/lid
- water
- essential oil for fragrance, if desired
Next get your bucket and put in 1/2 cup of the Borax and 1 cup of the Washing Soda. Then pour in your soapy water mixture, stirring until the Borax and Washing Soda has dissolved. Then fill your bucket nearly to the top with hot tap water. Using a very long spoon, mix it well. This is also the time to add a few drops of your essential oil (like lavender) if you are using that. Stir very well then put the lid on and let it sit 24 hours.
After 24 hours are up, go check out your soap. It will have turned into a thick, gelled soapy substance. I suggest you use a large stainless-steel spoon to stir it up, because a wooden one just isn't strong enough to stir through the gel at this point. (Trust me, I speak from experience).
After you've stirred it all up, you can fill up a recycled laundry detergent bottle using a funnel. Then you're ready to wash clothes! Just use 1/2 cup of detergent (basically a cap-full) with a full load of {even very dirty} laundry.I can't believe how little this stuff costs! The boxes of detergent were just around $3 each (and I'll get many batches of this soap with them!), the soap was just a couple of dollars and the bucket & lid only cost $1.47 at Wal-Mart. So you really are washing your clothes for pennies a load! And I am very pleased with the results of my laundry~it's washing everything very well.
This post is linked to Show & Tell Friday at My Romantic Home.
Comments
Thanks!
Talk about saving lots of money! :)
Enjoy your soap!
I would think it would be just fine. My son has excema I have to use a more gentle detergent and no fabric softener. He seems to be doing fine with this so far. Also, for a natural fabric softener I am using vinegar. Just add about 1/3-1/2 cup of vinegar to your fabric softener spot (or Downey ball) and proceed as usual. There is no smell, it washes out, but softens your clothes naturally.
~Lori