Saving Money!!!!!!!!!

Lately, my husband has been making homemade olive oil soap and is going to start making me candles (he wanted to teach my son chemistry, but wanted to make something useful while he was at it).

I went out to dinner with a bunch of ladies a few weeks ago and one was telling me that she makes her own laundry/dishwasher soap. From the many people I have talked to, it works just as well as store bought. I don't know about you, but I hate buying laundry detergent because it is so expensive! So, Matt & I made our own! Plus, it only costs $5 for 640 loads (if you make the liquid one).  We did some research and yes, these recipes are safe for High Efficiency Washing Machines :)

If you want to make a stronger one for "whites" then you add more borax. I am going to make one for whites and one for darks.

Below is the recipe. Enjoy!

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

4  Cups - hot tap water
1  Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of 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.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores. Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

Powdered Laundry Detergent - Top load machine

1   Fels-Naptha soap bar
1  Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½  Cup Borax

-Grate soap or break into pieces and process in a food processor until powdered. Mix all ingredients. For light load, use 1 Tablespoon. For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 Tablespoons. Yields: 3 Cups detergent. (Approx. 40 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda." Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

TIPS FOR LAUNDRY SOAP: We use Fels-Naptha  bar soap in the homemade soap recipes, but you can use Ivory, Sunlight, Kirk's Hardwater Castile or Zote bars. Don't use heavily perfumed soaps. Washing Soda and Borax can often be found on the laundry or cleaning aisle. Recipe cost approx. $2 per batch.

 

I am making the dry detergent. I hate all the containers that pollute the top of my washing machine so I am putting the detergent in a pretty apothecary jar with a silver scoop. I know, I am a dork! ~S