Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap-
Front or top load machine- best value
4 Cups hot tap water
4 Cups hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup 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)
- 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)
So..I used Ivory Soap because it was all I could find & I love the smell. (Reminds me of grandma) 3 bars were $1.07 at Wal-Mart. The Borax was $2.98 & should last a life time. I could not find Arm & Hammer washing soda but other sites I read said that baking soda was just as good as it is a deodorizer. That box was $2.12 for a big box. I buy the big box because I use it for other things to such as a drain cleaner. The bucket was by far the most expensive item. The bucket itself was $4.24 while the lid (a must) was $1.27. I followed the directions but chose not to add oil as I like the smell of Ivory. Now the REALLY important part. When you do this have someone there to help you lift the bucket & put it out of the way. My husband did this. I did this yesterday & checked it this morning. It really wasn't to gelled but I stirred it and measured it out for just 1 load as it was an experiment. Now it wasn't really sudsy but that is not a problem for me as its just more chemicals. My clothes came out clean & smelled nice. I didn't add fabric softener just as a personal choice. I really liked this. I will have to keep store bought soap on hand for when my husband brings home clothes from offshore as they reek. I also wash those separately. I think that between making my soap & my husband putting in a clothes line I am well on my way to saving money.
In all seriousness though I am so not crafty. My sister is the Martha Stewart of the family, but this was easy so please give it a shot for yourself then be sure and let me know how it turns out.
Ohoo, glad you made the soap. I loved the gel stuff, but now I make the dry. I kept the gel in a 5-gallon bucket next to the washer and just scooped it out.
ReplyDeleteWashing soda - check kroger. Market basket has it too. It's a booster for the soap. I also bought a downy ball and add vinegar instead of fabric softener. Clothes come out soft and clean. It strips soap buildup on your clothes.
I got the dry soap recipe off of Heather's site :)