I was introduced to this money saving idea by my mom not long ago and I have found that it saves me so much money! This homemade laundry soap can be made in about twenty minutes and will last months! I made a batch about five months ago and I still have enough left for six to seven more months. All of the ingredients only cost me about ten dollars (that's about how much a gallon of store bought laundry soap costs depending on the brand). Variations of this recipe can be found online (I found mine online and am sharing it with you) and can be personalized to fit your favorite scent. I hope you enjoy this money saving tip as much as I do!
Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top loading machine-
best value
Takes about twenty –five minutes from start to finish
4 cups hot tap water
1 Fels-naptha soap bar
2 cups washing soda
1 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 five 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 over night to
thicken.
Stir and fill a used, clean laundry soap dispenser (or
another small bucket with lid) half full with soap and then fill the rest of
the way with water. Shake (or stir) before each use (will gel).
-Optional: You can add 5-10 drops of essential oils per two
gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil etc.
-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes ten gallons (five gallons
concentrate)
-Top load machine: 5/8 cup per load (approx. 180 loads)
-Front load machine: ¼ cup per load (approx 640 loads)
*Any pot can be used to make this, it is easily cleaned and
will not leave a funny taste or smell to your pot.
I used an old five gallon chlorine tablet bucket with a
screw on lid and have found this to be the best way to store the large amount
of soap.
If, after a while, you feel that your clothes are not
feeling as clean as you’d like, you can combine the homemade soap in the
washing machine with a store bought detergent. (ex. half and half.)