Well, just stick a flower in my hair and call me Sunshine. I embraced my inner hippie again and made my own laundry soap.
I was inspired by my fav TV family, the Duggars. I saw the episode where they explained how they could have 18 (now 19) kids and be debt free (fyi, they were debt free before the show... so nobody can say it's because they got famous). Anyways, one of their tricks is to make their own laundry detergent. I thought I'd give it a try.
I spent about $10 on supplies for 10 gallons worth of liquid. A dollar a gallon? You can't beat that.
So in case you're interested in giving it a try, here's the recipe:
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 or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!
5 comments:
This is so cool that you did this!!!
With my spotty employment history of late, I go through periods where I am obsessed with reading all the frugal blogs. I dream of making my own soap and baking my own bread and such. Ultimately, I'm too lazy to track down stuff like washing soda. If it isn't at Food Lion, then ABM isn't buying it :-).
it's at our Harris Teeter! I was so excited when I saw it. So is the bar soap. It's located in the laundry section.
Hey! I found your link from Katie Cowans blog. I have seen this idea many times but never have I seen a recipe for liquid. So far how do you like how it has worked out for you? I really want to make some for us but now am wondering if I should go powder or liquid. ps. Tell your hubby I said hi. I knew him way back in the day in NC. Your little boys are adorable too! Congrats.
Hey Jenn-Lee! Seriously, this has been the BEST money saver. I just now refilled my container for the first time since I posted this. I just like liquid because it's easy clean up if it spills. I tend to be a tad clumsy. :) I haven't tried powder, but I'm sure they'd both work just fine.
Oh, and Brad says hello back! Nice to meet you!
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