Make Your Own Laundry Soap

Ok so I have shared with some of my friends my newest excitement in saving money... making my own laundry soap! I seriously dislike buying laundry soap because for one I believe laundry is my enemy and for two it cost way to much to do something I dislike greatly :-) But I was really excited when watching The Duggars on TLC and saw that they make their own laundry soap that cost roughly $2 to make 10 gallons! I don't know about you but 10 gallons of laundry soap will last a very long time in my house. So for the last 3 weeks I have been using homemade laundry soap and it works great!

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. (I used Ivory since I couldn't find Fels-Naptha) Washing Soda (I found this in an Arm & Hammer Box in the Laundry aisle) and Borax can normally be found on the laundry or cleaning aisle. Recipe cost approx. $2.

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

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. (I haven't tried this because I didn't find the essential 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)

My friend Sandy asked about dryer sheets as well... check out the Duggars site to get recipes for dryer sheets, powdered laundry soap ect.

Happy Laundry!