I have had a few people request the recipe I use for Homemade Laundry Soap. I started making my own soap about a month ago and wish I would have done it sooner. My good friend started making her own soap a while back and inspired me to do the same. (Thanks arrow sparrow) My recipe is different than hers in that she uses the powder version and I use the liquid gel version. They both use the same basic ingredients. The cost comes out to be about .71 cents per 2 gallons. That is about .01 cent a load. It works very well and smells great! Enjoy.
Homemade Laundry Soap
1/3 bar Fels Naptha or other type of bar soap. (I use a little more than 1/3 of a bar as it contributes to a better gel. Ivory works well for those with sensitive skin)
½ cup washing soda
½ cup borax powder
~You will also need a small bucket, about 2 gallon size~ (Or you can save a laundry detergent container to refill)
Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan. Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into the bucket. Now add your soap mixture and stir. Now add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. You use ½ cup per load.
I also use a few tablespoons of vinegar per load as a fabric softener. No, this does not make your clothes smell. It does not soften as well as commercial bought softeners but is still a good alternative.
2 comments:
I've been washing my hair with just baking soda and loving it...time to move on to the laundry! :)
Where did you buy the washing soda? I haven't seen it in a store yet.
Lee (from the WTM board)
Washing hair with baking soda?? I want the details, that sounds GREAT! How do you do that, and what does it do to your hair/scalp? Is it abrasive? Does it take the shine off the hair shaft or irritate the scalp? Details please :).
You can call Arm and Hammer and ask them if there is a store locally that sells washing soda. BE WARNED though, because they said that I did not have anywhere within 100 miles BUT I did find it locally, but in a chain store. I think if it is a chain store, they do not enter in each store in that chain, possibly.
The same chemical can be found in the pool cleaning section BUT a)be careful you know what all is in the bottle and b)it is probably 3x the price or more of the same stuff a few aisles away in the laundry section.
sparrow
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