A few months back I wrote about homemade laundry detergent.
It’s an easy way to save some money – and your clothes will never be whiter (even the red ones).
JUST KIDDING!
I made a fresh batch this afternoon, and since some folks might need pictures to help them over the hump, I documented my home brew techniques…
Step One: grate up a bar of soap (something without perfume in it). This will take about 30 seconds.
Lovely little pile of soap.
Step Two: put the grated up bar of soap in a pan and add 4 cups of hot water. Turn on the burner and heat up the soap until it dissolves
(I didn’t get a picture of the sauce pan with dissolved soap in it, but you can take my word for it)
Step Three: get a five gallon bucket and fill it up half way with hot water
Step Four: pour the melted soap into the bucket.
(again, picture-less!)
Step Five: measure out 1 Cup of Washing Soda and dump it in the bucket
Step Six: measure out 1/2 Cup of Borax and dump it in the bucket
Step Seven: Stir
Step Eight: store bucket overnight until you have gelatinous goo, otherwise known as laundry detergent.
Step Nine: Transfer the detergent into your old, store bought container and proceed to wash clothes as normal. Use 1/2 Cup for top loading machines and 1/4 Cup for front loading machines
Happy Washing!
If you want a powder detergent recipe, have questions about the cost effectiveness, wonder what I used to think about making my own detergent, or prefer a post without pictures I wrote about these things before…
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
Ok, Sharon, I think we really should be neighbors. Our boys can play together and you and I just have fun making cleaners! LOL! I have been making my own laundry detergent (powder version) and dish washer detergent as well. I, too, love how the clothes smell and money saved. I also use baking soda, vinegar and salt for other house cleaners. I imagine you do that too, right? We have been living and eating healthier since January 2008 and still can't believe how wonderful that makes us feel. I think we only have one (if it is still there) commercial cleaner left under the kids' bedroom sink – I think it is a mildew killer or something like that. I guess I will find out when I do my January winter-clean).
I made my first batch of homemade detergent a while back….the powder form…much cheaper and I love it much better!!!
Oh wow. I'm totally going to give this a try. Although I do admit I'm sort of addicted to that Tide smell. But I think if I'm saving money I can get over that pretty fast!
I'm writing this down for future use. I still have lots of detergent left from free/super cheap deals but if I ever run out I want a cheap good solution. Thanks for the step by step, it seems much easier like this than when I read it before.
I loved it! only some questions…how much was the final cost?? and how many laundries can you do?? thanks
WOW – that looks so easy, I may just try it. AND Ivory BAR soap is FREE this week with coupon at CVS!! I would also like to know how much it makes – loads wise and what size container does it fit in.
Hmmm, doesn't sound too hard. Maybe I should give it a try. Do you prefer the liquid one over the powder kind?
I have been looking for fels natha soap, but I bet the ivory would be easier to find, thanks for the recipe. I have a different recipe but the other ingredients were the same.
Thanks,
Carey
Seriously? It's that's simple to do? I've always pictured making homemade laundry detergent and using it to wash clothes as mixing and brewing in a pot over a campfire or something like that, followed by washing my clothes on a rock next to the river.
Guess I was a little off on my ideas, huh?
Thanks for the recipe. I might have to give this one a try!
Jeanine
Thanks for the picture tutorial. You make it seem so easy. After several months of using this laundry detergent, have you found it cleans as well, better, worse? Just curious.
I love the picture tutorial.. I am surprised it is that simple. Thanks for sharing.. visiting via SITS
hm….I've seen the duggars do this…i just wonder if it's really worth the effort.
like:
how long does it last?
how good does it clean?
is it really saving money?
oh, and i forgot to say…YOU ARE SO CUTE!!!!!!!
This is such a helpful post. I never knew you could do this! And the photos make it seem like someone like me could even do it!
Your previous recipe said to cut the mixture in half again with water when transfering it into the final dispenser, but this time you left that step out. Was that on purpose or … ? Thanks!
Hi Sharon! I am so encouraged to try this! How many loads do you get with all your supplies? Have you ever figured out the price per load? Just curious……
I've always wanted to try this and with your pictures, it made it look so much more do-able! Thanks for sharing!
This is an excellent post! I would love to have you link up for Thrifty Thursday!
http://couponteacher.blogspot.com/2009/12/thrifty-thursday-new-year.html
Thanks for the reminder! I need to get on mine and make some since I bought all the stuff and said I would make it once I finished off all the store bought stuff. You can also add some essential oils to give it some nice scent if you would like.
) I'm going to add something to mine. Also use vinegar for fabric softener and throw a cloth in the dryer with a little essential oil on it for some nice scent. Fresh clean laundry! MMMMMM!
I made the laundry soap and it is a beautiful formula.
I used to have to buy expensive no perfume detergents because my son's skin became so irritated. Now, I use this homemade version with great results. I added lavender essential oil to the batch and it smells so nice when I do the laundry. It also smells wonderful when I am making the soap in the kitchen.
I will not be buying the synthetic commercial brands anymore and have cash to save.
Got a recipe for dish soap?
Take care, God Bless, and thanks for your wonderful blog.
Sharon,
Thanks for linking up! This is such a great idea! Especially for people allergic to perfume and dies. Thanks so much for sharing!