Homemade Laundry Soap

 

Making Laundry Soap Tutorial

Yes, I've now made my own laundry soap. Was it difficult? Time consuming? The answer is no and I, myself was quite surprised at how quickly it was made.

Ingredients:  The prices listed are a guess on the high end because I didn't keep my receipt.

Borax Laundry Booster  ($ $4.00)
Arm & Hammer Washing Soda  ($4.00)
Fels-Naptha bar soap (Zote or, Ivory...etc.) ($.97) (don't try bath soap; they contain oils and perfumes that can stain clothes and become an irritant to sensitive skin)


You can find these 3 items on the laundry aisle at your local Wal-mart, usually they are grouped together.

Make sure you specifically get Washing Soda, this is different than baking soda so please do not try to substitute it.
The purpose of the Washing Soda is to help remove odors and dirt.

Borax is a natural mineral otherwise known as sodium decaborate tetrahydrate and is used as a deodorizer and whitener. In case you are ingredient suspicious such as I am, it is also found in toothpaste and hand soap.

The Recipe!

1/2 bar Fels Naptha  (Ivory, Zote or Sunlight will also work)

½ cup washing soda

½ cup borax powder 

2 gallons water

A bucket (2-5 gallon) ( found near paint in Wal-mart)

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, stirring until dissolved.  Once dissolved remove immediately from the heat.  Pour 4 cups hot water into your bucket Next, add your soap mixture and stir. Add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. You will need to let your soap sit for 24 hours until it becomes a gel. Use 1/2 cup per load.

Next, you need a cheese grater to grate your bar of soap. I enlisted the help of my 8 year old.

Measure out the Borax and Washing Soda into a bowl, while you melt the soap along with 6 cups of water on the stovetop.

 

Once soap mixture is melted pour into your bucket and then add the 4 cups of hot water.  Stir

 

 

Now add 1 gallon; plus 6 cups of water and stir!

 

 

Notes: Low sudsing. It is the ingredients in the soap, not the suds, that does the cleaning.

               Clumping and geling of the detergent is normal.