i had always wanted to make home-made laundry detergent.
but something was stopping me.
that's until sandra said she made her own.
and that was all i needed... a little boost. well, that and her recipe.
(a recipe that she got from a friend.)
we just made our second batch last month.
(as in, our 2nd 5 gallon bucket.)
the first one we made last october.
(as in... october 2009.)
we refilled our detergent bottle 20 times with that batch.
(it costs less than $5.00 to make that entire 5 gallon bucket.)
we have been happy with how this detergent cleans.
which i suppose is what really matters....
you know, being laundry detergent and all ;)
so here we go...
let's make some homemade laundry detergent!
(find copy-paste-and-printable directions after all these pics with directions ;)
start off with borax, washing soda and a bar of fels-naptha...
keep stirring over med-high heat until melted...
next measure out 1 cup of washing soda and 1/2 cup of borax...
then fill the rest of the bottle with water.
shake up well before each use.
it gels up ;)
we use about one full detergent bottle cap for each load.
(which is about 5/8 cup as per directed.)
now here are the directions straight from sandra, i'd print these if you want to try it out ;)
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.
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.
-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)
7 comments:
That's the exact recipe word for word that we've been using for two years now I think? I will never buy another container of detergent again! :)
Oh I'm TOTALLY trying this Jen!!! So glad I checked your blog today. I spend a fortune on laundry detergent ... especially during football season! Chris alone has three sweaty outfits a day. Did you add an oil? I like the smell of my detergent ....
Very cool! My friend recently started using homemade laundry soap too. I'm planning on trying it, but I have to finish my stock of Costco stuff first. :)
So - does it clean as well?? I've got MESSY boys. :)
tammy - no we don't add oil. we like it plain :) the fels naptha smells clean and fresh, but by time it's all made, it's a very faint smell. but still nice!
molly - i think it does clean as well. every now and then ill have to wash something twice. and i still love my shout spray. but i did those things with store detergent too. all 4 of us are pretty messy ;)
Ok, I really want to try this!
I've been wanting to try that too. And homemade shampoo as well. Perhaps I'll start with laundry detergent since I have enough for one more load.
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