I started doing this about a year and a half ago. This is a real money saver and does not take that much time. It has worked out to be about one batch/bucketfull a year for me and these ingredients make more than one batch. I spent about $6 on the ingredients and this detergent really does clean the clothes just as well! I still buy my fabric softener, but I know you can make that too. Here's how to do it:
Ingredients: I got mine at Target and Publix
4 Cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super 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.
(I know it looks like I have two big toes, but I was standing on my foot, I guess. )-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. (You can get this at the Vitamin store or Hobby Lobby) I add this to mine to make it smell good.
-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)
*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!
Source: Duggar Family Website
Would love to know if you try it and what you think!
4 comments:
We've used that same recipe for the past two or three years. I still use spray and wash on stains or presoak them in hydrogen peroxide (as long as there isn't any metal like snaps on the garment) and I've been really happy with it.
☺ Celeste
I use that recipe only minus the water... I have a front loader and have found if I use POWDER laundry soap it keeps the machine from getting stinky as front loaders do... hahaha
love it! Gotta give this a try. I started buying cheap laundry soap, the kind that comes in a bag. I sprinkle in borax,lavender oil and tea tree essential oils. It works great. My clothes are seldom ever really dirty. We don't have kids so i thought it was ridicules for us to spend all that cash on laundry soaps that claim to rid vintage stains from years past. I have tried something similar once but found that the bar soap didn’t dissolve properly in cold water. My recipe called for shredded soap --without melting. This blend sounds interesting!! Thanks for posting!
Kristtie
I am going to try this - eventually. I was in desperate need of laundry detergent, but I didn't have time to purchase and make the detergent before I needed to wash again. So, here's hoping for some homemade detergent before my container of "Wind Fresh" from Sam's runs out.
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