Friday, January 8, 2010

Homemade laundry soap...cheap, cheap, cheap!


I just found out how to make laundry detergent and it's so easy and SO cheap to make, I wish I'd known this years ago. With all the bedding and towels we wash in the summer with the B&B and cottage rentals this is going to save a bundle. I found the borax and the washing soda side by side in the detergent aisle at the superstore. The bulk barn had the laundry bar soap.
The recipe :
1 bar regular people soap like dove or 1/3 to 1/2 bar laundry soap
1/2 cup arm&hammer washing soda
1/2 cup borax powder
Bucket or container with lid. This makes a bit over 2 gallons.

Grate the bar of soap and put it in a saucepan. Add 6 cups of water and heat it, stirring occasionally, until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and borax and stir til dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups of 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 24 hours and it will gel. Use 1/2 cup per load.
For HE machines use 1/3 to 1/2 cup depending on load size. Works fine in cold water.
The cost of making this 2 gallon batch is under $2.00 The big manufacturers are making a killing!

3 comments:

Gwen Buchanan said...

Kathi, I am definitely going to try this.. great instructions!!!

...seems so easy... funny, how all these years we have been paying people to make things more complicated...

simple is better... less is more!!

Lovethiscottage.blogspot.com said...

It makes me wonder how many other simple recipes are out there for products we think we need to buy from big companies, and we really dont. I just washed my hair with baking soda/apple cider vinegar and am waiting for it to dry to see if it works ok. Jimmy thinks Im getting a little crazy...

Gwen Buchanan said...

Apple Cider Vinegar is suppose to be good for everything... if all else fails you can even drink your shampoo... well maybe without the baking soda...


.. oh.. I have all the ingredients for the laundry soap and think I will make it tomorrow..