Laundry Detergent

Laundry detergent is expensive these days and going more eco-friendly typically brings an even higher cost!  A few months ago I realized that the bargain brand was irritating my skin and we just couldn't afford the good stuff at the time.  So my solution was to try my hand at making my own.  Not only does it not bother my skin, but the cost is simply fantastic!  Here's the recipe!


Ingredients:
-Clean five gallon bucket with lid
-Vegetable peeler or cheese grater
-4 cups of hot water--i just use tap water

-1 bar of soap--most recipes call for Fels-Naptha but I prefer to use Ivory Snow
-1 cup of Washing Soda--I use Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
-1/2 cup powder borax
-Essential Oils to add a scent--I like to use clean linen or lavender

*Note--Baking soda does not work for laundry detergent.  It can be any brand of washing soda but it must be sodium carbonate! 

Ivory snow can be found in most stores in the body soap aisle.  Borax, Fels-Naptha, and Washing Soda are typically found in the laundry detergent aisle near the powders.  I have always been able to find everything I needed for this recipe at Wal-Mart.

Instructions:
1.  Shave or grate your bar of soap into a saucepan containing the 4 cups of hot water.
2.  On low heat (sometimes you will need to go up to medium depending on your stove) melt the soap into the water while stirring constantly.
3.  While the soap is melting, measure out and combine your washing soda and borax.
4.  Fill you bucket half full with more hot water.
5.  Once the soap is completely melted, pour the soapy water into your bucket.
6.  Add the borax and washing soda mixture to the bucket and stir until it is completely dissolved.
7.  Cover the bucket with the lid and let cool overnight.
8.  Give the detergent a good stir to mix it all up.
9.  Optional--add about 15-20 drops of essential oil per 2.5 gallons of detergent, so 30-40 for a full five gallon bucket.
10.  Take an empty detergent bottle (yay for re-using!) that has been thouroughly cleaned out and fill it half full with detergent then fill the rest of the way with water. 

Always stir the detergent in the bucket before refilling your container and shake your container before using the detergent in the wash.  The mixture will gel so you need to be sure to mix it up well. 

Also, designate a sauce pan, spoon, grater/peeler, etc. for making detergent.  You don't want to risk soap residue getting into your food later on!