I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical. Me, make my own homemade laundry detergent?
I want to grind my own grain too but haven’t managed to pull that one off. I am all about saving money but some things aren’t worth the effort and really thought homemade laundry detergent would fall in this category. I was wrong. I am so glad when a good friend mentioned it, that I tried it. I haven’t bought laundry detergent in 4 years!
As my mom always said, It is as easy as pie; easy enough for a 5 year old!:
Put in pot. Add 6 c water and heat until soap dissolves. Add Arm & Hammer soda & Borax and stir until completely dissolved.
Stir constantly. Watch or mixture will bubble over. Remove from heat.
Pour 4 c hot water into bucket then add soap mixture and stir. Add 1 gallon plus 6 c water and stir.
Let mixture sit for 24 hours to gel, stirring occasionally.
My kids love stirring the detergent mixture
and funneling detergent into containers.
Use 1/2 cup to 3/4 per load depending on size.
I double the recipe and use a 5 gallon bucket now. Just double everything in recipe including the water amounts. Doubling it requires less work and the detergent lasts a long time.
A fellow fru-gal on an e-loop I am on has mentioned using Fels-Naptha (Harris Teeter carries) in their detergent recipe. I tried it on this batch but honesty could not tell a difference in clean. It did turn the color of the detergent a little yellow, other wise it looks a milky white.
I initially used clean milk jugs to store detergent but found they would crack and leak. Juice bottles work the best as they are stronger and more durable. (100% juice brand from Aldi or Juicy Juice.)
The detergent works great. It doesn’t bubble up like store bought detergents and it took a long time to get used to that. I think I always associated bubbles with cleanliness. It is my understanding that less bubbles are better for front loading washing machines.
I also tried tea tree oil drops for fragrance but couldn’t tell a difference. I think it smells wonderful as is and makes your kitchen smell clean clean clean when you make a batch.
The cost including tax is 2 cents per load at 1/2 c or 3 cents if you use 3/4 c per load. It is a great way to save money! I haven’t bought laundry detergent in 4 years!
What are some ways you have found to save money in your home?
Ingredients:
- 1/2 bar of Ivory soap (Or Fels-Naptha-can be purchased at Harris Teeter)
- 1/2 c Arm & Hammer Washing Soda-not baking soda (or Arm & Hammer Laundry Detergent-seems to have more stain fighting power)
- 1/2 c Borax
- Large paint stick or spoon to stir mixture
- 2 Gallon Bucket (or 5 gallon bucket if doubled) Can be purchased at Home Depot
- water
- Optional: Essential oil
Instructions:
Grate 1/2 bar of Ivory soap.
Put in pot. Add 6 c water and heat until soap dissolves. Add Arm & Hammer soda & Borax and stir until completely dissolved.
Stir constantly. Watch or mixture will bubble over. Remove from heat.
Pour 4 c hot water into bucket then add soap mixture and stir. Add 1 gallon plus 6 c water and stir.
Let mixture sit for 24 hours to gel, stirring occasionally.
My kids love stirring the detergent mixture
and funneling detergent into containers.
Use 1/2 cup to 3/4 per load depending on size.
I double the recipe and use a 5 gallon bucket now. Just double everything in recipe including the water amounts. Doubling it requires less work and the detergent lasts a long time.
A fellow fru-gal on an e-loop I am on has mentioned using Fels-Naptha (Harris Teeter carries) in their detergent recipe. I tried it on this batch but honesty could not tell a difference in clean. It did turn the color of the detergent a little yellow, other wise it looks a milky white.
I initially used clean milk jugs to store detergent but found they would crack and leak. Juice bottles work the best as they are stronger and more durable. (100% juice brand from Aldi or Juicy Juice.)
The detergent works great. It doesn’t bubble up like store bought detergents and it took a long time to get used to that. I think I always associated bubbles with cleanliness. It is my understanding that less bubbles are better for front loading washing machines.
I also tried tea tree oil drops for fragrance but couldn’t tell a difference. I think it smells wonderful as is and makes your kitchen smell clean clean clean when you make a batch.
The cost including tax is 2 cents per load at 1/2 c or 3 cents if you use 3/4 c per load. It is a great way to save money! I haven’t bought laundry detergent in 4 years!
What are some ways you have found to save money in your home?
