Last week I showed you how to make your own Dishwasher Detergent.
Today we are talking LAUNDRY!
Don't you love to do laundry? I do. HA!
It is the bane of my existence!
The thing I hate the worst is running out of laundry soap.
Oh! and spending a fortune on laundry detergent!
Oh! and getting it and finding out it makes my family all itchy.
So here is the solution:
MAKE YOUR OWN!
Your ingredients are:
- 5 gallon bucket
- old detergent bottles (small enough to lift and shake easily)
- Borax
- Washing Soda
- Fels Naptha bar soap
All of these ingredients can be found in your supermarket. Walmart has Borax and gallon bucket with lids. Smith's has Washing Soda, Borax and the Fels Napth bars.
In a soup pan start to boil 4 cups of water.While that is starting get you bar of soap and grate/chop fine. it melt easier this way. The reason you are using Fels Naptha is because it is a washing agent. Better that regular bar soap that is made for your skin. Read the wrapper.
Once water comes to a boil add your shavings and cook till melted.
In your 5 gallon bucket put 3 gallons of water, as hot as you can get it.
When your shavings have melted add it to your bucket and stir.
Add a 1/2 cup Borax and stir till dissolved.
Add 1 cup Washing soda and stir till dissolved.
Stir for a few minutes to combine well.
Put your lid on the bucket and go to bed.
Yeah, GO TO BED!
In the morning it will look like this.Yuck! Goopy, runny and it smells so good!
Mix it up good and disperse it into leftover containers.
TIP: Cut the bottom off of a milk container and use it as a funnel.
This recipe filled the equivalent of 4 containers of detergent/16 cups.WOW!
That is a lot of detergent!
And cheep!
Use a 1/2 cup per load. Adjust as needed depending on the hardness of you water. Use a little less if your clothes are stiff, more if you feel you need it. Play around.
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***Shake the container before each use. That is why you want smaller containers.
***This is a low sudsing soap. If you don't see suds that that is fine.
The suds are not what cleans your clothes.
***I have done some research and found that homemade detergent works great on HE Washers. Apparently the only issue with HE washers is that they need a low sudsing detergent. Well this is a very low sudsing detergent so it should work great. I DO NOT HAVE AN HE WASHER. This information is based on web research. I have seen that if you use other detergents that it voids your washers warranty. So take that with consideration.
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I like this recipe because it does not make my family itch! No perfumes. I know exactly what is in it.
Thank you for sharing the recipe. I am going to make this and try it out. I am going to follow if that's alright. Love your blog. I invite you to visit mine.
ReplyDeleteToodie
I would love to have you enter this on my party at ItsSoVeryCheri.com and then over at our other site theDIYClub.com We have a weekly DIY Living party.
ReplyDeleteCheri
Thank you for sharing your recipe. I've tried a few, but seeing it step-by-step helps sooo much.
ReplyDeletedo you think I could use one of my regular cooking soup pans, or should I get one specifically for detergent making?
-dani
I am going to give this a try i think. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI do have an HE washer and i use the same recipe, i LOVE it! It works great, gets clothes clean, smells awesome, AND doesn't irritate my babies super sensitive skin!
ReplyDeleteWhat section of the store is Fels Naptha usually found in? Is it only available at Smith's or have you seen it at other stores?
ReplyDeleteTo Dani:
ReplyDeleteYes! Use your regular pan. Just give it a good wash when you are done!
Chelsea
To Melissa:
ReplyDeleteI got my Fels Naptha at Smiths in the laundry isle. I could not find it at Walmart. I would think it would be at most grocery stores like Albertson's or Vons. Walmart just doesn't carry everything. Does that help?
Chelsea
I'm going to try this asap! Thanks so much for the tutorial.
ReplyDeleteThis is great! I have wanted to do this. I hope that I can use it. Thanks a bunch for linking up to Tuesday Tell All.
ReplyDeleteSounds great. Would love to try this out!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up for Friday Favorites! Hope to see you again this week!
Chelsea, Great idea thanks for sharing the recipe and tips! I featured this on the Sunday Showcase post. Stop by and grab a button if you like. Thanks so much for linking up. Hope you are enjoying your week! ~ Stephanie Lynn
ReplyDelete