My Works For Me Wednesday post is a simple recipe that I've been making for a couple of years now. It is really easy to make, doesn't require the use of a hot stovetop or the oven (which is a bonus here right now when it's in the 80s and humid). And another bonus? It is relatively inexpensive to make, especially when compared to the storebought version. What is this cheap, easy and cool recipe? Laundry soap! Yup. Laundry soap. :) I have been making my own laundry soap for a couple of years and actually prefer it to the store bought stuff. My girlfriend Mel gave me a tub of store bought soap not too long ago when she went to a chemical free hippie version. I'm so glad to be nearly done with it so I can go back to my homemade blend!
Ready for this magical potion? Here you go!
Homemade Laundry Soap
1 bar Fels Naptha soap (This is found in the laundry product aisle of the grocery stores in the area. Walmart might carry this product but I don't usually buy it there. If you cannot find this brand or have sensitive skin in your household it is okay to sub in other bar soap. I've done it a couple times and it works just fine.)
1 cup washing soda (I buy this at Cub foods. Call around to your grocery stores to see if they carry this. It is NOT the same as baking soda so you cannot sub in one for the other. This comes in a bright yellow box.)
1 cup borax (The only ingredient that Wally World DOES carry!)
Grate the soap. Gently stir the other ingredients in together. Or dump it all in a big ice cream tub, put the lid on and shake it around to mix. Use as powdered. I can make a x4 batch in about 20 minutes using a hand grater. This lasts for months and I do a couple of loads a day. If you have a food processor you can use that to do the soap, but for my money it's more work to get the thing out, put it together, wash it, dry it and put it away than it is to use the box grater I use for my cheese.
Use 1 Tablespoon per load or 2 Tablespoons for a really grimy load. Yes, only 1 Tablespoon!
This works in the high efficiency front loading machines. If you have some extra stinky clothes (like potty training accidents or wet towels that have sat for too long) toss 1/4 cup borax in the machine before you start it up.
And there you go! A simple, non stove, non oven using recipe that will benefit your family and your budget! Works for me!
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8 comments:
Wow! That's amazing. We've got a huge Cosco bottle right now that we haven't even opened yet, but give me a few months, and I might just try this. Is there a bar soap you recommend for this for sensitive skin?
Tara's mom, Grammasheila. is going to start using this as well. After 50 years of doing laundry, I thought, "Why not?"
Great recipe! This really does work! :)
I can't wait to try! Thanks, lady! :)
I've been dying to try this, but locating the ingredients has been like the search for the Holy Grail. I can get Borax at WalMart, I finally found the soap at a local shop, but washing soda simply does not exist in my state apparently and buying it online and paying shipping costs seems to negate the purpose.
I have used this recipe for a while now and my mom uses it in her B&B. I cannot tell the difference in how the clothes come out! Love it!
Can you use this soap during the cold cycle in your washer?
We have been making the stove top gel version but this seems a lot easier.
We don't wash in warm or hot.
Thanks for the tip!!
Our household has been using the powdered version for about a year now and it is great!! We use Zote instead of Fels soap. I have heard others use Ivory soap, which is great for those with sensitive skin. Zote can be found at WalMart and costs about .97¢. It can also be found at Ethnic markets. We love Homemade Laundry soap in our household.
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