O.K. so everyone knows that times are tough on everyone these days and in honor of our hard economical times I decided to learn how to make homemade laundry soap. How you ask? Well it is very simple actually and way more natural than what's out there on the store shelves.
Two weeks ago I was watching The Duggars on TLC, www.duggarfamily.com they are a very conservative christian family that has 17 kids and number 18 on it's way! People want to know how they can support a family of 17 kids and how they manage them all. First of all let me say that Michelle Duggar is my hero mom, she is amazing and has so many tips for all of us moms that have 2, 1 or more children. Well, back to the episode I was watching, one of the ways they save money is by making their own laundry soap. I decided to do some research on the internet and found that many people are doing this, making laundry soap at home. After I found out that I was not crazy for trying to make my own laundry soap I collected several recipes. The ingredients are pretty easy to find and very inexpensive! All you need is:
1/3 bar of soap(any kind will do- Zote, Dove,Fels-Naptha)
1/2 cup of Borax
1/2 cup of Washing Soda (NOT baking soda)
Funnel
1Gl. Container(a used empty water or milk container)
Instructions:
Shave 1/3 of the bar of soap with food processor or cheese grater
In a pot pour 4 cups of water and add the shaved soap, under low heat stir until it is dissolved. Make sure it doesn't boil.
Once the soap is dissolved add the Washing soda and dissolve then add the Borax until dissolved.
Now that all ingredients are dissolved take your funnel and use it to pour the ingredients from the pot into the 1gl. container.
Add very hot water to the container all the way to the top. Now cover your container and shake well.
Let it sit for 24 hrs.
Your end product will have a gel consistency(kind of like egg soup)
Use 1/2 cup to every load. Pour before you place your clothes in.
I just made 3 loads with my new laundry soap and let me tell you, I am very satisfied! I didn't even use bleach on my very dirty whites and it came out as though I had used the bleach!
I am amazed to say the least. How long did it take me to make this batch you ask? A whopping 10 minutes!!!!!!!!!! I always say "You can do anything for 15 minutes except whine", well it took me less than 15 minutes and it will cost me only 5cents a load! Yes you read it right, only 5cents a load!
Update: Let me say that if you have hard water this recipe will not work for you. At first your laundry will look clean and all will be great with the world, but with time your clothes will start to look dingy and spots will start to show up. So sad to say, I was not able to continue to use this wonderful recipe.
