Homemade Laundry Soap-Great for High eff washers

[CityFarmGirl]

This is a recipe for homemade laundry soap. It is great for high efficiency washers because it is has very little suds but your clothes come out clean and fresh. It will cost approximate $5 - $6 to buy the supplies but will be enough to last you for a long time-more than a year depending if you decide to use it for other household cleaning. So making over 3 gallons of detergent costs about $1 and takes about 30 minutes to make.

3 gallons + 4 cups of water
1/2 cup of borax
1 cup of Arm & Hammer WASHING soda (not baking soda)
1 bar of Fells Naptha soap (I have heard any soap will work although this is a
true "soap" and this is the recipe that people used before store bought laundry
soap.
4 - 1 gallon containers (milk jugs work fine)
Wooden spoon you have dedicated to making soap
5 gallon bucket

Grade or cut the bar of soap into small pieces and melt in on the stove in 4 cups of water. Once melted, add the soda and stir until melted followed with the borax.

Add solution to the water in your bucket and mix. Pour the mixture into your containers and leave them alone for 24 hours.

After 24 hours, you will have a mixture that is a loose jell substance. I just shake mine before each use. Some people use a mixer and mix it up in the bucket after 24 hours and store it in the 5 gallon bucket. I prefer to be able to pour mine.

It will have a few lumps that will NOT affect the wash. They completely dissolve.

[dragnlaw]

Funny I was just on Wikipedia before reading this... talk about a co-incidence...

You can add an essential oil for fragrance. Use 1 -2 cups per load.

Also there is a dry version:-

A QUICK & EASY POWDER VERSION:

1 bar Fels Naptha soap, grated (comes to about 2 cups)

1 cup Washing Soda (Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda)

1 cup Borax (20 Mule Team)

Combine grated soap with washing soda & borax. Use 1 tablespoon for light load, 2 tablespoons for heavy or heavily soiled load. Use half that for front-loading washers.

and last but not least:

Social History Note
During the 1920s and 1930s, Fels Naptha was often said to be the preferred soap for washing a child's mouth out who had used bad language. Numerous people from this era attest to having been disciplined in this way. The size of the bar made the discipline all the more dramatic.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fels-Naptha"

[CityFarmGirl]

Dragn, the reason I make the liquid is because I have a high efficiency washer which uses minimal water. I didn't want to take a chance on it not dissolving all the way. That's interesting about washing the kid's mouth out.:tongue_smilie:

[Honey&HerHens]

I use the powdered version that dragnlaw posted and have for over two years. At first I was skeptical about the directions calling for 1-2 tablespoons, but it works great!

[CityFarmGirl]

I also take my powdered dishwasher soap and cut it with borax and soda. It goes a lot farther.

[Honey&HerHens]

I did that for a while, too, then read online somewhere that my machine would clean just as well with just 1 tablespoon of commercial powdered dishwasher detergent... tried it and it works great, too! My hubby works as a service technician repairing food service equipment. He told me that the amount called for in order to fill the soap reservoirs on dishwashers is actually way too much soap for the machine to handle and that it could lead to early failure of the machine. I researched it a bit online and found similar statements in several places. Strange, but true.

[dragnlaw]

CityFarmGirl,
1. I'm jealous, at least untiil the washer I have, breaks down and I can buy a new one.
2. My dishwasher has a name, and her name is Gwen.
3. My mother swore by Naptha soap. At one time we were in Norway/Sweden and introduced to a hard goats cheese, my father loved it - the rest of us swore it looked like Naptha Soap (and I swore it tasted like it too).

Honey&HerHens
4. I used to use both Borax and Baking Soda and did so for years, but for some reason got out of the habit... guess I better get back into, eh?

[CityFarmGirl]

I had to get one. I had 5 kids at home at one point. I needed the extra capacity! How did you come up with Gwen?

[dragnlaw]

Because that's my name and because I'm the one that has to wash the dishes.....

hmmm, good idea, my next dog - I'm gonna name Gwen!

[CityFarmGirl]

I get it. Sometimes I'm a little slow on the uptake! You're the dishwasher!:lol::lol:

[dragnlaw]

Ohhh, Ok, now I get it, you're only on the 2nd drink!

[Kim_Rosa]

ok Im laughing so hard the tears are rolling and my ribs hurt

Honeyandher.... does your hubby work for ecolab?

[CityFarmGirl]

Hi Kim! Hope you and the girls are well. Can't remember if you have roo's too. If so, hope their good also!

[cvtree]

Ohhh, Ok, now I get it, you're only on the 2nd drink!

Hey Gwen, My dishwasher also has a unique name, "Sheyne" with the the added pre-rinse feature Peg. My chicken chasing cat lover. Peace to all. Might have to evacuate tomorrow, we"ll see. God bless the fire crews. We do have a home for the chicks and great support from friends........... Let you know.:crying:

[CityFarmGirl]

Good luck to you and yours!

[Honey&HerHens]

Might have to evacuate tomorrow, we"ll see. God bless the fire crews. We do have a home for the chicks and great support from friends........... Let you know.:crying:

Our thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and neighbors.