Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

Don't worry, the scrub board is a joke . . . well kind of . . .  I do have one put back.  Rocks just don't seem very fun!  I took scrubbing lessons from a movie, so now I know just how to use it and if we need a percussion section for a family band, I have lots of thimbles. 

A friend of mine has been telling us all about the laundry soap one of her daughters has been using.  It works really well, doesn't have a bunch of fillers to make it look like your getting a whole bunch, (which of course also takes more room to store) has no fragrances to make everything smell "clean" . . . hello . .  isn't that one of the reasons we wash our clothes, to get rid of odors and is made of just basic, good old fashioned cleaning stuff!  I remember grating homemade soap that was given to us,when my family was tight for a few months, and it seemed to work OK.  

Anyway,  young friend of mine in Texas, Rachel, had this on her blog. I am totally ripping it all off, thanks to her generous email.  Down below are her results, looks good.  Today I will get the stuff and try it on some other really old stains, and let you know how it works!  I do plan to use the dry recipe, less storage space.  I also think I will try it as a spotter in liquid form.  I haven't bought any laundry spray for years . .  Spray & Wash is OK, but there are way better things you can make!

I am pretty sure I have seen all of these ingredients at Walmart.  I would buy the washing soda AKA baking soda.  I buy it at Costco, put a little in a clean container in the kitchen, and take the rest out to the garage.

TIPS FOR LAUNDRY SOAP: We use Fels-Naptha  bar soap in the homemade soap recipes, but you can use Ivory, Sunlight, Kirk's Hardwater Castile or Zote bars. Don't use heavily perfumed soaps. We buy Fels-Naptha by the case from our local grocer or online. Washing Soda and Borax can normally be found on the laundry or cleaning aisle. Recipe cost approx. $2.

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

• 4  Cups hot tap water
  
• 1  Fels-Naptha soap bar
• 1  Cup Washing Soda
  
• ½ Cup Borax
  

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

Powdered Laundry Detergent- Top load machine

• 1   Fels-Naptha soap bar
  
• 1   Cup Washing Soda
  
• ½  Cup Borax
  

-Grate soap or break into pieces and process in a food processor until powdered. Mix all ingredients. For light load, use 1 Tablespoon. For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 Tablespoons. Yields: 3 Cups detergent. (Approx. 40 loads)