I can assure you, this one is not much work at all!
About 10 years ago, we started making changes to our family's routine. First, we tackled our diet. We switched from processed foods to organic, cut out as many artificial colors and flavors as possible and eventually... moved our way to cleaning up our personal and cleaning supplies.
HOLY CRAP... that first walk down the "organic" or "green" personal care/cleaning aisle was STICKER SHOCK! I quickly learned that DIY was going to have to be in my vocabulary if I wanted it to be a long term thing.
We started our transition with vinegar based cleaners, essential oil air fresheners and this SUPER EASY LAUNDRY SOAP!
Not only is this soap a little more natural than most that you will find on the shelves BUT it can save your family a TON of money.
All you need is a few easy to find ingredients and, in my case, a few eager helpers!
(I have included the approximate cost based on the price at my local store. It may vary).
Homemade Laundry Detergent:
If your family isn't as big as mine, you can make a smaller batch (about 30 loads)
grate the soap by hand and place in blender or food processor. Once it is to a smaller texture...mix it with the other ingredients in a large bucket. Make sure you mix it well and some will suggest that you wear gloves. You will use 2 tablespoons per load.
- 1 box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Powder – $3.15
- 4lb box of Baking Soda – $2.12
- 1 box Borax – $3.39
- 3 bars Fels-Naptha – $2.91
- Your choice of essential oils to fragrance. I typically use a jar at a time of this laundry soap and add the EO's to that and then shake it up!
If your family isn't as big as mine, you can make a smaller batch (about 30 loads)
- 6-8 oz. Fels Naptha or other soap
- 1 Cup baking soda
- 1 Cup Borax
- 1 Cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
If you prefer liquid detergent- You are gonna need to work a lil harder!
Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent
1/2 bar of Fels-Naptha (if you use Ivory soap use a whole bar)
1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda
2 gallons of water, divided
Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent
1/2 bar of Fels-Naptha (if you use Ivory soap use a whole bar)
1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda
2 gallons of water, divided
Also need:
a grater
a large saucepan (8 cups or larger)
large bucket or container with lid
liquid storage containers for finished product
If you like fragrance---you can add some essential oil! Use whatever you like, lavender, orange, etc
Directions:
1. Grate 1/2 a bar of Fels-Naptha into a saucepan.
2. Cover shavings with 4 cups of water and heat on low and continue stirring often until the soap is melted. Usually about 10 minutes
3. Remove from heat. Add the borax and washing soda (and essential oils if you choose)and stir in another 4 cups of water. Mixture may look like pudding!
4. Pour mixture into a bucket or other container with a lid., add another 24 cups (or 1 gallon + 8 cups) and stir well.This may be a bit tricky but some people use a whisk or immersion blender.
5. Let mixture set overnight.
6. The next day, the congealed soap will have settled to the top. Stir it back in and pour into storage containers.You can use old laundry bottles or any container with a lid. I like to use a square container.
Use 1 cup per load!
a grater
a large saucepan (8 cups or larger)
large bucket or container with lid
liquid storage containers for finished product
If you like fragrance---you can add some essential oil! Use whatever you like, lavender, orange, etc
Directions:
1. Grate 1/2 a bar of Fels-Naptha into a saucepan.
2. Cover shavings with 4 cups of water and heat on low and continue stirring often until the soap is melted. Usually about 10 minutes
3. Remove from heat. Add the borax and washing soda (and essential oils if you choose)and stir in another 4 cups of water. Mixture may look like pudding!
4. Pour mixture into a bucket or other container with a lid., add another 24 cups (or 1 gallon + 8 cups) and stir well.This may be a bit tricky but some people use a whisk or immersion blender.
5. Let mixture set overnight.
6. The next day, the congealed soap will have settled to the top. Stir it back in and pour into storage containers.You can use old laundry bottles or any container with a lid. I like to use a square container.
Use 1 cup per load!
This soap cleans really well and saves you soooooooooooooooo much money!
For heavily soiled loads, you may want to presoak or use a stain paste ahead of the wash.
I hope you enjoy this easy jump into cleaner label - budget friendly cleaning products. If there are other cleaning products you would like to see, let me know!
If yoy wanna know more about the Essential Oils that I use, Check them out HERE ! I personally use Isagenix because they are a brand I can trust AND you get the benefit of member pricing with NO autoship and no enrollment fees :)
