Homemade Laundry Soap for Top or Front Loaders

This Recipe is for liquid laundry soap and can be used in top or front end machines. It costs around $7-$10 dollars to get started but you don't use all the ingredients up in one batch of soap so the next time it only costs you a buck or two.

Yields Approx. 180 loads = top loader and Approx. 640 loads = front loader

Need:
(1) Clean 5 gallon bucket (may be able to obtain from local grocery bakery or deli)
(1) Large Pot
(1) Large wooden spoon (or a big unused paint stick works well)
(4)  Cups - hot tap water
(1)  Fels-Naptha soap bar
(1) Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (Baking Soda will not work, neither will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate)
(½) Cup Borax
(Optional) 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. (lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil, etc.)

Steps:
- Step 1: Pour (4) cups of water into pot. Grate bar of soap and add it to the water. Stir continually over medium heat until soap dissolves.
-Step 2: Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap & water from pot, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved.
-Step 3: Fill bucket about an inch from the top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit over night to thicken.
-Step 4: The next day add in the essential oils to give it a nice scent (optional).
-Step 5: 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 because it will gel. ( *I have a top loader and I skip step 5 )

Yields:
-10 gallon if you do step 5
-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)
-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

* Step 5 seems to dilute it too much for my family. I keep that paint stick near by and just give it a quick stir, then scoop it right from the bucket!  My husband works hard outdoors and for his laundry I still use Tide!

(Tina)


You do the math That's CHEAP!!!!