Homemade Laundry Detergent

[Lostinoz]

I am not sure if something similar has been posted.

2 gallons Water (hot)
1 bar Soap (grated)
2 cups Baking soda (yes baking soda this time–not washing soda)

Melt grated soap in a saucepan with enough hot water to cover. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring frequently until soap is melted.

In a large pail, pour 2 gallons hot water. Add melted soap, stir well.
Then add the baking soda, stir well again.

Use 1/2 cup per full load, 1 cup per very soiled load.

[mountainman28713]

nice!!! never thought of it myself, but field sanitation is a must!!! Unscented soap anyone?

[maric]

We made this last nite. Still sitting, yet to try.. only heard good things, so far. Let you know. Very inexpensive to make, and makes a lot!


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

4 Cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super 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)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

Duggar Family recipe ( yes, the couple with the 20 something kids, on TLC)

[herbalpagan]

there are dozens of recipes on line for this, I have the ingredients but have yet to "just do it". I have trouble finding the washing soda, but I ran accross instructions to turn baking soda into washing soda. Take your baking soda and spread it on a cookie sheet, turn on oven at 300 (I think) and bake for an hour. I'm going to give it a try at some point...or contact Arm Hammer to find out.

[maric]

there are dozens of recipes on line for this, I have the ingredients but have yet to "just do it". I have trouble finding the washing soda, but I ran accross instructions to turn baking soda into washing soda. Take your baking soda and spread it on a cookie sheet, turn on oven at 300 (I think) and bake for an hour. I'm going to give it a try at some point...or contact Arm Hammer to find out.

We found some at Wally World, and I actually purchased an "Arm and Hammer baking soda detergent... BUT it does contain the ingrediant necessary, the sodium carbonate. Seems to work fine! Let me know if you try it, what your thoughts are. A 5 gal bucket, total cost under 10 bucks.. :)

[maric]

We made this last nite. Still sitting, yet to try.. only heard good things, so far. Let you know. Very inexpensive to make, and makes a lot!


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

4 Cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super 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)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

Duggar Family recipe ( yes, the couple with the 20 something kids, on TLC)

We made this on April 29th. It is now August 25 and I still have 1/4 of my 5 gallon bucket left. We are a family of 6 (well 5 for now) and I have a 13 year old son who plays select soccer AND on a paintball league. Not to mention Mr's Army crap (eww dirty) What I am saying is for under 10 BUCKS I am still using the same batch, 4 months later AND IT CLEANS REALLY DIRTY CLOTHES! I do use SHOUT, or Spray N Wash, and sometimes add a tad bit more Borax. Also, I still have almost a full box of the soda, and Borax, so the next time I make it up, I only have to spend roughly 1.50 for a bar of Fels Naptha for another 5 gallons! On the directions, it says it yields 180 loads, but i must be using a little less, obviously. Give it a try. I have saved tons, and no allergies, from anyone for using!

[Iron mike]

good info thanks folks

[herbalpagan]

We did this finally! We did it as a group project with my preparedness group and it came out great! I did put the essential oil in.
I already need to make my next batch...the only issue I have is that my laundry is in the bathroom and I don't have room for a 5 gallon bucket...gotta think on that one.

[maric]

We did this finally! We did it as a group project with my preparedness group and it came out great! I did put the essential oil in.
I already need to make my next batch...the only issue I have is that my laundry is in the bathroom and I don't have room for a 5 gallon bucket...gotta think on that one.

Thats awesome! We did it as a family project! Kids like grating the soap! I didnt add any oils, but am thinking about future batches! I mix half and half (hot water) in a old laundry detergent bottle, and store the 5 gal bucket in a closet. That was I just easily pour from the bottle, like any other soap, if that helps?

[manddoutfitters]

We have been making it a little while also, we had to work on it a little but we got it to work with our well water now its great. Once we have it made we go ahead and put into older detergent bottles and store it like stated above.

[Huckleberry]

Thanks for the info, I cant wait to try it out!

[TEXAS REBEL]

Do any of you have a recipe to make this if products are not available?

[stairman]

If you have a Walmart, all the ingredients are available. I use 1/3 bar Fels Naptha soap[grated fine] 1/2 cup borax and 1/2 cup of washing soda. It makes 2 gallons.

[herbalpagan]

Just a note: stocking up on extra borax would be a good thing as it's a great product for many, many things. We keep a jar near the sink to use for scrubbing extra dirty, greasy hands (it even got tar off!), and it's a good incest repelant and keeps the ants away. I still have some automatic dish detergent left, but I won't be bying any more as you can use some of these ingredients to make that...much cheaper than what you can buy!

[stairman]

incest repellent, thats funny.