Homemade Laundry Detergent

Here is what I make to use on our clothes.  But one batch of this lasts me about six months. Definitely helps our grocery budget. I calculated that one batch costs about 54 cents to make and lasts about six months. I found the Washing Soda and FelsNaptha at my local Kroger and the Borax at my local Walmart. (Recently when restocking my supplies I found all three at the local Walmart.)  You may have to search around to find the ingredients at first. I know our local Cracker Barrel also carries another bar soap called Kirk's Castile Soap. I haven't tried that bar soap yet since I still have a half a bar of Fels Naptha.


(Note- 1st recipe is the cut down version for making liquid. The others are the originals from the Duggars website)
Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap
1 cup   hot tap water
1/4 bar Fels Naptha soap bar
1/4 cup washing soda
1/8 cup Bora

Finely Grate 1/4  bar of soap and add to saucepan with hot water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted. 


Fill bucket with 1 1/4 gallon of hot tap water. Add melted soap mixture, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. 


Fill bucket with 1 1/4 gallons more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.


The next day- stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser or gallon jug half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

OR 

pour in bottle and use gel in concentrated form 

Use between 1/4  cup concentrate or  about 1/2 cup gel-water mixture per load. You can play with it and find what amount works best with your local water. I use an old ALL laundry bottle top and fill it full for extra large loads. 

(From the Duggars site)

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)