A while back my friend, Lisa, (who also helped me make this shag pillow,) told me
about her amazing homemade laundry soap! She couldn’t say enough good things about it.
We have the same size of family and do about the same amounts of laundry each week,
soooo….I decided it was time to give it a try.
Laundry soap is getting more and more expensive and I really didn’t have anything to lose.
(She originally learned it from a friend who got it from here.)
Here is what you will need:
1 (4 lb 12 oz) Box of Borax– Found in the detergent aisle
1 (3 lb 7 oz) Box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda– Found in the detergent aisle
1 (3 lb) Container of OxyClean– Found in the detergent aisle. (This is optional but we highly recommend adding it)
2 (14.1 oz) Bars of Zote Soap– Found in the detergent aisle (You can also use Fels Naptha)
2 (2 lb) Boxes or 1 (4 lb) Box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda– Found in the cooking aisle
1-2 (55 oz) Bottle of Purex Crystals Fabric Softener– Found in the detergent aisle (This is 100% optional. We just like our laundry detergent to smell good and we really like soft laundry. We only used one.)
It was super easy to make. The only thing you really have to do is grate the 2 bars of Zote soap.
Then you just dump everything together in a big bucket and stir.
We used an empty tote to make it easier to stir. The deeper and skinnier the bucket is, the harder to stir.
As you can see, all the kids wanted to “help” and get in on the action. =)
Stir it until it is all really mixed up and then put it into whatever container you are going to use.
A really cute glass jar with vinyl that says “Laundry Soap” would be awesome, but for me this old ice cream bucket worked just great!
You only use 2 TBSP per load!!
I put the date on my container to see how long it would last me.
I can’t wait to figure out how much I’m going to save our family each year!
Since using the soap:
*My favorite thing about this is soap is that I don’t even use fabric softener sheets anymore.
*I was also kind of worried about the smell, me being pregnant and all, that is a huge concern for me. Luckily, it is a good clean smell, not a strong knock you out smell!
*I was also curious about how this would work in my HE washer and it has been great. It doesn’t get really sudsy, which I think is a little better for the machine.
So what do you have to lose? Try it today and let me know what you think.
Linked up here: Skip to my Lou
I have been using the same recipe for homemade laundry soap. I started in February and still have quite a bit left! I am sticking with it.
Just FYI- fels naptha will yellow your whites over time and can ruin the wicking on cotton. You’re better off using a higher quality castile soap bar — we love Dr Bonner’s Almond & Lavendar scents. But I’ve also heard that Kirks and Mrs. Meyers are good. Even when going homemade, you have to use quality ingredients to start, or else you’re just as bad off!
And, when doing a cost comparison we found that by simple using the “right” amount of detergent was just as cheap as making our own! We measured out to the first line of the cup (which was 2 3/4 TBSP) and then I use a different measuring scoop – a 2TBSP coffee scoop. This means we weren’t tempted to fill it up to the 4th line!! We have no problems getting our clothes clean! If I feel like it’s an extra dirty batch I just add some oxyclean instead of more detergent.
We also switched from fabric softener to vinegar. Works better and is easier on clothes, besides being WAY cheaper!
My HE washer has a removable holder for the liquid detergent, so I can remove that for powdered detergent dispenser. Can I use this in the dispenser or should I put this into the drum of the machine?
So what is the cost for all of the homemade ingredients? Is it really that cost effective?
Did anyone ever turn this into liquid form? I really want to use this recipe but my washer does not do well with powdered soaps. Can anyone give me some direction is to how to make this into liquid soap please?
How much do u put in per load??? Going to make this and try it just haven’t seen how much per load….
Does it matter what size grater you use? I had trouble getting the soap shredded with a smaller grater, so had to use the bigger side.
My daughter and I made this DIY detergent back in September and I still have plenty left. I have even given some away to friends and family to try it. I spent $30.00 to make it and I used to spend roughly $45.00 monthly on laundry soap alone. So far I have saved about $400.00.
You could definitely see your expertise within the paintings you write. The arena hopes for more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to mention how they believe. All the time follow your heart.
that the CIA was involved in his
murder. I think it’s beyond a
reasonable doubt at this point,” Kennedy
said about the November 1963
incident in Dallas, Texas. “The evidence
is overwhelming that the CIA was
involved in the murder, and in the
Kennedy made reference to the
book, “JFK and the Unspeakable,”
penned by James Douglas, for
some of his assertions. The book
theorized that Kennedy was
assassinated because he sought
peacemaking during the Cold War
and was then killed by his own
The federal government concluded