A lot of you have read about how I like making my very own laundry detergent to help save money. I have had a few of you email me asking me exactly how and why I do this. Well saving money is not the only reason I do it, but it is why I started it. I decided that I was sick and tired of paying so much money for a single bottle of detergent. My daughter can’t use a few kinds of soap because she has sensitive skin, so that made finding a sale a little harder. Then you have me who also can’t use certain kinds of soaps, so that made it a little harder.
After watching the Duggar’s I found they make their own soap as well. So I learned how to do it by watching their show and with some alterations, I made my own soap that my entire family can use and it’s cheap. The way I figure it, I get around 10 gallons of soap for about $1.50 so you know that saves a lot of money. You use the same amount in the washer and you can even use it in front loaders like mine, you just use less.
Ingredients
5 Cups Hot Tap Water
1 Bar Soap (we use dove)
1 Cup Washing Soda (not baking soda)
¾ Cup Borax
Utensils Needed
Empty 5 Gallon Bucket with Lid
Cooking pot
Spoon for the pot
Large Mixing Spoon that can fit in the bucket (I use a yard stick cut down to size)
Old Laundry detergent bottle
Step #1- Chop up your bar of soap as small as you can, this makes the entire process better. You can even grate it if you want but I find that chopping does just fine.
Step #2- Add you’re chopped up soap and your water into a large sauce pan. Cook over medium heat and keep stirring. It will take a little bit for all the soap to melt, but this is the most important part. You must make sure all the soap has melted and your mixture is smooth. Set aside.
Step #3- Fill your 5 gallon bucket half way with hot water and add your washing soda along with the borax and mix well. Add your soap mixture to the bucket and mix well again.
Step #4- Fill your bucket the rest of the way with more hot tap water. Mix well again and then place the lid on the bucket. Let the soap sit for 2 whole days without moving it.
Step #5- After two days you can then open the lid and stir again. Grab one of your old containers and fill it half way with your detergent. Then fill the other half with more hot water. Your detergent is ready to use.
Before each use, you should give your bottle a good shake because the detergent will sort of gel up. This is completely normal though. You will need to adjust how much you use do to how much laundry your doing and what type of clothes your washing. A general rule though, I use a front loader and I use around a half cap full for a normal wash. If you like your laundry soap scented then you can add scented oil to the mixture if you would like. I just use scented fabric softener and our clothes come out smelling great.
