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Make laundry soap at home! You can! It’s easy and frugal and doesn’t even take very long. The ingredients are simple and inexpensive–Borax, washing soda and/or baking soda, and any plain soap such as Ivory. Borax, washing soda, and baking soda are all natural laundry boosters that help remove soils, fight stains, and freshen laundry–basically, they are soap enhancers. You can find Borax and the laundry-size baking soda in the laundry aisle at the store, and many places you can also find washing soda there, too, but I had a hard time finding washing soda here. (Tip: If you live in this area–the only place I found that carried washing soda was Smith’s Food Fair in Big Chimney.)
You can find a number of laundry soap recipes (and soap bar suggestions) here. I tried Recipe #3, which includes one-third of a large bar of soap, 1/2 cup Borax, and 1/2 cup washing soda. I didn’t find that it was quite strong enough to suit me, and so with some experimentation, I came up with my own recipe. If you’re interested in making laundry soap, I suggest you do the same–try a recipe or two, then experiment and modify until you find the mixture that works for you. Try mine for starters if you like! I doubled the Borax in the original recipe and used a combination of washing soda and baking soda, as well as doubling the soap. (I didn’t want to double the washing soda since that might be too hard on fabrics. I can get the added cleaning power with the addition of the gentler baking soda.) This mixture makes over two gallons of detergent.
Update: I’ve also added instructions for making it as a concentrate, which is how I make it now.
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How to make Homemade Laundry Soap:
1 regular (not large bath-size) bar of plain soap
1 cup Borax
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup baking soda
water
Grate the soap. (Soap grates easily.)

Heat 3 pints (6 cups) of water on the stove and add the grated soap. Stir occasionally, until the soap melts.
I use a pint jar and a quart jar for all the water measuring for this recipe as it’s faster than doing it one cup at a time.

Once the grated soap is melted, add 1 cup Borax, 1/2 cup washing soda, and 1/2 cup baking soda, stirring to dissolve.

I use a large pot, large enough to hold all the water I’ll need for my mixture so I don’t have to get a separate pail. If your pot isn’t large enough to hold over two gallons, you’ll have to transfer the mixture to a bucket at this point.
Note: If making as a concentrate (which takes up less storage space), add only 3 more cups of hot water. This will fit in a 39-ounce coffee can bucket, which is what I use.
If not making as a concentrate, proceeds as follows:
Add one quart jar of very hot water to your soap mixture.

Stir well. Add six more quarts of cold water. (If you’d like to add some scent, now is the time. Add 10-15 drops. I don’t add scent–it’s no big deal to me and would increase the cost. I’m happy with my laundry simply smelling fresh.) Stir well again and ladle or scoop the mixture into your container(s). I’ve found that three large plastic coffee containers are exactly right to hold this recipe. They come with handy snap-on lids and one is just right to keep by the washer for daily use.

Use 1/2 cup per large load of laundry. Mixture may gel or clump as it sits, so stir before each use. (I keep a 1/2 cup scoop–in a plastic bowl to prevent mess–on top of my washer to measure out the detergent. I just stir it with the scoop before measuring it out.)
Note: If using the concentrate method, use about 3 tablespoons (a little less than 1/4 cup) per load.
Works for me! And it’s cheap. For the price of a couple of average size containers of store-bought laundry detergent, I can make gallons and gallons and gallons of homemade laundry detergent. (It’s better for the environment, too–no steady stream of containers to throw away.) It’s easier to stock up and store the Borax, washing soda, baking soda, and soap bars than cumbersome containers of store-bought detergent, and it only takes 15-20 minutes to whip up a new batch when needed.
I also now use homemade soap for my mix! Want to make your own homemade soap for your laundry mix? See my recipe for a homemade laundry bar.
Posted by Suzanne McMinn on December 14, 2008

"It was a cold wintry day when I brought my children to live in rural West Virginia. The farmhouse was one hundred years old, there was already snow on the ground, and the heat was sparse-—as was the insulation. The floors weren’t even, either. My then-twelve-year-old son walked in the door and said, “You’ve brought us to this slanted little house to die." Keep reading our story....
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I use the following recipe and add two or three squirts of Dawn dishwashing detergent for grease fighting power and make it smell nice.
I store my detergent in a 5 gallon container with a lid. It last me for 3-4 months. My DD13 even knows how to make it.
Here is my recipe:
Laundry Detergent Recipe
1 bar Fels Naptha soap, grated (I have used other bars if this one is not available)
2 cups washing soda (use only 1 if you have soft water)
1 cup Borax
¼ cup Ultra Dawn dish detergent (optional)
You’ll need a 5 gallon bucket with a lid.
In saucepan over medium heat, melt grated Fels in 4 cups of hot tap water, stirring constantly.
Pour into bucket. Add the other ingredients and 3 gallons of hot tap water. Stir until mixture is no longer gritty.
Let set overnight. It will gel. Use approximately 1/4 – 1/2 cup per washload.
NOW – if you have an HE machine use one or two tablespoons.
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http://hiddenhavenhomestead.blogspot.com/2008/07/non-electric-wash-day.html
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The Fels Naptha is hard to get in my area, so I have it shipped to me.
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY DRYER SHEETS
Mix together in a covered container:
1 part fabric softener of your choice
2 parts water
Cut up a sponge or two into one inch squares and plop them in the mixture. Take one out, put it in the dryer, take it out and plop it back into the mixture.
Why do you need more than one piece of sponge? Because like socks, they seem to disappear on me.
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Thanks for the internet tips. HughesNet has been on a horrible poor connection roll lately here and my daughter pays a fortune for it. Not sure what dial up is available here but will look into it. Of course then we are stuck to the phone connection area.
Oh check out this blog as she has a little store selling soap and ebooks if you are interested in doing something like that for some income. http://www.homesteadblogger.com/quiverfull/
Blessingson all your ventures.
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:treehugger:
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Re the sensitive skin question, I don’t have particularly sensitive skin so I can’t say, but other people have told me it’s better for them with sensitive skin because of fewer chemicals.
I like the dry method! I assume you have to be washing in hot water, though? Or the soap won’t melt, even grated fine?
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often to remove the residue, the dryer isn’t as effecient.
To test the lint trap to see if it has build up, run it under water in the sink. If the water doesnt flow through easily, it needs to be cleaned. I have been using plain vinegar in the rinse cycle when washing, but will try the sponges.I love anything frugal that will save me money!
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The store was packed and there was barely any room to stand and decide what to get, so I grabbed the 3 pack of Ivory soap. When I got home, I realized it was lavender scented. So, I guess our detergent will be lavender scented, but it’s not strong at all, it basically smells like soap.
Can’t wait to give it a try. My husband and I both have allergies to Tide and all the other big names. We’ve used Arm & Hammer forever, but even it is getting expensive now. Thanks for this idea and the recipe!!
-Patty
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I use slightly warm water and haven’t had any trouble with the soap not melting. I don’t like to use really hot water as it fades my clothes. It’s slightly warmer than luke warm.
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Suzanne, just a suggestion…when you do the demonstrations in the future…please leave off all Angelfood cake pans off the counter…because I truly was trying to read and follow..but then my attention caught that angelfood cake pan..and I LOVE ANGELFOOD cake – esp. HOMEMADE angelfood cake…so I began to WONDER what was in YOUR angelfood cake pan. LOL LOL LOL HA hahahahahha :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
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The recipe that I plan to use doesn’t require you to dissolve the soap. You just grate 1 bar of soap, add a cup of washing baking soda, and a cup of Borax. Mix together and use 2 tablespoons per load. The dry mix seems like it would be easier to use and store.
I have three teenage boys and the laundry at my house is NEVER ENDING!!!
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Instead of buying store fabric softeners – I use 1/2 cup of white vinegar too!
I did the math – it costs me (with vinegar) .02 cents PER LOAD!!!!
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From April in Alabama
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Love the idea of making our own laundry detergent! Wonderful idea.
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I have great respect for the families and mostly mommies that do what they have to do, to provide their families a good, clean, healty homelife on a budget, and still keep their Christian senses of humor too. A joyful heart is like a good medicine! I need to stay joyful today, because I caught another virus from someone at church Sunday. I think fever blisters are really yucky and guess who has them today.
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BTW, I’m making bread and crispies as we speak!
Thanks!
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Thanks–
Susan Kinsey
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We have used the felsNaptha soap, and also used some all natural homemade soaps…they all worked well, but the felsNaptha recipe is the only one that completely gelled up. My husband likes to brew up the detergent, and has thrown in different things everytime. A few drops of lavender oil, d-limonene or Orange oil, lemongrass, all add anti-microbial properties plus nice smell. He will put in a few drops of Grapefruit seed extract too which is also antimicrobial. I really like the orange scent, but you don’t smell it on the clothing after washing–it just makes me happy when I am starting a load
I use white vinegar in my old Downy ball. No other fabric softeners at all as they cause buildup, leave chemicals on clothes, etc.
I just love that I know EXACTLY what is in the detergent, and our clothes are just as clean and fresh as they ever were.
I just found a place online (www.soapsgonebuy.com) that has all of these supplies, as they are hard to find in many areas. I do not know how much S&H will cost on the other supplies, but I bought 7 bars of FelsNaptha for total of a little over $11 shipped. The soaps were on sale for 99 cents, normally 1.99, but at most other places they are a normal price of around $3 each. I am very well stocked up now to make many, many batches of this wonderful stuff!
(I can find the Borax at Walmart, and the Washing Soda at Krogers stores)
We have totally changed how we clean, using only vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, d-limonene, vodka, baking soda, and natural essential oils. I know we are MUCH, MUCH healthier for it…plus we save ALOT of money too! What is not to Love!?!
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Thanks so much
Shirley J. Moweary
Findlay, Ohio
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do it yourself recipes like this one can save so much money!
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I have 3 kids and a husband that gets very dirty.
I spent $1.29 on 1 bar of Fel’s naptha.
$1.00 on 3 bars of Ivory soap.
$1.35 on Dawn dishwashing liquid.
$4.99 on the borax
$2.99 for the washing soda(on sale)
about $12.00 total
I made 3 gallons of this and as I type I have 2 washers going.
My pots that I made it in are shining
I can’t imagine how much money this is going to save me. Thanks for the recipe. You have a great blog here, with many interesting ideas and amusing stories.
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