Homemade Laundry Soap 3 cups Borax
3 Cups Washing Soda (not to be confused with BAKING soda- it's not the same)
1 Bar of Fels Naptha, grated fine (I grated it with the food processor, and then run it through the food processor with the chopper blade)
Mix it all up. Use 1/8 to 1/4 c. depending on size of load. (For a regular washer. If you are a lucky duck with an HE, use 1/16 to 1/8 c.)
Works like a champ and is way cheap. Some tips:
Washing Soda is different than baking soda. It's still by arm and hammer- but the only store that sells it here in AZ is Fry's or Bashas. It's in their laundry isle, by the detergents. Fels Naptha is also in the Laundry isle- but they have that at other stores too.
Grating the Fels Naptha is the hardest part (or more time consuming). So I'll break out my food processor and do several bars at a time, and then bag them up so they're ready to go for later.
Thanks for this post! I admit, I'm the kind who tends to think that my friends who make homemade laundry detergent are a little crazy (don't worry, you're not the only one!). But, after this post I looked into it a little more and it seems so so easy! Something I could definitely handle, and I'm always looking for ways to save money.
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of Fels Naptha before, and it seems like something I should try, even if I don't keep making my own detergent forever.
Do you always make powder, or do you ever make the liquid form? Also, was the Fels Naptha amount supposed to be a fraction, or really 1 whole bar?
By the way, that comment was from Melanie Wallbrecht. For some reason it will only let me post anonymously.
ReplyDeleteHey Melanie! Fels Naptha is also in the laundry isle. It's the size of a bar of soap- so you might have to look a little. I hadn't heard of it either until I made this. (And yes, it is 1 whole bar- thanks, I fixed it:)
ReplyDeleteI haven't made liquid laundry soap, although I know you can. I have a bottle of the ECOS brand from Costco that I keep on hand for the once in a while that I need liquid.
Talia saw this recipe on another friends blog and made it. But, she used baking soda and an ivory soap bar.
ReplyDeleteI still use it now and then - just to be rid of it.
Do you add any oils for scent?
Once in a while I add some essential oils- but I just add it straight to the wash water.
ReplyDelete