Homemade Laundry Detergent

Having read up on a few different ways to save some money, one that intrigued me was making my own laundry detergent. A few of my fellow Coastie Chicks have tried it, and one of the better recipes (from what I've heard) is the one I decided to try. The gals who have made and used it raved that it was FAR better than any commercial detergent they had tried - whites were whiter and stains that would previously have caused issues were no longer problems (grease, etc.). Several with sensitive skin also mentioned that this stuff was terrific - there were no issues at all. In addition, the recipe makes 10 gallons of detergent - for a cost of around $8. So, here is my experiment in making laundry soap! BTW - the Fels-Naptha and Washing Soda can be purchased at Fred Meyer, ebay, and various other outlets.

Note: If you cannot find the Washing Soda, then you can call 1-800-524-1328, tell them what you're trying to find and your zip code, and they will locate the nearest stores that carry it!

The recipe is as follows:

4 c. hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 c. Washing Soda
1/2 c. Borax

Instructions:
Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continuously over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted. Fill a 5-gal 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 the way with water. Shake before each use (it will gel).

Usage:
Top Load Machine - 5/8c. per load (approx. 180 loads)
Front Load Machine - 1/4 c. per load (approx. 640 loads)

As an option, you can edd 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add it once the soap has cooled. Some ideas are: orange, lemon, lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil (all of them help kill germs).
Grating the Fels-Naptha - probably would be easier to use a triangle grater...but I don't have one. You MIGHT be able to use the grater in a food processor, but I didn't try it.

Adding the grated soap to the hot water. It takes a little over 5 minutes to make sure that all the soap flakes are melted/dissolved in the hot water.

I had never seen washing soda. So, for any of you who are like me, here it is! Remember - if you can't find it locally, then call the 800# I listed above and they will be able to tell you where to find it.

Here is the 1/2 c. borax, ready to go. Borax is easily found in just about any grocery store.

This is about what the melted soap/water mixture will look like when it's ready to be mixed with the rest if the ingredients. Make sure that all the pieces are melted - it's easy to miss some little chunks that may be stuck to the bottom of the pan.

After all the ingredients have been combined in the bucket, before filling it up the rest of the way with water. Stir it really well to make sure all the powder is dissolved.

The bucket, when it's all been mixed again, before putting the lid on it. It will thicken tonight, and then I'll post again tomorrow with new pictures.