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I absolutely HATE paying for laundry detergent. Ever since this really awesome deal when we lived in Vermont where after coupons it was FREE and I stocked up for almost a year, it just doesn’t cut it for me to hit the grocery store and pay even $2 for a bottle of detergent. A friend made her own detergent and said it was super easy so I figured I would give it a go. Plus I used cloth diapers and wasn’t happy with the job purchased detergents were doing.That was almost 2 years ago.  My cost comes out to approximately $.48  $.21 (I just re-figured the cost) per normal sized bottle of detergent, using the same amounts I used with store bought. The other benefit is that it doesn’t have tons of weird sounding words, fragrances, and I don’t have to worry about it affecting some of my children’s sensitive skin OR asthma.

So, here goes. I have found all of these ingredients in the local Giant but Superfresh and I believe Acme, also carry them. The paint bucket was purchased at Sherwin Williams. I am giving you a single recipe but I make a double batch each time.

Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent

  • 1/2 bar Fels Napa soap
  • 1/2 cup Borax
  • 1/2 cup Washing soda (not to be confused with regular baking soda)
  • 10 cups water
  • 22 cups cold water

Grate the Fels Napa Bar into a pan with 10 cups water. Heat until soap is dissolved.

Add Borax and Washing Soda and stir until dissolved.

Pour 22 cups (1 gallon, 6 cups) cold water into a 5 gallon pail.

Pour soap mixture into the pail and mix together well.

Let sit 24 hours. Stir before each use as it will congeal.

Use 1/2 cup for top loaders and 1/4 cup for front loaders.

I generally put the mixture into regular detergent bottles and shake before each use. 1 double batch lasts me approximately 6 months for a family of 5. It takes me all of 20 minutes to make since I make each soap batch on the stove separately then mix together in the pail.

I have always had trouble getting stains out of clothes. I found as I used this product some of the old set in stains were coming out over several washings!!!

I also use Borax in the toilet occasionally to get some of the iron build up off from our hard water.

When my daughter got blueberries on a white shirt I scrubbed a little of the washing soda in it and let it set. It pulled it out!!

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