Homemade Laundry Detergent

I havn't posted awhile about the homemade laundry detergent I make.   I have been using it since February and still LOVE IT, LOVE IT!

Now, some people love it just as much as me, and others completely hate it, which is ok too!  I do live in the country with well water, but we have a water softner, which I am sure makes a difference.  I know some people say it doesn't do well with hard water. 

So, here is the recipe again for the homemade laundry detergent.  I make the liquid recipe, which I have only made once because it is lasting that long, WOW I know.  And I have a big family of 6 and do tons of laundry!  I do have a HE Washer, some people do not want to use it in their HE washer.  So, I cannot tell you to use it or not.  The homemade laundry detergent has no suds so for my washer it was better. 



HOMEMADE LAUNDRY DETERGENT


The recipe I used was The Duggar's recipe site


Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value
4 Cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar or Ivory barsoap
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.


-Fill a 5 gallon 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 way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)


-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled.
Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.
-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.
-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)
-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

Here is another version using powder form...

Powdered Laundry Detergent - Top load machine


1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
½ Cup Borax
-Grate soap or break into pieces and process in a food processor until powdered. Mix all ingredients. For light load, use 1 Tablespoon.
For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 Tablespoons. Yields: 3 Cups detergent.
(Approx. 40 loads)