I have been making my own laundry soap for the past couple years now, and I have found that by doing this, it saves us around $200+ a year ($15-$20 a month).
Boy do we have the laundry…. TONS of laundry. The boys contribute about 80% of it and me and my husband contribute the rest.
This recipe is not some super miracle detergent where you put in a shirt with blueberry and grass stains and it comes out bright white. But it does its job………it cleans your clothes (along with being easy to make, safe for the environment, non-toxic for your family, and it saves you some serious moolah!)
Boy do we have the laundry…. TONS of laundry. The boys contribute about 80% of it and me and my husband contribute the rest.
This recipe is not some super miracle detergent where you put in a shirt with blueberry and grass stains and it comes out bright white. But it does its job………it cleans your clothes (along with being easy to make, safe for the environment, non-toxic for your family, and it saves you some serious moolah!)
The Recipe:
Ivory soap, it is one of the cheapest soaps out there and 99.4% pure. I get this soap from Target. The Arm & Hammer Washing Soda is in many grocery stores in the laundry isle, I get mine from Harris Teeter. A tub of Oxiclean can be found just about anywhere, I prefer the Oxiclean Baby (with no perfumes, dyes, or chlorine). The Borax can also be found at Target.
NOTE: in the past few months I have actually omitted the Borax from the recipe (replaced it with extra washing soda). Borax is all-natural, and is much safer than many of the other ingredients used in detergents today, but even though it is natural, it can still be very toxic if ingested or breathed in. It can also be irritating to the skin when handled. Although I have chosen to omit this ingredient, many people prefer to use it.
You can also experiment with essential oils in your detergent. You can pick them up at health food stores or order them online. Tea Tree Oil is a good choice, or pick a scent that appeals to you.
NOTE: in the past few months I have actually omitted the Borax from the recipe (replaced it with extra washing soda). Borax is all-natural, and is much safer than many of the other ingredients used in detergents today, but even though it is natural, it can still be very toxic if ingested or breathed in. It can also be irritating to the skin when handled. Although I have chosen to omit this ingredient, many people prefer to use it.
You can also experiment with essential oils in your detergent. You can pick them up at health food stores or order them online. Tea Tree Oil is a good choice, or pick a scent that appeals to you.
Directions:
*This is for a single recipe, personally I prefer to triple this recipe and make one large batch and store it in a large container.
1 bar Ivory Soap
1 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
1 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
1/2 cup Oxiclean
Large tub with lid to store detergent
________________
1. Grate the bar soap (use the smallest holes on the grater).
2. Add all ingredients, mix, then store.
To Use:
Use 2 tablespoons per large load.
*For my homemade liquid laundry detergent recipe, click here
*This is for a single recipe, personally I prefer to triple this recipe and make one large batch and store it in a large container.
1 bar Ivory Soap
1 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
1 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
1/2 cup Oxiclean
Large tub with lid to store detergent
________________
1. Grate the bar soap (use the smallest holes on the grater).
2. Add all ingredients, mix, then store.
To Use:
Use 2 tablespoons per large load.
*For my homemade liquid laundry detergent recipe, click here
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