Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe

Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe

•1 bar of Fels Naptha soap, shaved or grated (I only found this at Ace Hardware.)

•4 cups of hot water to melt the soap

•3 gallons of hot water

•1 cup of borax (found at Giant in laundry aisle.)

•2 cups of washing soda (found at Giant in laundry aisle.)

•1 cup of baking soda

•1 large Rubbermaid container about 4-5 gallons size

Here’s what you do:

Grate the soap into a saucepan. You can use either a box grater or a food processor for this. I recommend you do not use whatever tool you use for grating soap with food.


Add 4 cups of hot water to the pan. Simmer on low until the soap melts completely into the water.



Add borax, washing soda and baking soda to the hot water. Simmer on low until it dissolves with the soap. If the mixture is not melting, add more water if needed.



Add 3 gallons of hot water to the large container. Add the mixture to the hot water. Mix with a large spoon until it

completely dissolves.

Let cool overnight. You will notice that it turns into a thick gel. Use 1 cup of this homemade laundry detergent per load of laundry.  It dissolves easily in the wash and it has very little suds or foam...so it's safe for HE machines.
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/homemade-laundry-detergent.htm

I have been using this for awhile now and it works great!  I figure that it costs around $3 to make 4 gallons.....super cheap!!!!  I also use 1/2 cup of White Vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser.  The clothes DO NOT smell like vinegar and they are soft....added bonus...no residue in the dryer lint catcher.  It is so much easier to clean now. :)