Cassie and I are going to make this up today. I'm excited to try it out. Hey as a single mom, I'm all for saving a little $. Even if its not THAT much of a savings for us. *Follow-up - We really liked it. It took us almost a year to use this up.
$20 for a years worth of laundry soap. We do about 3 loads a week at our house so I'm pretty sure it will last the year (the woman that I got this from does 8 loads a week and it lasted her 9 months)
Here is what you need:
1 4 lb 12 oz box Borax found in the detergent isle
1 4 lb box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda found in the cooking isle
1 box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 55 oz (3 lb 7 oz) found in the detergent isle
3 bars of Fels-Naptha soap, found in the detergent isle
2 small containers of Oxy Clean or store brand Oxy Clean (try to get about 3.5 lbs total found in the detergent isle. (this is optional)
(you can also use pink Zote soap instead of Fels-Naptha. pink Zote soap at Home Depot or the dollar store)
(you can also use pink Zote soap instead of Fels-Naptha. pink Zote soap at Home Depot or the dollar store)
You should be able to find all of these items at your grocery store.
**Use 1-2 Tablespoons per load. I know that does not seem like enough but this recipe does not have fillers like the store bought detergent so you only need 1-2 Tablespoons.**
This detergent is fairly mild smelling, it is not over powering. If you love a strong scent you may have to add a fabric softener to each load. **You can add Purex Crystal Softener to the powder mix which is what I'm doing**
Start out by grating your Fels-Naptha soap just like cheese. You can use a food processor or just use your hand held grater, what ever you have. ** some have put it in the microwave and then let it cool, when you touch it its supposed to turn to powder, I MIGHT try this****Don't worry the Fels-Naptha will dissolve in your washer even if you only use cold water.**
Toss all ingredients in a 5 gallon bucket lined with a garbage bag. Once everything is mixed store soap however you like. The glass jars can be found at walmart.
**They say this is safe for HE washers, but you might have to add it into the drum instead of the dispenser depending on how finely grated the soap is. People responded onto the woman's page saying that they have one and have used this for a few years without problems. Feel free to checkout her page for additional comments and replies, there's info on sensitive skin and cloth diapers. Also, I guess this doesn't suds up like most do' but not to worry cause it really is still cleaning the clothes**
