Homemade Laundry Detergent

I used to make my own powder laundry detergent, however, I never could really get the granules of soap small enough to dissolve completely. I had read several tutorials about making a liquid version, had bought another bar of soap to make it. And now, one year later I am finally getting around to it!  I am running low on laundry detergent anyway and obviously don't have it in the budget to get more this month. Although I can make it through the month without running out, I still wanted to make some.

The recipe for it is from the Duggar family website.

4  Cups - hot tap water
1  Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm and Hammer Super WASHING soda (NOT BAKING SODA! THERE IS A DIFFERENCE)
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)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores. Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

Here are a few pictures of the steps to make it! :) 

You can find these ingredients at most Kroger's.

Boiling the soap

My 5 gallon bucket I got at Lowe's for $2.69

It's gellin'! 

Done!!! I had kept one of my empty laundry bottles from before.

So there you have it! It's super easy! Although it may take a little more time you have to think about the fact that you won't have to buy laundry detergent for a REALLY LONG TIME! It works really, really well too! You can just store the big bucket out in your garage.