I have been making my own laundry detergent for quite sometime now. Several years ago I tried making it using the recipe that you have to cook on the stove. I thought it took too long and I was not thrilled about the goopy gel that it ended up being. It worked pretty well but I just did not care for the messiness of it. So I stopped making it. Until this year. I found an easy recipe for powdered laundry detergent. It is really super easy. It works and will save you money.
What you will need:
2 cups of bar soap ( you can use Ivory, Fels Naptha, Zote or some other soap if you have a preference. I use Ivory). I have found that one standard bar of Ivory soap equals two cups. I buy my Ivory soap in the dollar store. (I love the dollar store) I buy my borax and washing soda at the grocery store. Sometimes I can find it at Walmart. I just bought some over the weekend. I spent $7.00 total for a box of each.
1 Cup of 20 Mule Team Borax
1 Cup of Super Washing Soda (not to be confused with baking soda)
A food processor
Step one: Grate the bar soap. When I first started to make this laundry soap, I made sure I grated the soap super fine. It took too long. So I stopped and used a more coarse grate. It works. It takes very little time. I make my boys grate it. Cause that’s how I roll here.
The boys had four bars of soap grated in less than 10 minutes. They are fast!
this is enough soap for four batches of laundry detergent
Step two: dump the soap, borax and washing soda into the food processor. Pulverize into a fine powder. Dump into a lidded container. There! You’re done! Really! You’re now ready to roll.
This is what the laundry detergent looks like after it has gone through the food processor.
Step three: do your laundry. You only need two tablespoons per load. Really…I’ve tried it. It works. That’s all you need. I have had no problems getting the soap do dissolve. I use cold water. Always. There is no undissloved powder or soap residue.
This is four batches of laundry soap all ready and waiting. This took less than 10 minutes to make. It will last me almost four months depending on how much laundry I do. I still have enough borax and washing soda left to make at least four more batches.
Just a little Warning: if you are looking for lots of suds you will not find them. It’s ok. The laundry detergent is working. You do not need lots of suds to get clean clothes.
Final step: If you like it. Make a double or quadruple batch like I did today. It takes minutes to make. You will be happy you did.
You’re welcome.
11 comments:
Michele, this looks great. Do you have a front loading machine? Do you think it would work okay in one of those?
Debbie,
I do not have a font loading machine. I know with front loaders too many suds can be an issue. This detergent produces very little suds. I have heard of others using homemade detergent in their front loaders with no problem.
Michele,
I've been making my homemade laundry soap for almost 2 years now and LOVE it too. I have a front loading machine and haven't had any problems with it at all!
Can't WAIT to try this!
I just need to rememebr to look for the supplies while I'm at the store.
I have a front load washer, so I'll let you know how it works for me.
Thanks for sharing.
Just skipping through and am glad to read the "dry" recipe works as well as the liquid. I've been making the liquid for about two years and was always worried the powder would not dissolve in the wash. I might try that next time since it won't take up so much room like a giant 5 gallon bucket does. Go figure I just made a new batch a few days ago.
Do you suppose this would work w/o a food processor? I don't have one. I could grate the soap more finely and mix it all carefully. I'd like to give it a try since it is faster and less messy than the liquid version I make.
April E.
http://homeschoolblogger.com/elcloud
I'm not sure April, but I really don't see why not. I would give it a try! What about trying a blender? That is what I would try if I did not have a food processor.
We don't have a food processor and we make the soap with blending it. It looks a little funny, but dissolves and seems to work just fine. Haven't had any issues with residue on our clothes and is great for our daughter with excema!
That is so cool! I am always afraid to have my girls grate stuff because I don't want them to cut their fingers! How do you make this not be a problem? Mine are 9, 7, 5, 4, and under. Am I just a big chicken?
Mrs. Q
My boys are 9 and 5. I simply showed the boys how to be careful with the grater.
The first time they used the grater I told them they could get cut and they needed to be careful. I supervised while they grated the soap. Now they are pros and we have had no cuts. So far so good!
Why not let them give it a try with you right there and see how it goes?
Thank you for letting me know! I hope to try it soon :)
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