Awhile ago I mentioned about making homemade laundry soap. It worked very well but I did notice that it took awhile for the grated soap pieces to dissolve in cold water washes. I decided to try making a liquid version - the same basic ingredients the soap is just melted first.
The recipe (which I found all over the internet):1/3 bar Fels Naptha (or ivory or zote) soap, 1/2 cup washing soda, 1/2 cup borax powder ~You will also need a small bucket, about 2 gallon size~
Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan. add 6 cups water and heat on medium until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and the borax, stir until it is dissolved and remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into the bucket and then add your soap mixture and stir. Now add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. You use 1/2 cup per load.
I didn't really think ahead and thought we had a bucket - apparently we don't! I'll be finding one before my next batch though because I couldn't add the last 6 cups of water which would probably make it more liquidy. It's a pretty stiff gel this way but it works!
It dissolves much faster on cold setting - and even if it's a little more work this should be enough for 64 loads and cost me about $1 to make one batch. Worth it if you ask me!
10 comments:
WOW! That's amazing.
Steph
I've gone to fully organic bath soaps, shampoos, conditioners, lotions, homemade household cleaners, and 7th generation dishwashing liquid. The only thing I haven't switched is laundry soap. I LOVE Gain detergent! I love the wonderful way my clothes stay smelling good for days! I just can't give it up! Does this homemade det make your clothes smell good? Or no smell at all?
So what is Fels Naptha soap? Is that somethign special? I wonder what I could use here? The rest I do know. Hmm. I must go and look. I do like the cost savings!
OK, I am now totally and permanently in awe of you for making your own laundry soap. That is SO awesome. I aspire to be there someday too!
p.s. $1 for 64 loads? wow!
I don't know if you saw my update about the laundry detergent, but I am grating the soap with the food processor and then adding the other ingredients and processing them all together. I've had no problems with it dissolving in cold since.
This looks great though. I need to hunt down the Fels Naptha and washing soda. Still using ivory and baking soda here.
"Wow" is about all I can say... very impressive. I'm lucky to clean my toilet. I don't know how you guys do it! :o)
Cool! I might have to try that....just noticed that I'm getting a bit low on my detergent.
I have always wnated to make my own soap/laundry soap!
How cool!!!
Staci
I clicked over from OurPlace and am glad I did - we are SO going to do this!
I had a problem with the soap disolving as well. I grated it. Next time I use my food processor & grind the soap into oblivion!
To use up the batch I made I'd put the powder into a bottle with some water & mircowave it, then give it a good shake until all was dissolved.
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