Since we are all broke.........

Or poor, or whatever you call it. At least I am. I was looking around, for Homemade Laundry detergent recipes and came across these. I have been using the first one for a couple of weeks and like it alot. I figure it costs me 3 cents per load, versus 52 cents per load using Tide.

Here they are:

10 Homemade Laundry Soap Detergent Recipes

Recipe #1

1 quart Water (boiling)
2 cups Bar soap (grated)
2 cups Borax
2 cups Washing Soda

Add finely grated bar soap to the boiling water and stir until soap is melted. You can keep on low heat until soap is melted.
Pour the soap water into a large, clean pail and add the Borax and Washing Soda. Stir well until all is dissolved.
Add 2 gallons of water, stir until well mixed.
Cover pail and use 1/4 cup for each load of laundry. Stir the soap each time you use it (will gel).
Recipe #2

Hot water
1 cup Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax
1 Soap bar

Grate the bar soap and add to a large saucepan with hot water. Stir over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
Fill a 10 gallon pail half full of hot water. Add the melted soap, Borax and Washing soda, stir well until all powder is dissolved. Top the pail up with more hot water.
Use 1 cup per load, stirring soap before each use (will gel).
Recipe #3
Hot water
1/2 cup Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax
1/3 bar Soap (grated)

In a large pot, heat 3 pints of water. Add the grated bar soap and stir until melted. Then add the washing soda and borax. Stir until powder is dissolved, then remove from heat.
In a 2 gallon clean pail, pour 1 quart of hot water and add the heated soap mixture. Top pail with cold water and stir well.
Use 1/2 cup per load, stirring soap before each use (will gel).
Powdered Laundry Detergent -

Recipe #4
2 cups Fels Naptha Soap (finely grated - you could also try the other bar soaps listed at the top)
1 cup Washing Soda
1 cup Borax

Mix well and store in an airtight plastic container.
Use 2 tablespoons per full load.

Recipe #5
Hot water
1 bar (4.5 oz) Ivory Soap - grated
1 cup Washing Soda

In a large saucepan add grated soap and enough hot water to cover. Heat over medium-low heat and stir until soap is melted.
Fill a large pail with 2.5 gallons of hot water, add hot soap mixture. Stir until well mixed.
Then add the washing soda, again stirring until well mixed.
Set aside to cool.
Use 1/2 cup per full load, stirring well before each use (will gel)
Recipe #6
2.5 gallons Water (hot)
1 Bar soap (grated)
3/4 cup Washing Soda
3/4 cup Borax
2 TBS Glycerin

Melt bar soap over medium-low heat topped with water, stir until soap is melted.
In a large pail, pour 2.5 gallons of hot water, add melted soap mixture, washing soda, borax and glycerin. Mix well.
Use 1/2 cup per full load.
Recipe #7
2 cups Bar soap (grated)
2 cups Washing Soda
2 - 2.5 gallons hot water

Melt grated soap in saucepan with water to cover. Heat over medium-low heat and stir until soap is dissolved.
Pour hot water in large pail, add hot soap and washing soda. Stir very well.
Use 1 cup per full load.
Recipe #8

2 gallons Water (hot)
1 bar Soap (grated)
2 cups Baking soda (yes baking soda this time–not washing soda)

Melt grated soap in a saucepan with enough hot water to cover. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring frequently until soap is melted.
In a large pail, pour 2 gallons hot water. Add melted soap, stir well.
Then add the baking soda, stir well again.
Use 1/2 cup per full load, 1 cup per very soiled load.
Powdered Laundry Detergent -

Recipe #9
12 cups Borax
8 cups Baking Soda
8 cups Washing Soda
8 cups Bar soap (grated)

Mix all ingredients well and store in a sealed tub.
Use 1/8 cup of powder per full load.

Recipe #10 - (Powdered)

1 cup Vinegar (white)
1 cup Baking Soda
1 cup Washing Soda
1/4 cup liquid castile soap

Mix well and store in sealed container.
I find it easiest to pour the liquid soap into the bowl first, stirred in the washing soda, then baking soda, then added the vinegar in small batches at a time (the recipe foams up at first). The mixture is a thick paste at first that will break down into a heavy powdered detergent, just keep stirring. There may be some hard lumps, try to break them down when stirring (it really helps to make sure the baking soda isn’t clumpy when first adding).
Liquid Detergents Note:

Soap will be lumpy, goopy and gel-like. This is normal. Just give it a good stir before using. Make sure soap is covered with a lid when not in use. You could also pour the homemade soap in old (and cleaned) laundry detergent bottles and shake well before each use.

*If you can’t find Fels-Naptha locally, you can buy it online (check Amazon).

Optional:

You can add between 10 to 15 drops of essential oil (per 2 gallons) to your homemade laundry detergent. Add once the soap has cooled to room temperature. Stir well and cover.

Essential oil ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil

I've been debating 4 and 9, I think the liquidagel would gross me out. Has anyone tried them, do they work as well as a liquid?

I have been using #1 for a couple of weeks and I like it, my friend makes one that is more of a gel, kinda goopy/thicker, but works well.

does it get clumpy, or slimy? How many loads does 1 batch do? I can't buy washing soda, I have to order it online, I wonder if it's worth the shipping, that is why I wrote it off before.

What exactly is washing soda?

I will look for washing soda at walmart. I even have a bucket to use. with a lid.

What kind of bar soap did you use erin?
and did you just buy 20 mule borax?

Oh and I am not BROKE. I am BEYOND REPAIR. one day I will be rich though. ONE DAY.....

tegansmom wrote:What exactly is washing soda?

i wondered that myself.

i remember a few years back when i used to make candles, I saw the kits to make your own soap (bar) and thought that would be fun to do, BUT I can't use bar soap, so it would be a gift thing.

I will be looking into this and hopefully find something that works.

#5 sounds like it would be okay. BR refuses to use ANYTHIN except Ivory soap. I use it for dishes too. LOL (not bath soap, dish soap, but both have to be ivory)

OH and how do you grate a bar of soap? just with a cheese grater?? hmmmmm you'd have to clean it real well too.. otherwise you'd have extra laundry...

Cheese grater, food processor, whittle it down with a potato peeler.

Thanks, I think I might just have to try this. I go through laundry soap like theres no tomorrow. Its agervating. I quit using TIDE a few months ago. Its just too high. and they refuse to send you any coupons.

Washing soda is in the laundry aisle, looks like baking soda, but isn't. I used 20 mule team boarx, same as for the pool.LOl I have a 20 lbs box I got at Sams for the inground cesspool. Which btw I am considering filling with dirt and planting something, noone, NOONE has been in it in 2 weeks, and I ain't cleaning it again/

OH, btw I used Lever 2000 soap, allergic to Ivory, and we had that so I used it. Makes the clothes smell good.

cool thanks!

I have been making my own laundry soap for years. I don't see my exact recipe listed though. I use one bar soap grated, or equal amount of small bars. To that I add 1/2 cup borax and 1/2 cup washing soda (can be hard to find, my local WalMart has baking soda there in large boxes). I collect small bars of soap from hotels and I have also have many I got for free with coupons. Be careful not to use deodorant soap as it can leave a residue on clothes. I usually use Dove soap and sometimes add a bit of Fells Naptha. I make it in a 5 gallon bucket, then transfer to to smaller containers to store it.

My walmart has giant boxes of baking SODA where the washing soda should be, right next to the borax. What else can it be used for? If I am gonna buy it I will be buying it in bulk. Hmmm now I am wondering if I can order boarx in bulk- I go through so much of it. I should keep 55 gallon drums of it, baking soda, and vinegar- I spend a ton on those three things.

washing soda is in the same family as baking soda. It has just been processed differently it's sodium carbonate-two sodium atoms, a carbon atom, and three hydrogen atoms-whereas baking soda is sodium bicarbonate-the same ingredients, but with a hydrogen atom replacing one of the sodiums. washing soda is much more caustic/alkaline, with a pH of 11.
You could actually use either, the baking soda will be less harsh on clothes.

I get 50 lb boxes of Borax at Sams, I think they were about $25.00, BUT I was using 250 lbs at a time...........

OH, and did you know Oxyclean is just washing soda with a bit of peroxide added so it bleaches?

edbson wrote:I get 50 lb boxes of Borax at Sams, I think they were about $25.00, BUT I was using 250 lbs at a time...........

OH, and did you know Oxyclean is just washing soda with a bit of peroxide added so it bleaches?

No way!

thebigscott wrote:

edbson wrote:I get 50 lb boxes of Borax at Sams, I think they were about $25.00, BUT I was using 250 lbs at a time...........

OH, and did you know Oxyclean is just washing soda with a bit of peroxide added so it bleaches?

No way!

omg!! I had no clue~

We use Borax for the pool, Borates act as an algaecide. For my water volume, 30K gallons it takes 250 lbs of Borax once a year to get the right level, I also used 100lbs washing soda, and about 200 gallons of bleach so far.....

edbson wrote:washing soda is in the same family as baking soda. It has just been processed differently it's sodium carbonate-two sodium atoms, a carbon atom, and three hydrogen atoms-whereas baking soda is sodium bicarbonate-the same ingredients, but with a hydrogen atom replacing one of the sodiums. washing soda is much more caustic/alkaline, with a pH of 11.
You could actually use either, the baking soda will be less harsh on clothes.

Now that's an explanation I can understand! (I'm just a bit too lazy to google it!)

Thanks!

I wish I had seen this before I was out shopping today! Devon's school supplies broke me and he's only in kindergarden! LOL! Luckily I find Purex is pretty cheap and works on most of the stuff the boys get into.

I usually use Purex or Arm and Hammer, never more than a buck a bottle. I have never been to Sams but now I have to check it out- do I have to get a membership? how much does it cost? LOL It's like an hour away.

I just buy it, I don't make it. I should... but I'm just too overwhelmed by things that need done and this is low on the list. I like the All small and mighty because it's 3x concentrated. Takes up less room in the house and uses less gas to ship across the country. I also like Cheer powder.

Me either Karen... last thing I want to do is make my own soap. Even though funds aren't tight for me, I still buy (brands and off-brands) at places like Doller General, Big Lots, Family Dollar. Heck, even the Dollar Tree stores sell detergent -- and for just a buck!

But for all you that go to the trouble, well more power to ya

PS, granted I don't have kids with grass stained jeans, nor does my husband have dirty work clothes. I'm basically the only dirt maker in the house. I mow, I garden, I edge, I sweep. In fact I just came in from doing 3 of out those 4 things. My footies were so dirty from wearing them in my garden shoes, I just took them off and threw them away. I'm not wasteful... one had a big hole in the toe and they were destined for the trash