Laundry Soap Recipe

I have made both the liquid and the powder laundry detergent.  I like them both equally.  I make powder now because I like to save space. I just checked the Duggar Family Website, and the powder recipe isn't there anymore.  BUT, it WAS there when I started doing this many years ago.  I copied it straight from my notes page on Facebook.  Enjoy!

Here's the entire recipe.  This is from the Duggar website, but I am amazed at the cost savings! It is supposed to be good for hard water too which is a plus for our area! You can buy the Fels-Naptha bar soap at Ace hardware for $1.29 a bar in Duncan but I prefer to buy the Ivory soap 3 pack for $1. The Borax can also be bought at Ace for about $4.62 or $3.89 at Marlow Foods. The washing soda can also be bought at Marlow Foods for $2.99 a box as well.  The Borax and Washing Soda are next to each other on the top shelf nearest the registers on the laundry soap aisle.  

(this is quoted from the website the recipe came from.  My comments are in Italics.)

TIPS FOR LAUNDRY SOAP: We use Fels-Naptha bar soap in the homemade soap recipes, but you can use Ivory, Sunlight, Kirk's Hardwater Castile or Zote bars. Don't use heavily perfumed soaps. We buy Fels-Naptha by the case from our local grocer or online. Washing Soda and Borax can normally be found on the laundry or cleaning aisle.

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

4 Cups hot tap water

1 Fels-Naptha soap bar *I use one bar of ivory soap when I make a 1/2 recipe*

1 Cup Washing Soda

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)

 

Powdered Laundry Detergent- Top load machine

1 Fels-Naptha soap bar

1 Cup Washing Soda

½ Cup Borax

-Grate soap or break into pieces and process in a food processor until powdered. Mix all ingredients. For light load, use 1 Tablespoon. For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 Tablespoons. Yields: 3 Cups detergent. (Approx. 40 loads)

 

 

Inexpensive Fabric Softener Recipes

Recipe #1

1 Cup White Vinegar

Add vinegar to rinse cycle. Works great. Removes residue and odors. Also helps to keep washing machine and hoses fresh and clean too.

Recipe #2

1 Container of Name Brand Fabric Softener

4 Inexpensive sponges, cut in half

Pour entire container of softener into a 5 gallon bucket. Fill empty softener container with water twice. (2 parts water to 1 part softener) Add sponges to softener/water mixture. When ready to use wring out extra mixture from one sponge and add to the dryer as you would a dryer sheet.