Homemade Laundry Detergent

I've been making all of our laundry detergent for almost two years now. It's easy, cheap, and it has far less chemicals in it than what you can find on the shelves. It takes me about 30 minutes every 3-5 months and costs only $7 per batch. How do you say no to that? Here's what you need:

Supplies
- large stockpot
- 5 gallon bucket with a lid
- grater
- wooden spoon or spatula
- clean and empty milk jug or similar container
- funnel (or I use an old creamer box cut in half as a funnel)

Ingredients
- 1 cup baking soda
- 1 cup Borax natural laundry soap (found in laundry aisle)
- 2 cups Arm & Hammer's washing soda (found in laundry aisle)
- 1 bar soap - you can find Naptha Falls Laundry Bar in most laundry aisles. I prefer Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap Bars but any soap that is paraben and sulfate free will work (Unless you want a full on bubble party rave in your kitchen. In that case, go with something full of sulfates.)
- essential oils (optional)

1. Grate your bar of soap into small shavings. Place the soap shavings in your stockpot with 4 cups of water on medium heat. Stir and heat until soap is dissolved.

2. Add baking soda, washing soda and Borax. Stir frequently and heat on medium until it is completely dissolved. Add water if needed.

3. Add your favorite scent with about 30 drops of essential oils and stir. My favorite is lavender, and it can be found in most natural health stores or online here.



4. Carefully pour your stockpot mixture into the 5 gallon bucket. Fill the rest of the bucket with HOT water from the tap.

5. Place the lid on the bucket and let sit for 24 hours, and it will turn into a gel. Skim any film off the top then transfer into your milk jug for every day use.




Shake the milk jug prior to use as the contents can separate without the extra chemicals to bind them. I use about 1/2 cup in each load; more if it's heavily soiled. You may need to adjust the amount according to your washing machine. I also still use a stain remover for tough stains. Overall, the savings in money and chemicals is totally worth the 30 minutes it takes to make it.