Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent

My project this week was making laundry detergent.

I've had this project on my list of someday to-dos ever since my sister tried it (2 years ago) and raved about it. So, after finally getting fed up with buying pricey detergent I buckled down and conquered this task.

This recipe yields 10 gallons of detergent; enough to last 1 year (or more) and it costs $10 for all of the initial supplies; subsequent years will cost $1 since all you will need to buy is a bar of soap!

I am so pleased with the end result! The recipe is simple, straightforward, smells so fresh and clean, even without adding essential oils.

This recipe comes from the Duggar Family Blog.

Ingredients

4 cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax
10 drops of essential oil (optional)

Directions

First I wrote the list of ingredients on top of my bucket
to help me quickly gather them for the next time I make this.

Second, grate bar of soap (or chop it up like I did)

Next, put soap and water in a large pot.

Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

Then, 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.

The next morning, stir large bucket.

Then, finally fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser (I'm using an old milk jug) half full with detergent and then the rest of way with water. Shake before each use; mixture will gel.

Notes-

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)

Important:
* You must use “super washing soda” as noted in the ingredients; baking soda will not suffice
* I found all 3 ingredients at Wal-Mart in the laundry detergent aisle and a bucket in the hardware department.