The dear husband and I took a cross country road trip with five of the kids. It was time for them to meet most of their family and this was the best way we could see it working.
While in Kentucky hanging with my Campbell's, my aunt Doris showed me that she makes her own laundry detergent. Hmmm, I thought...7 of us, 14-18 loads of laundry a week. Couldn't hurt, right?
This month's laundry detergent budget went to the items on the list. It cost me $12.93 to make 5 gallons of laundry detergent. Each load takes a little less than 2/3s a cup in my high capacity front loading washer (about 100 loads). I have used it for three loads so far. It works great! Its a little work, but worth the effort.
The $12.93 covers 2-4 batches. The cool part is you can monitor what you are putting into your detergent. I assume you can use essential oils to scent it if you desire. If I had chosen to go unscented, it would have been less than $10 for 4 batches (2400 ounces, 400 loads).
Here's the recipe.
5 cups water (to start)
1 bar of Naptha or Octogon or Ivory bar soap ($1.00 for one)
1-1/2 cup washing soda, Arm & Hammer or other brand ($3.59 for 55 oz)
1-1/2 cup of Borax ($4.85 for 76 oz)
2 cups of purchased liquid laundry detergent for scent, if desired ($2.99 for 32 oz, I chose)
Grate bar soap and add it to 5 cups of water. Heat until soap is thoroughly melted. Pour this mixture into a 5 gallon bucket and add remaining ingredients. Stir well. Add hot tap water to fill bucket. You can leave in bucked and stir before each use or fill plastic jugs 3/4 full and shake before each use. Use 3/4 cup (or less) for a standard load. This laundry soap works best in warm water (I didn't see a differences).
Thanks Aunt Doris. This sure will help.
