Homeade Laundry Soap

I am always up for a new experiment especially if it might end up saving a little money.  One of the biggest things I have noticed with additional babies is the increase in laundry. It is better now they area little older but I had forgotten how many outfits new babies go through each day; so grateful for a washer and dryer. I heard about several of my friends doing this and my mom had a recipe, which had been proven to work. I tried it and I liked it. It even gets those hard solid-food stains out of the baby clothes with minimal scrubbing/soaking beforehand.  I think it cleans just as good or better than commercial brands. Again, I am sure there are tons of different ways out there but the thought of making my laundry soap never crossed my mind. The most time consuming part is grating the soap and it is not that bad if you have a good cheese sturdy cheese grater.  You don't have to make it too often. I use about 1/8 of a cup of the finished powder with each load. We do have soft water so that might require less. I haven't priced it out per load or ounce but I am sure it saves money.  My boys have "sensitive skin" and it doesn't seem to bother them either which is nice.

Here is what you need:

J1 full bar of soap: obtained by ½ bar Fels Naptha and ½ favorite bar soap or 1 full Fels Naptha.

(cost 1 bar Fels Naptha $0.99 at Walmart)

J1 cup *Arm and Hammer Super washing soda (about $3.99 for 55 ounces at Walmart)

J1 cup 20 mule team borax (about $4.29 for 76 ounces at Walmart)

*Be sure to use Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda." Baking soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent. This must be sodium carbonate!)

Directions:

Shave (I used our sturdy cheese grater) 1 full bar of soap. Add: 1 cup borax and 1 cup washing soda. Mix well about 5 minutes, until you have a powder. The first time I made this, I used a pastry blender but then switched to a flat-bottomed wooden spoon. I am still looking at ways to make it a little more “powdery.”. I figured as long as I was at it, I might as well make a double batch. It will store just fine as long as the storage container is tight and completely dry inside. A double batch will store in a dry, cleaned 32-ounce yogurt container.