Laundry Detergent

I just used the last of my laundry soap this morning.  Fortunately I have all the ingredients to make more right in my home.  So I gathered them together and prepared to make 3 gallons, which will last my family about 3 months, for less than $2.00.

When I was young and single I was a TIDE fan.  The smell is awesome, but let's face it, $20.00 for a box of laundry detergent is really ridiculous!  As time passed I went from Tide to Arm & Hammer, $15.00.  I went down the line until I was using Sun, $4.00.  But with a growing family, and me terribly concerned about germs all the time, (yes I may be a bit OCD there), I was running through 1 a week.

When I came across the recipe for laundry soap, I was skeptical, but thought I'd give it a try, simply because it is SOOOOO affordable.

Sooooo here are my ingredients.


Laundry Soap

• 1/3 bar grated Fels Naptha Soap, or your favorite Bar Soap


• 1/2 cup Borax


• 1/2 cup Washing Soda


• Water

Heat 1 quart water on medium heat.  Add and stir in grated bar soap.  Once bar soap is completely melted in, add Borax and Washing Soda while stirring.  Continue to stir until the mixture thickens to the consistency of honey.  Pour into a 1 gallon storage container and fill the remainder with water.  Allow to set for about 24 hours.

You will then have to SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE it out of its hard set jell the first time you use it, and then just a light shake every time after.

Use 1/3 to 1/2 cup per load of laundry, as you see fit.


I make 3 batches at a time, because it uses the entire bar of soap, and then lasts me 3 months.  Here are my fresh 3 gallons of laundry soap.  You can see that it is already jelling up. I used old 1 gallon Gatorade jugs, because they are easy to lug around with that big handle on top and the finger grip on the side, and the plastic is thicker and feels like it may last a while.

As I said, this is extremely cheap to make.  The prices at my local Winco....

• Fels Naptha $1.30


• Borax $5.00


• Washing Soda $3.50

And you can get MANY batches (more than 10) out of the boxes of Borax and Washing Soda.

It is also hypoallergenic.  Basically unscented, unless you choose to add essential oils, which you are FREE TO DO!

Go ahead and give it a try!  You will feel like a superhero, smell as clean and fresh as rain and save money doing it. :)