I’ve been meaning to share something I did a few weeks ago…
One of my pet peeves is laundry detergent. Don’t ask me how I got this way, but it always seems to be a fight to find what I want for the price I want to pay. Unless I manage a 4 hour trip to a bigger city for a “Wally World” run, I have to buy at my “local” supermarket.
I choked every time I’d buy Tide. SSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOO expensive.
I gave it up years ago.
I have an HE front loading washer, so that narrowed my selection considerably.
EVERY TIME, I swear, the brands changed.
I knew I was paying at least $3 more at my grocery store than I would at Walmart, and I’m such a cheapskate, I’d just grit my teeth and kick myself for not stocking up more on my last trip to the big city!
Enter a friend who told me how to make my own laundry detergent for pennies.
Ka-CHING!
I tried it… and I’m happy enough… and my pocket book is smiling!
The ingredients: Fels Naptha soap, borax, and A&H Super Washing Soda. All found at my local grocery store for probably about $5. It sure wasn’t much.
I looked around the internet and found various recipes… most using smaller amounts than I did. I’m sure they’d work just as well.
Grate the Fels Naptha bar into smaller chunks. I used my cheese slicer since the soap was so soft. All this does is let it melt that much faster. If you have time to stand around with a whole bar and let it melt… go for it. Mix the grated soap with water in a pan and heat it until all the soap is melted.
Add one cup of borax and one cup of A&H Washing Soda. Stir well.
Put in a 5 gallon bucket and fill with water.
Let it set overnight and it will gel.
Divide it further into your smaller jugs splitting it half and half with water again. I have a jug with a spout on it I just reuse. You need to shake it before you use it, but that’s all folks…
Yup.
I spent $5 or $6 and have 10 gallons of laundry detergent! Plus more borax and soda to use next time.
I LIKE IT!
I could have added some essential oil for scent if I’d wanted to… I’d like to use some scent sometime, but I decided not to use my lavender oil… and on occasion, if Vernon has some REALLY stinky tshirts… I just use vinegar as my fabric softener… but I used to do that anyway.
If it works on my poopy, sweaty, greasy laundry… it should work on yours!
****
August 4, 2010 Wordless Wednesday – “Enjoying the View… aka…”
August 4, 2009 Photo Improvements
August 4, 2008 No entry.
Find me here!
