{friday's finds} Homemade Laundry Detergent

My sister in law, Jana, whom I love dearly, emailed this recipe to me. I have to say that I LOVE IT! I knew I couldn't go wrong when I saw the "Fels Naptha" I have been using this as a stain remover for about 7 years! LOVE IT! Not to mention this stuff comes with fabulous reviews from all the ladies in her ward and her sisters that have tried it!

I absolutely knew I HAD to make this when I found that your total cost on this stuff is $2 per 5 gallon bucket of detergent which does about 400 loads! SERIOUSLY?! I laugh at you laundry detergent isle! I will no longer spend $15 to do 36 loads! MWAH HA HA!!

Let me show you how it is done......

Get your self a clean 5 gallon bucket and all this fun stuff. (All will be found in your laundry detergent section of the grocery store. Your total cost will be about $7.50).

Grate up the bar of Fels Naptha. I loved this part! I am such a texture person. Mal kept telling me she doesn't like cheese. Looks like it huh?!


Now place the grated bar & 4c. of hot water in a pot and heat, stirring constantly over medium low heat until the soap is completely melted.

Fill your bucket half full (oh yeah, I AM that type of person) with very hot water.

Pour your soap mixture into the water.

Add 1 cup of Arm & Hammer Laundry Soap

Then 1/2 c. Borax

Now stir it up really good. You want all the powder to be dissolved.

Now fill the bucket the rest of the way and cover. Leave over night to allow it to cool & thicken.

Since I paid an arm and a leg for my last container of liquid Tide, I rinsed the container out really good and using a funnel, filled the container with my new improved detergent. You can use any kind of container you would like.

Now, just so you know, the smell of the Fels Naptha bar itself is strong. Don't let this discourage you. The final smell is a very clean almost lemony smell. I like it. You can, if you would like, add 10-15 drops of essential oil per two gallons once the detergent has cooled, if you would like to add your own scent.

Now, if you are using a top loading machine you will use 5/8 cup of the detergent. Front loaders only 1/4 cup.

If you want to get real fancy/thrifty you can also mess with your fabric softener. Here is the recipe for that:

FABRIC SOFTENER

1 BOTTLE OF YOUR FAVORITE LIQUID SOFTENER

2 BOTTLES WATER

2 SPONGES

Combine in a container of your choosing. Leave sponges in liquid. Ring out and throw in dryer with wet laundry. Works great.

And here is the recipe to the Laundry Detergent.


LAUNDRY DETERGENT

4 C. HOT TAP WATER

1 BAR OF FELS NAPTHA

1 C. ARM & HAMMER LAUNDRY SODA

1/2 C. BORAX

Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with the water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted. Fill 5 gallon bucket half full of very 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.

You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per two gallons, add once soap has cooled. Top loading machine: 5/8 c. per load Front loading machine: 1/4 c. per load Makes approx. 400 loads

ENJOY!