So fresh and so clean, clean...
The only thing I hate worse than doing laundry is paying for laundry detergent. Thank goodness for this recipe. When I made this recipe, I cut the amounts in half, making one gallon. That amount filled my old, empty laundry detergent container and cost about $1. The original detergent (ALL free and clear) cost about $10... that's a significant savings for a few minutes of work.
Ingredients (makes approx 1 gallon of liquid laundry detergent):
1/3 bar grated laundry soap (Zote, Fels-Naptha, Dr Bronners)
1/3 cup washing soda (NOT baking soda)
1/4 cup Borax
1 gallon of water, divided in half
Directions:
Place a large stock pot on the stove. Add 2 quarts (8 cups) water and the grated soap.
** I've found it easiest to "shave" the soap with a sharp knife kind of like making chocolate shavings.
It makes less mess and has easier cleanup than a cheese grater and works just as quickly
Heat the mixture over medium heat just to a simmer. Let simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring until the soap is completely dissolved. A wire whisk works pretty well for this
Once the bar soap is dissolved, add the Washing Soda and the Borax. Continue to stir until they are both dissolved. This will take another minute or two.
Remove from heat and add the other 2 quarts. Stir to combine.
Cover and let sit for 24 hours. The mixture will separate with a thick congealed layer on top. Just give it another good whisk or use an electric mixer to reincorporate. Last time I made it, I put it in my blender and it came out really smooth and pourable. Use a funnel and ladle to pour the mixture into an old detergent container or other container of your choice.
**The mixture will have a tendency to continue separate a little even after it has cooled.
Just give it a good shake before using.
Use just like brand name laundry detergent!!
Here's an easy reference chart to show how I came up with the $1 per gallon price
Personally, I prefer not to have extra fragrance in my laundry detergent, so this recipe is perfect for me. To soften my clothes and add a light fragrance, I fill a downy ball 1/3 full with white vinegar (yes, more vinegar...you'll see that a lot on this page) and add about 10 drops of lavender essential oil.
And, instead of using fabric softener sheets, you can made your own economical and eco-friendly dryer balls using only wool yarn. Add a little essential oils before throwing them in the dryer with your clothes, and you end up with a nice light laundry scent with no waste!!
