DIY Laundry Soap Recipe!

I don't know about you, but since a certain website has allowed me to explore a plethera of do-it-yourself projects, I have been busy experimenting! One of my favorite money-saving (and fun) tips to keep your laundry clean and fresh is DIY laundry soap! And I have tried a few recipes out there. This one was tweaked ever so slightly as I have 2 MESSY kids whom I love dearly, but who can certainly create stains as fast as I can clip a coupon! :)  I "upped" the Oxi Clean!

So, here is what you will need to try it out!

 

~3 bars of Fels-Naptha Laundry Soap

~1 box Borax

~1 box Super Washing Soda

~1 box Oxi Clean (the wrong one is pictured...ugh!)

~1 box Baking Soda

~1 bottle Purex Crystals (if desired, but not necessary)

~A funnel and mixing container (5 gallon bucket works well)

 

PLEASE NOTE: All of the "boxed items are APPROXIMATELY 4 pounds each...AND I didn't have enough Fels-Naptha in the photo, you will need 3 bars instead of 2! :)

When I first began, I grated the soap by hand. I found that it did not stay distributed evenly after the entire batch was mixed as the powders sand and the soap stayed on top. I then ground the grated soap in my SPARE Magic Bullet mixed with little bits of the detergent so it would not melt. This turned them into a more granular-type particle that distributed well.

In my second batch, I just broke the soap into little chunks and did one or two at a time in the Bullet with about 1/4 cup of the rest of the ingredients that were already mixed. This worked MUCH better! If you don't have a blender/bullet that you can use, no worries! Just be sure to "shake" or "mix" the detergent before you use. 

So, basically, dump all of the powder ingredients of the detergent into a 5-gallon bucket (or I just used a rectangular storage container) and mix. Then grate or grind your soap (as finely as you can) and mix it in.

 

And here is the finished product! I store mine in juice containers and leave the Purex Crystals bottle out to use. I use just under one capful of the soap right in the wash tub and it works great! I also love the smell of the crystals, but it is not necessary if you don't want them.

NOTE: The powder gets a little "poofy" when you are dumping and mixing. My son has asthma, so I made it in the laundry room with the door closed and windows open. Then I shut the windows, let the "poofiness" settle...is that a word?...and then just swept it up with a damp cloth. :) 

The final cost would be just under $18 if you don't use coupons. I am going to see how long mine lasts with approximately 2 loads per day! The photo above shows that I have already used a lot, it filled over 4 juice bottles, plus the Purex bottle!

Have you tried this recipe? Let me know how you liked it!

God bless! ~Erin

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