I've been making my own laundry detergent for about 3 years now. I love it! Only twice in that 3 years have I messed up timing of making more vs. running out and had to go buy stuff from the store >_< I hate that! I'm all about saving money here and buying detergent is a waste, not a save!
I use the Duggar Family recipe for liquid laundry soap with Fels-Naptha bar soap (found mine at Kroger). I won't go through every single step since Michelle has basically laid it out for you, but here's my pictorial post about it.
Aside from the ingredients listed in the recipe you'll need a few extra things, one being a 5 gallon bucket. It has been a while but I believe I paid $4-$5 for mine at Walmart. I learned this go 'round that my bucket had a crack in the bottom so I patched it with a pool repair kit I had handy (remember, I'm saving money!). To be safe I put a couple garbage bags in the bucket when I began to fill it up. Later I learned the bags had leaked but thankfully the bucket and my patch had not!
I recommend a blender or food processor (I used my Ninja) for grating the soap. Faster and better than using the cheese grater, IMO. Also have a large funnel and ladle on hand for when you begin to fill up your smaller containers.
Here is what the soap looks like after it sets for 24hrs. It definitely takes on a creepy goo form!
I use all different sorts of containers to store the soap. These are glass jugs from Santa Cruz organic apple juice.
Where the funnel and ladle come in handy!
I am trying something new here... I decided to fill the lid of my Tide Stain Release bottle and dump it in one of my laundry detergent bottles. Yes, I make my own laundry detergent to save money but I still buy Tide Stain Release. But you better believe I buy that stuff on sale with coupons. I probably pay less $2 a bottle. Personally I really like it. Anyway, I usually only add the Tide to my laundry loads with clothes that I know have some stained items. With a 4yr old that's about every load of clothes. I'm going to test this out and see if it works just as well as adding the Stain Release separately. (BTW I do not use the recommended amount per the Tide bottle in each load, that's just outrageous. I use maybe 1/3 of what they suggest and have had good luck with it.)
Tideless detergent on the left - Tidefull detergent on the right
Tideless detergent on the left - Tidefull detergent on the right
And here you have it... every bottle I could find filled with detergent!
I still have about 4 inches of soap left in the 5 gallon bucket to distribute in to containers once it empties.The cost is incredibly minimal. I used my last bar of soap this time but I still have the same boxes of Washing Soda and Borax (down to maybe 1/2 full) that I had when I first started making detergent. I believe this is my 4th batch in 3 years? It must only cost a penny per load, if that!
~Lisa~
I love homemade laundry detergent! There's no going back!
ReplyDeletePowdered soap is easier to make and store. I think it works better then liquid. I throw in some Purex Crystals for scent, so I just dump one scoop in laundry.
ReplyDeleteTry it!
I've thought about trying the powder but I have a ton of liquid left. Using the Purex Crystals mixed in is a good idea for the scent :) I loved those when I used them briefly after a good sale. I never used their recommended amount and was able to stretch them out over a long period of time and still get a good scent in my clothes!
ReplyDeleteHey thank you so much for this !! I would love to try this out!! I hope it will do wonders!!
ReplyDeleteNo problem :) I know very few people who are displeased with it. 4 years and going strong with using mine! I don't mix the Tide STain Release in with it anymore, I just put whatever booster in a load if I feel like I need it. This batch right here is the most recent batch I made and I'm down to my last glass jug!! It has lasted a year!
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