How to Make Homemade Laundry Detergent

This article will show you how easy it is to make a great laundry detergent that works really well!! We all know that sinking feeling when it's time to buy detergent - check the bank account honey. Not only do you have to buy the soap, but drive there to get it. Your now looking at a forty dollar trip. This article will show you how easy and cheap it is to make laundry detergent at home.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 bar bath soap
• 1 cup Borax
• 1 cup washing soda (we'll talk about this in step one)
• Five gallon bucket (or similiar container
• Three gallons of water

1. 
   My borrowed pool chemical

   First you’ve got to round up your ingredients right? If your like me, you’ve already got the bar soap - it’s just the borax and the washing soda you’re after. My girlfriend and I decided we were going to whip up a couple batches together. I readied the kitchen whilst she went to buy the borax and washing soda. In my area of California there is none to be found. We thought we were dead in the water, but I did some research and found out that washing soda is chemically sodium carbonate. Sodium carbonate is also a chemical they use to raise the Ph in pools. Fortunately, I have a ‘pool guy’ neighbor and we were back in business.

2. Put four cups of water on to boil

3. 
   Barsoap

   Grate the soap with a cheese grater

4. Slowly add the soap to the water adding more as the first set melts

5. Fill your container with about three gallons warm water

6. Add your soapy soup

7. Add the borax and washing soda

8. Let set up over night

9. Use a cup in your next load and feel proud!

10. 
    My goo

    What your left with is a gelatinousness goo that is every bit as good as Tide (I swear) for pennies on the dollar, literally. Tide will cost you anywhere from .20 to .30 cents per load. Your homemade stuff will cost about .025. If you do a load a day that’ll save you 65 dollars a year (I do a whole lot more than that).

Tips & Warnings

• Try putting vinegar in your Downy ball, works really well as fabric softener and your clothes won’t smell like vinegar (I swear again)
• Check your pool supply retailer if you can’t find washing soda in your area. Chemical name Sodium carbonate
• I’ve heard people complain about homemade detergent not rinsing well. I think the secret is in the boiling of the soap first. My friends and I have had no problem with this recipe.
• Seriously fun too make.

[static404]

on 8/14/2009 Wow...excellent information that can save alot of money too. Thanks for the info.

[L1onherd]

on 10/17/2008 Great article!!!

[momofour]

on 7/18/2008 Fab-u-lous! I am looking at 10 loads of laundry right now and had just been wondering if I was going to have enough detergent to get it done. Lucky me, I have all of the ingredients already. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[momofour]

on 7/18/2008 Fab-u-lous! I am looking at 10 loads of laundry right now and had just been wondering if I was going to have enough detergent to get it done. Lucky me, I have all of the ingredients already. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[ljsomma]

on 7/17/2008 Great Recipe. I am going to try this!