How to Make Homemade Laundry Soap...and Save Money

We all are looking for ways to save money. How about making laundry soap for only 3 cents a load?! It is fun, easy and a great way to make natural soap that is easy on clothes or great for a new baby's laundry!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2.5 oz Ivory bar soap
• 1 cup Borax
• 1 cup Washing Soda
• Mixer
• Cheese Grater

1. Grate half of a 2.5 bar of Ivory soap with a cheese grater. The smaller the grater the easier you will have it when you blend it. Put grated soap in blender. (Note: It can be KIRK’S CASTILLE Bar Soap or Fels Naptha laundry soap)

2. Add the 1 cup Borax and 1 cup Washing soda to blender and blend until fine. (NOTE: MUST be Washing soda.) You can easily add essential oils to scent the soap if you desire.

3. One batch will make 3 cups.
   Use: 2 Tblsp = top loading washers
   1 Tblsp = Front loading washers.
   Each Tablespoon is 3 cents per load depending on how much you spend on the ingredients. I found that for my top loading washer it was about 4.7 cents per load with the prices I purchased everything at.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a small grater and it will blend up faster.
• Blending can put out dust so keep the lid on until it settles.
• Sometimes letting the Ivory soap dry out can make for easier grating. Just leave it unwrapped somewhere and use it after it has lost its moister.
• Washing Soda differs from baking soda. It is usually near the Borax.
• You can add essential oils to scent the soap if you want it to smell differently.
• MUST be Washing soda. I had to go to a local grocery store to find it. Walmart and Walgreens do not carry this!

[mitziray]

on 11/17/2009 The great thing about this is you only use 2 Tablespoons per load for top loading washers and 1 Tablespoons for front loading washers! It last a long time!

[homemom]

on 11/17/2009 How much do you use per load? 1 cup?

[mitziray]

on 7/15/2009 I just did some research on HE washers and I think it would work. This mix does not create many suds from what I've seen. Suds are harmful for HE washers.
Sounds like it would work perfectly!

[burnsrubber]

on 7/14/2009 Can you use this in HE washing machines??