Homemade Laundry Soap for the Washer

Save money and have fun cooking up your own laundry soap for the washer at home.

Laundry detergent from the store can contain fragrances and allergens that may irritate your skin, and the price of paying for laundry detergent from the store may irritate your wallet. Save money and your skin when you learn how to make homemade laundry soap for the washer at home. With a small initial investment, you can make enough laundry detergent for hundreds of loads at a fraction of the cost of store-bought detergents and soaps.

Things You'll Need

• Large pot
• Bar soap
• Knife
• 5-gallon bucket with lid
• Washing soda
• Borax powder

Instructions

1. Fill a pot with about 4 cups of water and heat on the stove. Do not bring to a boil.

2. Slice off pieces of a bar of body soap --- any brand will do --- and put the slices into the pot of water. Stir until the soap pieces melt completely.

3. Stir 1/2 cup of borax powder and 1/2 cup of washing soda into the pot. Both of these items are available in the laundry section of the grocery store. Stir fully until everything blends together.

4. Pour 2 gallons of hot water into your large bucket. Add your soap mixture and stir completely. Put the lid on and let it sit overnight.

5. Remove the lid from the bucket and use 1/2 cup of this gel solution (the liquid will gel overnight) in your laundry load in place of regular detergent.

References

• The Family Homestead: Making Homemade Laundry Soap
• The Simple Dollar: How to Make Your Own Laundry Detergent and Save Money