DeDe Does... Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent

OK, so everyone thinks I’m crazy until they realize why it is I do this. There are several reasons why!
 My personal reasons are:
1) Because it’s allergen-free and safe for skin conditions such as eczema, skin sensitivities and infant clothing.
2) Because it’s extremely inexpensive and easy to make.
3) Because I love the fresh, clean scent that’s not overpowering.
I’ve used a few different recipes, and this is the one I developed and like the best. It makes a total of 4 gallons and cost $2, yes that is $.50 per gallon of liquid detergent! No extreme couponing necessary!! Still think I’m crazy? (Never mind, don’t answer that… especially if you really know me! LOL)

These are the 3 ingredients you will need to purchase. I get my supplies at Ace Hardware in Cedar Park or Walmart. I know others have found the Borax and Super Washing Soda at HEB, but had trouble finding the Fels-Naptha. There are other brands of laundry bar soap, but I haven’t experimented with them. Feel free to do so if you are up for the challenge, just make sure it’s designed for laundry!  One box of Borax will make about 10 batches and a box of Soda will make about 7 batches.  The only other thing you will need is to invest in is a 5 gallon bucket with a lid. 

Ok, ready for the recipe and instructions?  Here you go!!

Heat 12 cups (6 pints) of water in a large pot on the stove.

Grate the bar of Fels-Naptha.

Add the grated soap to the pot of hot water.  I use a whisk and just stir slowly making sure it doesn’t bubble up too much as it melts.  Heat on low and stir until completely dissolved. 

Stir in 1 cup of Borax and 1 cup of Super Washing Soda until thickened.

			It doesn’t take long for it to dissolve and become thick. Remove from heat. Add 2 quarts of HOT water to the 5 gallon bucket. Add soap mixture and mix well. Continue to add HOT water until bucket has 4 gallons and mix well.
			Cover and set aside for 24 hours.

Mixture will thicken into a gel like state.

Stir and divide into smaller containers for easy storage. I use empty juice jugs or old laundry detergent containers.  Leave a little extra space in each container. 

Shake the detergent container well before each use. As the mixture settles, it will gel. The recipe says to use ½ cup of detergent per load. I have a super capacity washer and I use about a cup with a large load of laundry. It’s the same amount I used with laundry detergent I previously purchased from the store. I suggest trying it the way you normally use detergent.

And now that you aren’t spending a fortune on laundry detergent… go buy yourself something fun!

NOTES:
I can't take all the credit for this. I asked friends of mine that made laundry detergent what they do and how they did it. Then, I watched a few youtube videos (very educational... LOL) and googled other recipes and tips. The next important step was to call a couple of friends and said, "I have a hair-brained idea I want to try... who wants to come help me?!?!" I can always count on Sarah D. and Karla W. to show up for that statement!! LOL And together, we had our first trial run with making detergent! After trying a few different batches and recipes, I found one I liked the best and that's the one I am happy to pass along to you! Enjoy!! And really, if you are nearby and don't feel like making it yourself or want to try it out on a load of your laundry... simply ask me for some! I'm happy to share... especially at these prices! LOL


Can this be used in HE washers? 
Well, from everything I've read about HE washers, they use less water and require less detergent. You will find that this mix does NOT suds up in your washer, so it should be completely safe. I would start out by using a very small amount. I've read that some use only about 2 tablespoons of detergent while others use up to 1/4 cup. I guess depending on the size of your load, you can adjust it accordingly!

Comment from previous post:  Girl, you have no idea what you have started in my household with this post. LOL I have now made 4 batches for myself and I just bought containers to make some for Christmas presents. For the gifts: I'm making a batch to go in the container and then adding 2 soaps, a box of Borax and a box of the washing soda with instructions that I'll print on a cute little card. I still haven't made it in liquid form though---the powder works just fine and looks pretty in my detergent jar. I bought a case of each of the ingredients so I'm good for the next few years. lol