I get a lot of questions about homemade laundry soap. People are either excited to try it or very hesitant. I have been using mine for a couple of years now with nothing but praise for it.
My previous post featuring the same recipes has received a lot of interest so I thought a quick update letting anyone who is still hesitant to try it know it really does work may be helpful. I use a front-load washing machine {which has it's own issues as we've all heard} and have successfully used both the liquid version as well as the powdered version. My husband is a contractor and, therefore, comes home very smelly and this is all I use - no additional products. I do use a stain remover directly on the clothing stick for oily or protein stains prior to wash but nothing additional added to the actual wash.
For a break-down of my cost or for any further instructions please see the original post.
The ingredients are super simple to find - they are shown below:
The liquid version needs to be shaken before use. It does tend to separate, but as soon as it's briefly shaken it fully incorporates again. If using the powdered version in a front-load machine, just remove the plastic detergent divider so the powder doesn't get stuck in the tray.
The Recipes:
Homemade Laundry Soap - Powdered Version:
makes 1 quart and 1 pint (approx. 63 loads of wash}
what you'll need:
a grater {or food processor}
a large bowl {to mix the ingredients}
1 bar of soap (handmade, Fels Naptha, Zote, Castile, etc.)
2 c. borax
2 c. washing soda {NOT baking soda}
1 quart and 1 pint container with lid or 3 pint containers
Pour the borax and washing soda into the large bowl. Stir together. Grate the soap bar and add to the bowl. With a spoon, mix until fully incorporated, taking care not to inhale the particles as you mix.
Transfer the detergent into containers. Use 1 T. - 2 T. per wash load, either sprinkling on the wash or putting in the detergent tray.
Homemade Laundry Soap - Liquid Version:
makes just under 2 gallons {approx. 64 -128 loads of wash}
what you'll need:
a large bucket that holds at least 3 gallons {to mix the ingredients in}
2 - gallon containers {to store the detergent in}
a grater
liquid measuring cup
something to mix it together with {I use my immersion blender to ensure it's mixed well - alternatively, you could use a spoon or whisk and shake the final product}
a large pot/stockpot
a funnel {if needed to pour liquid into the gallon containers}
1/2 c. borax
1/2 c. Washing {NOT baking} soda
1 bar of soap (3 ounces)
Add 4 cups water to the stockpot {tap water is fine}. With a grater {or food processor}, grate the soap bar over the stockpot. Turn the stockpot on medium heat and stirring, allow the soap bar to melt into the water. *Large chunks will not melt so if a piece falls off while grating, try to chop it up smaller.*
Being careful to not bring to a boil, continue stirring until all grated soap is melted {no chunks or small pieces}. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the borax and washing soda, stirring until thoroughly dissolved, about 4-6 minutes.
Put 1 gallon and 8 cups of hot water into the large bucket. Carefully pour in the soap mixture. With an immersion blender, blend until fully incorporated, about 2 minutes.
Allow to cool to room temperature. Stir again, either with a large spoon or the immersion blender, and pour into the 2 - gallon containers, using a funnel if necessary. This should leave enough room in the container to shake prior to each use.
Use 1/4 - 1/2c. per load of laundry. {typically 1/2 c. with top load and 1/4 c. with front loading machines}
**The detergent may be watery, it depends on the water you use {hard or soft}. Within the next 24 hours it will separate and part of it will begin to gel. Shake each container well. Give the container a quick shake prior to each use as it will separate again.**
Laundry Softener
The only laundry softener I've used for the last I don't know how many years is white vinegar. 1/4 cup of white vinegar per load of wash in the softener tray of your machine takes away any leftover laundry soap residue, any static cling, and makes your clothes soft. It leaves absolutely no scent - I promise you will not smell like a salad.
Hanging Clothes To Dry
I love my clothesline as much as I love my homemade soap. I hang our clothes out as often as possible - there's just nothing like the fresh air smell that lightly scents them.
If hanging your clothes to dry for the first time, think about the clothespin marks prior to hanging. For instance, if you're hanging shirts, you don't want to hang them neck-side up. If you do, you will likely end up with puckers in the shoulder area of the shirts from the clothespins. Instead, hang them upside down and you will have no marks at all.
Pants can either be hung right-side up or pant-leg up - depends on the thickness of the waist.
Happy wash day!!