Home Made Laundry Soap

[honeydiane1953]

I made this recipe two months ago and I am just running out. I doubled the recipe, it cleaned very nicely.
I used a plastic cat litter container to store it.

Homemade Laundry Soap

1/3 bar Fels Naptha or other type of soap, as listed above

½ cup washing soda

½ cup borax powder

~You will also need a small bucket, about 2 gallon size~



Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan. Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into the bucket. Now add your soap mixture and stir. Now add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. You use ½ cup per load.

We r a small family so prob won't ever do this. Think the DUGGARS do this and I bet it works fantastic.

 

[Coll0610]

I've made the powdered version twice. The first time I used Fels Naptha and it took forever to grate it by hand. Second time I used Ivory and it was MUCH easier. The Fels Naptha bar had been in my cabinet for a couple years. Does anyone know if the Fels Naptha is always that hard or was it just because it was old?

 

[pk1959]

I've made the powdered version twice. The first time I used Fels Naptha and it took forever to grate it by hand. Second time I used Ivory and it was MUCH easier. The Fels Naptha bar had been in my cabinet for a couple years. Does anyone know if the Fels Naptha is always that hard or was it just because it was old?

It was definitely hard from being so old. I had half a bar like that that I used the first time I made it and it was like grating a rock. No problems with the fresh bars.

 

[ceecee]

1/3 of a bar of Ivory seems like a little soap and 6 cups of water seems like it would be mostly water, I googled it and it listed many different recipes. I want to try it as well with my front loader, hopefully the musty smell won't be as bad. Also have much do you use? I've read 2 Tb and 1/2 cup, that's a big difference.

 

[worm761]

ceecee, it depends on your recipe how much you use. I only use a tablespoon but mine is powdered detergent. With high efficiency machines, you don't want a lot of soap since that is what causes the bubbles that break your machine. I suggest you make small batches of soap until you find a recipe that you like. There are many out there. I prefer the powdered because it is easier and is faster to make. I have no problems using it in cold water either. that was a big one for me. It cleans well and I don't have many stains that stick. Also a big point for me. DS is the messiest eater I have ever seen and DD, well, she is 9 months old. She wears everything she eats right now.

 

[apnep]

1/3 of a bar of Ivory seems like a little soap and 6 cups of water seems like it would be mostly water, I googled it and it listed many different recipes. I want to try it as well with my front loader, hopefully the musty smell won't be as bad. Also have much do you use? I've read 2 Tb and 1/2 cup, that's a big difference.

The recipe I used was:

Dry Laundry Soap

1/2 bar of Fels Naptha
1 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
1 cup Baking Soda
1 cup 20 Mule Team Borax

While I was out shopping for the items, I notice the bar of Fels Naptha was about 5.5 oz. compared to the 3 oz. bar of Ivory. I just used the whole Ivory bar. I used 2 tbsp. of the powder for the wash. It worked great.

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

The recipe I used was:

Dry Laundry Soap

1/2 bar of Fels Naptha
1 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
1 cup Baking Soda
1 cup 20 Mule Team Borax

While I was out shopping for the items, I notice the bar of Fels Naptha was about 5.5 oz. compared to the 3 oz. bar of Ivory. I just used the whole Ivory bar. I used 2 tbsp. of the powder for the wash. It worked great.

This is the recipe I have been using since...April-ish. LOVE IT! I always make a double batch as it is easier to just grate the whole bar at once. I grated by hand the first time and now I use a small shredder disk in the food processor and then change to the chopper blade to get it like a "grate."

I also have a Whirlpool HE washer and it works just wonderfully. Every other week, I usually add a little Oxyclean to the grundie undie load for a boost.

For folks having trouble finding the Fels naptha soap, our local grocers have it in the bar soap aisle NOT the laundry aisle...go figure. I was so excited as 2 weeks ago I found a $1 off 2 Arm&Hammer laundry products coupon and then used it on double coupon day to get 2 boxes of washing soda. SWEET And they had vinegar on sale for a $1 off each too.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

I use a similar recipe, but do not liquify it. I add 1 c fels naptha (grated or through food processor), 1c washing soad and 1 c borax. I use 2-3 Tablespoons per load. It desolves fine in my cold water, too. And not making it into a liquid saves on storage space and time.

This is what I do but I use a bar of ivory. I love homemade laundry soap, it saves so much money.

 

[DisneyDebbie]

If you mix it dry and use only 2 tbs. How do you know if there's a good enough mixture of ingredients?

 

[Carina]

If you mix it dry and use only 2 tbs. How do you know if there's a good enough mixture of ingredients?

Thats why I use liquid.

 

[MEM]

If you mix it dry and use only 2 tbs. How do you know if there's a good enough mixture of ingredients?

I just shake or stir the container before I measure. We prefer Kirk's castile soap to the Fels Naptha. My DH was the biggest skeptic but he agreed to try the homemade laundry soap for a month - after that, he was hooked and now he grates the soap while watching TV.

 

[apnep]

This is the recipe I have been using since...April-ish. LOVE IT! I always make a double batch as it is easier to just grate the whole bar at once. I grated by hand the first time and now I use a small shredder disk in the food processor and then change to the chopper blade to get it like a "grate."

Yea, I don't have a fine shredder on my food processor so I did the same thing and switched to the blade to make it fine and cut the soap into the powder. I also made a double batch.

 

[lisam427]

I use a similar recipe, but do not liquify it. I add 1 c fels naptha (grated or through food processor), 1c washing soad and 1 c borax. I use 2-3 Tablespoons per load. It desolves fine in my cold water, too. And not making it into a liquid saves on storage space and time.

i bought the washin soap and the borax tonight. we r leaving 4 disney tomorrow. when i get back i am definitely going to make this. it seems a lot easier to make than the liquid. i have tons of ivory bar soap. i am going to use this instead of the fels naptha. thanks for posting this this!! this will be not only a time saver but a $$$ saver too!

 

[stacielee]

Do those of you using graters or food processors use the same ones for your food? I take it nothing toxic is in Naptha? One of our items to look for in yard sales this weekend is another grater just for this but perhaps I don't need to?

Yes, I use the same one, just pop it in the dishwasher. My opinion is that it gets washed with soap in the dishwasher anyways so there's not difference.

I guess my big hang up here is still the question of using it in an HE front loader. My friend said that her very expensive front loader completely died because she used the wrong soap in it (regular, not HE safe). I have been very careful since then to only buy laundry soap that said it was safe for HE machines. I have found it much more expensive to buy this kind of special soap than the cheapy stuff I used to buy. I would LOVE to use this homemade soap!! So, what makes the laundry soap safe for HE machines? What is so special about that soap anyway that makes me spend so much more money on it?? I heard that it had something to do with other soaps leaving a bad residue or something. Anyone know?

The problem is the suds; since this is a very low sudsing soap, it's exactly what you want for a front loader.

Yes, I use the same one. I just put it in the dishwasher when I'm done and it cleans it right up.

Ditto!!

If you have something that works, then use it! I think I have heard that if you go to ACE and ask them to order it they will get it for you with no shipping charge if you have it sent to them.
Dawn

I ordered it on the Ace Hardware website and was given the option of ship to store with no shipping cost. When I picked it up, that's exactly what I was told, you can ask them to order it and you won't have to pay shipping. I buy a case at a time (24 bars).

 

[williamson_ja]

i bought the washin soap and the borax tonight. we r leaving 4 disney tomorrow. when i get back i am definitely going to make this. it seems a lot easier to make than the liquid. i have tons of ivory bar soap. i am going to use this instead of the fels naptha. thanks for posting this this!! this will be not only a time saver but a $$$ saver too!

We're leaving on Friday for Disney. We'll be there at the same time. I'm definitely trying to make this soap when I get home. woohoo!

 

[rszdtrvl]

I picked up everything I needed today to make my own soap.

I got a super rocking deal on Arm & Hammer laundry soap a few months ago and am 3/4 done with the last bottle.

When that happens, I will try the homemade stuff.

I am using the Duggar recipe for liquid soap, which is pretty much what ever other recipe on here is.

I got the 5-gallon bucket at the local grocery store and the Fels Naptha, Washing Soda, and Borax at my local Ace Hardware store. Grand total for buying everything was $14.xx, and I will just need to buy the soap next time, at the whopping total of $1.39.



Kind of anxious to see how it turns out. DH and DS have sensitive skin, so I use perfume/dye free soaps.

 

[xanphylus]

I'm going to try making this this weekend! I think I am going to try the dry method as I don't have anywhere to put a 5 gallon bucket and I am afraid my 2 year old would find a way to get in it! Can't wait! What does everyone store their dry mix in? What size container I mean? I figured fake tuuperware would work great, but need to know what size to grab! Thanks!

 

[SGMCO]

I'm going to try making this this weekend! I think I am going to try the dry method as I don't have anywhere to put a 5 gallon bucket and I am afraid my 2 year old would find a way to get in it! Can't wait! What does everyone store their dry mix in? What size container I mean? I figured fake tuuperware would work great, but need to know what size to grab! Thanks!

Store in a semi Large Plastic tub with a lid. I also got a plastic TBSP measure to put on top.

 

[stacielee]

I'm going to try making this this weekend! I think I am going to try the dry method as I don't have anywhere to put a 5 gallon bucket and I am afraid my 2 year old would find a way to get in it! Can't wait! What does everyone store their dry mix in? What size container I mean? I figured fake tuuperware would work great, but need to know what size to grab! Thanks!

I use a container that's about 4 cups or so, maybe a little bigger. Something between 4 and 8 cups should be fine.

 

[worm761]

I'm going to try making this this weekend! I think I am going to try the dry method as I don't have anywhere to put a 5 gallon bucket and I am afraid my 2 year old would find a way to get in it! Can't wait! What does everyone store their dry mix in? What size container I mean? I figured fake tuuperware would work great, but need to know what size to grab! Thanks!

I went into the kitchen section at Walmart and bought a screw top container for a whole $2. Just make sure that your container is airtight. The only problem I have with the dry soap is that it might get clumpy in high humidity. Read that as all summer for me! I live in Florida. I just break the clumps up with the measuring spoon.