Laundry Detergent Recipe

I'm always looking for a better way to do things.  I hate buying laundry detergent; it just seems like its throwing money down the drain.   My aunt posted something on Facebook about how much she loves her laundry detergent; so I thought I'd give it a try!  Here's the recipe, taken from the Duggar family website:

4  Cups - hot tap water1  Fels-Naptha soap bar1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda½ Cup Borax 

1. Grate bar of soap and add to pan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
2. Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. 
3. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.
4. The next day, stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)
5. Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil

Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.
Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)
Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)


I guess there is a powder version of this too, I'll have to try that out once I get thorough my 10 gallons of detergent!

I'm always looking for a better way to do things.  I hate buying laundry detergent; it just seems like its throwing money down the drain.   My aunt posted something on Facebook about how much she loves her laundry detergent; so I thought I'd give it a try!  Here's the recipe, taken from the Duggar family website:

4  Cups - hot tap water1  Fels-Naptha soap bar1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda½ Cup Borax 

1. Grate bar of soap and add to pan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
2. Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. 
3. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.
4. The next day, stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)
5. Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil

Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.
Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)
Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)


I guess there is a powder version of this too, I'll have to try that out once I get thorough my 10 gallons of detergent!