I am very excited to announce I just made my first batch of homemade laundry detergent. With the cost of living going up I have set out to find ways that will help the Hatley House save $money$. If you don't know I am a HUGE fan of the Duggar family {the family with 19 kids now}. They shared in their book and online how they make their homemade laundry detergent. I thought this is a Genius way to save! Oh and the best part....the cost per load is.... 1 PENNY!
Here is how I did it....
This is what you need: 1 box of Borax, 1 box of arm & hammer baking WASH {Not to be confused with baking soda-very different} (I found these two Items @ HEB) 1 bar of zote (I found this @ Wal-Mart)
You will also need a 5 gallon bucket with lid (I found this @ Wal-Mart in the paint section)
Now that you have everything you need lets Start*
First grate one Zote bar (I used a regular cheese grater) put into a medium sauce pan. Cover with hot water. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring continually, until the soap completely dissolves.
Put 1 cup washing soda and 1/2 cup borax into a 5 gallon bucket.
Pour in hot melted soap mixture. Stir well, until all the powder is dissolved. Fill the bucket to the top with more hot tap water. Stir, cover securely, and let set over night. The next morning stir the mixture. Mix equal parts of soap concentrate and water in a smaller laundry-detergent container. Shake before using.
[tip: use 1/3 of cup per load for front loader or HE machines]
There you have it, Homemade laundry detergent!
Simple, Easy & very pocket friendly!
*This is what we are doing At The Hatley House*
I love the laundry soap idea. How well do you think it works to "name brand" detergents? I think I may give it a try, because like you I am always looking for a way to cut costs! Beth aka:FlohnFarm.
ReplyDeleteYes it does work just as well! To really put it to the test I washed my husbands work clothes, which are very dirty! He works on all kinds of things during the day so most of the time he has oil and grease on his clothes on top of dirt! I usually use regular detergent from the store plus a booster with his clothes. When I did my "new home made detergent" test I only used the homemade soap. They came out clean! I will probably still use a booster with his clothes but if those very dirty clothes came out clean I am confident our normal loads are just as clean as a store bought detergent! Happy Washing!
ReplyDeleteHave you used this in the powder form of it? I have made it in the past (only made the liquid kind) and it worked great in our HE machine. I just wonder if its any good if I make the powder kind of it too?
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I've been making my family's laundry detergent for over a year now. Love how it saves us sooo much money. I use Fels Naptha Bar soap instead of Zote. (Only beacuse I can't find Zote soap.) But I also mix it up sometimes and use other soaps like the little ones you get free at hotels, or those that come in gift bags, or even soap that goes on sale really cheap. Anything to stretch the dollar.
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