Here is the recipe that we use on a regular basis for our Laundry soap. To make a 5 gallon bucket of soap (which actually makes 10 gallons of soap) will cost about $2.50 (besides the initial cost of the bucket) and will last us about 2 months. Definitely saves us a BUNCH of money. We mainly started doing this because Megan’s skin was so sensitive to everything that we use so since we started using this shortly after she was born.
4 gallons hot tap water
1 Zote or Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda* (I was able to find in Fred Meyer locally or you can google it and find lots of places to order it from)
½ Cup Borax
– Grate bar of soap – seriously grate it, I had no one around to grate it for me today so I just warmed it in the microwave and cut it up into cubes hoping it would melt in the microwave (that’s how I make my body wash with Dove soap) – yeah that doesn’t work LOL grate the soap and put in a saucepan with enough hot water to cover the soap. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted. DO NOT walk away from this – it will boil over in a matter of seconds and you will end up with soap all over and eventually a clean stove ;)
This is what mine looked like – since I didn’t grate it and it was just cut up in chunks – it still worked just took longer for it to mix together.
-Fill a 5 gallon bucket about a quarter 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. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.
Here is my 5 gallon bucket with water in it –
Putting in the borax and washing soda (of course a little help from Megan)
I should have taken pics of Megan helping me stir it — imagine 3 year old using a spoon ( you know the kind you use to eat cereal or soup with) to mix the “pink soap” for me.
I didn’t get a pic of dumping the melted soap in cos – well – I had to use two hands to hold the pan and my 3 year old is just not that talented yet lol, to take the picture for me. So now it’s sitting over night and I will be able to attack laundry again tomorrow.
-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser (I use an old bleach container) half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)
-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled.
-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)
*Arm & Hammer “Super Washing Soda” Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent – It must be sodium carbonate!!
•Works well in traditional or HE machines as it is low sudsing. It is the ingredients in the soap, not the suds, that does the cleaning. I used it in mine, when we had one, and I know lots that use it in theirs. This recipe comes right from the Duggar’s website and I know that’s what they have in their home.
•Clumping and geling of the detergent is normal. Stir before putting in dispenser, and shake before each use.
My Family Times 