Laundry Soap

Well, I finally did it. I made my own laundry soap. It was very easy. Here is the recipe I used:

4 Cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar (I used Ivory soap instead)
1 Cup Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda
½ Cup Borax

Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

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. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

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)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (I used 1/2 cup)(Approx. 640 loads).

I used that soap for a load that contained a highly soiled and somewhat smelly dishrag. When that wash was over I checked that rag and was greatly disappointed. It was not clean and it didn't smell better. There was also a pair of undies that my littlest munchkin had wet in and they still smelled bad too. So, I repeated the ingredients only this time I used Fels Naptha. However, I did not empty the 5 gallon bucket of the Ivory mixture. I just emptied enough to add the concentrated mixture of Fels Naptha, Borax and Washing Soda. I melted/dissolved all the ingredients in boiling water before adding it. So, I think I ended up with a double strength of Borax and Washing Soda. I am currently using about 1/2 cup in each load and very pleased. So, my final thought is this - I think I will try again. This time I will use Fels Naptha, 1/2 Cup Borax and 1 Washing Soda and make sure it all dissolves before I add the extra water. It will be a very long time before I get to making another batch since the original batch will last a while however, when I get to it I will let you know how it goes.