I definitely have a list of things that I care about and things that I just don't. Daisy sour cream, Kelloggs Rice Krispies, and Ziplock Freezer Bags would all be on my I care about list. We all have those items that we just don't like the off-brand or competitor's brand for whatever reason. Then, there are the items that just aren't worth the extra couple bucks and the store brand suits us just fine.
Laundry soap is one of those things.
Have you checked out the price of laundry soap lately? Even the off-brand can be pricey... and all just to wash my clothes. Yes, clothes are on my 'I Care About' list, but washing them definitely isn't. Why would I pay $10/month on laundry soap when I can pay $10/yr, or less!
You read that right... $10 a year. On soap. To wash your clothes.
And.
It.
WORKS!!!
Its not hard and you can easily find all of the ingredients in your local grocery store.
There are several different types of bar laundry soap, but I prefer Fels Naptha. It has a light, pleasant, clean scent and does a great job as a base for my soap. Grate one bar of Fels Naptha. These soaps are sometimes found near the body soaps, which I find completely odd. Other times, they are near the laundry boosters. You can almost always guarantee they will be on a bottom shelf. I take no responsibility for bloodied knuckles due to grating a hard bar of soap. Please be careful!
Fels-Naptha comes in white packaging. The bars are sold individually for about$1.25 at my local store. Maybe you can find one of these awesome 100th anniversary packages like I did!
My beautifully grated soap. I didn't say this was going to be completely easy, but I promise it is well worth the work!
Next, I dump the grated soap into a DEEP pot of boiling water. I don't put a lot of water in the bottom of the pot on purpose. Once you get this stuff to a boil, it will start to bubble.
And bubble.
And bubble!
We really don't need a mess while making soap. That seems sort of oximoronic.
If I would have to guess, I probably put 2-3 cups of water in the pot.
I stir the soap as it is boiling.
I really don't have a logical reason for doing this. I think it just makes me feel like I am doing something productive instead of standing there waiting for soap to melt.
Once the soap has completely melted, you can start adding the other ingredients. Oh, you can turn off the stove at this point, too! I add 1/2 cup of Borax. This is a detergent booster. I just love that this has been around since 1891! Something has to be right for this to have stuck around that long! A large box of Borax costs about $4-5 and will last for years. I'm not joking.
I also add some Biz. I have made laundry soap without this and it just doesn't have the same stain-fighting power as it does when I add it. This box of Biz cost me about $3.
I usually add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of Biz. There really is no reason for the variation. Sometimes I just feel like adding more.
And this is where you would pretend to see a picture of Arm & Hammer Washing Powder.
Right.
Here.
In.
This.
Spot.
I apparantly forgot to take a picture of this important ingredient. I can't remember how much the Washing Powder costs, but I believe its about $4. I've had my box for that long! I put 1/4 cup of the washing powder into the pot as well.
Mix it al together. You can add a little more hot water if there isn't enough to dissolve all of the powders.
This is the fun part. Grab an empty -- and clean -- milk jug. Use a funnel --if you have one, otherwise GOOD LUCK!-- to pour the soap into the jug.
Top off the jug with hot water. Let it sit overnight before using. You may have to shake it around a little.
And just like the bottle says, you only need 1/2 tablespoon per load! I use an old medicine cup to measure the soap into my washer.
This jug will last me months.... Now this item is really on the 'I Don't Care About' list!!
Do you use homemade soaps? What is your experience with them?
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