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Saturday, July 3, 2010

laundry soap

I am not Susie Homemaker, by any means, but I can make a mean batch of...laundry soap ;) Several friends were wanting to know how to make it so I took some pics while we were making it today. It is so easy that even I can do it!

You need
1 cup Super Washing Soda (get at Reasors or Homeland)
1 cup Baking Soda
2 cups Borax
1 Bar of soap - I have used Zote, Fels-Naptha, Dr. Bronners Pure-Castile Soap - I like the Lavendar scent..your clothes don't end up smelling but it is a nice surprise when you open the container to start your load. I usually use Zote or Fels-Naptha because they are cheaper and you can get them at Reasors.

The hardest part is shredding the bar of soap. We use our old cheese grater and do it on the finest setting. Big Daddy usually gets called in part way through this because I don't love this part ;) The dryer the soap, the easier it is to grate so leave it open for a few days before you start. Also, you can't grate the entire bar unless you are super woman so I save that last inch of soap and keep it in the laundry room to rub directly on stains before I throw them in the wash.


That's it. Mix all these together in a container and you are ready to start. However, I have added a few things to mine during the year or so that I have been using it. I found that clothes were starting to look a little dingy as the year went on so I add in 1 cup of Clorox2 to the mix when I make it.


Then, recently, I started seeing yellowing on my whites, so my friend CW hooked me up with a bluing agent to counter act that. It just take a couple of drops in a load and I think it is helping.



I have an old ice cream bucket that I use to store mine after it is made. We usually double the recipe and put it in the bucket, close it and shake it up, baby. You use 1 TBSP per load. I found the TBSP at a garage sale for a .25 and just leave it in the bucket. This was before it was mixed well but you get the idea.


Easy peezie, lemon squeezie :)
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6 comments:

  1. NicolleJuly 3, 2010 at 12:16 PM

    I love the "idea" of doing this, and I have told myself a million times I will make it...then I never do, so I imagine I never will! :)

    But it sounds wonderful! Maybe one day.

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  2. MaryJuly 3, 2010 at 7:23 PM

    I'm assuming this is cheaper than store-bought laundry soap? Or is there some other noble reason for making your own? Thanks for sharing!

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  3. AngelaJuly 5, 2010 at 6:01 PM

    I wondered the same thing as Mary. What are the benefits to making your own laundry soap??? I assume it's cheaper, but are there other benefits? It looks like it lasts a long time since you only use 1 TBSP per load...

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  4. DelahneJuly 5, 2010 at 9:38 PM

    Leslie- I made a double batch before we left to get Hannah. I used my food processor, which grated it and then cut it even finer. I put all the ingredients in and gave it a whirl to mix it well. Good stuff. Think I need to get some of the bluer. Where'd you get it?

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  5. UnknownJuly 6, 2010 at 2:21 PM

    Delahne...I am going to need a food processor stat! *sigh* And a friend gave me the bluing agent so I will have to find out where she got it. It literally takes a couple of drops so will last forever.

    Mary and Angela...it IS cheaper and lasts forever but also uses natural products (except my addition of the Clorox2 - oops!). I always used the dye free laundry soap when the kids were babies and just stuck with that so like this for that reason too.

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  6. ShayJuly 6, 2010 at 8:13 PM

    Interesting stuff! I definitely going to try your 'recipe'...mine keeps CLUMPING up. ugh. Ever have any problems with that?

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I would love to hear your thoughts!!