One of the more pricey monthly expenses is laundry detergent. I’ve always wondered what’s inside, and so recently I've learned you can actually make it yourself! The recipe is easy and doesn’t take much effort. I now know what’s keeping my clothes clean and my laundry comes out spotless and fresh-smelling. The best bit is that it only requires you buying 3 very cheap ingredients.
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Ingredients:
Note: This recipe makes a large quantity of soap that can last a long time. If you don't do a lot of laundry or are a small household, you can divide the measurements by 2 or by 3. |
Method: Grate the Fels Naptha soap, then boil 3 cups of water using a medium heat. When the water starts to simmer, melt the grated Fels Naptha soap until the grated bits are completely dissolved. Add the borax and washing soda and let them also dissolve.
Fill a 5 gallon bucket with 3 gallons of water. Add the melted soap mixture to the water, stirring thoroughly. Tip: To stir this mixture successfully, I recommend using a paint stirrer attachment for a cordless drill. A hand mixer also works well. You can add essential oils to the mixture if you want to give the soap a fresh scent. Let this solution sit for 24 hours.
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After 24 hours, the soap will be set. Give it another stir and then decant into your container, or containers, of choice. I recommend re-purposing old cleaning product bottles. Use a capful per laundry load. This detergent is suitable for any materials and colors, and does a great job cleaning them. This is also a good amount of soap. When I made this quantity, it lasted me over a year. |
H/T: www.talesfromacottage.com
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