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.
|
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.
|
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
15 Surprising But Super Handy Ways to Reuse Everyday Items
These everyday items, some of which you maybe even thought of throwing out, can be repurposed and used in creative and incredibly handy ways
Now Make Your Own Eyeliner At Home with Natural Products
You can make your own eyeliner at home using these simple natural products. Check out these 3 easy recipes.
15 Great Tips for Cleaning Those Hard-to-Reach Spots
Have you ever skipped cleaning places and things around the house that were just too difficult to clean? Well, we have just the tips to help you with these spots!
Say Goodbye to Shrunken Clothes with This Neat Laundry Trick
Recently I accidentally shrunk my favorite pair of pants. I was preparing to bid them farewell until my friend suggested a laundry trick that would revert them back to their former length. I didn’t even know this was possible. See how it's done!
If Only I Had Discovered these Cleaning Tips Sooner
10 not-so-obvious tips about cleaning that are both surprising, yet very effective.
This DIY Machine Can Sort Up To 500 Coins Per Minute!
Sorting coins becomes easy with this handy automatic machine capable of sorning up to 500 coins per minute. Learn how to make it at home.
The Dirtiest Places In Your Home Will Surprise You
Bacteria can proliferate ad infinitum in the most unexpected places in the home. Forget the toilet, here's the low-down on the dirtiest things in your home.
Can't Seem to Find a Good Pillow? This May Be Your One
You may be on the verge of settling for a pillow that is less than optimal for you, but we can suggest an alternative - buckwheat pillows.
Going Gray? Add These 7 Foods to Your Shopping List!
Adds these foods to your weekly shopping list to prevent your hair from turning gray.
10 Quick and Easy Solutions to 10 Common Cleaning Problems
We have searched high and low to bring you ten easy solutions that solve a number of everyday household cleaning issues. You are sure to find these useful!
Be Warned! This Battery Could Be a Danger to Your Home
If you use 9V batteries, you need to be aware of this vital information.
10 of the Fastest-Growing Vegetables
There is a variety of fast-growing vegetables, including legumes, leafy greens, and root vegetables. We feature 10 of the fastest-growing veggies in this article.
10 Surprising Grocery Products You Didn't Know You Can DIY
Did you know you could also DIY products like butter, mustard, and deodorants? Learn these useful recipes to reduce the load of your grocery shopping!
Wow! Even We Were Amazed At These 11 Ingenious Tips
Everyone needs some tips in life, and these 11 are worth remembering because they'll help you solve a variety of problems, make life easier and save money!
All About Women: 24 Facts About the Fairer Sex
These fascinating facts will probably surprise even our female readers. We gathered 24 facts that we best you've never heard about, and each of them will make you understand yourself and women a bit better.
Maintain Your Brain: 15 Methods to Improve Brain Function
Like our muscles, the brain can also be strengthened and maintained in excellent condition, with proper practice. Learn 15 simple ways to train your brain today!
Share in Some Great Ideas for In-Door Plants and Gardening
in this video, we will teach you several great hacks to increase the well-being of both your indoor and outdoor plants.
The Perfect Morning Guide: How to Start Your Morning Right
Are your co-workers not allowed to talk to you before you’ve had a cup of coffee? You probably need to change up your morning routine!
9 Facts You Didn’t Know About In-Flight Food And Drinks
Airplane food is notorious, but since we don't have any other options, the following 9 tips will make the culinary experience that much more enjoyable.
These 15 Charts Are Both Useful and Interesting!
The 15 charts cover topics like health, animals, and classical music, and they are full of useful information, perfect for a lifelong learner like you.
Get Rid of Mosquitos in 5 Minutes with This DIY Recipe!
Let us help you significantly reduce the number of mosquitos in your home and garden with a simple 4-ingredient recipe of a mosquito trap
Cola Has Many Surprising Uses Other Than Drinking It
Cola may be a popular drink, but here are 19 other ways you can use it.
12 Things Veterinarians Want Pet Owners to Know
To be in the know, you better read the 12 things that veterinarians want to tell you - the pet owners.
15 Tricks Restaurants Don't Want You to Know About
Ever go into a restaurant planning to stay in budget, only to find out that by the end of the night, you've gone way above it? Now you'll know why.
Have Some Tennis Balls? Do Something Useful With Them!
We will teach you how to convert tennis balls into a massage tool for sore muscles, a hidden safe for valuables, an effective cleaning tool, and more.
Wasting Time: 5 Misconceptions About Time That Delay Us
How to use our time in a way that will help us to bring happiness and success.
5 Natural Solutions to Keep Unwanted Insects Away
These illustrations will show you how to reduce your pest problems in your garden.
Feeling Drowsy After Lunch? Here’s How To Control It
Do you often find yourself feeling a little sleepy after lunch everyday? Then these tips might help you control that.
Loop, Knot, Drape: Fall Scarf Tying 101
This lovely woman demonstrates the better versions of how to wear a scarf, what not to do and how to easily make beautiful fashion choices.
GUIDE: Learn 3 Proven Problem-Solving Methods
Your ability to solve problems, or lack thereof, has a great bearing on whether you can be happy and successful. Try these 3 problem-solving methods.
15 Surprising Uses of Potatoes Outside the Cooking Pot
Potatoes are a great staple of many food dishes around the world, but they also have many uses outside of the kitchen. These will surprise you!
This Town Was Built Especially for People with Dementia
This small Dutch village is designed for and entirely populated by residents with dementia and Alzheimers.
16 Unique Uses For Coconut Oil Outside the Kitchen
There's more to coconut oil than its incredible health benefits. Here are 16 fantastic ways that it can be used outside the kitchen.
10 Wise Plumbing Tips From a Professional Plumber
Here are ten brilliant tips that can save you heaps of time and money when you've got plumbing problems at home.
All My Life I've Been Opening Bananas Wrong. Shocked.
I Never Knew How to Really Open a Banana...
The Ultimate Makeup Guide You Need in Your Life!
Learn how to prepare makeup for day-to-day as well as special occasions the right way thanks to the nifty tricks given by this life-saving infographic!
Clever Ways to Hide Your Money and Credit Cards
Don't let the burglars get your hard earned cash! Learn how to hide it like a pro.
Quick and Easy Ways to Defrost Your Car Windscreen
Going to your car and finding the windscreens covered in ice is one thing that annoys us all. Here are three easy ways to quickly defrost your car windows!
Bring Positive Energy to Your Home With These Lucky Plants
Feng shui experts say that these plants will bring good luck and positive energy to your home.
If You Value Your Health, Wash These 9 Foods Well
Are you washing these 9 foods correctly? Probably not!
Locked Your Keys inside Your Car? You Need This Hack!
If you've locked yourself out of your car, this neat trick will help you solve your problem.
6 Home Ingredients You Can Use to Clean Your Carpet
Got a carpet stain? Forget the dry-cleaners, try one of these methods instead.
How to Beat Knee Pain While Going Up and Down the Stairs
Knee hurts while climbing stairs? These tips might just help.
Do NOT Store These Fruit and Veg Together!
What are the best ways to store fresh fruit and vegetables? This guide explains.
How to Distinguish between Chinese, Korean, and Japanese
After reading this guide, you'll be able to tell the Chinese, Korean, and Japanese languages apart!
The 7 Best and 7 Worst Foods to Buy Canned
Not all canned foods are made equal, and in this article, we'll discuss those you should invest in, as well as those to definitely avoid.
18 Reasons Why You Should Always Keep Epsom Salt at Home
People often add Epsom salt to their baths. However, it has many other uses and health benefits - here are 18 of them!