With help from my favorite 6 year old, we made our first batch of homemade laundry soap. Its working title is "Mama Tarron's Homemade Clothes Washin' Substance".
I have to give props to my homesteading friend Tonye, who gave me the idea in the first place.
Before I give you the recipe, here is the break down of the cost. Note: these numbers are approximate, so don't go commenting on my math.
The recipe yesterday made nearly 3 gallons of soap, or approximately 147 loads of laundry.
I usually buy "all" detergent, which is consistenly about $4 for 32 loads. Cost for appr. 147 loads=$18.36, cost per load=$.13.
I used soap I already had, but if I had to buy it, I would probably buy Ivory @ about $1 a bar. A box of Borax and a box of Arm & Hammer washing soda, about $3 each. The recipe uses 2 cups of each of these, which brings the total for this recipe to $2.50, plus water. Cost per load-$.02.
It took me about 15 mins. to do this, once I had all the ingredients ready. I saved $15.86, which means I made about $1 a minute, or $60 an hour. Not bad at all.
Note: I saved plastic detergent bottles to put this stuff in, but you can just leave it in the bucket, covered. Putting it in a bottle with a lid makes it easier, because you have to shake or stir it before you use it. One site I read said that you can add essential oils to the mix for fragrance, and I will probably try that next time.
By the way, this is a great lesson in math & liquid measurement for all you homeschoolers.
Try it & let me know what you think!
Recipe #1
1 quart Water (boiling)
2 cups Bar soap (grated)
2 cups Borax
2 cups Washing Soda
- Add finely grated bar soap to the boiling water and stir until soap is melted. You can keep on low heat until soap is melted.
- Pour the soap water into a large, clean pail and add the Borax and Washing Soda. Stir well until all is dissolved.
- Add 2 gallons of water, stir until well mixed.
- Cover pail and use 1/4 cup for each load of laundry. Stir the soap each time you use it (will gel)
