Laundry Soap Recipe

In an effort to be more green and natural, my wonderful friend, Kim, passed this homemade laundry detergent recipe my way. She said making it is incredibly easy and works better then Tide, which was her former favorite. Thanks, Kim, for thinking of me and sending it my way. I can't wait to try it!

1 quart water (boiling)

2 cups Ivory or Fels Naptha Bar grated soap (food processor works easily for this)

2 cups Borax

2 cups Arm and Hammer Washing Soda

-Add 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 of each load of laundry. Stir/shake the soap each time you use it (it will gel).

-You can add between 10-15 drops of essential oil (per 2 gallons). Add once the soap has cooled to room temperature. Stir well and cover.

-Essential oil ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil, lemon...

Use a 5 gal bucket to mix the soap in and then pour it in clean used laundry detergent bottles. It will make a lot, so have a couple jugs on hand.Then use a smaller one and pour the excess in a big Tide container (the one with the spout). Make sure you shake/stir soap often and before you use, it does gel quite a bit and may be a little lumpy. Don't fill the jug completely so there is room to shake it.

Kim reinforced that this detergent can be made for "pennies" and is so much more natural and earth friendly.