Mark also mentioned in his previous blog, that I have been making our own laundry soap.  Last year my neighbor told me that she was making her own laundry soap and was willing to give me her recipe.  I have been making it ever since and yes it saves money!  I have been able to find all the ingredients at Walmart.

Here is the recipe:

Laundry Soap:
Makes 2 gallons of laundry soap

Laundry Soap Recipe Ingredients

Ingredients:
1/3 Bar of Fels Naptha  This can be found in the laundry aisle.  One can also use handmade soap or ivory soap. If using own soap or ivory may need to use the whole bar.

½ C. Washing Soda  This is not to be confused with baking soda.  Washing soda is sodium carbonate or soda ash.  It is a naturally occurring alkaline mineral that’s related to baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) but has a pH of 11.  The Washing soda helps to remove dirt.  Look for Arm & Hammer Washing Soda in the laundry aisle and is usually in a box.

½ C. Borax.  This is a natural occurring mineral, sodium borate.  This is a laundry whitener and deodorizer.  Look for the brand 20 Mule Team Borax.  This is a natural product.  Click on the link to read about Borax. This is found in the laundry aisle and is usually in a box.

Optional: Drops of Essential Oil – scent of your choice and amount to your liking
Stock Pot that holds at least 2 gallons and lid
4 Cup Measuring Cup with pouring lip
Wooden / Bamboo Spoon
Potato Masher with handle

Ladle
2 One Gallon jugs – I up-cycle my Distilled Water Gallon Cartons to store my Laundry Soap

My 10QT Revere Ware Stock Pot. An Awesomely Versatile Pot

Instructions:
Using a large stock pot, grate the Fels Naptha or own soap into pot.  Add 6 cups water and heat on medium to high heat, until Fels Naphtha or own soap is melted.  Add the Washing Soda and Borax Powder and stir until dissolved.  Remove from heat.  Pour 4 cups HOT water into stock pot and stir together.  Add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of warm water and stir together.  Put lid on pot and let soap sit for 24 hours, until gelled.  When soap has gelled, take potato masher and break up the gelled laundry soap.  This allows the soap to be poured into gallon jugs easily.  Once soap is broken up, ladle into 4 Cup Measuring cup and fill two 1 gallon jugs.

Use ½ cup laundry soap per load of clothes.

Tip:  If shirt collars have stains from being around the neck, I take the Fels Naptha bar and wipe the stained section of the shirt with the bar before placing it in the washing machine.

Enjoy making your own laundry soap and having the satisfaction of knowing the ingredients that wash the clothes your wear, all the while saving a little bit of money!