Laundry, most often, is a continuous, timely, and exasperating task around the home. Whether your a single or multi-family unit; the job is needful! I’ve heard the job referred to as ‘stringing beads, on a string, that has no end’.
Recently, life’s activities has increased my laundry routine by 80-90%. Family of five x 3 sports x 6 puppies = increased laundry! No matter what the reasons, the laundry cycle is continuous.
To help curb the laundry expense, I’ve begun making our detergent and fabric softener. The cost and time savings are tremendous! My favorite recipe is adapted from the Dugger Family, however, it’s been tweaked to handle our family’s, ‘extremely-active-stain-attractive’ lifestyle.
Ingredients:
3/4 cup Borax Note: My cost for the 4 lbs box = ($4.39)
1 Fels-Napta Soap bar Note: My cost for the soap bar = ($1.00)
1 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda Note: My cost for the 55 oz box = ($3.19)
4 cups hot tap water
Directions:
1. Use a cheese grader to shave 1 Fels-Napta Soap bar placing water, & soap, in a Dutch oven. Stir continually over medium-heat until completely melted. Note: As an incentive, I place a $1 bill on the soap as paid-chore option for the most eager helper 
2. Fill a 5 gallon bucket, half way full, with hot tap water. Add melted soap, Borax, and washing soda. Stir very well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to the top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit over night.
3. Get your empty, clean, containers and fill 3/4 way full. Add 1/4 hot water. Shake well so that the mixture will gel.
Fragrance Options:
Feel free to add a few drops of scented oil, of your choice, or a scent booster to give your detergent an enhanced smell. We like to use the Scent Booster from Downy, as an enhancement.
Ingredients for the detergent was found at my local Pulix supermarket in the laundry section. The total purchase, for the ingredients, was $8.58 + tax. This recipe makes about 8 gallons, while the Dugger’s recipe yields 10 gallons. Depending on the brand, a typical 1.36 gallon detergent will cost, an average of, $9. By making my own, I’ve found that the cost savings is about 60-70% per gallon, equating to, penny’s per load! I also love the fact of not having to run, back and forth, to the store for detergent!
Making the detergent is fun for the whole family..Enjoy!
If you like this recipe, come back tomorrow for the ingredients to my favorite Fabric Softener!
I make the dry version. Love it
Oh please share the recipe!