Low Cost Home Cooking From Scratch
1 bar of Ivory soap – shredded with cheese shredder or food processor
2 cups of Baking Soda
2 Gallons of hot water
Melt soap in a saucepan with enough water to cover over med-high heat until clear. Fill bucket with 2 gallons of hot water. Stir in baking soda until dissolved. Add in melted soap; stir. Store in old laundry detergent containers.
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how much do you use of the soap per washload?
GREAT! Thanks, Im going to try this.
Is it really “baking” soda? I’ve never seen this version…always “washing” soda. Completely different item.
Does it have to be Ivory soap?
What function does the Baking Soda have?
All the other recipes that I’ve seen on these sites call for washing soda, not baking soda. Is this one correct with baking soda and not washing soda? I, myself have never seen washing soda, so I don’t know if I could make this or not. I’d have to buy it online I would guess, since I’ve never seen it in stores in my area.
I’d like to make some of this, but don’t know where to find the stuff to make it with.
Thanks,
Dana
I am going to try it this way. I’ve been making my own powdered laundry soap for over a year and I love it. I do prefer liquid though and the last time I tried to liquify mine it was a messy, lumpy disaster. (Thankfully it doesn’t have to look pretty to work!)
I’ll post again after I’ve tried melting the soap first!
Thanks.
I only wash clothes for two people so I’ve read that since the liquid detergent does not have any preservatives, it will go bad sooner than powdered detergent so it is probably best to use powdered. I made my first batch of powdered (recipe below) and I LOVE IT! Our clothes came out softer and felt completely clean. I also use vinegar as liquid fabric softener. I live in Chicago area and the only ingredient below I could find at the store was Borax; I had to order the Fels Naptha and Arm & Hammer Washing Soda online at: http://www.soapsgonebuy.com/
Homemade Powdered Laundry Detergent Recipe
*2 Cups (1 Bar) Grated Fels Naptha Soap
*1 Cup Borax
*1 Cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (NOT baking soda)
- Use cheese grater to finely grate Fels Naptha soap. Mix all ingredients well and store in an airtight container (I use a Rubbermaid clear water bottle). Use 1 TBS per normal load; if heavily soiled use 2TBS per load. You can also use Oxiclean or bleach with this laundry detergent.
If you have a Publix I found washing soda there..
Washing soda is generally found in the laundry section of the grocery store. I have several associated food stores in my area that carry this item.
If you have a high efficiency washer the homemade laundry detergent works because it is naturally low sudsing. You do however need to use less.
Sorry! I just noticed this!
The recipe is correct. Use the baking soda. Washing soda certainly can be substituted. However, the baking soda works great, and is one less caustic item around (ie. washing soda) for kids to get into, and most people already have it. Not to mention it’s extremely inexpensive to purchase and pulls double duty around the house – a true frugal ingredient.
It does not have to be ivory. Avoid Fels Naptha as it’s been associated with many health problems and is toxic to even inhale the dust particles. Ivory is non-toxic and cleans well. It is also inexpensive an can pull double duty. I’ve had other mamas tell me that unscented dial works well but it melts funny. So feel free to experiment; at half a cent per load you can afford to!
Use 1/2 cup for regular soiled loads and 1 full cup for heavily soiled loads. Try white vinegar as a fabric softener in the rinse cycle.