Liquid and Powdered Laundry Detergent Recipe

My friend, Mindy M., told me about this recipe for powdered and liquid laundry detergent from the "Everyday Cheapskate." It's hypoallergenic, environmentally safe, and works as well in the old top loading washers as in the new front loaders. It calls for Fels Naptha soap, but I made mine with Ivory and it seems to work just as well. Best part is, it costs less than a dollar to make 2 gallons of liquid detergent. I haven't calculated the cost for the dry, but I'm sure it's not much different.

For Liquid Laundry Detergent:
3 pints water
1/3 bar Fels Naptha Laundry Bar Soap, grated
1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
1 quart hot water
2-gallon bucket

Mix grated soap in a large saucepan with 3 pints hot water, and heat on the stove over low heat until dissolved. Do not allow to boil. Stir in Super Washing Soda and 20 Mule Team Borax. Stir until thickened. Remove from heat. Add 1 quart hot water to 2-gallon bucket. Add soap mixture, and mix well. Fill bucket with more hot water, leaving a few inches at the top, and mix well. Set aside for 24 hours, or until mixture thickens. Use 1/2 cup of mixture per load.

For Powdered Laundry Detergent:

1 cup grated Fels Naptha Laundry Bar Soap
1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax

Mix and store in airtight container or bag. FOr light loads, use 2 tablespoons. For heavy loads, use 3 tablespoons.

If you use Fels Naptha Soap you may notice that you need to reduce the amount of fabric softener you use, or eliminate it altogether--an extra savings!!

If you have trouble finding any of these ingredients you can order them from Soaps Gone Buy, or call 1-800-SOAP.

Happy Washing!