With help from www.frugalshopper.com
I’ve had several requests for my detergent recipe, so here goes!
18 c water
1 bar soap, grated (any bath bar soap or Fels Naptha Laundry Soap)
1 1/2 c Super Washing Soda (I purchase it from www.soapsgonebuy.com)
1 1/2 c Borax
24 quart bucket (I purchased the exact size I needed at Wal-Mart and it has a locking lid to keep prying toddlers out of)
12 c hot water
hot water
Mix soap in a saucepan with 18 cups of water, and heat on low until dissolved. Stir in washing soda and borax. Stir until thickened, and remove from heat. Add 3 quarts hot water to bucket. Add soap mixture, and mix well. Fill bucket with hot water and mix well. Set aside for 24 hours, or until thickened. Use 1/2 cup of mixture per load.
**Detergent will not suds but that does not mean it won’t work**
Consistency should be a little like gel but sometimes if too much water is added it will be watery (but is still useful).
do you use this for the dipes too? some people don’t like soap-based det. b/c of the buildup, but my friends don’t seem to have a problem. I made dry stuff for a couple months, but Erik didn’t like it–he’s so picky!! 🙂 But it’s fun to make your own stuff and feel self-sufficient!
We don’t use the homemade on the cloth diapers because I was told the borax eats away at the elastic and causes problems with the diapers.