Laundry

My friend talked me into trying out making my own laundry detergent.  What made me decide to do it?  The cost!  I was going to go back to the store to get exact pricing, but I haven't so oh well.  Here are some guesstimates.  I didn't include the cost of the 5 gallon bucket and lid because that is a one time cost.    The bar of soap is $1.  The borax was probably close to 5 and the washing soda was 3 something.  So to make 10 gallons of laundry detergent it was roughly 2.50- it's a guess, but a nice one -because  I haven't measured out the remainder of the boxes to see how many batches they will do.  I know they will do a few more though.  I included some pictures because when making it for the first time you can wonder if everything is going right because it looks pretty weird.  I would say that it took me about 15-20 minutes out of my day to make it.  I was cruising along grating the bar of soap when about half way through the bar muscle fatigue set in.  So it's kind of a 2 for 1.  Work out and laundry soap.  I have used it now on several loads and I can unequivocally say that I love it and can't imagine going back.  I think it works better than the expensive stuff.  So, what's the recipe you ask?  Here it is.  Enjoy and spend all the money that you save on something good... like....food storage.  :0)
***Updated pricing information*** $1.67 per batch***See comments for complete breakdown***

4 Cups hot tap water 

1 Fels-Naptha soap bar 

1 Cup Washing Soda

1/2 Cup Borax

~GRATE bar of soap and add to saucepan with water.  Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

~FILL 5 gallon bucket 1/2 way with hot tap water.  Add your melted soap and your washing soda and borax.  Stir until powder is dissolved.  Fill the bucket the rest of the way with hot tap water and stir again.  

~Let the mixture sit overnight until it thickens.  (my laundry room is small, so I store mine in the garage under my utility sink which works out nicely because I make up my batch right there before I take it back to the laundry room.)

~Then you stir it and put into a container.  Fill the container half full with mixture and half with water.  SHAKE before each use.  (I used a pitcher because I like exact measurements but you can use an old detergent bottle just as easily with a funnel.)

It makes 10 gallons total.  For a Front Loading machine use 1/4 cup which will yield approx 640 loads. (you can reuse the measuring cup that comes with your old detergent.  Just figure out where the 1/4 cup mark is on it.) 

For a Top Loading machine use 5/8 cup which will yield approx 180 loads.  (my friend just uses 1/2 cup)

I think it smells perfect the way it is but if you want to add some scent to it you can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 mixed gallons.