Make Your Own Soap - Save Loads!

I don't know about you, but I do a lot of laundry. First there is the load of diapers every day or two... then all of Evan's dirty work clothes... then the babies clothes (I think teething biscuits are a joke on parents!)... then the toddler's clothes (he is a dirt magnet!) ...my clothes and the normal house laundry. Jeesh! It really adds up. We are now the proud owners of a fabulous HE washer, but the laundry detergent costs an arm & a leg!!

So, why not make your own? Okay, a bottle usually costs us about $12, but we made it for a couple of bucks for over 2 gallons. So simple, really. See, even my DH can make it!

1 quart Water (boiling)
2 cups Bar soap (grated Castile soap)
2 cups Borax
2 cups Washing Soda (Arm & Hammer has a box you can buy with the regular detergents)

• Add finely grated bar soap to the boiling water and stir until the soap is melted. Keep it on low heat until the soap melts.
• Add the Borax and Washing Soda. Stir well until it is all dissolved.
• Add the warm mixture to a clean bucket filled with 2 gallons of water, stir until well mixed.
• Cover pail and use 1/4 cup for each load of laundry. Stir the soap each time you use it (will gel). *We used slightly less for our HE washer. The good part is, only the Castile soap sudses, there are no additives to make it suds up too much.

I have seen recipes for dry, but we decided the liquid would work the best. We also decided that to make it easiest to use, we will reuse the laundry detergent bottle (hello, my friend the funnel!) so we have the measuring cap and it is easier to pour & shake before use. -Just another way to re-use the jug we have left over.

Okay, I would love to see if anyone else has a good recipe for laundry detergent. As always, Dare to go Greener!