Post by Pam on Aug 3, 2009 22:06:07 GMT -5
I have been trying to come up with an inexpensive laundry soap and fabric softener. Here are the ones that I use:
Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value
4 Cups hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup Washing Soda
½ Cup Borax
- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan filled with the 4 cups of hot water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, then pour 1/2 of this mixture into another 5 gallon bucket (You will not be able to lift bucket to pour it so have a cup or something handy to scoop out 1/2 of the mixture into the second bucket. Finish filling both buckets full of hot water to the top. Cover and let sit overnight to thicken. Soap will become a very thick, dense gel by the next day.
-Stir (I find it easier to just get in there and squeeze it through my fingers. Fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser full with soap mixture. Shake before each use. Or you can just scoop directly out of the buckets to add to your washer.
-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil. I don't add anything to mine because I like the fresh smell of the Fels Naptha.
-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.
-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)
-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)
Powdered Laundry Detergent- Top load machine
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup Washing Soda
½ Cup Borax
-Grate soap or break into pieces and process in a food processor until powdered. Mix all ingredients. For light load, use 1 Tablespoon. For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 Tablespoons. Yields: 3 Cups detergent. (Approx. 40 loads)
As you can see, the liquid is much more cost effective.
Note: This is a non-sudsing laundry soap. You do not need suds to get your clothes clean. The cleaning agent is in the items used for the recipe. I have found it works very well - just as well as the store bought soaps and at a fraction of the cost.
Inexpensive Fabric Softener Recipes
Recipe #1
1 Cup White Vinegar
Add vinegar to rinse cycle. Works great. Removes residue and odors. Also helps to keep washing machine and hoses fresh and clean too.
Recipe #2
1 Container of Name Brand Fabric Softener
4 Inexpensive sponges, cut in half
Pour entire container of softener into a 5 gallon bucket. Fill empty softener container with water twice. (2 parts water to 1 part softener) Add sponges to softener/water mixture. When ready to use wring out extra mixture from one sponge and add to the dryer as you would a dryer sheet. I like this really well, and sometimes I just use a measuring cup and scoop out about 1/2 - 3/4 cup and add it to my rinse cycle when I don't want to use the sponges. You save lots of money just by diluting it 2 to 1 but it's even more cost effective when you use a sponge like a dryer sheet.
These recipes actually came from Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar's website. I love them and wouldn't go back to using store bought unless it comes to the point where my husband can no longer carry the heavy buckets to my basement and set them by my washer!
Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value
4 Cups hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup Washing Soda
½ Cup Borax
- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan filled with the 4 cups of hot water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, then pour 1/2 of this mixture into another 5 gallon bucket (You will not be able to lift bucket to pour it so have a cup or something handy to scoop out 1/2 of the mixture into the second bucket. Finish filling both buckets full of hot water to the top. Cover and let sit overnight to thicken. Soap will become a very thick, dense gel by the next day.
-Stir (I find it easier to just get in there and squeeze it through my fingers. Fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser full with soap mixture. Shake before each use. Or you can just scoop directly out of the buckets to add to your washer.
-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil. I don't add anything to mine because I like the fresh smell of the Fels Naptha.
-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.
-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)
-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)
Powdered Laundry Detergent- Top load machine
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup Washing Soda
½ Cup Borax
-Grate soap or break into pieces and process in a food processor until powdered. Mix all ingredients. For light load, use 1 Tablespoon. For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 Tablespoons. Yields: 3 Cups detergent. (Approx. 40 loads)
As you can see, the liquid is much more cost effective.
Note: This is a non-sudsing laundry soap. You do not need suds to get your clothes clean. The cleaning agent is in the items used for the recipe. I have found it works very well - just as well as the store bought soaps and at a fraction of the cost.
Inexpensive Fabric Softener Recipes
Recipe #1
1 Cup White Vinegar
Add vinegar to rinse cycle. Works great. Removes residue and odors. Also helps to keep washing machine and hoses fresh and clean too.
Recipe #2
1 Container of Name Brand Fabric Softener
4 Inexpensive sponges, cut in half
Pour entire container of softener into a 5 gallon bucket. Fill empty softener container with water twice. (2 parts water to 1 part softener) Add sponges to softener/water mixture. When ready to use wring out extra mixture from one sponge and add to the dryer as you would a dryer sheet. I like this really well, and sometimes I just use a measuring cup and scoop out about 1/2 - 3/4 cup and add it to my rinse cycle when I don't want to use the sponges. You save lots of money just by diluting it 2 to 1 but it's even more cost effective when you use a sponge like a dryer sheet.
These recipes actually came from Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar's website. I love them and wouldn't go back to using store bought unless it comes to the point where my husband can no longer carry the heavy buckets to my basement and set them by my washer!