Thursday, April 23, 2009

Don't you hate...

spending money on stupid things??? I hate it! Like when I have to get toilet paper, and wipes. Who wants to spend their hard earned money on stuff like that? There is something that I despise spending money on...more than most other stupid things. Every time I have to buy it I hate it.

LAUNDRY DETERGENT!!!


I hate going down that isle in the grocery store. There are all the nice expensive detergents. They smell so good, and I WANT THEM! But then I look at that price...NO WAY!
SO then I make my way down to the cheap kinds, and they are still expensive! AHH, I always feel sick spending 12 bucks on detergent...when I could get something else...like lunch!

SO when I found out that I could spend 5 bucks on homemade detergent...SOLD! So I got all the stuff, and made it last night. The most expensive part was buying the bucket..but I can use that forever!

So to make your own laundry detergent you must have these things

1. ivory soap (2 bars if you are going to double the recipe)
2. Borox (one cup, if you are doubling it...1/2 cup if not)
3. Arm in Hammer washing soda (1 cup if you are doubling, 1/2 if not)
4. 5 gallon bucket

Step #1:
Grate your ivory soap with a cheese grater into a large stock pot.

Step #2:
Pour 6 cups of hot water (12 cups if you are doubling) into the stock pot with the grated soap. Heat the mixture till the soap is all dissolved.


Step #3:
Pour your 1/2 cup of borox, and 1/2 cup of arm in hammer washing soda into the mixture. Stir that in till they are both dissolved into the mixture.

Step #4:
Pour 4 cups(8 if you are doubling) of hot water into the bottom of the bucket, then pour the mixture from the stock pot into the bucket.

Step #5:
Then pour 22 cups (44 cups if you are doubling) of hot water into the bucket, stir it all together, and put the lid on.

Step #6:
Let that stand for about 24 hours, and it will turn into a gel consistency. Some of it will be runny still, that is ok. Just let it be. Use 1/2 a cup in each load.


I am so excited! Good luck!

11 comments:

Seth said...

wow, that seems really simple. Let us know how it washes and how it is on your clothes.

Mars said...

You are awesome girl! I hear ya on spending money on dumb stuff...like laundry detergent. That's a pretty easy way to make it. let me know how it works!

Unknown said...

WOW! You are a true pioneer momma!

Let me know how it makes your clothes smell??

Kristina said...

I also found a recipe for making our own laundry soap. I would totally do it if Seth's parents hadn't just replaced all of their laundry soap and given us all of their old stuff :P Like a years worth of laundry soap or more :) But I hate that all the things that you absolutely need, like diapers and laundry soap, and milk are so expensive. Just cause we HAVE to buy it doesn't mean they we should have to give them all of our money for it!
BTW I think I read somewhere about scenting your laundry soap, if I find it I'll let you know

Anonymous said...

I have been wanting to try this for AGES. I need to find out if it works in HE washers, though. And I need to figure out what the heck Borax is, and where to get it.

julz said...

Will it work for a front load washer? They are supposed to use special soap with low suds.

☂niki. said...

i'm lovin all these tips! thanks!

i tried your smoothie this morning. i felt like i was doing a good thing for lovey...

i'm going to blog about it right now.

D said...

You know I have wanted to try that, but I can never find the washing soda! Where did you get that? I don't think Walmart has it, cuz I can never find it there...

Bella Beginnings said...

This is awesome! Does it work? I want to do this. I HATE buying lanudry detergent. I think I will try it out!

Anonymous said...

Thank you, thank you, thank you thank you!!! My Mom and I just made a batch over the weekend ;) sweetness. Thanks for taking the time for the pics and step by step instructions, made it easy to follow. I love you, and am so happy to view your family's blog updates and see the joy that you have with your family, by the way, that is awesome about becoming a nurse. : )

Molly said...

How did your laundry detergent experience go? I am totally dying to try this!