Laundry Soap
A friend shared this soap recipe with me last week. This is quite a bit cheaper especially if you go through the laundry detergent like I do.
Grate 2 bars of soap into a small saucepan and cover with water. Heat on low until dissolved. Fill 5 gallon bucket with hot water and add soap. Stir to combine Add 1 cup Borax and I cup washing soda (I used baking soda). As it cools, it thickens. Stir whenever you walk by it for several days until done thickening.
April 14th, 2008 at 11:50 am
I just might try this out myself, we go through a lot of laundry soap.
Thanks for the recipe.
What kind of soap do you use?
How much do you use per load?
How long before you can start using it?
Blessings Renee
April 14th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I had the same questions.
April 14th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
I’ll be curious too. I thought I read somewhere that there is a difference between baking soda and washing soda…
April 15th, 2008 at 6:49 am
I don’t know, Heidi . . . wanna research it out for us?
I just did it like Hope did . . .she’s happy with how it is, but maybe it could be better. I still am in the process of making it, though I did use it for a load yesterday. 
and it worked fine.
Actually, Japheth mixed it up for me . . . one soap that didn’t disolve very good at all was Dial, I’m not sure what the other one was . . we just used whatever we had on hand.
As to how much one uses . . . I don’t know . . . that’s up to you I guess.
Depends what you’re washing 
April 15th, 2008 at 6:51 am
Oh, this info MIGHT help ” Here’s what I mixed for laundry soap — as given by Rebekah Pearl in BeeYoutiful — you can find it on WellTellMe.com” Though I looked a bit this morning and didn’t have any success.
April 15th, 2008 at 10:42 am
You are to use fels naptha soap.
You can use it right away. Just use it like regular soap..same amounts.
I liked it. However, after awhile, my clothes started looking sorta dingy.
And that wasn’t saving me money! I went back to Tide. It might have been my water.
Don’t know.
April 15th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Have any of you used this in a front load washer? Sounds interesting.
April 15th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
We have been making our own laundry soap for a while now..it really does save money!!!! You spend pennies on the dollar! it is fantastic!!!
April 16th, 2008 at 8:36 am
I have used this in the past when my children were home and have been pondering using it again. I used 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup because my well water is very hard. Yes, it can make clothes look a bit dingy after several loads…I simply used a store-bought detergent once in awhile and bleach the whites every so often. This may seem like double paying, but in the long run, is cheaper. I don’t believe that washing soda and baking soda are the same, though I could be wrong (it has happened before LOL!). It can be found in the laundry soap aisle of most stores. Fel’s Naptha is the only soap I used. I believe Lehamn’s Hardware has 3 bars for about $6 right now. I do like this soap because is is good at cutting the oils from poison oak that gets on clothes which my children were excellent at finding while hunting!
April 17th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Yes, Diane, we have a front loading washer, too.
My aunt told me today that the washing soda is twice as strong as the baking soda . . .
Yes, I love Tide too! . . . I think still use that once in a while or for our good clothes.
April 17th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
I liked Tide for cleaning as well(DH is a welder) but it has bothered all of my children’s skins! The man who pumped our septic tank years ago said it is the worst thing on a septic tank. After paying that bill, no more Tide for anything! I like the ALL free and clear…and the Downey Free and Clear liquid softener. I’s a bit more expensive but the line dryed clothes are much softer..no one seems to be a fan of stiff and scratchy towels!