DIY Liquid Laundry Soap

Well I did it.  I succeeded in making my own liquid laundry soap with a recipe I found on www.thefamilyhomestead.com. Here is the recipe.
1/3 bar Fels Naptha or any other type of soap (if you use a soap other than Fels Naptha you need to use the whole bar-I used ivory)
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup borax powder
*You will also need a 2 gallon bucket (or other container-I mixed in a bucket and then funneled the soap into some laundry detergent bottles I had saved)

All 3 items can be found in the laundry aisle of your grocery store.  Since I opted to use the ivory soap I found that in the soap/lotion aisle.


First you grate the bar of soap and put it in a saucepan.

Next you add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved.  Remove from heat.

Pour 4 cups hot water into the bucket.  Now add your soap mixture and stir.  Now add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir.  Let soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel.  You use 1/2 cup per load.

Finished!  The bucket was almost full....this pic is after I had put it in other containers.

***The finished soap will not be a solid gel.  It is a watery gel.  It is a low sudsing soap so don't worry if you don't see suds. Suds don't clean....the ingredients do.***   You can add scent using 1/2-1 oz of essential oil or fragrance of your choice.  To me the mixture has a fresh scent anyway....may add a scent in my next batch.

Bottom line is....I paid 3.24 for a 55 oz box of Arm & Hammer washing soda, 3.28 for a 76oz box of 20 Mule Team borax and 1.24 for a 3 pack of Ivory soap.   This recipe made 2 gallons of soap and using 1/2 cup per load I will be able to wash 64 loads of laundry....all for the grand total of $0.81!! 


Michelle