Make Your Own Laundry Detergent!

Laundry detergent? How will that save me money and energy in the home? Well, by making your own laundry detergent you can save $40 or the equivalent of eight bottles of manufactured detergent. You can make your own for 5% of the purchasing cost of store brands and in a blind smell test, the home brew was preferred.

Materials for Home Brew Laundry Soap (15-20 minutes)

-2 cups Arm and Hammer Washing Soda (30 cents worth)
-1/2 bar Fels-Naptha soap, grated and dissolved in water (50 cents worth)
-1 cup liquid Ivory Soap (half a bottle or 90 cents worth)
-15 drops of rosemary oil, or scented oil of your choice (approximately 10 cents)
-2 gallons of hot water (priceless)

Everything was bought at the local grocery store besides the water (on tap) and the rosemary oil which was on hand.
The total cost to make a batch is $1.85 versus the $40 it'd cost for 7-8 bottles of detergent.

Process:
-The 2 gallons of water must be made hot, either out of the faucet or via the stove. We used the stove. You can use 2.5 gallons of water if desired, but the 2 gallon recipe increases potency.
-Add the ingredients and stir well.
-Pour into storage containers.

Use:
-Make sure to shake detergent before use.
-Use one capful per load of wash (in other words, the same portion you'd use were the detergent manufactured)